SIR WALTER RALEIGH 183 covery in the New World. In conjunction with his half-brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a man of courage and ability, and a skilful sailor, he made an unsuccess- ful attempt to establish a colony in North America. Returning home in 1579, he immediately entered the Queen's army in Ire- land, and served with good esteem for personal courage and professional skill, until the suppres- sion of the rebellion in that country. He owed his introduction to court, and the personal favor of Elizabeth, as is traditionally reported, to a for- tunate and well-improved accident, which is too familiar to need repetition here. It is probable, however, that his name and talents were not un- known, for we find him employed almost imme- diately in certain matters of diplomacy. Among the cares and pleasures of a courtier's life, Raleigh preserved his zeal for American dis- cover)'. He applied his own resources to the fit- ting out of another expedition in 1583, under command of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, which proved more unfortunate than the former one ; two out of five vessels returned home in consequence of sick- ness, and two were wrecked, including that in which the admiral sailed ; and the only result of the enterprise was the taking possession of Newfoundland in the name of England. Still Raleigh's desire for American adventure was not damped. The continent northward of the Gulf of Florida was at this time unknown. But Raleigh, upon careful study of the best authorities, had concluded that there was good reason for believing that a considerable tract of land did exist in that quarter ; and with the assent of the Queen in council, from whom he obtained letters patent, granting to himself and his heirs, un- der certain reservations, property in such countries as he should discover, with a right to provide for their protection and administration, he fitted out two ships, which sailed in April, 1584. The first land which they made was an island named Okakoke, running parallel to the coast of North Carolina. They were well received by the natives, and returned to England in the following autumn, highly pleased. Nor was less satisfaction felt by Raleigh, or even by the Queen, who conferred on him the honor of knighthood, a title which was then in high esteem, inasmuch as it was bestowed by that wise princess with a most frugal and just discrimination. She also gave him a very lucrative mark of favor, in the shape of a patent for licensing the selling of wine throughout the kingdom ; and she directed that the new country, in allusion to herself, should be called Virginia. Raleigh did not think it politic, perhaps was not allowed, to quit the court to take charge in person of his undertaking ; and those to whom he en- trusted the difficult task of directing the infant colony, appear to have been un- equal to their office. It is not necessary to pursue the history of an enterprise which proved unsuccessful, and in which Sir Walter personally bore no share.
