The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-03
IS YirGlnlA.N

in which the writer inquiries as to the, tive
origin Of the name "Virginta," as applied
to the land visited by Raieigb's W.rques in
1894, under Captains Amadas ond Barlow.
The name first appears in Barlow's report,
first published In Hakluyts folio OF 1850.
After saving that the native King Is call
ed Wingina, the country Wingandacoa,"
ehcre follows In paren,hesls. aud now by
her Majesty Virgini@". The words In pa
renthesis were probably no part OF Barlow,s
rcport, but were Subsequent insertion OF
Hakluyt. the editor. who likewise prefNed
the title 70 the report, in which the WORDS
I" now called Virginia = also appear. rms
mime, authorized by the Queen, was proba,
biz suggested hy Raleigh, and was bestowed
befoae the sailing Of. Ralfe Lane Tor the
cosony In April OF the following year.
Lane dates hts letters, after his arrival, from
- Virginia" Raleigh laid before Etlza-
beth the narrative drawn up by Barlow. In
the December following his patent was con-
Sfrmed and enlarged, and in the enthusiasm
excited by the greatness OF the discovery
Che honor OF knighthood was conferred
upon him." &c. (St. Johns Life Of Raleigh,
D. 81, citing report on the force OF the STAN
naries, MS, State Paper ofice.) Quite
likely at this time the name was given, to the
country visited by Raleigh's barques. But
why was the country called Virginia
That is to say, what was the name derived
from, and what was its significance?
~- ANY official announcement OF its bestcwal
would not DO likely to give the reasons.
These must be sought for elsewhere. The
true historical method, apprehend, is to
consult the proper contemporaneous au-
thoritics. Raleigh knew why the name was
given, and Hakluyt knew. The protector
and the historian Of Virginia, OF course,
knew. Now, in DeBry's dedication to
Raleigh of Hariot's "briefe and true re-
port. :. OF Virginia." published in 1890,
under the auspices OF Hakluyt, wig trans
lated the appendix from Latin into Eng
lish, the writer says: " Sir. seeing thae
the parte OF the worlde which is betweene
the Florida and the Cap Breton, manned
Virginia, to the honneur OF yours most
souveraine ladye and Queen Elizabeth, hath
been DISCOVERED by your meanes and great
ebardoes." &C., &c. Here we have the rea-
son riyen in a dedication to Raleigh him
self. published, so to speak, under the
saltholity Of Hakluyt, expressed in DeBry'S
bad English. DcBry meant to say that that
Dart OF the world was named Virginia IN
honor Of your most sovereign lady ana
Queen, she being virgin.
But let us turn 10 another contemporary
authority, William Camden, who lived all
through the reign OF Queen Elizabeth, was
acquainted with her great men, and indus
triousay collected the details OF her reign,
three books of which were published in
Latin ia 1915: "Aaa,ales Rerum AngIica-
rum ct Hiber7.icdr1e1n Regndnte Etizabethoe."
In speaking of this country, visited by Drake
in 1886, he says: " Ito in honorem Eliza
6ethg viryiniS denomiaatam (page $50.
That is, $50 named in honor of Queen EliZ-
abeth, u virgin" After Raleigh aud Hak-
luyt there il no higher authority on this
subject than William Camden.
Let us now listen to another contempt
rary arthority-at least. one who lived many
years, both during the reign OF Elizabeth
and subsequently. and who bad special
interest in Virginia, particularly in that
part OF it afterward called New England
Cir Fernando Georges. In his "Brief Mar
ration" published after his death, he speaks
of the country Of which the g undertakers"
had secured possession aas OF right belong
ing to the crown of England, giving it the
name of Virginia. in the memory and honor
OF that Vigin-Queen, the wonder OF her
SEX" (pp. /, 81
The Voluminous Purchas succeeded to
the papers and traditions of bis venerable
friend Hakluyt. But he published his first
edition of his Pilgrimage" in 1913, three
years before HakIuyt died. In "Chap. ""
of "The eighth Booke" he treats "of Vir-
yinia," discourSing thus: "Leaving New
France, let US draw nearer the Sunne to
New Britaine, whose Virgin sole not yet
polluted with Spaniards lust, by our late
Firgin- Mother was called Virginia." (p.631.)
And in his Pilgrims" ~, 1915, he
speaks OF that part OF America which 60 that
Virgin Queene stiled Virginia." .,.
This list OF authorities could no doubt be
greatly extended, but quote such authors
only as are within my reach, and particu-
arly contine myself to those who may be
'egarded as contemporary, or as immedi-
ltely succeeding to the historical materials
VI the time. But trust that sufficient evil.
lence has been given to show why the coun-
ry visited by RaIeigh's barques was called |
Virginia, 1t will be noticed that in the
.arlier citation above from Purchas he
speaks OF the "virgin SOLE" of the country |
which, "by our late Virgin Mother, was
Justly called Vtrginia." This fancied
coincidence Of the old chronicler was
enlarged upon by Beverly in his
. History and Present State OF Vir-
yinia," 1905, who says that her Majesty
{ calpd the country by the Name OF Vir-
yinid, as we'll Tor that 1t was nrst dlscoV>d
10 her Reign, a Virgin Queen, as that it did
still seem to retain the Virgin Purity and
Plenty of the first creation, and the People
their Primitive Innocence" &c. Opp. 8, a.
Beverly was OldmiXon's authority. The
more careful Stith regarded the second rea-
son assigned by Beverly as "gloss" Up. ~.
ginia" may have been suggested by the
name of the Indian king, Wingina," could
hardly be seriously cherished by any histori-
cal scholar with all the facts Of our history
before him.
A REMEDY FOR BURNS AND SCALDs.-At a
recent meeting Of the Massachusetts Dental
Society in Salem DR.. G. F. Waters, Of this
city, gave detailed account Of discovery
which he has recently made Of remedy
for b,,rns and scalds 1t was claimed that