In the course of this winter, about the beginning of 1527, James Garcia, another Spanish navigator, entered the river Plata, and without knowing that his country men were in that quarter of the world, came to anchor his two vessels where Cabot's ship lay. Both these com manders dispatched messengers to Spain. They whom Cabot sent to his merchants gave them a most flatter ing description of the river Plata, descanted on the fer tility and wealth of the vast regions conquered by the va lour of their chief, and exhibited as a proof of his judg ment and good conduct, quantities of gold and silver, and other precious commodities, all the productions of these countries. They demanded at the same time a supply of provisions, ammunition, and articles of com merce; together with reinforcements of men to retain the conquests. The merchants, however, disappointed in their golden dreams with regard to the Spice Islands, were not disposed to make additional advances in sup port of a scheme that promised but slow and moderate returns. They accordingly surrendered their rights to the crown of Castile. The king undertook to send the supplies, but many difficulties and delays occurring, Ca bot was so tired with waiting, that, embarking his men and effects in the largest of his ships, and leaving the west behind, he returned to Spain in 1531, after an ab sence of nearly six years. His failure in this expedition, and his harsh treatment of the Spanish mutineers, had procured him many enemies, so that his reception at court was not very flattering. He still, however, re tamed his office of pilot for many years, till at last, for sonic unknown reason, he was induced to quit Spain and return once more to Britain.
It is believed that Cabot resided at Bristol towards the close of the reign of Henry VIII.; about which time he is said to have been appointed Grand Pilot of England. Being introduced by the protector, Lord Somerset, to Edward VI., that young prince took great delight in his conversation, and granted him, in consideration of his services, or, according to some, as the salary attached to his office of pilot, the yearly sum of 1661.: 13g. : 4d. ; a sum no doubt very considerable for those times, and which Hakluyt terms " the great pension." From this period Cabot enjoyed much consideration, and in all matters of nautical enterprise was consulted as the most competent judge in England. Being made governor of the company of merchant adventurers, his eagerness for finding a short passage to the Indies returned : the north-east coasts of Europe were still unexplored ; and he e, njecturcd that an opening might be found by sailing along the shores of Norway and Lapland. The king hav
ing accordingly, in 1552, granted his licence to man three vessels destined for this expedition, Cabot fur nisl.cd the commanders with instructions, which arc still preserved, and chew the sagacity and of this renowned seaman. Two expeditions arc understood to have sailed pursuant to this project : That, however, under Sir Hugh Willoughby is the only one of which we have any distinct account ; and this, it is well known, though it failed in discovering a practicable passage to the cast, was productive of the important discovers-, that Lapland and Greenland do not meet, and that Archangel, till then approached only by land, is accessible to ships from the Atlantic. For his gr( at trouble in maturing these impoitant projo.ts, the king bestowed on Cabot a donation of 2001. This great inan was also made gm (_r nor of the Russia company, to which situation he it a. appointed for life by their charter ; and in 1555, Philip and Mary granted him an of 14r.: 'l'he last circumstance on record rclathe to the Iii. of Cabot is, that on the 27th of April 1556, visited sl Burroughes, commander of a small vessel lying at Gravesend, bound for Russia, and gave him and his men a grand entertainment on the occasion. It is probable that this veteran seaman died in the following year, the advanced age of about 80.
No navigator ever deserved more of England than S'e Bastian Cabot. Skill, enterprise, and a generous enthu siasm l'or professional distinction. were never more hap pily blended in the character of any mariner ; and if in command he was lofty and somewhat arbitrary, the com plexion of his daring and rough crews rendered firm ness peculiarly necessary. When on shore, he is de scribed as uncommonly gentle in his manners, commu nicative, and easy of access. Versed in all the science of the times, he had a correct knowledge of the globe : lie made " ca rdes for the sea," he sketched out tracts of adventure in regions which no mortal had user seen, and was the first who noticed the variation of the com pass. Ile published a large map, engraved by ClemeLt Adams, a copy of which, containing sonic writing, war hung up in the privy gallery at Whitehall. There k also a work under the title of nelle fiarte Settentrionale, par Sebastiano Cabota," primed at Ve nice, 1583. See Hakluyt's Voyages, vol. iii. London, 1600; Campbell's Lives of the Admirals; Lediard's vat History; and Biog. Brit. (a)