1580]

RALEIGH'S ATTEMPTS AT COLONIZATION.

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name of New Albion to the surrounding country. Fearing an attack from the Spaniards if he should attempt to recross the Atlantic, he returned home by way of the Cape of Good Hope, having circumnavigated the globe in two years and ten months.

97. In 1578, Sir Humphrey Gilbert received a patent from Queen Elizabeth, by which he was created lord of any land he might settle with an English colony. He made two voyages, but accomplished little more than the erection of a pillar bearing the arms of England. On his last return voyage in a very small vessel, he was overtaken by a violent storm. The lights of his ship suddenly disappeared in the night, and he was never seen again.

98. Sir Walter Raleigh [raw'-le], not discouraged by the fate of Gilbert, who was his brother-in-law, next carried on the work of discovery under an ample charter from Elizabeth. Two of his vessels under Am'-i-das and Bar'-low reached the coast of Carolina in 1584. The new land seemed to the adventurers a delightful paradise. Luxuriant vines twined. round the "sweete smelling timber trees"; grapes hung in abundance from the branches; and shady bowers echoed on all sides the music of beautiful wild birds. The natives seemed to be gentle and confiding, and to live "after the manner of the golden age". The voyagers were hospitably entertained by an Indian queen on Roanoke Island; but, without waiting to see much of the country, they returned home, accompanied by two of the natives. The virgin queen of England was so pleased with their description of this enchanting region that she named it Virginia in honor of herself.

99. Thus encouraged, Raleigh, in 1585, sent out a fleet under Sir Richard Grenville, for the purpose of making a permanent settlement. Grenville was brave, but hasty, and,

what did Drake do? Give an account of his cruise on the Pacific. 97. In 1578, who received a patent from the queen? Give an account of Gilbert's voyages. 98. Who next carried on the work of discovery? By whom were two of his vessels commanded? What part of the coast did they reach? How did the new land appear to the adventurers? By whom were the voyagers entertained? Who accompanied them on their return voyage? What name was given to the region, and why? 99. What was Raleigh thus encouraged to attempt? What was Grenville's character? What im

while exploring the coast, he burned a village of the Indians in revenge for their having stolen a silver cup from his party. Having landed the colonists on the Island of Roanoke, Grenville returned to England, leaving Ralph Lane in command as governor. The Indians, meanwhile, had not forgotten the wanton destruction of their property; and with glowing stories respecting the interior of the country they lured the English on a disastrous expedition up the Roanoke. It was with great difficulty that the adventurers made their way back to the coast, sassafras tea and dog-flesh being all that saved them from starvation during part of the journey.

Soon after this, Sir Francis Drake touched at Roanoke, and allowed the colonists, who longed once more for their native land, to return in his vessel. They had learned from the Indians the use of tobacco and the potato, and introduced both into England. The Indians were in the habit of smoking tobacco, but the practices of chewing and snuffing it originated among civilized Europeans.

A few days after they had sailed, Grenville arrived with reinforcements and supplies. He left fifteen men to keep possession of the country for England, but the following year their bones alone could be found.

100. In 1587, Raleigh sent out another party, who arrived at Roanoke and commenced building "the City of Raleigh", for which they had received a charter. White, the governor of the little settlement, soon returned to England for further supplies, leaving on the island 89 men, 17 women, and 2 children, one of whom, Virginia Dare, was the first child born of English parents in America. He found his countrymen in a state of great excitement on account of a threatened invasion by the Spanish; and no relief could be sent to the infant colony till 1590. In that year, White returned to seek his family and settlement, but found only a heap of ruins. What

prudent act did he commit? What took place soon after? How did the Indians revenge their injuries? Who reached Roanoke soon after? What did he allow the colonists to do? What had they learned from the Indians? A few days after, who arrived? What became of the men he left? 100. In 1587, what city was commenced in the new world? How many did White leave in the colony? What prevented Whitc from immediately returning? What became of the colonists? To whom did Raleigh

1590]

JAMES FIRST'S GRANT.

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became of the colonists was never ascertained, but it is supposed that they were killed by the Indians.

Raleigh had spent nearly $200,000 in these attempts to settle Virginia; and, having exhausted his means, he made over his charter to a company of merchants. He was afterwards unjustly condemned on a charge of plotting against James I., and after a long imprisonment, which he employed in writing a history of the world, he was at length beheaded, under a sentence which had for years been forgotten. Thus perished one of the wisest men and most skilful navigators of the age. 101. The attempts made up to this time to colonize America had been signally unsuccessful. Adventurers, however, were not discouraged. In 1602, Bartholomew Gos'-nold crossed the Atlantic by a new and direct route in seven weeks, and reached the coast of Massachusetts. He discovered Cape Cod, and gave it that name from the fish taken there. The next year, Pring explored part of the coast of Maine, and in 1605 Weymouth [wa'-muth] discovered the Pe-nob'-scot River.

