The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-03-05
From the Boston Olirc Branch.
6IR WALTER RALEIGH

II 's NJ all times profitable to study the live.
OF distinguished men; and VIC think that {:
brief biographical sketch of Sir Waite,
kaleigll-a man who furnished in his OWN
person, a more correct symbol of the char
"cter and pursuits of that age, than per.
hnps any other individual; for lie was q
sailor, soldier, scholar, n statesman, Il
patriot, historian anL wit-wil prove
interesting as well as profitable to our read,
crs.
| Walter Raleigh was born in Dcvonsl,ire,
England, in the year 1852. lie was de-
sccndcd from IN ancient family, and was
educated at Oxford. At the age of seven
teen he joined a party of volunteers OH an
expedition to France, for the purpose OF
assisting the Protestant princes there In
that country he served six campaigns. AZ
ter he returned from France. lie embarked
in an expedition under Sir Humphrey Gil
bert, Ills brotller-in-aw, to New Founlland.
which had Il short time before been dis
covered by Cabot. The expedition, how
ever, was unsuccessful, and put back. lie
then engaged in the Irish wars, where Ae
spent four seasons, and distinguished han
self, under the Earl of Ormon,l, for his gal
liant conduct and military skill. lie re-
turned to England in the tl.irlicth year o!
his age, and presented himsclfat the Cour.
of Elizabeth, which aboundcd with cava-
liers, distinguished for their valor, their wit
and lcarning-anl among them young
Raleigh, who had distinguished himself by
his military services, soon assumed a COLI
sricuons place.
His first casual encounter with the
Queen WAS the occasion, Oh his part, Of q,
curious exhibition of gallantry, which at
once secured for him the royal favor. Her
Majesty, while walking, came TO Il wet and
muddy spot, and lcsitatcl to cross il, when
Sir Walter, who stood near, took from his
shoulders 81 splendid :s::#.!e, amI !!.rYw !.
on the ground, over wEicl, she passed.
This act Of gallantry, ami the answer which
lie made to the Queen when she Offered to
furnish him with a new mantle, established
himself i'll the good graccs Of his sover-
eign. But although lie became an assidu-
Gus courtier, he used the favor with wlicl,
the Queen regarded him as the means of
induI:ging an honorable aud patriotic am
bition. In the following year he built and
fitted out u hark, for the purpose Of joining
his brother at Newfoundland, but ~ conta-
gions dstclnper having seized upon his
crew, he WAS compelled to return again to
port.
lie afterwards dispatched two vessels in
search of Il continent that was supposed to
exist betwcen Florida and Newfoundland.
which resulted in the discovery of the Car
olinas. This country was called Virginia,
in honor Of his royal mistress. lie there
established a colony, and founded the town
Of Raleigh. About the time of this dis
covery, fortunate cooperation with Da-
Wis resulted i'll the discovery Of tine straits
which bear his nanle-in consequence of
which Raleigl, was created knight, and
honors and cmolumcnts were leaped upon
him. Soon after, lie was elected to Parlia-
ment from his native town, Dudley.
1t was about this time THAI he introduced
tobacco into England, and won a wager of
the Queen by weighing the smoke of the
tobacco which he used in his pipe OH one
OCCASION. lie weighed tue tobacco before
it was reduced to ashes, and afterwards
weighed the ashes, and the difference lie
of course contendcd was the weight of the
SMOKE. The Queen, who had lost her wal
ger, said she had often heard of men who
turned gold into smoke, but Raleigh was
the first person she had known who had
the power Of turning snoke into gold.
One day, while Ralcigl was comnlacent-
Iy smoking his pipe in his study, a servant
entered with y mug Of ale, who was not
aware Of the use H,ade Of tobacco. Seeing
the smoke issuing from the mouth and los
tri!s of his master, lie, without ceremony,
dashed the ale in his face, and ran out of
the room. loudly exclaining that his master
was on fire.
Raleigh took al active part in various
ways i'll contributing to the defeat Of and
overthrow of the great Spanish Armada,
lie joined the Admiral will, four ships, and
signalized himself III the engagement
which followed. lie afterwards engaged
in several expeditions, aud on u passage
with feet from Virginia, took the richest
prize that had ever been taken-a Spanisl,
vessel valued at FIVE hundred thousand
pounds sterling. lie grew in favor Will,
tho Queen until l504--and through Ills
monopolies, the usual mode Of rcwarding
the services Of subject at that time, liz
income was very great. lie has been
charged with manifesting as ayaricious
and grasping disposition; but if tl,is were
so, lle made good use of the money
which lie thus accumulated, spendipr IL In