Nautical almanac first published 1631 1731 1764 1767 1820 Reign of George III. dimensions of ships increased; copper sheathing adopted for ships of every class; establishments of naval stores provided at all dockyards and naval stations; and various improvements made in shipbuilding 1760-1820 1685-8 April, 1872 Barlow's theory of the deviation of the compass See Compass, Latitude, Longitude, Steam, &c. NAVIGATION LAWS. A code of maritime laws is attributed to Richard I. of England, said to have been decreed at the isle of Oleron, 1194 (see Oleron), and further enactments were made by Richard II. in 1381.-In Oct. 1651, the parliament passed an act entitled "Goods from foreign parts, by whom to be imported," the principles of which were affirmed by 12 Charles II. c. 18, "an act for the encouraging and increasing of shipping and navigation" (1660). The latter act restricts the importation and exportation of goods from or to Asia, Africa, or America, to English ships, of which the masters and three-fourths of the mariners are to be English. This was followed by many acts of similar tenor; which were consolidated by 3 & 4 Will. IV. c. 54 (1833). These acts were in the whole or in part repealed by the act "to amend the laws in force for the encouragement of British shipping and navigation" (passed 12 & 13 Vict. c. 29, 26 June, 1849, after much opposition), and which came into operation I Jan. 1850. The steam navigation act passed 14 & 15 Vict. c. 79, 1851, came into operation 1 Jan. 1852. The act regulating the navigation of the river Thames was passed in 1786.-In Feb. 1865 the emperor recommended the modification of the French navigation laws; in Feb. 1872, new restrictions were laid upon foreign ships, chiefly affecting British. NAVIGATORS (or Navvies). These helpers in the construction of railways probably derived their name (about 1830) from formerly making the inland navigation in Lincolnshire, &c., and are said to be descendants of the original Dutch canal labourers. NAVY OF ENGLAND, "whereon, under the good providence of God, the wealth, safety, and strength of the kingdom chiefly depends," Act for the government of the Navy. See Naval Battles. A fleet of galleys, like those of the Danes, built by Alfred The number of galleys greatly increased under Edgar, who claimed to be lord of the ocean surrounding Britain 897 about 965 A formidable fleet equipped by the contribution of every town in England, in the reign of Ethelred II. when it rendezvoused at Sandwich, to be ready to oppose the Danes A fleet collected by Edward the Confessor to resist the Norwegians, 1042; and by Harold to resist the Normans . 1007 1066 Richard I. collected a fleet and enacted naval laws about Edward III's fleet defeat the French at the battle The Cinque ports and maritime towns frequently furnished fleets commanded by the king or his officers.] 1191 Great Britain had gor ships; 177 of the line, in 1814; 621 ships, some of 140 guns each, and down to surveying vessels of two guns only; 148 sail employed on foreign and home service 1830 The screw propeller introduced in the Royal Navy, 1840 The Navy consisted of 339 sailing and 161 steam vessels Naval Coast Volunteers' act passed 1850 Aug. 1853 Of 315 sailing vessels, 97 screw steamers, and 114 Review of the Baltic fleet at Spithead by the Queen, Flogging not to be inflicted on first-class seamen The Warrior, our first iron-plated steam frigate, the largest vessel in the world except the Great Eastern (see Steam), length, 380 ft. breadth, 58 ft.; iron-plate, 4 inches thick; 6170 tons burthen; cost about 400,000l. ; launched [censured in 1864], A royal commission recommends the abolition of 29 Dec the board of admiralty, and the appointment of a minister of the navy department March, 1861 Lord Clarence Paget, secretary of admiralty, states that England has 67 steam ships of the line; while France has Russia 9, Spain 3, and Italy 1, New act for the government of the navy (the Naval 11 April, Discipline act) passes. 