New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-14
CAN ADA.
STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE Do
MINION.

HISTORY OF CANADA BY Charles I q D. R q
THE STORY OF CANADA By J. @. BourinoS
c. NJ G., LII D.. d. c. L. Octave. PIP. X -
g. p. Putnam's Sons tThe Story Of the Ma
tons)
BY G. L. Weare. Octave pp XII. 43. Philadel
phia: ]. B. Lippincott Company.
Canada, by right Of discovery is the Oldest
country on the North American Continent. and
in fact, Of all continental America. AS the four
hundredth anniversary Of John Cabots achieve
ment falls in the present year. books on Ca
madam history are opportune. 1t was probably
a day late in June or early in July. l4oI. that
the eager commander Of the caravel CD Mat
thew, from Bristol. sighted the American coast
Those who disputed English rights in the New
World maintained that he saw only Newfound-
land. Others are divided between Labrador and
Nova Scotia But that he actually saw the con
tinent Of America has long since ceased to be
question. Mr.. Roberts and Dr. Bourinot are
both In agreement with Mr. Weare on this point
though they give Cabot rather perfunctory at
tention. Meagre the story Is. il is OF the
strongest in the annals Of exploration. II is not
known absolutely where John Cabot was born.
Common tradition relegates him to Genoa, but
Tarducci has shown that this is at least doubt
ful in the face Of his emphatic loyalty to Venice.
Mr.. Weare leaves him a Genoese.
Tn, cloud OF mystery over the few years OF
John CdbOts activity a discoverer is due
largely to the conduct Of his son Sebastian. The
latter not only exaggerated his merits. but
claimed his fathers abors as his own and strove
10 ignore his fathers name altogether. Mr..
Wcare brings forward some prcsumptve evil
dencc to show that Sebastian was not even
member Of the ships company on the Matthew.
CuriJusy enough. on the next voyage. when
Sebastian was certainly Of the company. John
cabot disappeared. and was never heard u
more. What should have made Sebastian Cabot
silent about a tragedy he would naturally have
enlarged upon. If he had the ordinary instincts
Of a sailor. only be imagined. Why. after
the mention Of his name and those OF his
brothers in the patent II King Henry VII before
the voyage OF the Mathew. he and they to-
gcther should have been left out Of the few rec
ords )f their fathers proceedings up to his sec
oud voyage is another puzzle. The King gave
John Cabot so. which Mr.. Wcarc estimates at
fl20 modern money. and later an annuity u
go G2i0). but there is nothing to show that the
sons got anything. Mr.. Weares inference is
that they had nothing to do with the business
after getting their names in the patent To the
credit 81 King Henry whose reputation for
generosity is none OF the best, Mr. Weare pro-
dUces entry from the account Of the cox
lector3 OF customs and subsidies ut Bristol,
which has never before been in print. showing
that John cabot received his annuity as late
March -. HOS His fatal voyage was probably
undertaken in the summer OF that year. There
is the Kings warrant Of a somewhat earlier
date. however. 20 show that the pay ments were
rot as prompt Cabot desired.
But there WAS no proper readiness in England
To profit by Cabots achievement Meanwhile
the French began TO look about for land that