Newbern weekly progress., 1862-06-07


only much of their ornament but somewhat of ;heir
substance. - R"ie;gh's history cf ths iK,rld.
The name of Roanoke Island ava
kens in the mind Of every lover OF
American history, sentiments of ven
GRAFTON and respect. 1t carries us back
to the days Of England's great Queen,
to ruffs and rapiers, and calls mp the
memories Of the gallant but unfortu-
nate Raleigh, and Of the brave knights,
Granville, Lane and White, men wlio
made their mark in history even in the
golden era Of chivalry and enterprise.
Let us 60 back through the vista of
nearly three centuries, and trace the
history of the spot where our language
was first spoken and written on this
continent. When we recall the first
occupation Of this island by the En-
glish, and picture to ourselves the Iu-
sians in their normal state, with their
dfcss,slis1, isatiunssrgnd- !, "a
picturesque and unique, as well as the
gallant gentlemen i'll the costume o.
that picturesque age, it seems almost
To border on romance. But there IS a
dark side to the picture. The sombre
veil of uncertainty hangs over thc iate
of two entire colonies, which, if lifted.
would consecrate this spot TO the ex
* Gtremes-of. suffering and hloodshed. l
was, no doubt, better to have thes'
,ceues buried in oblivion, and for cacl
succeeding historian to fill up tn
chapter with his own fancics, than 7
be able to give the minute de'alIs
long days and months Of probable IAN
inc. pcstileuce, war, captivity, al
torture, which have occurred here
in the immediate vicinity. The &c
tain knowledge Of them would has
awakened in their countrymen sch'
ments of retaliation and Sengeane
ard A fearful retribution would ha'
Lseu meted out TO the natives, al
have fallen upon the innocent as WI
as the guilty.
. twas nofumtil about the commend
,ocnt of the sixteenth century II
England could be considered one
the great maritime powers in Euro
Although Henry the Seventh had |
tnorizcd Cabot to prosecute q yoyi
Of discovery as early as l49I, in VIII
he discovered the continent, thus
tualIy anticipating Columbus, who
not discover it until the succeed
wear, no real attempts Mt colof'iHat
look place until a century aGterws
In ISIS, Sir Humphrey Gilbert obt'
cd a patent from Queen Elizabeth
colonizc such parts of North Ane
AS were not then occupied by an.
her allies. Soon after, he, assisted
accompanied 10y his stcp.brother,
Walter Raleigh, fitted out an exp
tion and sailed for America; but
were intercepted by a Spanish 1
aud returned unsuccessful.
In 1888, they equipped u new sq
ron, in which Raleigh did not eml
This enterprise failed, aud Sir /!
phrcy persisted ut sea. Still ital
was not diSheartcncd. lie had b'
soldier in the religious war then ra
In France, and associated with the
testant admiral, Coligny, and maj
- his officers, whose ill.iaied colon,
so bloody fate near the river ST.
Doubtless, during his intercourse
these Iuen, their experience in ri
often became the theme Of disco
and il mny be that from It he in,
that passion for discovery aud col
ton in Amcrica, which ended
with his life. lie doubtless lear
the voyage Of Yerranzo, who,
employ Of France, had, ia 1921, c,
from Cape Fear TO Rhode Island
still our shores were hardly mon
auyth. snd the country north
peninsula OF Florida a ttrrd i'toc
i.arly in 1851, Raleigh, ibcn,a
caonriitE received grant from
slslL q - =, Sty,y fE75gi iIj,ts s.,. -