Virginia, 1492-1892 a brief review of the discovery of the continent of North America, with a history of the executives of the colony and of the commonwealth of Virginia in two parts |
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 | Virginia, 1492-1892 |  |
INTRODUCTION.
That the great Western Continent of our earth bears witness
to a venerable past, is a world-accepted fact, and that its
gradual advance in culture has been in obedience to a fixed law
of humanity, is also a matter beyond dispute. A different distribution
of land and water on the globe is a possible factor in
the problem of the early spread of the human race, but as yet
science has not been able to solve this question, and with all the
lights of modern civilization, no sifting of the mutilated records
of the past has brought the long-sought knowledge.
No firm foundation has been found on which to fix the first
link in a chain of reasoning; no corner stone on which to
build a theory of the primeval dawn. In the language of a
distinguished scientist.
"Multitudes of races and nations have arisen upon the
American Continent and have disappeared, leaving no trace
but ruins, mounds, a few wrought stones or fragments of pottery.
History can only preserve facts founded on written
records, or bona fide traditions, and it is from these formulations
that it builds up chronology and traces the pedigree of
nations. Here all these fail. Those whom we are disposed
to call aborigines are perhaps but the conquerors of other
races that preceded them; conquerors and conquered are forgotten
in a common oblivion and the names of both have
passed from the memory of man."
It is generally agreed that Asia was the cradle of the
human race, and that by successive migrations during an
incalculable period man spread to the uttermost parts of the
globe. The stories of Memphis, Thebes, Babylon, Assyria,
Lydia, Media, and Persia, open our minds to the progress of
mankind in early days, and from the history of Egypt alone we
can form some idea of that ancient world which in process of
discoveries at Tel El-Amarna, in Upper Egypt, of epistolary
correspondence between Egyptian kings of the 18th dynasty
(or 15th century B. C.) and potentates of Western Asia, we
are confronted with the surprising truth that this was a
period of great literary activity, and that there was a "world
of letters" before the Hebrew conquest of Palestine, is now a
widely spread opinion. Dwelling upon the constantly unfolding
revelations of the hoary past, we may well conceive how
advanced were the nations of the ancient world, and how populous
must have been the continent which drove its surplus
human hordes upon the far shores of America. That these
waves of living men, belonging to the outer edges of Asiatic
nomadic barbarism, came to North America by Behring
Strait, and spread along the line of the 30th parallel, south,
to South America, is a plausible hypothesis, but of their
growth afterwards nothing definite can be known. It is only
supposed that they passed through the necessary processes of
evolution until, after centuries of waiting, they reached a
higher and higher plane of culture, gradually crystalizing
their ideas in so permanent a form that pre-historic remains
are scattered broadcast over the three Americas. To the
North, these vestiges of life exist from the Rocky Mountains
on the West to the Alleghanies on the East; from the Great
Lakes on the North to the Gulf of Mexico on the South; and
the monuments of Mexico, Peru, and Central America proclaim
a yet more advanced degree of culture. These last
"must have required skilled labor, a numerous population,
and an established priesthood, such as could have developed
only during the lapse of centuries."
But not the works of man alone tell of the teeming life
which in the remote past covered this continent with sentient
beings. Traces of myriads of human skeletons speak their
own story of a brief sojourn upon earth, but leave no certain
clue to solve the mystery of their being. Which way they
came, which way they went, what form they wore, is lost forever
to the grasp of human lore. Yet in the great brotherhood
of humanity, it touches a chord of sympathy to know
and valleys which we call our own; that they basked in the
same sun and slept beneath the same stars we love to gaze
on, and that they buried their bones in the same Mother Earth
that will receive our ashes! Further than this we cannot go;
Night wrapt their cradle round with darkness, and having run
their course they fell into eternal silence.
Thus, no effort of archæologist or biologist has ever
traced a history of these forgotten races, and hidden in the
shell-heap, the mound, and the pueblo, or buried beneath the
monuments of Mexico and the farther South, lie peoples that
have perished from the annals of the world, leaving in the
great march of life only a nameless grave to mark their
by-gone and mysterious existence.