102. Gosnold's representations induced Wingfield, a merchant, Robert Hunt, a clergyman, and John Smith, an adventurer of genius and distinction, to attempt a permanent settlement in Virginia; and, to encourage the movement, James I., in 1606, granted an extensive tract, 12 degrees in width and reaching from Halifax to Cape Fear, to two associations known as the Plymouth Company and the London Company. The territory of the former lay between parallels 45 and 41; that of the latter, between 38 and 34: the intermediate country was to be open to both. The same year the London Company sent out a colony of 105 persons, including 48 "gentlemen" and four carpenters, under command of Capt. Newport. A storm carried them past the ruins of Raleigh's settlement into Chesapeake Bay, where they found a noble river which they named from King James.

surrender his charter, and why? What was his subsequent history? 101. What is said of the attempts to colonize America up to 1602? What discovery was made in this year, and by whom.? What coast and river were explored soon after? 102. Whom did Gosnold induce to attempt a permanent settlement in Virginia? How did James L. encourage the movement? In 1606, whom did the London Company send out? Where

port and Smith visited the native chief Powhatan, at his capital, on the site now occupied by Richmond. This king of thirty tribes resided in a village of twelve wigwams, and kept a guard of Indians about his person. He was now about sixty years old, a tall, grave, and dignified warrior.

103. Newport soon returned to England, but not before disease had begun its work on the settlers. The effects of hot weather, bad lodging, and food spoiled on the long voyage, were speedily felt. A fortnight after Newport's departure, hardly ten of the party were able to stand. The groans of the sick and helpless were heard on every side, and despair weighed down the hearts of all. Before autumn, half the party, including Gosnold, had died. Wingfield, who had been elected president, was deposed for conspiring with a few others to seize the public stores and escape to the West Indies. His successor had neither nerve nor energy. At this juncture the management of the colony was by common consent intrusted to Capt. John Smith. The previous career of this remarkable man had been event

were they carried? Where did they fix their settlement? What name did they give to it? [See Map. On which bank of the James River was Jamestown? In what direction from Richmond? Name the three rivers that flow into Chesapeake Bay. What Indian tribe lived east of Chesapeake Bay?] Whom did Newport and Smith visit? Give an account of this warrior and his village. 103. What befell the colony after Newport's departure? Before autumn, how many had died? What plan was formed by Wingfield? What was the character of his successor? To whom was the management of the colony now intrusted? Give some account of Smith's previous career. How

1607]

CAPTURE OF CAPTAIN SMITH.

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ful. He had fought for freedom in Holland; he had travelled through France, and visited Italy and Egypt; he had battled against the Turks in Hungary, served as a slave in Constantinople and the Crimea, escaped through Russia, and found a new field for adventure in Morocco. He now rose among his dying comrades as the guardian genius of Virginia.

Smith's prudent measures soon brought about a better state of things. He prevented the timid from abandoning the colony, and awed the rebellious into obedience. Several voyages of discovery were also undertaken, during one of which his companions, in consequence of leaving their boat contrary to orders, were captured by the Indians and put to death. Smith himself, after killing three of his enemies, sunk in a marsh and was obliged to surrender. He saved himself from immediate death by awakening the curiosity of the savages, showing them his pocket compass, and telling them the wonders of astronomy. Wishing to propitiate the Indians with presents, he wrote to his countrymen at Jamestown to deposit certain articles in a place in the forest which he mentioned, and then told his captors when and where they would be found. The colonists complied with his directions; and, when the Indians found every thing as Smith had predicted, they reverenced him as a superior being. He was led in triumph through various villages of wondering natives, and thus became acquainted with their character and customs. At one place where they stopped, the simple inhabitants brought him the gunpowder they had taken from the captured party, and told him that they intended to plant it in order to discover "the nature of the seede".

At last they arrived at the residence of Powhatan, to whom the fate of the captive was referred. The Indian king condemned Smith to death, and the brave adventurer bowed his head on a large stone to receive the fatal blow.

did he manage affairs? What happened during one of his voyages? How did Smith save himself from immediate death? How did he astonish the Indians? How did he become acquainted with their customs? What anecdote is told of the Indians? Where did they at last arrive? What sentence was pronounced on Smith? How was