A Memoir of Sebastian Cabot: With a Review of the History of Maritime Discovery(Cambridge Library Collection - Maritime Exploration)

Richard Biddle (1796–1847), an American politician and lawyer, published this work on the life of the explorer and cartographer, Sebastian Cabot (c.1481–1557), anonymously in 1831. He was responding to widespread criticisms of Cabot - allegedly an unscrupulous character who played the governments of England and Spain to his own ends. The work includes notes on Sebastian's discoveries on the North American continent along with his father, John, and his search for the North-West Passage. As a governor of the Muscovy Company, Cabot initiated the expansion of English trade to Russia and the East. Cabot's own accounts of his journeys have been lost; therefore, Biddle's research is derived from other sources, particularly the writings of Richard Hakylut (c.1552–1616). This study was recognised at the time as the best review of the history of maritime discovery in the period treated, and prompted further research into the Cabot legacies.

Table of Contents:
Introduction; Book I: 1. The highest northern latitude reached by Cabot. Authorities collected by Hakluyt. Attempt to explain their supposed discrepance; 2. The subject continued. Genoa; 3. Cabot penetrated into Hudson's Bay; 4. First work of Hakluyt. Maps and discourses left by Sebastian Cabot at his death ready for publication; 5. Comparative agency of John and Sebastian Cabot; 6. First point seen by Cabot. Not Newfoundland; 7. Cabot did not confer the name Prima Vista; 8. Richard Eden's Decades of the New World. Cabot's own statement as to the place of his birth; 9. Patents of 5th March, 1496, and 3rd February, 1498. The latter now first published from the Rolls. Total misconception heretofore as to its terms; 10. Name of the English ship which first reached the continent of America. How far Cabot proceeded to the southward along the coast. Subsequent voyage of 1498; 11. Voyage to Maracaibo, in 1499; 12. Correspondence between Ferdinand of Spain and Lord Willoughby de Broke. Cabot enters the service of Spain 13th September, 1512. Revision of maps and charts in 1515. Appointed a Member of the Council of the Indies. Projected expedition to the North under his command to sail in March, 1516. Death of Ferdinand in January, 1516. Intrigues. Cabot returns to England; 13. Cabot's voyage of 1517 from England in search of the North-West Passage; 14. Hakluyt's error with regard to the voyage of 1517; 15. Voyage of 1517, the one referred to by Cabot in his letter to Ramusio; 16. Cabot appointed, in 1518, Pilot-Major of Spain. Summoned to attend the Congress at Badajos in 1524. Projected expedition under his command to the Moluccas; 17. Jealousy of the contemplated expedition on the part of Portugal. Mission of Diego Garcia, a Portuguese; 18. Interference with the arrangements for the voyage. Mendez appointed second in command contrary to the wishes of Cabot. De Rojas. The sealed orders. Prejudices of the Spanish historians. Expedition sails; 19. Complaints in the squadron. Pretended causes of dissatisfaction. Mutiny. Quelled by the energy of Cabot. Happy results. His conduct justified to the Emperor. Ridiculous charges suggested by Diego Garcia; 20. Cabot enters La Plata. Necessity for caution. His predecessor as Pilot-Major killed in attempting to explore that river. Carries the island of St. Gabriel. His progress to St. Salvador where a fort is erected. Its position. Loss in taking possession; 21. Cabot proceeds up the Parana. Erects another forst, called Santus Spiritus, and afterwards Fort Cabot. Its position. Continues to ascend. Curiosity of the natives as to the expedition. Passes the mouth of the Parana. Enters the Paraguay. Sanguinary battle thirty-four leagues up that river. Three hundred of the natives killed, with a loss to Cabot of twenty-five of his party. Maintains his position. Garcia enters the river. Interview with Cabot. Mistakes of Charlevoix, etc. Cabot returns to the Fort Santus Spiritus; 22. Report to Charles V. Its contents. Prospect which it held out. Peru contemplated in Cabot's original plan of 1524. Specimens found by him of the precious metals obtained thence by the Guaranis. Emperor resolves on a great expedition. His pecuniary embarrassments. Pisarro offers to the make the conquest of Peru at his own expense. Reflections. The name Rio de La Plata not conferred by Cabot. Misrepresentation on this and other points; 23. Cabot's residence in the La Plata. Subjection of remote tribes. Claims of Spain rested on this expedition. Treaty with the Guaranis. Detailed report to the Emperor as to the productions, etc. of the country. Misconduct of the followers of Garcia. Leads to a general attack from the natives. Return to Spain; 24. Employment of Cabot after his return. Resumes his functions as Pilot-Major. Makes several voyages. Fame for bravery and skill. Visit of a learned Italian. Cabot's allusion to C