This shadowy outline of what may scarce be called a
history, is that which can be told of the earliest state of
America; but the time was drawing near for a long-delayed
and higher life to which the Creator of the universe had
destined it.
For several centuries before the Christian era, philosophers
had taught that the earth was round, and that the water
which bounded Europe on the West washed also the shores
of Asia on the East. This opinion gained ground as the
years rolled on, and it was said of him who was ordained to
be the great, successful Navigator, that he "comforted himselfe
with this hope, that the land had a beginning where the
sea had an ending." To find a shorter route to India and
to win a portion of the trade as yet carried on by caravans
with the farther East, had long been the dream of the
Portuguese, the Spanish, and the English. But to students
and wise men the great field of discovery offered a nobler
aim—the certain knowledge of the formation of the globe
and the consequent advancement of mankind.
And so it came to pass in the 15th century, that Christopher
Columbus, the geographer and philosopher, the hardy mariner
and dauntless apostle of an untried creed, tempted the
"Sea of Darkness" and sailed toward the horizon's rim.
By faith and patience he fulfilled the prophecy of ages.
Ocean of his hidden treasure, in the transport of his joy he
knelt and kissed the ground; at this, a reflex of "The
Sleeping Beauty" of romance, the land awoke, and
"In that new world which is the old,"
rose to renewed vitality.
Although it is asserted that the Western Continent had
been seen as early as the 10th century by roving Norsemen,
still its real discovery was made by[1]
Christopher Columbus
in 1492. Imperishable be his name! Like that unchanging
star which led him on his stormy way, the splendor of his
triumph will know no going down. In undiminished brightness
will it shine as ages pass away.
In his career on earth Columbus had been called to taste
the bitter and the sweet, had known the rapture of success and
the sharp sting of base ingratitude, and, saddest to tell, had
died in want and woe. But Time has garnered up his glory.
No other navigator can claim to have discovered "The New
World"; it was he alone who opened the gates of the morning
and flooded the trackless deep with everlasting light.
When Columbus had rent the veil which hid this great
reserve of Nature, he beheld upon its shores a savage race,
a race perhaps washed on the American Continent by a later
wave of migration, from that great nursery of the world, old
Asia. Columbus called these people "Indians," believing
that the islands he had struck were but the outer
fringes of the India which he sought. Though this illusion
has been long dispelled, the names he gave remain. "Indians"
and "West Indies" abide as way-marks in the progress
of mankind.
And now, no sooner had the existence of a trans-Atlantic
continent become assured, than Western Europe rose to
seize the prize. Spain, having sent Columbus on his courageous
voyage, prepared to take advantage of his finding, and
soon acquired much territory in the South. France spread
her canvas too for conquest, and planted her banner in the
and unclaimed territory. Thither sent England her daring
Cabot and his sons, who landed on the New World, planted
the royal standard upon her virgin coasts, and laid an empire
at Britannia's feet—an empire stretching from the ice-clad
regions of the snow-king to the beauty, and fragrance, and
opulence of the land of the sun; whose Western and whose
Eastern coast lines are washed each by a majestic ocean, and
whose hidden and incalculable wealth made it at once the El
Dorado of hope and of fruition.
The patent conferred on John Cabot by Henry VII. is
the "most ancient American state paper of England." The
style of the commission is:
"Johanni Cabotto, Civi Venetiarum, ac Ludovico, Sebastiano,
et Sancto, Filiis dicti Johannis, etc." It is dated
March 5th, in the eleventh year of the reign of Henry VII.
Although John Cabot came from Venice, the place of his
birth is unknown, and on his second voyage to America all
trace of him is lost. But his name will adorn the annals of
England so long as the Dominion of Canada exists, and the
grand Banks of Newfoundland pour their pounds and shillings
into British coffers. These banks are one of the treasuries
of the ocean, and the most valuable fishing grounds in
the world.
