familiar with all that in his day was known of chemistry, and adding by experiments to his stock of knowledge, deeply read in history, one of the best cosmographers of his age, an admirable navigator, and well versed in military tactics; better informed than any of his contemporaries as to the power of his country's enemies; master of several languages, conversant with natural history, and one of the sweetest of England's early poets—he was a fit companion for men of letters. Nor was he without such associates. History makes little mention of them however, for the quiet pursuits of literature afford no attractive theme for the man who, under the name of historian, can find no causes operative in the progress of nations, but the tricks of statesmen and the carnage of war. Enough, however, may be gleaned (and to the student the task is pleasant labor) to let us know that in letters Raleigh held companionship with Shakespeare, Sir Philip Sydney, Spenser, Ben Jonson, Drummond of Hawthornden, Bacon, Hariot the mathematician, Beaumont, Fletcher, Selden, Cotton, Carew, Donne, and many others, whose names are consecrated in the history of English literature. At a later period of his life than that of which we are now speaking, Raleigh formed a literary club, which combined all the genius of the metropolis, and in its meetings, in. the unreserved and friendly intercourse of scholars, doubtless many a scintillation of fancy sparkled, many a keen encounter of playful wit set the merry students in a roar, many a jeu d'esprit gave life to the social meeting. It is hard to curb the imagination in the thought of such a scenė. We can fancy Shakespeare then simply the successful dramatist, all unconscious of the deathless renown that awaited him. He is perchance engaged in a pleasant play of wit with Ben Jonson, when suddenly the club-room in the Mermaid tavern rings with the shouts produced by some successful sally. But though it be easy to fancy the laughter, who, alas! shall fancy the wit that produced it? None; for none may venture now to find meet words for the mouth of Shakespeare.

As we shall not have occasion again to advert particularly to the literary tastes of Raleigh, it may here be mentioned, that to him we are indebted for that beautiful production of Spenser, the "Faery Queen." Raleigh became acquainted with the poet in

Years before, poem, but had

Ireland, and an intimate friendship was the result. Spenser had prepared the first three cantos of his been induced by the criticisms of a school anxious to expel rhyme from English poetry, to lay the work aside. Of these critics, it may occasion some surprise to know that. Sir Philip Sydney was one, and indeed the only one, whose name has come down to our day as associated with the history of English literature. Raleigh heard the first three cantos; he had a soul too truly attuned to real poetry not to perceive that his friend possessed "the faculty and gift divine." His commendation operated as a stimulus to the gentle spirit of Spenser. He returned with Raleigh to England, and published what he had written, dedicating it to the "Most High, Mighty and Magnificent Empress Elizabeth." Ushered into the world under such auspices, it attracted notice, and this was all it needed, for its own merits were sufficient to sustain it. The poet was then induced to complete what Raleigh's discriminating taste had shown him to be so worthily begun; and thus were our language and literature enriched with a poem, which, despite its faults, is surpassingly beautiful, and has confessedly supplied a model to one of the modern masters of English verse.

We now return to Raleigh's history. It was after his arrival from Ireland with his well-earned reputation that he first was brought into the presence of his sovereign. The well known anecdote of the gorgeous cloak which, with such ready gallantry, he threw upon the ground to serve as a foot-cloth for the queen, is said to have been the means of his introduction to her notice and regard; and the story is probably true. Be this, however, as it may, he was immediately employed in honorable offices at court, and acquitted himself with reputation in all. His spirit, however, was too active to be content in this situation. He was not without ambition, but it had a loftier aim than that of rising to distinction by the intrigues of a court. He would carve out for himself a nobler path to renown and fortune, and he turned to America as the fit field for his efforts. The patent of his brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, originally granted but for six years, was now near expiring. Two years of it only remained, and Raleigh, acting in concert with his brother, fitted out a fleet of five

