[Sidenote] A notion early entertained of territories in the west.

To pave the way for the execution of this design, it may not be improper
to cast our eyes backward on the earliest ages of European discoveries,
and take a slight view of the first and most distinguished adventurers to
the western world. This will serve to introduce future occurrences, and
contribute towards the easier illustration of them. Beyond doubt, a
notion was early entertained of territories lying to the westward of
Europe and Africa. Some of the Greek historians make mention of an
Atlantic island, large in extent, fertile in its soil, and full of
rivers. These historians assert, that the Tyrians and Carthaginians
discovered it, and sent a colony thither, but afterwards, from maxims of
policy, compelled their people to abandon the settlement. Whether this
was the largest of the Canary islands, as we may probably suppose, or
not, is a matter of little importance with respect to our present
purpose: it is enough that such a notion prevailed, and gained so much
credit as to be made the grounds of future inquiry and adventure.

With the use of the compass, about the close of the fifteenth century,
the great era of naval adventures commenced. Indeed the Tyrian fleet in
the service of Solomon had made what was then esteemed long voyages, and
a famous Carthaginian captain had sailed round Africa: the Portuguese
also were great adventurers by sea, and their discoveries in Africa
served to animate men of courage and enterprise to bolder undertakings:
but the invention of the compass proved the mariner's best guide, and
facilitated the improvements in navigation. Furnished with this new and
excellent instructor, the seaman forsook the dangerous shore and launched
out into the immense ocean in search of new regions, which, without it,
must long have remained unknown. Even such expeditions as proved
abortive, furnished observations and journals to succeeding navigators,