BIOGRAPHY.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH-Born, 1552-Beheaded, 1618.

though unsuccessful, in his first voyage, the instructions of Gilbert could not fail to be of service to Raleigh, who at this time was not much above twentyfive, while the admiral must have been in the maturity of his years and abilities. For some time after this, the life of Raleigh was that of a soldier: until Gilbert's patent being nearly expired, his attention was again called to his scheme for prosecuting discoveries in the new world. A second squadron was now fitted out, and the largest ship in it, which bore Raleigh's own name, was built under his own eye, and equipped at his expense. This expedition was commanded by Gilbert, and, although starting under favourable auspices, was unfortunate in its com

A NAME dear to Americans, for to him "is due the honour of projecting and of keeping up, by his persevering efforts and expensive expeditions, the idea of permanent British settlements in America. His name is thus associated with the origin of the independent states of North America, and must be reverenced by all who, from liberal curiosity or pious affection, study the early history of their country." Walter Raleigh was born at Hayes, on the coast of Devonshire when young, he was sent to Oriel college, Oxford, where he exhibited a restless am-mencement, and ultimately fatal to its leader. In a bition, which prompted him to seek distinction rather in the stirring scenes of the world, than the cloistered solitude of a college; and this natural inclination to adventure was fostered by the study of books relating to the conquests of the Spaniards in the new world, a species of reading which was the delight of his early years, and undoubtedly gave a colour to the whole tenour of his life.

His stay at Oxford therefore was short; and in 1559 he seized the opportunity of the civil wars in France, between the Huguenots and Catholicks, to visit that kingdom and commence his military education; but although engaged in war, he found leisure to study the histories of the discoveries of Columbus, the conquests of Cortes, and the sanguinary triumphs of Pizarro, which books were his especial favourites. Nor were there wanting, in the army in which he served, many others whose society encouraged his early devotion to such pursuits. It is not surprising, therefore, that the ardent mind of Raleigh should have eagerly embraced an opportunity of embarking in an adventure of this nature, which offered itself while he was in Holland.

short time, the Raleigh returned into the harbour, a contagious distemper having broken out on board. Gilbert pursued his voyage; and having reached the Baccalaos, originally discovered by John Cabot, and since called Newfoundland, took possession of it. and the adjoining coast in the name of the reigning English queen, Elizabeth. After a partial survey of the island, and an interview with the natives, whose disposition was pacifick and gentle, they steered south. But discontent, mutiny, and sickness broke out in the fleet. The Swallow was sent home with the sick, and the Delight was soon after completely wrecked. The admiral now hoisted his flag in the Squirrel, of ten tuns burden. The weather soon after became dark and lowering, and on the 9th of September, at midnight, this little vessel was swallowed up with all on board, and not a plank of her was ever seen again.

The melancholy fate of his brother did not deter Raleigh from the prosecution of his schemes. By the study of the Spanish voyages, and his conversations with some skilful mariners of that nation, whom he met in Holland and Flanders, he had learned that His stepbrother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, had pub-the Spanish ships always went into the Gulf of lished, in 1576, a treatise concerning a northwest Mexico by St. Domingo and Hispaniola, and directpassage to the East Indies, which is full of practi-ed their homeward course by the Havana and the cal sense. The work appears to have made no Gulf of Florida, where they found a continued coast inconsiderable impression upon the government; and on the west side, tending away north, which, howSir Humphrey, having obtained a patent from the ever, they soon lost sight of by standing to the east, queen to colonize such parts of North America as to make the coast of Spain. Upon these grounds, were not possessed by any of her allies, prevailed and for reasons deduced from analogy and a knowwith Raleigh to abandon his military pursuits, and ledge of the sphere, he concluded there must be a try his fortune in the voyage. vast extent of land north of the Gulf of Florida, of which he resolved to attempt the discovery.