It was in this wise that John Cabot took possession of the
country. He came in his first voyage upon the Western
Continent, June 24, 1497, about latitude fifty-six degrees,
among the dismal cliffs, of Labrador. He ran along the
coast for many leagues, and finally decided to land at a point
which he called Prima Vista. This is generally acceded to
be the island of Newfoundland. Here he erected a large
cross with the flag of England on it; and from affection for
the [2]
Republic of Venice he added also the banner of St.
Mark.
But seventy-nine years were suffered to pass away before
England, from causes adverse to the extension of industry,
trade, and navigation, again turned to her possessions in the
out Martin Frobisher for the discovery of a northwest passage;
failing in his effort, he returned to England, from
whence he was sent again in 1577 to explore further the
coast of Labrador and Greenland. Finding his search an
unavailing task, he sailed for home, and in 1578 returned to
America with the design of forming a settlement in the northernmost
part of the continent. In this plan he was also
thwarted, and the supposed gold, which had been found in
such abundance in glittering stones and sand, proved as
delusive as the hope of establishing a home in that inhospitable
land. Still Elizabeth, dazzled by dreams of finding the
precious ore in the ice-clad regions of the North and a mine
of wealth in the fisheries of Newfoundland, readily granted
a patent to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, one of her adventurous
subjects, authorizing him to discover and take possession of
all remote and barbarous lands, unoccupied by any Christian
prince or people. She vested in him, his heirs and assigns
forever, the full right of property in the soil of those countries
of which he should take possession, to hold of the crown of
England by homage, on payment of the fifth part of the gold
or silver ore found there; conferred complete jurisdiction
within the said lands and seas adjoining them; declared that
all who should settle there should enjoy all the privileges of
free citizens and natives of England, any law, custom, or
usage to the contrary notwithstanding, and prohibited all
persons from attempting to settle within 200 leagues of any
place which Sir Humphrey Gilbert or his associates should
have occupied during the space of six years.
Gilbert soon after prepared to put to sea with a considerable
fleet; but dissensions arose and he was deserted by some
of his associates. He set sail, however, yet losing one of his
ships in a storm he returned to England, and the effort
proved abortive. On this adventure he was accompanied by
his half-brother, Sir Walter Ralegh. In 1583 Gilbert
equipped a new squadron and embarked under happier auspices.
He sailed for Newfoundland June 11, and in August,
entering St. John's harbor, he summoned the Spaniards and
take possession of the country for his sovereign. When
assembled, his commission was read and interpreted to the
foreigners. A turf and twig were then delivered to him, and
proclamation was immediately made that by virtue of his
commission from the Queen, he took possession of the harbor
of St. John and 200 leagues every way around it, for the
crown of England. Not far from this place a pillar was
erected, upon which were "infixed the armes of England."
This formal possession, in consequence of the voyage of the
Cabots, is considered by the English as the foundation of the
right and title of the crown of England to the territory of
Newfoundland and to the fishery upon its banks.
But Gilbert was not destined to enjoy the reward of his
enterprise and courage. On his return voyage the little
Squirrel which he commanded—a bark of ten tons only—
foundered at midnight in a fierce gale at sea, and ship nor
crew were ever seen again. The Hind one of the fleet,
reached home in safety, and her captain, Edward Haies,
detailed the sad disaster.
But Sir Walter Ralegh, undaunted by the tragic fate of
Gilbert, resolved to make the desperate venture once again.
Observing that the Spaniards had not yet occupied a vast
extent of territory north of the Gulf of Mexico, he hoped by
planting a colony there to thwart the Spanish and the French
from gaining entire possession of the continent. Ever since
the arrival in England, in 1565, of the Huguenots who had
escaped massacre in Florida by the Spaniards, the knowledge
of the increasing power of Rome in America had been
growing. This may have been one reason which lured the
Protestant Elizabeth to seek a permanent settlement there;
but it is certain that the reputed mines of gold in the new
country had much to do with energizing the project. So Sir
Walter Ralegh, young, accomplished, and in favor with the
Queen, had little difficulty in obtaining her consent to fit out
another expedition. She gave to Ralegh a patent with prerogatives
and jurisdictions as ample as had been granted to
his brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert.
