These objects have been kept constantly in view. We felt, moreover, that the development of institutions and government may justly be considered of great importance, although naturally lacking in picturesqueness, and we have endeavored to set in relief this evolutionary process. How far we have succeeded in accomplishing the objects sought remains for others to judge. I cannot forbear to place on record here my appreciation of the fortitude with which Dr. Adams bore his protracted sufferings and did his work; of his conscientiousness in matters of minutest detail; of his fairness and sympathy toward those with whom he did not agree, and of the unfailing courtesy that marked every line of his correspondence. Acknowledgment is due to the highly competent services of Miss May Langdon White of New York, whom Dr. Adams selected to assist in the revision of the work. W. P. TRENT. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, November, 1902. CONTENTS. PAGE LIST OF MAPS xvi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xvii CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE xx PART I.—PERIOD OF DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT, 1492–1765. CHAPTER I.—DISCOVERY. SECTION 1-3. The American Indians 1 4. Pre-Columbian Discoverers 4 5-13. Columbus and the Spanish Discoverers 7 14-16. The French Explorers 18 17-18. The English Explorers 20 19-20. Summary of Results 22 References 23 CHAPTER II.—THE FIRST PLANTATIONS AND COLONIES, 1607–1630. 21-28. The Settlement of Virginia 24 29-30. The Settlement of New York 29 31-36. The Pilgrims at Plymouth 31 37-38. The Settlement of Massachusetts 34 References 36 CHAPTER III.—SPREAD OF PLANTATIONS, 1630–1689.