A Description of New-England, Or, the Observations and Discoueries, of Captain Iohn Smith (Admirall of That Country) in the North of America in the ... the Next Yeare 1615, and the Accidents...

by John Smith

A description of New-England, or, The observations and discoueries, of Captain Iohn Smith (Admirall of that country) in the north of America in the year of our Lord 1614: with the successe of sixe ships that went the next yeare 1615, and the accidents befell him among the French men of with the proofe of the present benefit this countrey whither this present yeare, 1616, eight voluntary ships are gone to make further John Gale, Sabin Americana Based on Joseph Sabin's famed bibliography, Bibliotheca Americana, Sabin Americana, 1500--1926 contains a collection of books, pamphlets, serials and other works about the Americas, from the time of their discovery to the early 1900s. Sabin Americana is rich in original accounts of discovery and exploration, pioneering and westward expansion, the U.S. Civil War and other military actions, Native Americans, slavery and abolition, religious history and more.Sabin Americana offers an up-close perspective on life in the western hemisphere, encompassing the arrival of the Europeans on the shores of North America in the late 15th century to the first decades of the 20th century. Covering a span of over 400 years in North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean, this collection highlights the society, politics, religious beliefs, culture, contemporary opinions and momentous events of the time. It provides access to documents from an assortment of genres, sermons, political tracts, newspapers, books, pamphlets, maps, legislation, literature and more.Now for the first time, these high-quality digital scans of original works are available via print-on-demand, making them readily accessible to libraries, students, independent scholars, and readers of all ages.++++The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition ++++ Huntington 16160101 Selected Americana from Sabin's Dictionary of books relating to Errors in [16], 61, [4] p., [1] leaf of fold. map., port.; 18 cm

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American

84 pages, Paperback

First published December 13, 1616

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Smith (1580 - 1631) Admiral of New England was an English soldier, explorer, and author. He was knighted for his services to Sigismund Bathory, Prince of Transylvania and his friend Mózes Székely. He was considered to have played an important part in the establishment of the first permanent English settlement in North America. He was a leader of the Virginia Colony (based at Jamestown) between September 1608 and August 1609, and led an exploration along the rivers of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay. He was the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area and New England.

Reviews

[Mya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The vivid descriptions provided is the reason why it is still around and studied now.

[andreea.]

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[Vaishali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This letter is a business pitch to England's crown, currently losing in the global land grab dominated by Spain, France, and Portugal. At the time of writing, Capt. John Smith was already a seasoned explorer of 3 continents... having even been captured by pirates.

Quotes :
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"... Aprill, 1614. with two Ships from London, of a few Marchants, I chanced to arriue in New-England, a parte of Ameryca, at the Ile of Monahiggan..."

"... we found this Whale∣fishing a costly conclusion: we saw many, and spent much time in chasing them; but could not kill any..."

"... had not the industrious Portugales ranged her vn∣knowne parts, who would haue sought for wealth among those fryed Regions of blacke brutish Ne∣gers, where not withstanding all the wealth and ad∣mirable aduentures & endeauours more then 140 yeares, they knowe not one third of those blacke habitations."

"The o∣thers are called Massachusets; of another language, humor and condition: For their trade and mar∣chandize; to each of their habitations they haue iuerse Townes and people belonging; and by their relations and desriptions, more then 20 seuerall Habitations and Riuers that stretch them∣selues farre vp into the Countrey, euen to the bor∣ders of diuerse great Lakes..."

"... but betwixt that and Cape God very many: especialy the Coast of the Massachusets is so indifferently mixed with high clayie or sandy cliffes in one place... I thinke most of the cliffes would make such lime-stone..."

"... so well inhabited with a goodly, strong and well proportioned peo∣ple..."

"... in England we abuse in idlenes, worse or as ill."

"... the Summer is not so hot, and the winter is more colde in those parts wee haue yet tryed neere the Sea side, then we finde in the same height in Europe or Asia."

"In March, Aprill, May, and halfe Iune, here is Cod in abundance; in May, Iune, Iuly, and Au∣gust
Mullet and Sturgion... In the end of August, September, Oc∣tober, and Nouember, you haue Cod againe..."

"The Mullets heere are in that abundance, you may take them with nets, sometimes by hundreds,
where at Cape blank they hooke them; yet those but one foot and a halfe in length; these two, three,
or foure, as oft I haue measured..."

"Now, young boyes and girles Saluages, or any other, be they neuer such idlers, may turne, carry,
and return fish, without either shame, or any great paine..."

"Souldiers to be ready vpon an occasion; because of the abuses which haue beene offered the poore
Saluages, and the liberty both French, or any that will, hath to deale with them as they please: whose disorders will be hard to reforme; and the longer the worse."

"Of woods seeing there is such plenty of all sorts, if those that build ships and boates, buy wood at
so great a price, as it is in England, Spaine, France,Italy, and Holland..."

"I wondered such great trees could growe vpon so hard foundations."

"The Countrie of the Massachu∣sets,which is the Paradise of all those parts: for, heere are many Iles all planted with corne; groues, mulberries, saluage gardens, and good harbors..."

"The waters are most pure, proceeding from the intrals of rockie mountaines; the hearbes and fruits are of many sorts and kindes: as alkermes, currans, or a fruit like currans, mulberries, vines, respices, goos∣berries, plummes, walnuts, chesnuts, small nuts, &c. pumpions, gourds, strawberries, beans, pease, and mayze; a kinde or two of flax, wherewith they make nets, lines and ropes both small and great, verie strong for their quantities."

"... seeke to conuert those poore Salua∣ges to know Christ, and humanitie, whose labors with discretion will triple requite thy charge and paines?"

"My purpose is not to perswade children from their parents; men from their wiues; nor seruants
from their masters: onely, such as with free con∣sent may be spared: But that each parish, or village,
in Citie, or Countrey, that will but apparell their fatherlesse children, of thirteene or fourteen years
of age, or young maried people, that haue small wealth to liue on; heere by their labour may liue
exceeding well."


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[James Stripes · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Smith's observations of peoples, lands, and resources are thin and shallow. But, this text well-illustrates his sense of mission and destiny for the English in America. He notes an abundance of fish that can be taken with such ease as to employ the idle in building prosperous colonies.

[Filipa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for North-American Literature (class).

[Nadosia Grey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grammatical awkwardness coupled with dull impetuous recounts makes for quite a boring read. Great explorer he was, but a terrible written work.