6 Aug. Four iron-plated vessels (400 ft. long: 594 ft. wide; and cost about 600,000l. each) building. Dec. Cupola or Turret Ships. Capt. Cowper Coles' mode of constructing iron-plated vessels, with a cupola or turret for firing from, the other parts of the vessel being nearly subinerged, made known in 1855, and recommended to the admiralty in 1861; adopted by Ericson in the Monitor, 1862; proposed to be adopted by the British government, 1862 Six different kinds of plated vessels said to be constructing; E. J. Reed authorised to build the Steam ram Valiant launched 1864 The turret-ship Sovereign, constructed on Coles' principle, put out of commission, and placed among reserved ships; this blamed by some, Oct. Naval models from the time of Henry VIII. collected early in the present century by sir Robert Seppings, removed to South Kensington Museum, Dec. 29 iron-clad vessels building "to be ready for sea this year" March, 1865 Bellerophon, iron-clad, by Mr. E. J. Reed; and the Lord Warden, iron-clad, launched May, A British fleet entertained at Cherbourg, Brest, &c., 15 Aug., &c.; and a French fleet at Portsmouth, 29-31 Aug. Royal Navy "consists of 735 vessels and steamships of all classes" (30 iron-clads ready for sea), (see under Cannon) July, 1866 Aug. 17 April, New Naval Discipline act, passed Difficult launch of the Northumberland iron-clad, Acts for protection of naval stores passed, 1867 and 1869 150 wooden ships of all classes sold 1859-67 [Of these were 7 line of battle ships and 6 frigates, cost above 1,000,000!., sold for 87.5434] Hercules, 12, armour-plated ship, 1200 horse-power, floated at Chatham April, 1869 . 10 Feb. 1868 The Monarch, our first armour-clad turret ship, launched at Chatham 25 May, 47 armoured vessels afloat, with 598 guns; 66 efficient unarmoured vessels; and a large number of vessels of the old type, constitute the navy, Satisfactory trial trip of the Navy Reserve squadron, July, Explosion of the boiler of the Thistle gun-boat, on trial trip; to killed. 3 Nov. Devastation, iron turret ship, first rivet of her keel clinched by Mr. Childers, the first lord, at Portsmouth. 12 Nov. Resignation of Mr. E. J. Reed, chief constructor, July, 1870 Adm. sir T. M. C. Symonds reports in favour of the Monarch and Captain turret ships Aug. H.M.S. iron-clad frigate, Triumph, launched at Jarrow 27 Sept. The Captain founders near Finisterre about A court-martial for the nominal trial of James May, 8 Oct. 1870 Navy.-55 armoured vessels afloat: 9 constructing: effective force afloat, 354 vessels; and a large number of others 1871 Megera troopship lost near Amsterdam island (see Wrecks) 16 June, The Agincourt, capt. Hamilton Beamish, 6621 tons, struck on the Pearl Rock near Gibraltar, 11 A. M. 11 July; got off by great skill and management by the Hercules, capt. lord Guildford 4 July, [After trial, admirals Wellesley and Wilmot ordered to strike flags; capts. Beamish and Well superseded; others censured; lord Guildford commended, Aug. 1871.) Turret vessels of the Monitor type designed by E. Lord Clyde, iron-clad, stranded off Pantellaria, 15 May, A trial-trip of the Devastation reported successful, 15 April, 1873 ANNUAL EXPENDITURE OF THE BRITISH NAVY.-1850, 6,942,397.-1854, 6,640,5961. ;-1855 (to 31 March, Russian war), 14,490,105. ;-1856, 19,654,585. —1859. 9,215,487.-1861, 13,331,6687.;-1862, 12,598,042/; 1863. 11,370,5884; 1864, 10,821,596. - 1865. 10,898,2531.-1866, 10,259.7884. :--1867, 10,676,101; 1868, 11,168,949l.:--1869, 11, 366.545-1870, 9.757,290.. -1871, 9,456,641 --1872, 9,900,486.; 1873, estimates 9,633,000l. NAVAL SALUTE TO THE BRITISH FLAG began in Alfred's reign, and though sometimes disputed, may be said to have been continued ever since. The Dutch agreed to strike to the English colours in the British seas, In 1673. The honour of the flag salute at sea was also formally assented to by France in 1704, although it had been long previously exacted by England; see Flag and Salutes at Sea. NAVAL UNIFORMS. The first notice of the establishment of a uniform in the British naval service, which we have met with, occurs in the Jacobite's Journal of 5 March, 1748, under the head of "Domestic News," in these terms: An order is said to be issued, requiring all his majesty's sea-officers from the admiral down to the midshipman, to wear a uniformity of clothing, for which purpose pattern coats for dress suits and frocks for each rank of officers are lodged at the Navy-office, and at the several dock-yards for their inspection." This is corroborated by the Gazette of 13 July, 1757, when the first alteration in the uniforma took place, and in which a reference is made to the order of 1748, alluded to in the journal above mentioned, and which in fact is the year when a naval uniform was first established. James I