The following is an exact copy of this interesting paper:
THE LETTERS PATENTS, granted by the Queenes Maiestie to M.
Walter Ralegh now Knight, for the discouering and planting of
new lands and Countries, to continue the space of 6 yeeres and no
more.
Elizabeth, by the grace of God of England, France, and Ireland,
Queene, defender of the faith, &c. To all people to whom these presents
shal come, greeting. Know ye that of our special grace, certaine science,
& meere motion, we have giuen and graunted, and by these presents for
vs, our heires and successors doe giue and graunt to our trusty and well-beloued
seruant, Walter Ralegh, Esquire, and to his heires and assignes
for euer, free liberty & licence from time to time, and at all times for euer
hereafter, to discouer, search, finde out, and view such remote, heathen,
and barbarous lands, countreis, and territories, not actually possessed of
any Christian prince, nor inhabited by Christian people, as to him, his
heires and assignes, and to euery or any of them shall seeme good, and
the same to haue, holde, occupy & enioy to him, his heires and assignes
for euer, with all prerogatives, commodities, iurisdictios, royalties, priuiledges,
franchises and preeminences, thereto or thereabouts both by sea
and land, whatsoeuer we by our letters patents may grant, and as we or any
of our noble progenitors haue heretofore granted to any person or persons,
bodies politique or corporate; and the saide Walter Ralegh, his heires and
assignes, and all such as from time to time, by licence of vs, our heires
and successors, shal goe or trauaile thither to inhabite or remaine, there
to build and fortifie, at the discretion of the said Walter Ralegh, his
heires & assignes, the statutes or act of Parliament made against fugitiues,
or against such as shall depart, remaine, or continue out of our Realm of
England without licence, or any other statute, act, law, or any ordinance
whatsoeuer to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
And we do likewise by these presents, of our especial grace, meere
motion, and certain knowledge, for vs, our heires and successors, giue
and graunt full authoritie, libertie, and power to the said Walter Ralegh,
his heires and assignes, and euery of them, that he and they, and euery
or any of them, shall and may at all and euery time and times hereafter,
haue, take, and leade in the sayde voyage, and trauaile thitherward, or to
inhabite there with him or them, and euery or any of them, such, and so
many of our subiects as shall willingly accompany him or them, and
euery or any of them; and to whom also we doe by these presents, giue
full libertie and authoritie in that behalfe, and also to haue, take, and
employ, and vse sufficient shipping and furniture for the transportations,
and Nauigations in that behalfe, so that none of the same persons or any
of them be such as hereafter shall be restrained by vs, our heires or successors.
And further that the said Walter Ralegh, his heires and assignes, and
and assignes, and euery of them for euer, all the soyle of all such landes,
territories, and Countreis, so to be discovered and possessed as aforesayd,
and of all such Cities, Castles, Townes, Villages and places in the same,
with the right, royalties, franchises, and iurisdictions, as well marine as
other within the sayd landes, or Countreis, or the seas thereunto adjoining,
to be had, or vsed, with full power to dispose thereof, and of euery
part in fee simple or otherwise, according to the order of the lawes of
England, as neere as the same conueniently may be, at his, and their wil
and pleasure, to any persons then being, or that shall remaine within the
allegiance of vs, our heires and successors; reseruing always to vs, our
heires and successors, for all seruices, dueties, and demaunds, the fift
part of all the oare of golde and silver, that from time to time, and at all
times after such discouerie, subduing and possessing, shall be there gotten
and obteined: All which lands, Countreis, and territories shall for euer
be holden of the said Walter Ralegh, his heires and assignes, of vs, our
heires and successors, by homage, and by the sayd payment of the said
fift part, reserued onely for all seruices.
