1585-8.]

FIRST COLONY IN VIRGINIA.

23

dish, and other distinguished men, arrived at Roanoke. Sir Walter Raleigh was greatly disappointed and chagrined at the failure of their favorite scheme. Not discouraged, however, he succeeded in persuading fifteen men to remain on the island, while he returned home, and sent out (1587) a new expedition, under the command of Captain John White. On reaching Virginia, a party was sent to hunt up the men left on the island, but all was silent as the grave; naught, save the whitening bones of a single victim, gave any clue to their melancholy fate. All, it is supposed, fell a prey to savage cruelty.

White was made governor of the colony, and was assisted by twelve councillors. One of these (Annaias Dare) was White's son-in-law, and shortly after the arrival of the little band of colonists, was signalized an event not unworthy of note in the early annals of Virginia,—that event was nothing less, than the birth of the first white child in North America.1

White having, as he supposed, comfortably secured the emigrants, returned to England, with the view of making further arrangements for increasing the little colony, and promoting the interests of those left behind.

[AUG. 27.]

White found on his return, the government and people full of anxious solicitude to meet the threatened Spanish invasion. But Raleigh, true to his purpose of securing a permanent settlement in Virginia, despatched White with [1588] two ships of supplies for the relief of the colonists. Instead of proceeding at once to the colony, White engaged in capturing Spanish prizes, until at last overcome, he lost all, and was compelled to return to England, to the great chagrin and disappointment of his noble and generous friend and patron.

I This child was the daughter of Annaias and Eleanor Dare, and christened "Virginia," after their adopted country. She was born August 18th, 1587, and with her parents and the colonists perished, it is supposed, by the hands of savages.

24

JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT:

[CHAP. II. "The Invincible Armada of Spain" had to be overcome, and the safety of England herself secured, before another effort could be made to succor the colony at Roanoke.

It was not until another year had passed, that White could be sent in aid of the colonists. On arriving at the

[1590.] seat of the colony, what was his alarm to find, as the only vestige of his people, a vague inscription pointing to Croatan as the place to which they had gone.

The fate of the colonists has never been satisfactorily ascertained. The presumption is, they all fell victims to savage power. Some have indulged the idea that they amalgamated with the Hatteras Indians; but while humanity may dictate such a hope, "credulity must entertain a doubt of the truth of the hypothesis."

White soon after returned to England, in hopeless despair of ever hearing again from his hapless friends or unfortunate daughter.

Sir Walter is said to have sent several times in search of his "liege men," but nothing satisfactory was ever ascertained.

Sir Walter, having forfeited his patent by attainder, James the First granted a new patent for all our territory, from the 34th to the 45th degree, under the general name of Virginia; a name previously conferred by Elizabeth in reference to her own unmarried state. The South Virginia division extended from Cape Hatteras to New York, and the first colonization of the new patentees was made at Jamestown, on James' river, May 13th, 1607.

The settlement of Jamestown, has by some, and with much truth, been termed the most important event since the era of the Reformation. Who can properly estimate the ultimate influence it is destined to exercise upon the future history of the world?

Within the entire range of recorded history, we know of no more grand and imposing spectacle than the landing of that little band of hardy pilgrims, with the deter

1607.]

ITS ULTIMATE INFLUENCE.

25

mination, come weal or woe, to plant then and there, a colony that should be self-sustaining and self-relying.

The heroic Smith and his resolute companions then,1 laid broad and deep the corner stone, upon which has since been reared the proud temple of American Liberty. Aye, those men, seeking homes in the wilderness of the West, unconsciously planted the germ of a nation that was destined to spring forth in the fulness of its strength, and startling the tyrants of Europe in their seats of power, cause them to feel that the "divine right" no longer existed-that the young giant of the West had inflicted a blow which shook the foundations of their very thrones. Great have been the regrets of Britain' at the success of the "American experiment;" but all such regrets will be more futile than even her efforts to roll back the flame of freedom, or check its mounting to meridian splendor! The fabric which has grown from the plantation of the colonies at Jamestown, at Plymouth, on the Island of Manhattan, on the banks of the Mississippi, and along the borders of our great inland seas, now stands the mark and model, the admiration and wonder of the world! The vicissitudes of five and seventy years, while they have shaken down the pillars of most of the corrupt monarchies of earth, have but proven to mankind the indestructible material of the plain temple of Republican Freedom.

Of the gallant Captain Smith, the most devoted of the chivalrous spirits at Jamestown, it might be expected we would say something. In consequence, however, of our circumscribed limits, we can only add, that his accomplished address, great skill, consummate bravery, indomitable courage, and devoted patriotism, mark him as one of the first men of his age. The story of his captivity by the Indians-his trial, condemnation and preparation for death-his timely

'It has been well said by Mr. Jefferson, that "the ball of the Revolution received its first impulse, not from the actors in that event, but from the first colonists."

* London Times, Dec. 23, 1848.

26

SMITH AND POCHAHONTAS.

[CHAP. II. rescue by the beautiful Indian girl Pochahontas, who threw herself upon his person, and averted the blow of the savageone of the most remarkable instances of true philanthropy upon record-is too familiar to all readers of American history, to be given here. Suffice it, that Smith was the master spirit of the colony; and to his discriminating judgment, keen sense of right and wrong, and his enlightened policy towards the Indians, may be ascribed the fact, that the little band of adventurers did not share a fate similar to that of the unfortunate colonists of Roanoke.

1522-35.]

FRENCH IN NORTH AMERICA.

27

CHAPTER III.'

EARLY FRENCH DISCOVERIES.

FRANCE, with her characteristic spirit of enterprise, could not long remain inactive when other maritime nations were extending their dominion, and explorations throughout the vast field laid open by Columbus. At a very early day she discovered the importance of the Northern fisheries. In 1524 John Verrazzani a Florentine mariner, while sailing under a commission from Francis the First, ranged the coast of North America from Wilmington, North Carolina, to the 50th degree of North latitude. He landed at several points, and called the country New France, and this constituted the claim of France to her American possessions. In 1534 a new expedition was fitted out, commanded by James Cartier, [1534.] who was the first European to penetrate the river St. Lawrence, and give an intelligent description of the country. After sailing up that river until he could "see land on both sides," which he claimed and declared French territory, Cartier returned to France, and gave such a glowing description of the newly discovered regions, as to induce Francis I. to take immediate steps for farther exploration and colonization. Accordingly, three ships, well manned and provided, set sail, and on the tenth of August, 1535,

came in sight of the St. Lawrence, in com- [Aug. 10, 1535.]

memoration of which fact Cartier named the bay and river after that martyr. Ascending the river, he discovered the island of Montreal. Leaving his fleet, he visited an Indian village on the lower part of the island, called by them Hochelaga. After a short stay, Cartier made his way to the