had indeed granted, by warrant of 6 April, 1609, to six of his principal masters of the navy, "liverie coats of fine red cloth." The warrant is stated to have been drawn verbatim from one signed by queen Elizabeth, but which had not been acted upon by reason of her death. This curious document is in the British Museum; but king James's limited red livery is supposed to have been soon discontinued. Quarterly Review. NAVY PAY OFFICE, organised in 1644, was abolished in 1836, when the army and navy pay departments were consolidated in the Paymaster General's office, NAVY LIST was first officially compiled by John Finlaison, the celebrated actuary, and published monthly in 1814. NAVAL REVIEWS. The queen reviewed the fleet at Spithead, near Portsmouth, 11 Aug. 1853; again, March, 1854. before it sailed to the Baltic, at the commencement of the Russian war; and again, at Portsmouth, on the conclusion of peace, in the presence of the parliament, &c. The fleet extended in an unbroken line of 5 miles, and consisted of upwards of 300 men-of-war, with a tonnage of 150,000, carrying 3800 guns, and manned by 40,000 seamen. There were about 100,000 spectators, 23 April, 1856. A grand naval review (15 great wooden ships, 15 ironplated, 16 gun-vessels and boats), was held at Spithead (the queen, the sultan, and the viceroy of Egypt present), 17 July, 1867. NAVAL VOLUNTEERS (or Reserve). By 16 & 17 Vict. &. 73 (1853), the admiralty were empowered to raise a body of sea-faring men to be called the "Naval Coast Volunteers," not to exceed 10,000, for the defence of the coast, and for actual service if required. On 13 Aug. 1859, an act was passed to enable the admiralty to raise a number of men, not exceeding 30,000, as a reserve force of seamen, to be called the " Royal Naval Volunteers." In November following, the admiralty issued a statement of the "qualifications, advantages, and obligations" of this reserve. The enrolment commenced on 1 Jan. 1860. The engagement is for five years, and the volunteers are entitled to a pension when incapacitated after the expiration of the term. At the prospect of war with the United States in Dec. 1861, a great number of seamen at Hartlepool, Dundee, London, Aberdeen, &c., offered their services. First enrolled body of Royal Naval Volunteers inspected, 18 Jan. 1873. NAVY OF FRANCE. It is first mentioned in history, 728, when, like that of England at an early period, it consisted of galleys; in this year the French defeated the Frisian fleet. The French fleet was almost annihilated by Edward III. at the battle of Sluys, 24 June, 1340. It was considerably improved under Louis XIV. at the instance of his minister Colbert, about 1697. The French navy was in its splendour about 1781; became greatly reduced in the wars with England; see Naval Battles. It was greatly increased by the emperor Napoleon III., and in 1859 consisted of 51 ships of the line (14 sailing vessels and 37 steamers), and 398 other vessels, in all 449; including vessels building, converting, or ordered to be built. The new French iron-clad frigate Gloire, constructed by M. Dupuis de Lome, launched in 1860, was generally considered as successful. The Solferino and Magenta were launched in June, 1861; other iron vessels since. NAZARENE, a name given to Jesus Christ, and his disciples; but afterwards to a sect who rejected the doctrine of Christ's divinity in the first century. A sect named Nazarenes, resembling the society of Friends in Britain, became prominent in Hungary in the autumn of 1867. NEAPOLIS, see Naples. NEBRASKA, a N.W. territory of North America (part of Louisiana), was organised 30 May, 1854. Capital, Omaha city." NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS, put forth by sir Wm. Herschel, 1811, supposes that the universe was formed out of shapeless masses of nebulæ or clusters of small stars. It has not been generally received. In Oct. 1860, Mr. Lassell strictly scrutinised the dumb-bell nebula, and stated that the brightest parts did not appear to be stars. 