And moreover, we do by these presents, for vs, our heirs and successors,
giue and grant licence to the said Walter Ralegh, his heires, and
assignes, and euery of them, that he, and they, and euery or any of them,
shall and may from time to time, and at all times for euer hereafter, for
his and their defence, encounter and expulse, repell and resist as well by
sea as by lande, and by all other wayes whatsoever, all and euery such
person and persons whatsoever, as without the especial liking and licence
of the sayd Walter Ralegh, and of his heirs and assignes, shall attempt to
inhabite within the sayde Countreys, or any of them, or within the space
of two hundreth leagues neere to the place or places within such Countreys
as aforesayde (if they shall not bee before planted or inhabited
within the limits as aforesayd with the subiects of any Christian Prince
being in amitie with vs) where the said Walter Ralegh, his heirs, or
assignes, or any of them, or his, or their, or any of their associats or company,
shall within sixe yeeres (next ensuing) make their dwellings or
abidings, or that shall enterprise or attempt at any time hereafter vnlawfully
to annoy, eyther by Sea or Lande the sayde Walter Ralegh, his
heires or assignes, or any of them, or his, or their, or any of his or their
companies, giuing and graunting by these presents further power and
authoritie to the sayd Walter Ralegh, his heirs and assignes, and euery of
them from time to time, and at all times for euer hereafter, to take and
surprise by all maner of meanes whatsoeuer, all and euery those person or
persons, with their Shippes, Veasels, and other goods and furniture,
which without the licence of the sayde Walter Ralegh, or his heires, or
assignes, as aforesayd, shalbe found trafiquing into any Harbour, or Harbours,
Creeke, or Creekes, within the limits aforesayd (the subiects of our
Realms and Dominions, and all other persons in amitie with us, trading
or being driuen by force of a tempest, or shipwracke onely excepted);
and those persons, and euery of them, with their shippes, vessels, goods,
and furniture, to deteine and possesse as of good and lawfull prize, according
to the discretion of him the sayd Walter Ralegh, his heirs, and
assigns, and euery, or any of them. And for vniting in more perfect
league and amitie, of such Countryes, landes, and territories so to be possessed
and inhabited as aforesaid with our Realmes of England and Ireland,
and the better encouragement of men to these enterprises: we doe
by these presents, graunt and declare that all such Countries, so hereafter
to be possessed and inhabited as is aforesaid, from thencefoorth shall be
of the allegiance of vs, our heires and successours. And we doe graunt to
the sayd Walter Ralegh, his heires, and assignes, and to all, and euery of
them, and to all, and euery other person or persons, being of our allegiance,
whose names shall be noted or entred in some of our Courts of
recorde within our Realme of England, that with the assent of the sayd
Walter Ralegh, his heires or assignes, shall in his iourneis for discouerie,
or in the iourneis for conquest hereafter trauaile to such lands, countreis
and territories, as aforesayd, and to their, and to euery of their heires,
that they, and euery or any of them, being eyther borne within our sayde
Realmes of England or Irelande, or in any other place within our allegiance,
and which hereafter shall be inhabiting within any of the Lands,
Countryes, and Territories, with such licence (as aforesayd), shall and
may haue all the priuiledges of free Denizens, and persons natiue of England,
and within our allegiance in such like ample maner and forme, as if
they were borne and personally resident within our said Realm of England,
any law, custome, or vsage to the contrary notwithstanding.
