* Shakspeare's ** Comedy of Errors," written probably about 1591, and printed
in 1623, hands down the popular impression of America, the ** form and pressure
of the time.*' Bromio describes Nell's form as ** spherical, like a globe,*' so that
** he could find out countries in her.*' Antipholus inquires ** Where's America?
the Indies? *' Dromio replies, **0h, sir, upon her nose, all o'er embellish'd with
rubies, carbuncles, sapphires, declining their rich aspect to the hot breuth of Spain,
who sent whole armadoes of carraoks to be ballasted at her nose."



DISAPPOINTMENTS. SIR FERDINANDO GORGES. 7

The brothers, Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter
Raleigh, and their kindred. Chief Justice Popham, Sir
Ferdinando Gorges, and their families, and others, had
pursued the design of colonizing these Western Atlantic
coasts, with a perseverance and assiduity worthy of better
success.
Extravagant hopes,^ the charms of title and office,^ the
allurements of gain, well supplied ships, plentiful stores
for the colonists, and all the appliances of wealth and
power combined, yet proved ineffectual in their attempts ;
death removed some of the most zealous and influential
patrons, and disappointment waited on every effort.
But there was one who would not yield, and who,
during these disastrous years, with untiring diligence and
labor, collected from every source information respecting
the geography, climate, productions, and inhabitants of
the new world; and this only suggested bolder views
and stimulated him to more comprehensive measures.
Next to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Sir Ferdinando Gorges
stands out the most conspicuous in the history of northern
colonization.
