Newfoundland in 1897 - Rumbolt

ENGLAND'S OLDEST COLONY. 7
surrounding seas first attracted English fishermen.
Battling the billows, these hardy fishermen became
expert and fearless sailors, built up the British navy,
and laid the foundations of that sea-power and maritime
supremacy which England has preserved from the days
of Elizabeth to those of Victoria. Enormous wealth
was drawn from those North American fisheries. For
their protection colonies were first planted, and these
led on to greater developments. Other nations, such
as France, came to share in the spoils, but were finally
compelled to retire from the field. To the daring
genius of the Cabots we largely owe it that North
America is to-day almost entirely occupied by an
English-speaking population, with all their vast energies
and accumulated wealth. The honour of England was
pledged to keep what the daring enterprise of her
seamen had discovered. But for this voyage of Cabot
and his Gloucester and Devon sailors, Spain might for
a long time have monopolized discovery in North as
well as South America. English and French enterprise
might have taken different directions, and the history
of North America might have been shaped in a different
fashion. England might not have developed into a
great mother of colonies, and failed to become the
dominant sea-power of the world, and the ruler of the
waves. The coming of the little Matthew into these
western waters heralded the approaching supremacy of
the English race.
All this was the outcome of the Cabot voyages.
His
is, therefore, a name to be honoured wherever the
English tongue is spoken and the flag of England