Jenks' Portland gazette. Maine advertiser. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1802-1803, 1803-02-07
\ From he NEWroRK HERALD.
No. Vl..a,..,.preGOent's PsGage.


THE fnbiea of Lomfana continues
every day to become more and more
intereaing to all clalIes of American
citizens. Since our lat number, it has
been oblerved to US thar probably moth
ing at this time would be more CRAFTY
ing to our readers than concile hifory
ct the dilcogery and settlement of that
country. We have therefore made a
rapid and confcife compilation for that
purpoie chiefly taken from French wri
tiers.
in 1919 Juan Ponce de Leon, who
had acquitted comfortable reputation by
the conquef of Porto Rico, fitted out
three ihiPs for voyage Of dlcovery.
The principal motive which prompted
him to this undertaking, is faid to have
been the hope of discovering certain
fountain, reported by the natives Of
Porto Rico TO be fituated in one of the
Lucayo Hands, poheaed Of the wond-
eful power of rsHveaej cence. He touch
ed At the Lucayos and Bahama Hes,
but after talting of all the fountains
within his reach, he m@t with none that
could reOew the yigor of youth. He
foon after Gilcoverei Florida, but was
prevented by the natives from landing
10 find the o5ief Of his romantic fearch.
He returned 10 Porto Rico, and there
died.
In 1889, Ferdinand de Soto, who
had ierved under PIzarro, and had been
inveaed with the government OF Cuba,
failed from the Havana with conf
derable force. and landing on the coat
Of Florida, traverled mot of tie rivers
which fall into the Gulf of Mexico. =
In Is4I, he croaed the MifiidpPi river,
and proceeded Seltward after various
discoveries he died in IS4z. leaving the
command to Lewis Maicofo. This off.
Ger attempted to travel by land, fouth
wei to Mexico, but meeting many obaa
cles relinquiihed the enterprise, he came
az length to one Of the great rivers,
difcovered by De Soto, aud after hume
rous hardihips and difficulties, with his
army arrived at the fea in 1914.
An obCcure and unfatisfaaory account
of the remarkable adventures and ez
tenGve dfcoveries of Ferinand De Soto,
may be found in Hiltory of Florida,
compiled by William Roberts, or in the
Spaniih of GarelaG de Ia VEga. This
proved barren enterprise TO the Span
iards, who acquired by il no more than
the empty fame OF being the FRI DIFF
coverers Of the river Mifiippi. Tho
extending their discoveries and con-
quefs on the neighboring COATS, which
are waihed by the Mexican Tea, VET they
did not even approach the mouth OF
that mighty river, or purfne the path
opened by the adventurous fpirit Of De
Soto.
Tt was in the reign Of Lewis 18th,
70 fertile in great men and magnificent
fchemes of ambition, and under the di
redion of that able minilter of the ma
rine, Colbert, that a new Activity was
given 10 the commerce and naval en-
terprize of France. Had the Plans
formed during the reign OF that mon
arch and which were purified by his
fucceGors been As fortunate as they were
great and fplendld, France would, at
this time, have been in condition 10
~
controul the deGiny Of the two hsmf-
pheres. =,
No. nation has equalled her 10 the
widen of her frRem of colonization.
Her miniRers, aided by the powerful
and fagacious fociety of Jefuits, found
no difficulty in uniting the mott dlltant
and hvage nations in friendly inter
ccurfe with her traders, and the active