The project, however, failed. Many who had eagerly embarked in it became discontented; all Probably, also, during his residence in France he desired an equal share of power; discord bred cold- might have become acquainted with the particulars ness and desertion; and Sir Humphrey and Raleigh of the voyage of Verazzano, or have seen the charts at last found themselves obliged to put to sea with a constructed by that navigator, who had explored the few friends who disdained to leave them under such same coast nearly as far south as the latitude of Viradverse circumstances. "When the shipping was ginia. Having fully weighed this project, he laid in a manner prepared," says Edmond Haies, who a memoir before the queen and council, who approv was a principal actor in the enterprise," and men ed of the undertaking; and in the beginning of 1584 ready upon the coast to go abroad, some brake con- her majesty granted, by her letters-patent, all such sort, and followed courses degenerating from the countries as he should discover in property to himvoyage before pretended; others failed of their prom- self and his heirs, reserving to the crown the fifth ises contracted, and the greater number were dis- part of the gold or silver ore which might be found. persed, leaving the general with a few of his assured The patent contained ample authority for the defence friends, with whom he adventured to sea, where, of the new countries, the transport of settlers, and having tasted of no less misfortune, he was shortly the exportation of provisions and commodities for driven to retire home with the loss of a tall ship." their use.

On its homeward passage, the small squadron of Sir W. selected for the command of his projected Gilbert was dispersed and disabled by a Spanish voyage two experienced officers-Captain Philip fleet, and many of the company were slain. Al-Amadas and Arthur Barlow-to whom he gave

[Birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh.] minute written instructions, and who sailed with two ships, well manned and provisioned, on the 27th of April 1584. On the 10th of May they arrived at the Canaries; after which, keeping a southwesterly course, they made the West Indies; and, departing thence on the 10th of July, found themselves in shoal-water, discerning their approach to the lands by the delicious fragrance with which the air was loaded" as if," to use the words of their letter to Raleigh, "we had been in the midst of some delicate garden, abounding with all kinds of odoriferous flowers."

"Next day they received a visit from some canoes, in which were forty or fifty men, among whom was Granganimeo, the king's brother. Having first rowed within a short distance, they landed on the beach; and the chief, attended by his suite, who were handsome and athletick persons, fearlessly approached opposite the ship. A long mat was spread for him, on which he sat down; and four men of his followers, apparently men of rank, squatted themselves on the corner. Signs were made for the English to come forward; and on doing so, Granganimeo desired them to sit down beside him, showing "Arrived upon the coast, and sailing along upwards every token of joy and welcome, first striking his of one hundred and twenty miles, they at length own head and breast, and afterward those of the found a haven, and disembarked. Their first step strangers, as if to express that they were all brethren. was to take possession of the country in the name Presents were exchanged; and such was the reverof the queen; after which they ascended a neigh-ence with which these people treated their prince, bouring eminence, and discovered to their surprise that while he made a long harangue, they remained that they had not landed on the continent, but on the perfectly-still, standing at a distance; even the four island of Okakoke, which they found running paral- chiefs only venturing to communicate their feelings lel to nearly the whole coast of North Carolina. to each other in a low whisper. The gifts were The valleys were finely wooded with cedars, around received with delight; but on some trinkets being whose trunks wild vines hung in rich festoons; and offered to the chiefs, Granganimeo quietly rose up, the grape seemed so native to the soil, that the clus- and, taking them away, put them into his own basket, ters covered the ground, and dipt into the sea. For intimating by signs that every thing ought to be two days no inhabitants were seen; but on the third given to him, these men being no more than his sera canoe with three men approached. One of them vants-a proceeding to which they submitted withwas easily prevailed on to come aboard, when the out a murmur. A trade was soon opened, in which present of a shirt and some trinkets gained his con- the strangers made good profit, by exchanging beads fidence. On returning to his boat he began to fish, and other trifles for rich furs and skins. On exhiband having loaded it heavily, paddled back to theiting their wares, Granganimeo's eye fixed with deEnglish, and, dividing his cargo into two parts, intimated that one was for the ship, and the other for the pinnace.

light upon a pewter dish, for which he conceived the strongest desire. It became his at the price of twenty skins; and, having pierced a hole in the rim,

he hung it round his neck, making signs that it would serve as a breastplate to protect him against the arrows of his enemies.

