New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-27
THE WORK OF THE CABOTS.
BRISTOL AND THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA

BRISTOL AND THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
Bristol. England September s.
This ancient city Of Bristol is likely 10 send
to the Worlds Fair at Chicago most interest
ing exhibit relating TO the part taken by It's
merchants and seamen in the fifteenth century
in exploring the coasts of the present United
States, Canada and Newfoundland, even before
the Spaniards or Columbus had seen the main
land of America These explorations, begun
by John Cabot and his son Sebastian, who sailed
along the coast of North America from Hudson's
Bay to Cape Hatteras, were the means Of arous-
ing an interest in the newly discovered lands
which ultimately led 10 their colonization by
England and to the foundation OF civilized gov
eminent on these shores. The early vOyagers
from England were largely men from the west
ern counties and especially from Plymouth and
other DeyonShire ports we'll as from Bristol
itself 1t is therefore most appropriate that as
suggested by the United States Consul, Lonn A.
Lathrop Bristol should take the lead in making
an exhibit showing the conditions under which
these explorations were made. In his dispatch 10
the Department of State at Washington, he sug'
gests that a special invitation should he sent
70 Bristol from the Worlds Fair authorities ask
ing the city to send deputatOn 70 represent
it at the opening functions, and also TO eXhlmt
whatever it can of memorials of antiquity, such
as charters municipal regalia and other objects OF
antiquarian interest The ancient insignia, pare,
etc. belonging to the corporation are OF eAcepCohal
interest and if Bristol can be prevailed upon 10
Loan them. they will certainly form most
nota bic feature in the English exhibit.
II is further suggested by Mr.. and Mrs John
p SbipIey. who have devoted much time and
attention to the subject that for the purpose OF
containing and displaying these and other relics
a reproductiOn Of an ancient English ouiGlhs
should be specially erected at Chicago and that
the building to be copied should be SAINT refers
Hospital one of the most beautiful examples Oh
early domestic architecture that can ne tounh
It is a house that has had an intimate connection
with the public life of Bristol since before the
time of Cabot. for the east end of the structure
dates back to the end of the twelfth century,
The larger portion of the front, however. was
bult in about 1912: that is. about the time of the
settlement of Virginia, in the reign Of James l.
This mart of the building contains the original
hall of the mansion. the roof Of which Is sun
extant though now concealed by later cellng'
which is itself very beautiful piece Of workman
shin of the Stuart period. In fact, the old hos
pital bears the impress Of many hapds ana many
ages an old English exhibit could hardly nave
more fitting case than this ancient buildlnz' WHICH
was already old in the times when America was
frst settled Bristol is remarkable for the pos
session of considerable number Of smaller rag
ments of domestic architecture. Old rooms VIVA
sulendid ceilings and deliberately carved ire
nIaces are sill To he seen in many parts OF the
old CITY Some of these are connected IN the local
traditions with the visit Of Queen Elizabeth 10 the
city in 1874. for in more than one Of these olN
rooms she is said 10 have dned, and even danced
One of the most interesting of these rooms Is III
the house formerly occupied by William Canyhses'
tho great merchant of Bristol, who restored the
Church of st. Mary Redclyfe, and VINO ""S
;, ,obablv tho owner of the ship in which Columbus
went to Iceland in l477 The house III Whion
this old merchant lived is not at all well pre-
served as ST. Peters Hospital; the only remains
of il are the room referred to. which is filled with
MAGNIFICENT old oak furniture, perfectly black
with age and a hall or chapel. with fine open
roof These now form part of the establishment
If large firm of booksellers. the NlesSrs Jeneres
If Redcliff-st As Canynges in some sense
the father of Bristol shipping adventure, 1t would
no both appropriate and interesting 10 have some
norton of these rooms also reproduced at the
Fair
Every visitor 10 Bristol goes 10 SEE Redclin
Church, and probably admires it even more than
the Cathedral OF Bristol II is interesting for Us me
architecture for it's connection with poor Chatter
ton and with Canynges, above -mennoned'
but for our present purpose 1t has a special IN
terest in that it contains large bone. prohahy
belonging to a whale. which is authenticity re-
norted 70 have been brought home by the CahoS
from their first voyage, and set up in the church
nv the corporation in 1897. appears from ~s
records. .
manuscript discovered by Mr.. w 'ieorge, OF
BRISTOL among the books belonging % an anciehs
family of the neighborhoOd, fixes the exact us"
of the sailing of John and Sebastian 'aho'
being the second of May. 1897. in ship ca'iea
the Matthew 1t is well known that they u's-
covered Newfoundland the oath OF June III
that year The same manuscript gives the io''
of August as the date of their return. In tho
following year longer voyage was unoeI'SNe"
by Sebastian Cabot, in the course Of which he en-
| nlored the greater portion Of the Atlantic eo"S"
of North America.
II would of course be Of the highest interest
| 10 show any maps charts or writings EiV oy
| Cabot himself IL is known that such were !"
existence at the time OF his death. ana thst W.
| defatisable compiler Of records OF NoSa
| PiebaTd Uakluvt eXerted himself IA The utihoet
| 10 get them published. lie was unable even "a
zee them and il is suspected that they were DouS
| and taken 90 Spain by Philip III. the huspanu Y.
| Queen Mary of England I'm whose reign .aoos
diedl-for Philip was enthusiastic coiiee,oI VI
all such matters, and Cabot had peen Ilo' 81
| OF Spain, and was moreover pehsioher ,v Ta
| Fnglish Crown. His co-pensloner, Ml,amn
| Worthington. is supposed to have been Phlupe
| instrument in this matUr, for. after having pLoni
| sed TO let the maps he published after CaooI
| death. he never redeemed this promise, nor cosla
| The maps and writings ever be found
From this brief sketch win he seen that, though
the direct memorials of these discoveries I NC
neither numerous nor extensive, much can DC
shown which will throw light on the commeIclsiI
and domestic life of the period, and for this Brs,I,
has probably facilities that do not exist III suc.
completeness in any other city and u mus' noe
he forgotten that Bristol was at that time IA