1865, Mr. Wm. Huggins reported that he had analysed certain nebula by their spectra, and believed them to be entirely gaseous. NECROMANCERS, see Magic. In NECTARINE, the Amygdalis Persica, originally came from Persia about 1562. Previously, presents of nectarines were frequently sent to the court of England from the Netherlands; and Catherine, queen of Henry VIII., distributed them among her friends. NEEDLES. "The making of Spanish needles was first taught in England by Elias Crowse, a German, about the eighth year of queen Elizabeth, and in queen Mary's time there was a negro made fine Spanish needles in Cheapside, but would never teach his art to any." Stow. The manufacture was greatly improved at Whitechapel, London; Redditch, in Gloucestershire, and Hathersage, in Derbyshire. An exhibition of ancient needlework was formed at South Kensington Museum in 1873. NEEDLE-GUN (Zündnadelgewehr), a musket invented by J. N. Dreyse of Sommerda, about 1827, and made a breech-loader in 1836, which was adopted by the Prussian general Manteuffel about 1846. It was found to be a most effective weapon in the war with Denmark in 1864, and in that with Austria in 1866. The ignition of the charge is produced by a fine steel rod or needle being pressed through the cartridge. The principle is claimed for James Whitley, of Dublin, 1823; Abraham Mosar, 1831, and John Hanson, of Huddersfield, 1843. NEERWINDEN, see Landen. NEGUS (wine and water), said to be named after col. Francis Negus, about 1714. The sovereign of Abyssinia is termed negus. NELSON'S VICTORIES, &c., see separate articles. Appointed to chief command in the Mediterranean, Pursues the French and Spanish fleets, March to Aug.; returns to England, Aug.; re-appears at Cadiz, and defeats the fleets in Trafalgar Bay, where he is killed 21 Oct. 1805 The Victory man-of-war arrived off Portsmouth with his remains 4 Dec. The body lay in state in the Painted Hall, at Greenwich, 5 Jan.; removed to the Admiralty, 8 Jan. ; funeral took place 9 Jan. 1806 The prince of Wales (afterwards George IV.), the duke of Clarence (afterwards William IV.), and other royal dukes; almost all the peers of England, and the lord mayor and corporation of London, with thousands of military and naval officers and distinguished men, followed the funeral car to St. Paul's; the military amounted to near 10,000, The Nelson Column, Trafalgar-square, London, comindependent of volunteers. pleted, and the statue placed on it (see Statues) Nov. 1843 4 NEMEAN GAMES, celebrated at Nemea, in Achaia, said to have been instituted by the Argives, in honour of Archemorus, who died by the bite of a serpent; and revived by Hercules, 1226 B.C. The conqueror was rewarded with a crown of celebrated every third year, or, according to others, olives, afterwards of green parsley. They were on the first and third year of every Olympiad, 1226 .C. Herodotus. They were revived by the emperor Julian, A.D. 362, but ceased in 396. NEO-PLATONISM or NEW PLATONISM, see Philosophy. NEPAUL (N. India) was conquered by the Ghoorkas, 1768, who made treaties with the British, 1791 and 1801; but frequently made incursions; and in consequence war with them commenced 1 Nov. 1814; terminated 27 April, 1815. A treaty of peace was signed between the parties, 2 Dec. 1815. War was renewed through an infraction of the treaty by the Nepaulese, Jan. 1816; and after several contests, unfavourable to the Nepaulese, the former NEPHALIA. treaty was ratified, 15 March, 1816. An extraordinary embassy from the king of Nepaul to the queen of Great Britain arrived in England, landing at Southampton, 25 May, and remained till Aug. 1850; it consisted of the Nepaulese prince, Jung Bahadoor, and his suite, to whom many honours were paid. He supported the English during the Indian mutiny in 1857. NEPHALIA, sacrifices of sobriety among the Greeks, when they offered mead instead of wine to the sun and moon, to the nymphs, to Aurora, and to Venus; and burnt any wood but that of the vine, fig-tree, and mulberry-tree, esteemed symbols of drunkenness, 613 B.C. NEPHOSCOPE (nephos, Greek, a cloud). An apparatus for measuring the velocity of clouds, invented by Karl Braun, and reported to the Academy of Sciences, Paris, 27 July, 1868. NEPTUNE, a primary planet, first observed on 23 Sept. 1846, by Dr. Galle at Berlin, in consequence of a letter from M. Le Verrier, who had conjectured from the anomalous movements of Uranus, that a distant planet might exist nearly in the position where Neptune is situated. Calculations to the same effect had been previously made by Mr. J. Couch Adams, of Cambridge. A satellite of Neptune was discovered by Mr. Lassell on 10 Oct. following. Neptune is said to have been seen by Lalande, and thought to be a fixed star. NERVII, a warlike