The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-28
WHOLE NO. I69.


ment To the westward Of the Island the
waters Of Albemarle crept sluggishly along
and in the winding current Of the Swash seye-
raj vessels stood, with out-spread but motion
less wings. Away down the South, the Pam
leo spread itself out, like an ocean of molten
gold, cleaning along the banks Of Chicka-
macomico and Hatteras and contrasted with
this, were the dark waters which separate
Roanoke from the sea-beach, and which were
now shaded from the tints Of the sunset by the
whole extent Of the Island,
"A sea Of glory streamed along" the mar
row ridge dividing the inland waters from the
ocean, and beyond this, the boundess Atlantic
heaved her chafed bosom Of sapphire and Of
gold against the base of yon stormy Cape.
enjoyed and lived in that sunset and twilight
hour. thought Of the glorious destiny Of the
land on which ] trod-as glorious as the wa
tiers and the earth then around me. thought
of the genius and the death of Raleigh-of
the heroic devotedness of Greenyille-of the
gallantry Of Cavendsh and Drake-of the
learning Of Hariot-of the nobleness of Man
teno, the Lord Of Roanoke-of the adyentur-
Gus expedition Of Sir Ralph Lane up the
river Moratock--of the savage array Of the
blood-thirsty Wirginia--of the melancholy
fate of the last Of the Raleigh colonies-of
Virginia Dare, the first Anglo Americana
the agony of her mother-and then thought
of those exquisite lines of Byron
Shrine of the mighty can it be,
That this is all remains of thee2
Onthe ruins of the ancient city Of Raleigh
:" the indolent wrecker now sits and smokes
the pipe Of oblivion very wretch :" igno-
rant OF the glorious associations of the land
of his birth. He can tell you nothing Of the
deeds of those whose early efforts in the set
tlement of Roanoke gave an impulse TO Eng
lish colonization in America, and thus laid the
foundations of our great American Republic.
He will speak vaguely of the name Of Sir
Walter Raleigh, and will regale you with le-
gends and stories Of pirates and wrecks,
which it is the business of the novelist, and
not the historian to record. Such of them as
could link with the Raleigh Colonies, have
engrafted on more authentic materials, and
perhaps the tradilionary history Of no country
is equal in interest to that of Roanoke Island
The legend Of Sir Walter Raleigh's ship, of
the great battle of Hatteras, and of the nativity
Of Virginia Dare, which have, perhaps, too
painfully detailed, are the best assurances that
the names of those who first planted the flag
Of old mother England on our shores, cannot
die. a. N.Y..
The Island Of Roanoke is at present te-
nanted by class of people as rude and as
boiserous as their native seas. They are
race of adventurous pilots, and hardy mari
ners, and in their light craft seek the remotest
Islands of the West Indies, and occasionally
with their freights Of naval stores, penetrate
into the Mediterranean, to the ports Of Gibral-
tar and Malaga:
A race Of rugged Mariners are these,
Unpublished men, and boisterous their seas
The native islanders alone their
And hateful he who breathes foreign air
These did the ruler Of the deep ordain
To build proud natives and command the main
On canvassed wings TO cut their watery way,
No bird so feet, no thought swift as they.
,... ODYSSEY.
: Am then too enthusiastic in the history of
Roanoke Island :! 1t is the birth place of
Virginia Dare-it was the home Of tho faithful
and noble Lord of Roanoke, and every hill
and every vale is marked in its history by
scenes of Joy or woe. The battle fields of the
warlike Virginia are there, and there the ina
gination may stretch itself backwards over
the course of time, and dwell upon the Indian
legends of wars, that had passed when the
assembled host of barbarians fought upon the
sea beach, that they might be cheered on by
the music of the waves | have dreamed
away many sunny day in the solitude Of its
woods, and while revealing in my fancy upon
the present magnifcence of our Republic, |
have not forgotten that stood within that pa
radise Of the new world, in which Providence
had decreed the nativity of the frst-born of a
great and mighty people.