their boats on shore, and to carry the white strange on their backs to her own house, where she feasted them with fish and venison, and afterward set be"It was now found that these people were engaged fore them a dessert of various kinds. These peoin hostilities with a neighbouring nation, and that ple were gentle and faithful, void of all deceit, and the absence of the king was occasioned by severe seemed to live after the manner of the golden age. wounds lately received in battle, of which he lay sick "As the surf beat high on the landing, they got wet, at the chief town, six miles off. His brother, after notwithstanding their mode of transport; but this a few days, again visited the English, attended by inconvenience was soon remedied; a great fire behis wife and children, coming aboard and partaking ing kindled, and their clothes washed and dried by of a collation, which they seemed to enjoy. Their the princess's women, while their feet were bathed manners were remarkable for ease and civility. The in warm water. The natives expressed astonishlady was a handsome little woman, extremely bash-ment at the whiteness of their skins, and kindly patful. She wore a leathern mantle, with the fur next her skin, and her hair, which was long and black, was confined in a band of white coral; strings of pearl, as large as peas, hung from her ears, reaching to her middle. Her children had ear-rings of the same precious material, while those of her attendants were of copper. Granganimeo was dressed much in the same fashion as his wife. On his head he wore a broad plate of metal; but, not being permitted to examine it, they were uncertain whether it was copper or gold.

"A brisk trade now began with the natives; but no one was allowed to engage in it when the king's brother was present, except such chiefs as were distinguished by having plates of copper upon their heads. When this prince intended to visit the ship, he invariably intimated the number of boats which were to accompany him, by lighting on the shore an equal number of beacons. The navigators learned that, about twenty years before their arrival, a vessel belonging to a Christian country had been wrecked on the coast, all hands on board perishing; out of the planks cast ashore, the people had drawn the nails and bolts, with which they had formed some edgetools, not having possessed any previous to this accident; but these were very rude, and their common instruments consisted of shells and sharp flints. Considering such imperfect means, their canoes were admirably made, and large enough to hold twenty men. When they wished to construct one, they either burned down a large tree, or selected such as had been blown down by the wind, and laying a coat of gum and resin on one side, set fire to it, by which it was hollowed out; after which they scraped and polished it with their shells; and if found too shallow, laid on more resin, and burnt it down to the required depth.

"The soil of the country was rich, the air mild and salubrious, and they counted fourteen kinds of sweetsmelling trees, besides an underwood of laurel and box with oaks whose girth was greater than those of England. The fruits were melons, walnuts, cucumbers, gourds, and esculent roots; and the woods were plentifully stocked with bucks, rabbits, and hares. After a short while, the adventurers, by invitation of the natives, explored the river, on whose banks was their principal town; but the distance to be travelled being twenty miles, they did not see the city. They reached, however, an island called Aonoak, where they found a village of nine houses, built of cedar, the residence of their friend Prince Granganimeo, who was then absent. His wife, with whom they were already acquainted, received them with distinguished hospitality, running out to meet them, giving directions to her servants to pull

ted them as they looked wonderingly at each other. During the feast, two men, armed with bows and arrows suddenly entered the gate, when the visiters, in some alarm, took hold of their swords, which lay beside them, to the great annoyance of their hostess, who at once detected their mistrust. She despatched some of her attendants to drive the poor fellows out at the gate, and who, seizing their bows and arrows, broke them in an instant. These arrows were made of small canes, pointed with shell or the sharp tooth of a fish. The swords, breastplates, and warclubs, used by the natives, were formed of hardened wood; to the end of this last weapon, they fastened the horns of a stag or some other beast, and their wars were carried on with much cruelty and loss of life.

"The name of the country where the English landed was called Wingandaeoa, and of the sovereign Wingina; but his kingdom was of moderate extent, and surrounded by states under independent princes, some of them in alliance and others at war with him. Having examined as much of the interiour as their time would permit, our countrymen sailed homeward, accompanied by two of the natives, named Wanchese and Manteo, and arrived in England in the middle of September.

His

"Raleigh was highly delighted with this new discovery, establishing, in so satisfactory a manner, the results of his previous reasoning, and undertaken at his sole suggestion and expense. royal mistress, too, was scarcely less gratified; she gave her countenance and support to the schemes for colonization, which he begun to urge at court, and issued her command, that the new country, so full of amenity and beauty, should, in allusion to her state of life, be called Virginia."

Not long after this, Raleigh received the honour of knighthood, a dignity bestowed by Elizabeth with singular frugality and discrimination, and, about the same period, the grant of a patent to license the vending of wines throughout the kingdom; a monopoly, extremely lucrative in its returns, and which was probably bestowed by Elizabeth to enable him to carry on his great schemes for the improvement of navigation, and the Settlement of a colony in Virginia.