And forasmuch as vpon the finding out, discouering, or inhabiting of
such remote lands, countries, and territories as aforesaid, it shalbe necessary
for the safety of all men, that shall aduenture themselues in those
iourneyes or voyages, to determine to liue together in Christian peace,
and ciuill quietnesse eche with other, whereby euery one may with more
pleasure and profit enioy that whereunto they shall atteine with great
paine and perill, wee for vs, our heires and successors, are likewise pleased
and contented, and by these presents doe giue & grant to the said Walter
Ralegh, his heires and assignes for ever, that he and they, and euery or
any of them, shall and may from time to time for ever hereafter, within
the said mentioned remote lands and countries, in the way by the seas
thither, and from thence, haue full and meere power and authoritie to
correct, punish, pardon, govern, and rule by their and euery or any of
their good discretions and policies, as well in causes capitall, or criminall,
as ciuil, both marine and other, all such our subiects, as shal from time to
time aduenture themselues in the said iourneis or voyages, or that shall
at any time hereafter inhabite any such lands, countreis, or territories as
aforesaid, or that shall abide within 200 leagues of any of the sayde place
them, or any of his or their associats or companies, shall inhabite within
6 yeeres next ensuing the date hereof, according to such statutes, lawes
and ordinances as shall be by him the sayd Walter Ralegh, his heires and
assignes, and euery or any of them deuised, or established, for the better
gouernment of the said people as aforesaid. So alwayes as the said statutes,
lawes, and ordinances may bee, as nere as conueniently may be,
agreeable to the forme of the lawes, statutes, gouernment, or policie of
England, and also so as they be not against the true Christian faith, nowe
professed in the Church of England, nor in any wise to withdrawe any of
the subiects or people of those lands or places from the allegiance of vs,
our heires and successours, as their immediate Soueraigne vnder God.
And further, we do by these presents for vs, our heires and
successors, giue and grant ful power and authoritie to our trustie
and welbeloued Counsailour Sir William Cecill knight, Lorde Burghley,
as high Treasourer of England and to the Lorde Treasourer of England
for vs, our heires and successors for the time being, and to the
priuie Counsaile of vs, our heires and successors, or any foure or more
of them for the time being, that he, they, or any four or more of them,
shall and may from time to time, and at all times hereafter, vnder his or
their handes or Seales by vertue of these presents, authorise and licence
the sayd Walter Ralegh, his heires and assignes and euery or any of them
by him, & by themselues, or by their, or any of their sufficient Atturneis,
Deputies, Officers, Ministers, Factors, and seruants, to imbarke & transport
out of our Realme of England and Ireland, and the Dominions
thereof, all or any of his or their goods, and all or any the goods of his
and their associats and companies, and euery or any of them, with such
other necessaries and commodities of any our Realmes, as to the sayde
Lorde Treasurer, or foure or more of the priuie Counsaile, of vs, our heires
and successors for the time being (as aforesaid) shalbe from time to time
by his or their wisedomes, or discretions thought meete and conuenient
for the better reliefe and supportation of him the sayde Walter Ralegh,
his heires and assignes, and euery or any of them, and of his or their or
any of their associats and companies, any act, statute, law, or any thing
to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
Prouided alwayes, and our wil and pleasure is, and we do hereby
declare to all Christian kings, princes, and states, that if the sayde Walter
Ralegh, his heires or assignes, or any of them, or any other by their
licence or appointment, shall at any time or times hereafter robbe or
spoile by sea or by land, or doe any acte of vniust or vnlawfull hostilitie,
to any of the subiects of vs, our heires or successors, or to any of the subiects
of any of the kings, princes, rulers, Gouernours, or estates, being
then in perfect league and amitie with vs, our heires and successours, and
that vpon such iniurie, or vpon iust complaint of any such Prince,
Ruler, Gouernor, or estate, or their subiects, wee, our heires and successors,
of England, that the saide Walter Ralegh, his heires and assignes, and
adherents, or any to whom these our Letters patents may extende, shall
within the termes to bee limited, by such Proclamation, make full restitution,
and satisfaction of all such iniuries done: so as both we and the
