French Enterprise. Jacques Cartier.

The French followed closely on the track of John Cabot, and the hardy Norman and Breton seamen frequented the banks of Newfoundland at the commencement of the 16th century. In 1524 Francis I. sent Giovanni da Verazzano of Florence on an expedition of discovery to the coast of North America; and the details of his voyage were embodied in a letter addressed by him to the king of France from Dieppe, in July 1524. On April 20,1534, Jacques Cartier sailed from St Malo with two vessels of 60 tons each, for the purpose of continuing the discoveries of Verazzano, and he visited Newfoundland and the Gulf of St Lawrence. In the following year he made another voyage, discovered the island of Anticosti, and ascended the St Lawrence to a place called Hochelaga, now Montreal. He returned, after passing two winters in Canada; and on another occasion he also failed to establish a colony. Admiral de Colingy made several unsuccessful endeavours to form a colony in Florida under Jean Ribault of Dieppe, René de Laudonnière, and others, but the settlers were furiously assailed by the Spaniards and the attempts was abandoned.





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