accompany the vessel and exert himself to bring them aid. After much objection he consented. But he arrived in England at the time when the expected Spanish invasion engrossed the attention of the nation. No assistance could be obtained then.

Raleigh's schemes for colonization had already cost him forty thousand pounds, and had yielded no profit. Engaged in other enterprises, he was under the necessity of assigning a portion of the rights conferred by his patent, to Sir Thomas Smith and several other gentlemen, among whom was Richard Hakluyt, prebendary of Westminster, the author of a collection of voyages and travels, which stimulated the spirit of adventure, and has served as reliable authority to subsequent historians. This company carried on a petty trade with the natives, but made no attempt at colonization.

N the beginning of 1590, Governor 'White obtained leave for three small ships which had been ordered to cruise in the West Indies, to visit Roanoke, with supplies and reinforcements. These vessels arrived at the island in the middle of August. They found only the letters CROATAN cut repeatedly upon the trees and beams of the deserted houses. The governor persuaded the captains to proceed towards Croatan;

but the weather growing tempestuous, and the ships losing most of their anchors and cables, they sailed directly for England, leaving the fate of the colony uncertain. No trace has ever been found to determine surely what became of the settlers.

Such was the termination of the efforts of Sir Walter Raleigh to establish a colony in America. After the lavish expenditure of money, labor, and even of life, not an Englishman, known to the nation at home, remained on the soil of North America. The spirit of adventure was for a time depressed, but soon rose again. In March, 1602, a small vessel with thirty-two men, under the command of Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, sailed from Plymouth, and, sailing directly across the Atlantic, reached the northern part of Massachusetts on the 14th of May. The adventurers then proceeded southward, and reached a bold promontory, which was named Cape Cod, from the great quantity of fish caught in the vicinity. After passing some dangerous spots, named Tucker's Terror, Point Care, and other promontories, they reached Martha's Vineyard. Having landed, they were pleased with its aspect, yet sailed on till they

entered Buzzard's Bay, adjoining Rhode Island, which, appearing one of the stateliest sounds ever seen, received the name of Gosnold's Hope.

Elizabeth's Island, within its circuit, was chosen as a desirable place of settlement. The soil was clothed with noble trees, and with underwood, which, among other valuable plants, including sassafras, was then esteemed a medicine of sovereign virtue. Some pulse being sown, grew in a fortnight to half a foot. They debarked on the mainland, which appeared "the goodliest they ever saw, replenished with fair fields." Having erected a fort, and collected a cargo chiefly of sassafras, they prepared to return; but at this crisis the intending colonists were struck with panic at the idea of being left with only a small stock of provisions on this remote and savage shore, not without a fear that the vessel might never return, and, like former settlers, they might be abandoned to their fate. Their companions, too, would thus escape all responsibility for their share of the cargo. Under these apprehensions they abandoned the idea of remaining, and went on board with the rest.

T

HIS expedition revived the favorable impression of the American continent. In the next year (1603), Hakluyt prevailed upon some merchants of Bristol to equip two small vessels; and Raleigh, who still held the patent extending over all this coast, readily gave his consent, signed and sealed. Two ships were placed under the command of Martin Pring, who followed in the track of Gos

nold, but did not attempt a settlement, on account of the hostile attitude of the natives. He confirmed the accounts of his predecessor.

In 1605, the Earl of Southampton and Lord Arundel equipped a ship called the Archangel, and sent her to New England, under the command of George Weymouth. He explored the coast from the Penobscot to the Hudson. Not far from the mouth of the latter river, he entered a good harbor, which, as it was entered on Whitsunday, was called Pentecost Harbor. Here he carried on a profitable trade with the Indians, getting forty beaver-skins for the value of five shillings in knives and other cutlery. The Indians came on board the ship fearlessly, and Weymouth treacherously kidnapped five of their number, and ultimately carried them away. He sailed for England on the 16th of June, and arrived there on the 16th of July. As a commercial adventure this expedition was completely successful.

A century had now elapsed since the discovery of the continent by

Cabot, and yet England had effected no settlement on its shores. The toils and dangers endured by successive adventurers had only served to keep the claim of England alive. The character and true resources of the country had become a great deal better known, and thus the nation. was prepared to witness and assist a new attempt which would be more successful. Most of the expeditions had failed to effect a settlement, for the same causes which afterwards threatened the existence of the Virginia colony-want of prompt aid in men and supplies from home, and the blunders and quarrels of the commanders.

HEN James I. succeeded to the British throne, Raleigh was deprived of his patent by attainder. The king encouraged the spirit of enterprise, and there was now some prospect of effecting something substantial. An association was formed by Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Summers, Winfield, Popham, with other men of rank, and eminent merchants, for the purpose of colonizing the vast region claimed by England in North America. The adventurers were divided into two companies; the one from London for the southern, the other from Bristol and the west, for the northern part of Virginia. The former were allowed to choose any spot between the 34th and 41st degrees of latitude; the latter between the 38th and 45th. Three degrees were thus common between both; but collision was prevented by enacting that wherever one had fixed its seat, the other should fix theirs at least one hundred miles distant. Within this range the Associations obtained full property in all the lands and resources of every kind, with the exception of one-fifth of the gold and one fifteenth of the copper. The king lodged the government in two councils, one resident in

England and the other in the colony, and claimed the right of appointing both; but having exercised it in regard to the first, he allowed them to nominate the Virginia members. He also prepared a code of "orders and instructions," in which the colonists and their posterity were declared English subjects, yet were invested with no political rights, not even trial by jury, unless in capital charges; minor offences were punished arbitrarily by the council. The English church was exclusively established. Strict and laudable injunctions were given for the mild and equitable treatment of the natives.

The London company immediately applied themselves to the formation of a settlement. Three vessels, none exceeding one hundred tons, were fitted out. These were put under the command of Captain Christopher Newport, who sailed on the 19th of December, 1606. Newport had with him one hundred and five men, destined to remain in America. Among these were several persons of distinction; particularly George Percy, a brother of the Earl of Northumberland, Bartholomew Gosnold, the