[Portcall24]

Wow...nicely done.

“It is certainly true that, in modern times, the government has gotten itself involved in the infrastructure business.” But always with a vig. You send me a dollar and I’ll send you back 75 cents.

[muawiyah]

If you start in the 16th century you are dealing with the 1500s, and yes, there was a decidedly American population here ~ most of them spoke Spanish, or Breton, or Basque, or Swedish, or even Flemish.

The King of Spain (and also of North America) didn't begin dividing the place up until AFTER the promulgation of The Treaty of London (1604) ~ and that's the 17thy century.

I'm just guessing the intro piece was written by someone who had the French and English in mind! They, alas, are NEWBIES!