2       THE STORY OF NEW NETHERLAND

by living in the Azores. These islands had been
rediscovered by Dutch sailors in 1431 and colo¬
nized, becoming a new Netherland. From this
point the ships bound for the New World began
their westward voyages. Lying eight hundred
miles west of Portugal, these nine islands emerge
from the ocean on nearly the parallels of our
Middle States. England lies in high latitudes.
Cabot, Davis, and Frobisher, steering directly
west, entered sub-polar regions. From the Azores
to Sandy Hook is almost a straight line. In our
day the German submarine cable connects Con¬
tinental Europe with America, by way of the
Azores and Embden.

When both Orient and Occident were opened
to trade the islands rose directly in the path of
commerce. Here, as to a school, one must come
to learn about colonial business. For a long time
the Azores were associated with America, but
after the Spaniards occupied them, the Canaries
became the base of supplies and point of departure
across the Atlantic.

In 1591, when the triumphant Dutch Repub¬
lic was twelve years old, Usselinx returned and
began to agitate in favor of trade with America.
He kept up the work of arousing public opinion
until his death at eighty, leaving fifty printed
works behind him. In 1602 the Dutch East India
Company was formed, but the Great Truce of
1609 compelled postponement of his schemes for