tribe in Belgic Gaul, were defeated in a severe battle by Julius Caesar 57, and subdued 53 B.C. NERWINDEN, see Landen. NESTORIANS, the followers of Nestorius, bishop of Constantinople (428-431), who is represented as a heretic for maintaining that though the Virgin Mary was the mother of Jesus Christ as man, yet she was not the mother of God, since no human creature could impart to another what she had not herself; he also held that God was united to Christ under one person, but remained as distinct in nature and essence as though he had never been united at all. He was opposed by Eutyches, and died 439; see Eutychians. Nestorian Christians in the Levant administer the sacrament with leavened bread and in both kinds, permit their priests to marry, and use neither confirmation nor auricular confession. Du Pin. A Nestorian priest and deacon were in London in July, 1862. NETHERLANDS, see Flanders, Holland, and Belgium. NETLEY HOSPITAL, near Southampton, for invalid soldiers. The foundation stone was laid by the queen, 19 May, 1856. NEUFCHATEL, a canton in Switzerland, formerly a lordship, afterwards a principality. The first known lord was Ulric de Fenis, about 1032, whose descendants ruled till 1373, after which by marriages it frequently changed governors. On the death of the duchesse de Nemours, the last of the Longuevilles, in 1707, there were many claimants; among them our William III. He and the allies however gave it to Frederick I. of Prussia with the title of prince. In 1806 the principality was ceded to France, and Napoleon bestowed it on his general Berthier, who held it till 1814, when it fell to the disposal of the allies. They restored the king of Prussia with the title of prince with certain rights 11 June, 1857 The prisoners of Sept. 1856 were released without trial NEUSTRIA or WEST FRANCE, a kingdom allotted to Clotaire by his father Clovis, at his death in 511. His descendant, Charlemagne, became sole king of France in 771. It was conquered by the Northmen and hence named Normandy (which see). NEUTRALITY LAWS. A commission, in a report issued in May, 1868, recommended changes. An act to make better provision for the preservation of neutrality was passed 9 Aug. 1870. John P. McDiarmid apprehended, for breach of neutrality laws, at Bow-street, 28 Oct. 1870. NEUTRAL POWERS. By the treaty of Paris, signed by the representatives of Great Britain, France, Austria, Russia, Prussia, Turkey, and Sardinia, on 16 April, 1856, it was determined that privateering should be abolished; that neutrals might carry an enemy's goods not contraband of war; that neutral goods not contraband were free even under an enemy's flag; and that blockades to be binding must be effective. The president of the United States acceded to these provisions in 1861. NEVADA, a western territory of the United States of N. America, organised 2 March, 1861; admitted a state, 31 Oct. 1864. Capital, Carson city. NEVILLE'S CROSS or DURHAM, BATTLE OF, between the Scots under king David Bruce and the English it is said (probably incorrectly) under Philippa, consort of Edward III., and lord Percy, 12 or 17 Oct. 1346. More than 15,000 of the Scots were slain, and their king taken prisoner. NEVIS (W. Indies), an island discovered by Columbus, planted by the English in 1628; taken by the French, 14 Feb. 1782; restored to the English in 1783. The capital is Charleston. NEWARK (Nottinghamshire). The church was erected by Henry IV. Here, in the midst of troubles, died king John, 19 Oct. 1216; here the royal army under prince Rupert repulsed the army of the parliament, besieging the town, 21 March, 1644; and here, 5 May, 1646, Charles I., after his defeat at Naseby, put himself into the hands of the Scotch army, who afterwards gave him up to his enemies. Newark was first incorporated by Edward VI., and afterwards by Charles II. NEW BRUNSWICK was taken from Nova Scotia, and received its name as a separate colony in 1785. It was united with Canada for legislative purposes by an act passed 29 March, 1867. Population of New Brunswick in 1865, 272,780. Lieut.governor, Lemuel A. Wilmot, 1868. NEWBURY (Berkshire). Near here were fought two desperate battles-(1.) 