quirements. Ralegh's early life was passed in full activity during his military career in Ireland, France and Portugal; and when at home (we learn from Aubrey), he frequented taverns and other places of amusement1. Under such circumstances, which are not conducive to the acquisition of learning, the development of the powers of his mind, and the extent of knowledge which he displays in his writings, are truly miraculous. With this were united a polite address, a strong natural wit, and great powers of conversation; what wonder therefore that he captivated Elizabeth, "who was much taken with his elocution, loved to hear his reasons, and took him for a kind of oracle!” Sir Arthur Georges assures us, in his 'Relation of the Island Voyage,' that even Essex preferred Ralegh's conversation to that of most of his friends.

His inclinations seemed to direct him to a sea-faring life and maritime exploits, which he followed with a greater zeal than any other pursuit. His voyages were not undertaken upon hazard; the publication of his Guiana expedition gives sufficient evidence of his knowledge of the works of authors who had written on the New World, in which he was greatly assisted by his acquaintance with foreign languages.

The charge of atheism, which Father Parsons brought against Ralegh, deserves so little credit that we have passed it over. The poetry and prose writings of Ralegh alike breathe “a strong and genuine spirit of piety," and none more so than his epitaph written during the last hours of his life.

Though Ralegh acted a distinguished part in his military, naval and civil life, he was chiefly illustrious in maritime affairs,

meanes to do you service will not bear coales to be accused of dulness, especially by your Rereadmirall who making haste but once in a year to write a letter in post, gave date from Weymouth to his last dispatche, which by the circumstances I knew was written from Plymouth." (Brit. Mus. Lansdowne MSS. 85, No. 19.) It needs scarcely be observed, that the circumstances here alluded to refer to the expedition to Cadiz in 1596. Ralegh instituted a club or meeting of beaux esprits at the Mermaid, a celebrated tavern in Friday Street." (Gifford's Life of Jonson, p. 65.)

1 66

V

and shines most conspicuously as a founder of colonies and promoter of commerce. His naval exploits were conducted with boldness and determination, and we have few examples of more active patriotism in a private individual than in Ralegh. The phantom to which he sacrificed his reputation, his fortune, and his life, namely the gold-mines of Guiana, haunted him to his last moments. His Apology expresses a continued assurance in the existence of gold-mines near the banks of the Orinoco; and in "the inventory of such things as were found on the body of Sir Walter Rawleigh, Knight, the 15th day of August, 1618,” which document was sent to Sir Thomas Wilson by Sir Robert Naunton, Secretary of State, occur the following objects:

"A Guiana idol of Gold.

"A Spleenstone, (left with him for his own use).

"One wedge of fine gold at 22 carratts.

"An other stob of coarser gold.

"Item one plott of Guiana and Nova (R—)1 and another of the river of Orenoque.

"The description of the river Orenoque.

"A plott of Panama.

"A tryal of Guiana ore with a description thereof.

"A Sprig jewel.

"Five assays of the Silver myne2."

These articles were probably taken from him after his recommittal to the Tower, when in the act of making his escape.

It appears from this inventory that Sir Walter had written some accounts of the Orinoco, in addition to what are contained in his 'Discovery of Guiana;' and the manuscript here alluded to may have been part of "the particular treatise of the West Indies," &c. which, with a map of the Orinoco, he mentions several times in the description of his first Guiana voyage3.

1 The omitted words are probably Reyno de Granada.

2 See Life of Sir Walter Raleigh,' by Patrick Fraser Tytler, pp. 466, 467. Edinburgh, 1833.

3 Amongst the MSS. of Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls, which

We learn from a letter which Lady Ralegh wrote after her husband's death to Lady Carew, that Sir Thomas Wilson ("the spy," as he has been called by Ralegh's biographers) continued his persecution against the family, and seized his books, manuscripts and mathematical instruments1. We have therefore a clue to the fate of the numerous manuscripts which Ralegh is said to have left behind, and we think with Mr. Tytler, that, "as Wilson was at the time Keeper of the State Paper Office, there is still a hope that Ralegh's manuscripts may be found amongst some of the unexplored treasures of the great national collections."

were sold by auction in London in 1739, was a volume containing "Several letters wrote by Sir Walter Rawleigh in relation to Guiana, subscribed by his own hand." It is not known what became of this volume, nor whether the letters were autographs or only transcripts. They were marked

Lot 312.

my

This letter is printed entire in Tytler's Life of Sir Walter Ralegh,' p. 464. "I beseech your Ladyship," writes Lady Ralegh, "that you will do me the favour to intreat Sir Thomas Wilson to surcease the pursuit of husband's books and library; they being all the land and living which he left to his poor child; hoping that he would inherit him in these only, and that he would apply himself to learning to be fit for them; which request I hope I shall fulfil as far as in me lieth. Sir Thomas Wilson has already fetched away all his mathematical instruments, one of which cost £100 when it was made; I was promised them all again, but I have not received one back."

ERRATA.

Page xv, for remainder read unexpired term.

55 (note), for Cairina moshata read Cairina moschata.

118 (note), line 10 from bottom, for mercantile house read India House.

INDEX.

[The Roman Numbers refer to the pages of the Editor's Introduction.]