ships and barks which, in 1583, sailed for America. Gilbert was the leader, while Raleigh remained to watch over interests at home. The expedition was unfortunate almost from its commencement, and proved fatal to its commander. Thus was he twice unsuccessful, and one would suppose that this double failure would have discouraged him from further attempts. But Raleigh was not acting on the mere chance of discovery. He studied the probabilities of success and proceeded on certain data. He had read the accounts of the Spanish voyagers, he let no skilful mariner escape his examination, and knowing as he did that the ships of Spain entered the gulf of Mexico by Hispaniola, and on their return, sailing eastward from the coast of Florida, left a coast on their west trending away to the north; he was convinced, from his knowledge of the sphere, that there was a large extent of unexplored land between Florida and Newfoundland, and it was this on which he desired to enter. Having satisfied himself, he laid the subject before the queen, and in 1584 obtained the patent we have presented, granting him a title to his discoveries, and authority to plant colonies. The queen, however, was not willing that he should go in person on the voyage of discovery, because she required his services at home. He dispatched, therefore, Amadas and Barlow with minute instructions, and the result was the discovery of what is now the State of North Carolina. They returned, bringing with them two of the natives, and affording to Raleigh, by their success, the proud gratification of finding ample confirmation of opinions which he had reached by reasoning, and the truth of which he had established at his own expense. The queen, no less delighted than Raleigh, named the newly-discovered region Virginia, and conferred the honor of knighthood on the man whose sagacity and enterprise had added to the extent of her dominions. At this period, also, we find him representing his native county in parliament, and enjoying valuable grants of monopolies the better to enable him to carry on his work of discovery and colonization. Ere long he had, in company with others, another fleet upon the seas, bound to his American possessions. This squadron left a governor and colonists on Roanoke Island, to make a permanent plantation; they however unfortunately became embroiled with the natives, and from a variety of

calamitous events, were glad to return to England with the fleet of Sir Francis Drake, which had touched at the settlement. Scarcely, however, had they departed before another fleet of four vessels, laden with abundant supplies, and sent by Raleigh, reached the coast and found, to their astonishment, everything deserted and in ruins. Fifteen men were left with provisions for two years, and the fleet returned home.

Most men would have abandoned forever an enterprise marked by such a succession of discouragements; but the zeal, enthusiasm and perseverance of Raleigh were indomitable: At this very moment he had two other vessels ready, and sent them forth for a cruise against the Spaniards. They took more prizes than they could bring into port, and added materially to Raleigh's wealth. Possessed now of the confidence and regard of the queen,. who was wonderfully taken with his eloquence, and by whom he was

regarded as in some sort an oracle; in the enjoyment, also, of many valuable offices by her gift, a member of parliament, and with wealth to sustain him in his magnificent undertakings; to outward seeming it would appear that, so far as earth was concerned, there was but little left for his desire: but these very cir cumstances were silently operating to his injury; for they aroused envy and malice to a sleepless vigilance and determined resolu tion, to seize the first opportunity of dragging him from an elevation which he honored, and his right to which he had fairly earned, and which he forfeited by no fault. Ignorant, probably, of the extent of that malignity which watched for his ruin, he pursued his plans, buoyant with the anticipations shadowed forth by his sanguine spirit, and sent out another colony to Virginia. On reaching Carolina, they sought in vain for the fifteen men who had been left on the former voyage. The only vestiges they ever found of them were their bones, bleaching amid the ruins of their dilapidated and forsaken habitations. Of this last colony about one hundred remained, while the governor, at their request, sailed for England for further supplies. When he arrived, all England was alive to the apprehension of the threatened invasion of the far-famed Spanish Armada. Apprehension was not groundless, for Spain was not then what she is now. It was her day of glory and of strength. Her monarch, Philip, had many causes powerfully operating to stimulate him in his intended blow against England.

There were reasons political, personal, and religious. Elizabeth had espoused the cause of the Netherlands, she had refused the offers of marriage made her by Philip, and she was also a protestant. In all these particulars the King of Spain found causes of offence, and hence long meditated vengeance. His preparations for a descent upon England occupied him during three years, and his resources made him a most formidable enemy. Beside the wealth derived to his exchequer from the precious metals of America, he drew largely on the private. fortunes of his nobility, and the result was a prodigious armament of nearly 140 ships, having on board 30,000 men, with 30,000 more under the Duke of Parma, ready to embark at a moment's warning from the Netherlands, with an additional 12,000 under the Duke of