The American History Leaflets For Schools. The attention of Normal instructors, Superintendents and Teachers is invited to the peculiar educative value of the American History Leaflets series when used for supplementary reading and reference as adjuncts to the regular text-book in United States history. The matter comprised in the Leaflets consists of reprints of famous documents that were the mainspring of political action, or the resultants of such activity. The American History Leaflets are thus of great value for giving that particularity and local color to the important events of our history which the limited space of most text-books forbids. Pupils using them will thus obtain a more intelligent idea of the epoch under consideration. The American History Leaflets are issued under the editorial supervision of Albert Bushnell Hart and Edward Channing, Professors of American History in Harvard University, and each number contains an Introduction by the Editors, with a bibliography for use in further investigation. The numbers more particularly adapted for common school use are: No. 1.-The Letter of Columbus to Luis de Sant Angel announcing his Discovery, with Extracts from his Journal. A familiar letter addressed to the Spanish gentleman who befriend, ed Columbus. No. 8.-The Exact Text of the Constitution of the United States. An exact reprint reproducing the peculiar capitalization, punctua tion and spelling then in vogue. It is prefaced by a valuable editorial introduction. No: 12.- Ordinances of Secession and other Documents. 1860-61. Reprints of the secession ordinances passed by the Southern States at the opening of the Civil War. No. 18.-Lincoln's Inaugural and First Message to Congress 1861. Excellent as reading material, as well as for its historical value. No. 20.-The Articles of Confederation, with preliminary Documents. 1776-1781. The most important sources on the f government. Bound in stout paper covers, price A. LOVELL & CO E 173 .A515 American History Leaflets Cop.3 COLONIAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL. EDITED BY ALBERT BUSHNELL HART and EDWARD CHANNING, OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY. No. 9. NEW YORK: A. LOVELL & CO. Published Bi-Monthly. Annual Subscription, 30 cents. Entered at the New York Postoffice as second-class matter. MAY, 1893. 311 PRICE, IO CENTS. Copyright, 1893, by A. LOVELL & Co. DOCUMENTS DESCRIBING THE VOYAGE OF JOHN CABOT IN 1497. The first European to see the Continent of North America after the period of the Northmen was John Cabot, a native of Genoa, who had been naturalized at Venice and had resided there for some years. John Cabot sailed from Bristol, England, and prosecuted his voyage under a license from Henry VII., King of England. The voyage was made in 1497. Cabot's landfall has been much disputed. Dr. Charles Deane regarded the Island of Cape Breton as the first land seen, because the words prima tierra vista were placed against it by the maker of the "Cabot Map" of 1544; but Mr. Henry Harrisse, the last writer on the subject, thinks the landfall was very much further north in the vicinity of Hudson's Bay. John Cabot's son, Sebastian, became in later life a man of considerable mark and authority. With his name, therefore, was associated whatever glory and honor gathered to the name of Cabot. It is only within recent years that documents have been discovered showing conclusively that it was the father and not the son who was in command of this memorable expedition. These documents are herewith printed. Especially noteworthy is the letter of Raimondo, or Raimundus, to the Duke of Milan dated London, December 18th, 1497, which was first printed in English by Dr. Deane in his chapter in the Narrative and Critical History of America," Vol. III., p. 54; and is here printed through the courtesy of I the publishers, Houghton, Mifflin & Co., and of the editor, Mr. Justin Winsor. This letter and the previous one from the same writer of August 24th, 1497, the letter of Lorenzo Pasqualigo dated London, August 23d, 1497, are all contemporary documents written in England within a short time of John Cabot's return from his voyage. They leave no doubt whatever as to the discovery itself or as to the commander. It is upon this discovery of John Cabot's that the claim of England to North America was based. There are also printed with these contemporary documents the earliest accounts of this voyage which will show how the error as to John and Sebastian Cabot arose. For further references see 'Narrative and Critical History of America," Vol. III., chap. I. I. 1496, March 5, LETTERS PATENT OF KING HENRY VII. Pro Johanne Caboto & Filiis suis super Terra Incognita Investiganda. Rex omnibus, ad quos &c. Salutem. Notum sit et MANIFESTUM quòd Dedimus & Concessimus, ac per Præsentes Damus & Concedimus, pro Nobis & Hæredibus nostris, Dilectis Nobis Johanni Cabotto Civi Venetiarum, ac Lodovico, Sebastiano, & Sancto, Filiis dicti Johannis, & eorum ac cujuslibet eorum Hæredibus & Deputatis, plenam ac liberam Auctoritatem, Facultatem & Protestatem Navigandi ad omnes Partes, Regiones, & Sinus Maris Orientalis Occidentalis, & Septentrionalis, sub Banneris Vexillis & Insigniis nostris, cum Quinque Navibus sive Navigiis, cujuscumque Portituræ & Qualitatis existant, & cum tot & tantis Nautis & Hominibus, quot & quantis in dictis Navibus secum ducere voluerint, suis & eorum propriis Sumptibus & Expensis. Ad inveniendum, Discooperiendum & Investigandum quascumque Insulas, Patrias, Regiones sive Provincias Gentilium & Infidelium, in quacumque Parte Mundi prositas, quæ Christianis omnibus ante hæc tempora fuerunt incognitæ. Concessimus etiam eisdem & eorum cuilibet, eorumque & cujuslibet eorum Hæredibus & Deputatis, ac Licentiam dedimus Affigendi prædictas Banneras nostras & Insignia in quacumque Villa, Oppido, Castro, Insula seu Terra firma a se noviter inventis. Et quòd prænominati Johannes & Filii ejusdem, seu Hæredes & eorum Deputati quibuscumque hujusmodi Villas, Castra, Oppida & Insulas a se inventas, quæ Subjugari, Occupari & Possideri possint, Subjugare, Occupare & Possidere valeant, |