said Princes, or other so complaining, may holde vs and themselues fully
contented: And that if the said Walter Ralegh, his heires or assignes,
shall not make or cause to be made satisfaction accordingly within such
time so to be limitted, that then it shal be lawful to vs, our heires and sucsessors,
to put the sayde Walter Ralegh, his heires and assignes, and
adherents, and all the inhabitants of the said places to be discouered (as is
aforesaid) or any of them out of our allegeance and protection, and that
from and after such time of putting out of protection of the said Walter
Ralegh, his heires, assignes and adherents, and others so to be put out,
and the said places within their habitation, possession and rule, shall be
out of our allegeance and protection, and free for all Princes and others to
pursue with hostilitie, as being not our subiects, nor by vs any way to be
auouched, maintained, or defended, nor to be holden as any of ours, nor
to our protection, or dominion, or allegeance any way belonging: for
that expresse mention of the cleere yeerely value of the certaintie of the
premisses, or any part thereof, or of any other gift, or grant by vs, or any
our progenitors, or predecessors to the said Walter Ralegh, before this
time made in these presents bee not expressed, or any other grant, ordinance,
prouision, proclamation, or restraint to the contrary thereof,
before this time, giuen, ordained, or prouided, or any other thing, cause
or matter whatsoeuer, in any wise notwithstanding. In witnesse whereof,
wee haue caused these our letters to be made Patents. Witnesse our
selues, at Westminster the fiue and twentie day of March, in the sixe and
twentieth yeere of our Raigns.
The expedition thus inaugurated consisted of two ships,
the one commanded by Philip Amidas, and the other by
Arthur Barlow. They sailed from England on the 27th of
April, 1584, and on July 4th following, arrived on the coast
of America. Here, somewhat north of the West Indies and
opposite what was afterwards called "Carolina," on the island
of Wocoken, the southernmost of the islands forming Ocracoke
Inlet, they lifted the British flag and took possession of the
country in the name of Queen Elizabeth.
Prophetic July 4th! Little dreamed those mariners of
England of the "Open Sesame" inscribed, unseen to mortal
eye, upon that rippling banner! Little dreamed they how it
ebon throne and let the Day come in; how it bid the Arcana
of Nature to give up to Science and to Art their hoarded
wealth; how it opened a way for the progress of Christianity,
and spread out a land of light and freedom destined to
become one of the first powers,
"In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world."
In September, 1584, upon their return from this voyage
of discovery, Amidas and Barlow gave such splendid descriptions
of the beauty and fertility of the country, the mildness
of the climate, and of the gentleness of the aborigines, that
Elizabeth, delighted with the idea of occupying so fine a territory,
bestowed upon it the name of "Virginia," as a memorial
that this happy acquisition was made under a virgin
Queen.
Thus did this imperial domain await the hour when, in
the providence of God, it was conceded to the mighty forces
at work among mankind, predestined to a Titanic progress under the Anglo-Saxon race, beneath the equal sway of law
and liberty.
Twice did Sir Walter Ralegh endeavor to plant a colony
upon the shores of the New World. On the island of Roanoke,
not far from "Wocoken," in 1585 and 1587, he made
these efforts, but failed in both attempts. Having thus
expended many thousand pounds in vain, he used the privilege
of his patent March 7, 1589, to endow a company of merchants
and adventurers with large concessions, and this act
was the connecting link between the first efforts on Roanoke
Island and the final colonization of Virginia.
The new instrument ("An indenture made between Sir
Walter Ralegh, Chief Governor of Virginia, on the one part,
and Thomas Smith, etc., etc., of the other part, witnesseth,
etc.,") was not an assignment of Ralegh's patent, but the extension
of a grant already held under its sanction, by increasing
the number to whom the right of that charter belonged.
The assigns of Ralegh became the leaders in applying to
James I. for leave "to deduce a colony into Virginia." He
first colonial charter under which the English were planted
in America.
Although Sir Walter Ralegh was not permitted to see his
own personal schemes realized, they yet stamp him as the
author of the Plantation idea in Virginia, and the pioneer in
that great "Westward Ho," which still rings in the ears of
civilized Europe.
| Virginia, 1492-1892 | |