The San Francisco call., 1904-07-10
The Third UOLun1e
of Lees History


occasion TO give q general notice, with
a review Of the first two volumes.
Discovery and Exploration and In
disrs in Historic Times" The third
volume, Colonization in the South
by Peter Joseph Hamilton, next de-
mands cur atteneion.
OF al our colonial history. that Of
the Upbuilding Of the southern part of
the nation has in it the greatest ro-
nance. There the clash Of nations
brought into play the actions Of the
chivalrous cavalier. the proud, boast
full Spaniard, the courtly, insinuating
Gaul. the patient and persevering
Swiss. the answering and tenacious
ScOtch-Irish and the stOlid and indus
trious German. All of these peoples,
thrown into the strange conditions OF
new world, worked out their desti-
nies in ways that We're full of the spice
Of pure romance. It is the recognition
Of this and the emphasis laid by the
author upon this element Of the his
tory Of southern colonization that
makes his books eminently readable.
The author begins by briefly review
ing the genesis OF the spirit Of western
colonization and the motives that in
spired the Spaniards to seek a footing
on the American continent; he sum-
Iuarizes the results Of the enterprises
undertaken by the earliest explorers,
through whom Florida became some
thing more than a dream and conquest
and colonization a definite policy Of
The Spanish monarchy, with the result
that Tristan de Luna was made Cap
tain General Of Florida The story Of
this adventurer's exploration of the
new territory is told, as well as the
abandonment Of the enterprise. which
however, was not fruitless, for some
knowledge Of the country, the people,
Of some ports and bays OF the gulf,
was gained, and a still more important
result effected by the taking posses
sion Of the Carolina coast. The author
then brings US 10 that extremely inter-
esting historic point when France was
tc wrestle with Spain for the Southern
possessions. and he traces in vivid out
line the colonization enterprise Of the
famous Menendez, who appeared on
the coast Of Florida in 1865 only to
find Huguenots settled at Fort Caro-
lima on the ST. Johns River. We are
told Of something more than the we'll
known attack on the French colony;
Afenendez and OF the various settle
ments effected by him, among others
that Of Helena-Port Royal The clos
ing pages OF this subject present US
with clear understanding Of the rela-
tons between the Spaniards and the
Indians, and give US an account of
the practical side Of the Spanish under
taking in the description of the forts
- -
adopted by Menendez to place the
Spanish settlement on a solid basis.
In the same way are presented the
causes and conditions attending the
settlement OF French Florida The
story. Of course, turns on the Inflated
expedition Of Jean Ribault, who ar
rived with his Huguenot colony on
The river May CSt. Johns) in 1862, and
after taking possession for France
sailed northward TO Port Royal, where
he established his settlement Of gen
tlemen, soldiers. and Mariners" men
who we learn from the description be-
fore US were III fitted to found colony
in the land OF promise they had
reached. We have also a vivid tracing
OF ths expedition led by Laudonniere
which was to supplement the colony
taken out by Ribault; Of their arrival
in the May and their building Fort
Carolina: Of their lack Of thrift and
foresight. and their distress; of their
succor by Sir John Hawkins, and,
finally. OF the arrival of Ribault, who
had returned to France after making
a settlement at Port Royal
In the story Of the bitter struggles OF
the spaniards and French that ended
Mr.. Hamilton has found a way OF tell
ing a well known story which gives
added confidence TO the reader We
confess we can never read OF the IN
famous incident without bitterness: we
believe IN the charge of savagery which
is generally credited to Menendez; his
treacherous conduct we have ever re-
garded as q black spot on Spanish his
tory. The present author manifests his
deliberate and judicial temperament in
discussing this narrowing episode
while not in any way minimizing the
horrors Of the circumstances; and Il
may well be that historians have not
given due regard to the motive that
prompted Mehendez in the execution
OF his savage act. But revenge could
not be long stayed, and as an offset tc
lne CpdnlSu Cruelty we nave the &C
count Of De Gourgues' expedition tc
Florida and OF his destruction Of the
Spanish settlement which had replaced
that Of his countrymen. With a re-
view of the Huguenots in France and
the influence Of the Spanish massacre
in Florida on the future colonization
of America the subject closes.
Next are told the various incidenta.
causes that led TO the exploitation Of
Virginia under the charter granted tc
Gates, Somers and others. The history
OF the Virginia Company is told in it,
expeditions and settlements. the admin
istration Of affairs and the exploration
Of the colony by Captain John Smith
the extension Of the colony. the life o.
the settlers. the reorganization Of th'
company and its renewed activity; dis