Evening star., 1909-06-13

sea in these days, and their equipment for
the rough seas and the terrible climate OF
the arcticS was Scant and insufficient in
every way compared with that provided
for Peary and other modern explorers.
Hudson made four voyages, and in not
one of them did he have a vessel that a
sane man would use today in crossing the
Atlantic or even the Gulf of Mexico Yet
with means utterly disproportionate to
the task which they undertook, Hudson
and his predecessors accomplished results
which command the admiration Of all sub
sequent generations
Early Writers on Exploration.
Our principal sources of information
concerning the early explorations of the
North American coast are the original
journals of the chief actors themselves.
which in almost every case have been
preserved and printed. Their general ac-
curacy has never been challenged, and
with some unimportant exceptions. the
statements of all the navigators Of the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries cor
respond In a striking manner and con-
firm each other. They were men of plain
speech and straightforward character.
without pretentions to literary skill, and
told their experiences briefly in simple,
direct language.
Their narratives have been compiled in
two important series of publications
known as "Hakluyt's Voyages" and 'Pur-
ClidS Ills 1uSIIIHeS, DOlH tullcu ttilu
published by clergymen. Hakluyt was an
enthusiast with regard to the American
continent and spared neither time nor Ia
bor to obtain trustworthy information
from the explorers. His narratives follow
with conscientious fidelity the original
documents. although he has abbreviated
them in certain cases for want of space
and motives of economy. The publica-
tions of Purchas still more abridged
He is not ranked high authority
Hakluyt. although whatever he did
was carefully and accurately done.
The beet collections of early literature
concerning the exploration of North
America are found in the Carter Brown
Library at Providence. which was founded
by the founder of Brown University, and
the Lenox Library in New York.
Rev. Richard Hakuyt descended from an
ancient family. long seated in the county
of Hereford, in England. was born. 1t
is supposed in or near London. about the
year 1853 He received his preliminary
education at Westminster school. and II
was while sojourning at that fruitful
nursery" as one of the queens scholars.
that he paid visit to his cousin. Master
Richard Hakluyt. gentleman of the
middle temple, who first implanted IN
his mind the love OF ccsmography. and
turned his attention to maritime discov-
cries. At the age of seventeen he was
elected to Christ Church College, Ok
ford. Four years later he took his degree
of bachelor of arts. and On the 9th OF
June, 1917, he received that of master
OF arts He took a degree N divinity,
later. Some years afterWard he address
ed letters to Lord Admiral Howard and
Sir Francis Walsingham. with view TO
the permanent establishment of course
of lectures on navigation; and prior to
the wear 1889 il appears that he himself
delivered discourses on the subject. IT
is said that it was proposed to him TO
accompany Sir Humphrey Gilbert to New
foundland. Whatever may have been
l. l., Il, q
that shortly afterward he was appointed
chaplain to Sir Edward Stafford am
hassador from Queen Elizabeth to the
court OF France. While residing in Paris
about the year 15SS. by the queens man.