Section 1st, from 166o to 1700.

        We are not sure but Falmouth* may yet claim the honor of being the first spot on the main land of America on which an Englishman ever trod. New facts relating to our early history are coming to light and the praiseworthy efforts that are now being made by the Massachusetts Historical Society and other kindred associations to collect and authenticate these facts will undoubtedly throw much new light on the events that led to our establishment as a people on these western shores. The society just alluded to has quite recently come in possession of some manuscripts through an American traveller in Europe, giving a particular account of Bartholomew Gosnold's visit to the Elizabeth Islands in 1602.

        He was the first English navigator (of whom we have any account) that passed through the Vineyard Sound. He came into

* -- The town of Falmouth forms the south-western extremity of cape Cod -- being bounded on the north-east by a straight line dividing it from the town of Sandwich and the north-west by a small stream running from Hope Spring, at the extreme north point, into Cataumet or Wild Harbor; on the east by the reservation of Mashpee; on the south by Vineyard Sound; and on the west by Buzzard's Bay.  Its situation is found to be  Lat. 41 degrees, 34 minutes ― Longitude 70 degrees, 35 minutes, 45 seconds. For the latitude I am indebted to Capt. H. C. Bunker --  for the longitude to Capt. John Crocker -- both  the result of  actual

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