But suddenly William Claiborne was found to be in London, sent there by the Virginians, with representations in his pocket.

Virginia was already settled and had the intention herself of expanding to the south.
Baltimore, the King, and the Privy Council weighed the matter.

Westward, the blue mountains closed the prospect.

Was the South Sea just beyond their sunset slopes, or was it much farther away, over unknown lands, than the first adventurers had guessed?
Either way, too rugged hardship marked the west! East rolled the ocean.

North, then?
It were well to step in before those Hollanders about the mouth of the Hudson should cast nets to the south.