Sir Walter now fitted out a new fleet for America, the command of which he gave to Sir Richard Grenville; the fleet consisted of seven vessels; part of these were fitted out at Sir Walter's expense, the remainder by his companions in the adventure; one of whom was Thomas Candish or Cavendish, afterward so eminent as a navigator, who now served under Grenville.

"On the 19th of April, the mariners reached the

accident occurred, in which the conduct of the settlers appeared rash and impolitick. A silver cup had been stolen, and a boat was despatched to Aquascogok to reclaim it. Alarmed at this visit, the savages fled into the woods, and the enraged crew demolished the city and destroyed the corn-fields. A revenge so deep for so slight an injury incensed the natives; and although they artfully concealed their resentment, from that moment all cordiality between them and the strangers was at an end.

Canaries, from which they steered to Dominica in and northwest to Chawanook, a large province, unthe West Indies, and landed at Puerto Rico, where der a monarch named Menatonon. These proceedthey constructed a temporary fort. On the 26th ings, however, were soon interrupted, by the threatof June, after some delays at Hispaniola and Flori-ening aspect of affairs at head-quarters. Even da, they proceeded to Wohoken in Virginia; and before the departure of Grenville for England, an having sent notice of their arrival by Manteo, one of the two natives who had visited England, they were soon welcomed by their old friend Granganimeo, who displayed much satisfaction at their return. Mr. Ralph Lane, who had been invested with the dignity of chief-governour, now disembarked with one hundred and eight men, having as his deputy Philip Amadas, one of the original discoverers. Grenville does not appear to have been sufficiently impressed with the difficulties attending an infant colony in a new country; and, accordingly, after a short stay, "Not long after, Menatonon and his son Skyco during which was collected a valuable cargo of were seized and thrown into irons; but the monskins, furs, and pearls, he returned to England, car-arch was soon liberated, while the youth was rerying into Plymouth a Spanish prize, which he had captured on the homeward voyage, of three hundred tuns burden, and richly laden.

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tained as a hostage for his fidelity. To all appearance, this precaution had the desired effect. But the king, although an untaught savage, proved him"The first survey of their new territory delighted self an adept in dissimulation. Working upon the the English; and the governour, in a letter to avarice and credulity of the English, he enticed Hakluyt, who appears to have been his intimate them into the interiour of the country by a flattering friend, informs him that they had discovered the report of its extraordinary richness and amenity. mainland to be the goodliest soil under the cope of He asserted that they would arrive at a region heaven; abounding with sweet trees, that bring sun-where the robes of the sovereign and his courtiers dry rich and pleasant gums; and, moreover, were embroidered with pearl, and the beds and houses studded with the same precious material. Menatonon described also a remarkably rich mine, called by the natives chaumis temoatan, which was situated in the country of the Mangaoaks, and produced a mineral similar to copper, although softer and paler.

of huge and unknown greatness: well peopled and towned, though savagely, and the climate so wholesome, that they had not one person sick since their arrival.'

"Lane fixed his abode on the island of Roanoke, and thence extended his researches eighty miles southward to the city of Secotan. He also pushed one hundred and thirty miles north, to the country of the Chesepians, a temperate and fertile region; VOL. I.-37

"By these artful representations, Lane was persuaded to undertake an expedition by water, with two wherries and forty men. Instead, however, of

was now long past the time when supplies had been expected from England, and Drake generously offered every sort of provisions. Lane, however, only requested a vessel and some smaller craft to carry them home, which was immediately granted; but before they could get on board, a dreadful tempest, which continued for four days, dashed the barks intended for the colonists, to pieces, and might have driven on shore the whole fleet, unless, to use the language of the old despatch, 'the Lord had held his holy hand over them.' Deprived in this way of all other prospect of return, they embarked in Sir Francis' fleet, and arrived in England on the 27th of July, 1586.

