NEWFOUNDLAND. 151

CHAPTER II.

Sketch of its History.

NEWFOUNDLAND, although occupying no distin- guished place in the history of the New World, has, notwithstanding, at least for two centuries and a half after its discovery by Cabot in 1479, been of more mighty importance to Great Britain than any other colony ; and it is doubtful if the British empire could have risen to its great and superior rank among the nations of the earth, if any other power had held the possession of Newfoundland, its fishery having ever since its commencement furnished our navy with a great proportion of its hardy and brave sailors.

France made a claim to Newfoundland, under pretence of priority of discovery ; alleging, that the fishermen of Biscay frequented the banks even before the first voyage of Columbus, and that Verazani after— wards discovered it sooner than England. These pretensions, however, could not constitute a right in France, as Cabot, by the most undoubted authority, discovered and landed on the coast several years before, and took possession of this island, which he named Baccalaos,9x6 and on the island of St John’s (now

5" The name by which the natives called cod-fish, which were so abundant as to induce Cabot to give this name to the country.