20 Sept. 1643: between the army of Charles I. and that of the parliament under Essex; it terminated somewhat favourably for the king. Among the slain was the amiable Lucius Cary, viscount Falkland, deeply regretted. (2.) A second battle of dubious result was fought between the royalists and the parliamentarians under Waller, 27 Oct. 1644. NEW CALEDONIA (Pacific Ocean), discovered by Cook on 4 Sept. 1774, was seized by the French, 20 Sept. 1853, and colonised. The French government in Dec. 1864, redressed the outrages committed upon the British missionaries at a station established here in 1854. NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (Northumberland), the Koman Pons Elia, the first coal port in the world, and the commercial metropolis of the north of England. The coal-mines were discovered here about 1234. The first charter granted to the townsmen for digging coal was by Henry III. in 1239. The castle built by Robert Courthose, son of William I. Taken by William II. St. Nicholas church built, about 1091; burnt in 1216; restored by Edward I., to whom John Baliol did homage here, 1292; rebuilt Newcastle surrenders to the Scotch. 1080 . 1095 . 1359 1640 30 Jan. 1647 Who here gave up Charles I. to the parliament Literary and Philosophical Society founded 1793; liberally endowed by Robt. Stephenson The magnificent market erected by Richd. Grainger, who greatly improved the town T. Bewick, the wood-engraver, dies. High level bridge erected by Robert Stephenson: and grand central station built 1745 1858-9 1828 1835 1846-50 1538 persons die of cholera. 31 Aug. to 26 Oct. 1853 Great fire through the explosion at Gateshead (which see) 5,6 Oct. 1854 Great distress through failure of Northumberland Joint-Stock Bank Nov. 1857 4 July, 1861 Richard Grainger dies, aged 63 the duke of Devonshire became first lord of the treasury. Thomas Holles Pelham, duke of Newcastle, first lord of Henry Bilson Legge, chancellor of the exchequer. Lord Gower (succeeded by the duke of Marlborough Earl of Hardwicke, lord chancellor. Duke of Grafton, earl of Halifax, George Grenville, &c. NEWCASTLE AND PITT ADMINIS- Duke of Marlborough (succeeded by lord Ligonier), Sir Robert Henley, lord keeper of the great seal. NEW CHURCH, see Swedenborgians. NEW COLLEGE (St. John's Wood, London), erected by the Independent dissenters for the education of their ministers, 1850-1, was formed by the union of Homerton, Highbury, and Coward colleges. See Oxford. NEW DEPARTURE DEMOCRATS, see United States, 1871. NEW ENGLAND (N. America). The first settlement made in 1607, was named New England by captain Smith, in 1614. A band of 102 Puritans, now termed the "Pilgrim Fathers" (with 28 women) arrived here in the May Flower, and founded the settlement on Plymouth Rock, 25 Dec. 1620, which was named New Plymouth. This was the nucleus of Massachusetts, from whence were gradually developed New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. 24 June, 1866 In 1643 these settlements formed the first American confederation, a defensive union, with a constitution based on the Mosaic law, governed by a religious aristocracy, which lasted till 1693. Maine was made an independent state in 1820. See Forests. 7-9 Oct. 1862 British Association meet here 26 Aug. 1863 Great fire at Brown's flour mills, &c., near the new level bridge, which is injured; about 70,000l. loss The Central Exchange destroyed by fire 11 Aug. 1867 Mr. Mawson, the sheriff, and Mr. Bryson, the town surveyor, and others, killed, while attempting to bury some nitro-glycerine in the town-moor, to get rid of it 18 Dec. 1867 Strike of about gooo engineers, for day's work of nine hours; begun about 16 May, 1871 College of Physical Science in connection with the Durham University, opened Engineers' strike closed: terms, nine hours a day, to begin on 1 Jan. 1872; men to work overtime when needed; wages to remain the same; arranged by Mr. R. B. Philipson and Mr. Joseph Cowen 6 Oct. NEW FOREST (Hampshire), was made ("afforested") by William the Conqueror, 1079-85. It is said that the whole country, for thirty miles in compass, was laid waste. William Rufus was killed in this forest by an arrow shot by Walter Tyrrel, that accidentally glanced against a tree, 2 Aug. 1100, the site of which is now pointed out by a triangular stone. The New Forest Deer Removal act was passed 14 & 15 Vict. c. 76, 7 Aug. 1851. Agitation for the preservation of this forest, autumn, 1870. NEWFOUNDLAND (N. America), discovered by Sebastian Cabot, who called it Prima Vista, 24 June, 1497. It was formally taken possession of by sir Humphry Gilbert, 1583. In the |