"Scarcely, however, had they sailed, when the fol

the promised relays of provisions, they found the towns deserted, and the whole country laid waste. Their boats glided along silent and solitary banks; and after three days, during which they had not seen a human being, their last morsel of food was exhausted, and the governour, now aware of the treachery of Menatonon, proposed to return. His men, however, entreated him to proceed, still haunted by dreams of the inexhaustible riches of the Mangaoaks' country, and declaring they could not starve as long as they had two mastiffs, which they might kill, and make into soup. Overcome by such arguments, Lane continued the voyage; but for two days longer no living thing appeared. At night, indeed, lights were seen moving on the banks, demonstrating that their progress was not unknown, though the observ-ly of their precipitate conclusion, that Raleigh had ers were invisible. At last, on the third day, a loud voice from the woods suddenly called out the name of Manteo, who was now with the expedition. As the voice was followed by a song, Lane imagined it a pacifick salutation; but the Indian seized his gun, and had scarcely time to warn them that they were about to be attacked, when a volley of arrows was discharged into the boats. The travellers now landed, and assaulted the savages, who fell back into the depths of the wood, and escaped with little injury; apon which it was resolved to return to the settlement. On their homeward-bound voyage, which, owing to their descending with the current, was performed with great rapidity, they had recourse to the mastiff broth, or, as the governour terms it, 'dog's porridge,' and arrived at Roanoke in time to defeat a formidable conspiracy.

"The author of the plot was Wingina, who, since the death of his brother Granganimeo, had taken the name of Pemisapan. His associates were Skyco and Menatonon; and these two chiefs, pretending friendship, but concealing under its mask the most deadly enmity, had organized the plan of a general massacre of the colony. The design, however, was betrayed to Lane by Skyco, who had become attached to the English; and, aware of the necessity of taking immediate measures before Pemisapan could muster his forces, the governour gave instructions to seize any canoes which might offer to depart from the island. In executing this order, two natives were slain, and their enraged countrymen rose in a body, and attempted to overpower the colonists, but were instantly dispersed. Not aware, however, that his secret was discovered, and affecting to consider it as an accident, Pemisapan admitted Lane and his officers to an interview, which proved fatal to him. The Virginian monarch was seated in state, surrounded by seven or eight of his principal weroanees, or high chiefs; and after a brief debate, upon a signal given, the Europeans attacked the royal circle, and put them all to death.

"This alarming conspiracy had scarcely been put down, when the natives made a second attempt to get rid of the strangers, by neglecting to sow the adjacent lands, hoping, in this manner, to compel tnem to leave the country. At this decisive moment, a fleet of twenty-three vessels came in sight, which turned out to be the squadron of Sir Francis Drake, who had fortunately determined to visit the colony of his friend Sir Walter, and carry home news of their condition, on his return from an expedition against the settlements in the Spanish Main. It

forgotten or neglected them, was manifested by the arrival, at Roanoke of a vessel of one hundred tuns, amply stored with every supply. Deeply disappointed at finding no appearance of the colony, they sailed along the coast, and explored the interiour.-But all their search was in vain, and they were compelled to take their departure for Europe. This, however, was not all. Within a fortnight after they weighed anchor, Sir Richard Grenville, with three well-appointed vessels, fitted out principally by Raleigh, appeared off Virginia, where, on landing, he found, to his astonishment, every thing deserted and in ruins. Having made an unsuccessful effort to procure intelligence of his countrymen, it became necessary to return home. But, unwilling to abandon so promising a discovery, he left behind him fifteen men, with provisions for two years, and, after some exploits against the Spaniards and the Azores, arrived in England.

"It is asserted by Camden, that tobacco was now, for the first time, brought into England by these settlers, and there can be little doubt that Lane had been directed to import it by his master, who must have seen it used in France, during his residence there. There is a well-known tradition, that Sir Walter first began to smoke privately in his study, and the servant coming in with his tankard of ale and nutmeg, as he was intent upon his book, seeing the smoke issuing from his mouth, threw all the liquor in his face by way of extinguishing the fire, and running down stairs, alarmed the family with piercing cries, that his master, before they could get up, would be burnt to ashes. 'And this,' continued Oldys, has nothing in it more surprising than the mistake of those Virginians themselves, who, the first time they seized upon a quantity of gunpowder, which belonged to the English colony, sowed it for grain, or the seed of some strange vegetable in the earth, with full expectation of reaping a plentiful crop of combustion by the next harvest, to scatter their enemies.'

"On another occasion, it is said that Raleigh, conversing with his royal mistress upon the singular properties of this new and extraordinary herb, assured her that he had so well experienced the nature of it that he could tell her the exact weight of the smoke in any quantity proposed to be consumed. Her majesty immediately fixed her thoughts upon the most impracticable part of the experiment, that of bounding the smoke in a balance; suspecting that he was playing the traveller with her, and laying a wager that he could not solve the doubt. Upon this,