CONTENTS. No. 1. The Letters Patent granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Raleigh, in PAGE 11 No. 6. A brief and true Report of the Country, by Thomas Hariot, one of the co- 146 PREFACE. In the execution of a purpose long and warmly cherished, the author and compiler of this volume offers to his countrymen, with all humility, this commencement of the history of their native State, North Carolina. The volume is complete in itself, as furnishing the most full account that existing materials at this day afford of the first attempts at colonization on our shores. The period embraced extends from the year 1584 to 1591, and includes the five voyages made, under the charter to Sir Walter Raleigh. It is a distinct portion of our history, an isolated chapter, having little connection with what is to follow: for, after the failure of all the efforts made under the Charter to Raleigh, a long interval of time, more than half a century, elapsed before any permanent settlement was made within our borders. In entering upon his work, the writer avails himself of the opportunity briefly to explain his proposed plan, as in some of its features, it departs from established historical models. A mere chronologically accurate narrative of important public events does not in his view constitute history; though of it, such a narrative properly forms a part. He has supposed that the real history of a State is to be read in the gradual progress of its people in intelligence, refinement, industry, wealth, taste, civilization, &c. The public events that transpire are but the exponents of the condition of the inhabitants, in these and other particulars. The "people" constitute a nation, not the legislature merely, nor the courts, not the army nor the navy. These are all but parts of the whole; and yet many so called histories tell us little else save the changes of dynasties, and "the wars and fightings" of ambitious rulers. We would gladly see there beside, something of the inner life of the people themselves. And the thought has occurred that in the effort to catch and present a picture of this, classification is a valuable auxiliary: its advantages are obvious in some of the earlier English histories, such, for instance, as those of Mortimer and Henry; while in the latest imitation of their example in Knight's Pictorial History of England, many portions are almost invested with the interest of an agreeable romance. Now it is true that in our short career, we cannot have had as much variety as is to be found on the broader field that spreads over centuries in the history of the other hemisphere; and yet even we have room for classification. We must speak of various subjects. The "religion," "laws and legislation," "education," "agriculture," "industrial and mechanical pursuits," "commerce," "extent and advance of settlements,' << wars with native or foreign foes," "manners and customs of the people," &c., all demand their share of notice, and will be better. understood as well as remembered, if they receive distinct treatment. Hence we divide the time through which the State has passed, particularly in its more recent career, into periods or epochs, and endeavor to present in all respects, as full and perfect a picture, or rather series of pictures, as we can make of each period. Another feature in our work, of which this volume will afford a specimen, is to be found in the reprint and consequent preservation of the rare and valuable old documents, tracts, &c., which furnish part of the material for our history. We know very well that such documents generally have but little interest save for the historical antiquarian; but we are writing more especially for North Carolinians; and we cannot but believe that for them, such |