the complete writings-3-第36章
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y the discovery of gold in California in 1849。 The route by the West Indies； with its incidents of disease and delay； was now replaced by the direct course opened by Gosnold； and the London Exchange； which has always been quick to scent any profit in trade； shared the excitement of the distinguished soldiers and sailors who were ready to embrace any chance of adventure that offered。
It is said that Captain Gosnold spent several years in vain； after his return； in soliciting his friends and acquaintances to join him in settling this fertile land he had explored； and that at length he prevailed upon Captain John Smith； Mr。 Edward Maria Wingfield； the Rev。 Mr。 Robert Hunt； and others； to join him。 This is the first appearance of the name of Captain John Smith in connection with Virginia。 Probably his life in London had been as idle as unprofitable； and his purse needed replenishing。 Here was a way open to the most honorable； exciting； and profitable employment。 That its mere profit would have attracted him we do not believe； but its danger； uncertainty； and chance of distinction would irresistibly appeal to him。 The distinct object of the projectors was to establish a colony in Virginia。 This proved too great an undertaking for private persons。 After many vain projects the scheme was commended to several of the nobility； gentry； and merchants； who came into it heartily； and the memorable expedition of 1606 was organized。
The patent under which this colonization was undertaken was obtained from King James by the solicitation of Richard Hakluyt and others。 Smith's name does not appear in it； nor does that of Gosnold nor of Captain Newport。 Richard Hakluyt； then clerk prebendary of Westminster； had from the first taken great interest in the project。 He was chaplain of the English colony in Paris when Sir Francis Drake was fitting out his expedition to America； and was eager to further it。 By his diligent study he became the best English geographer of his time； he was the historiographer of the East India Company； and the best informed man in England concerning the races； climates； and productions of all parts of the globe。 It was at Hakluyt's suggestion that two vessels were sent out from Plymouth in 1603 to verify Gosnold's report of his new short route。 A further verification of the feasibility of this route was made by Captain George Weymouth； who was sent out in 1605 by the Earl of Southampton。
The letters…patent of King James； dated April 10； 1606； licensed the planting of two colonies in the territories of America commonly called Virginia。 The corporators named in the first colony were Sir Thos。 Gates； Sir George Somers； knights； and Richard Hakluyt and Edward Maria Wingfield； adventurers； of the city of London。 They were permitted to settle anywhere in territory between the 34th and 41st degrees of latitude。
The corporators named in the second colony were Thomas Hankam； Raleigh Gilbert； William Parker； and George Popham； representing Bristol； Exeter； and Plymouth； and the west counties； who were authorized to make a settlement anywhere between the 38th and 4Sth degrees of latitude。
Theletters commended and generously accepted this noble work of colonization； 〃which may； by the Providence of Almighty God； hereafter tend to the glory of his Divine Majesty； in propagating of Christian religion to such people as yet live in darkness and miserable ignorance of all true knowledge and worship of God； and may in time bring the infidels and savages living in those parts to human civility and to a settled and quiet government。〃 The conversion of the Indians was as prominent an object in all these early adventures； English or Spanish； as the relief of the Christians has been in all the Russian campaigns against the Turks in our day。
Before following the fortunes of this Virginia colony of 1606； to which John Smith was attached； it is necessary to glance briefly at the previous attempt to make settlements in this portion of America。
Although the English had a claim upon America； based upon the discovery of Newfoundland and of the coast of the continent from the 38th to the 68th north parallel by Sebastian Cabot in 1497； they took no further advantage of it than to send out a few fishing vessels； until Sir Humphrey Gilbert； a noted and skillful seaman； took out letters…patent for discovery； bearing date the 11th of January； 1578。 Gilbert was the half…brother of Sir Walter Raleigh and thirteen years his senior。 The brothers were associated in the enterprise of 1579； which had for its main object the possession of Newfoundland。 It is commonly said； and in this the biographical dictionaries follow one another； that Raleigh accompanied his brother on this voyage of 1579 and went with him to Newfoundland。 The fact is that Gilbert did not reach Newfoundland on that voyage； and it is open to doubt if Raleigh started with him。 In April； 1579； when Gilbert took active steps under the charter of 1578； diplomatic difficulties arose； growing out of Elizabeth's policy with the Spaniards； and when Gilbert's ships were ready to sail he was stopped by an order from the council。 Little is known of this unsuccessful attempt of Gilbert's。 He did； after many delays； put to sea； and one of his contemporaries； John Hooker； the antiquarian； says that Raleigh was one of the assured friends that accompanied him。 But he was shortly after driven back； probably from an encounter with the Spaniards； and returned with the loss of a tall ship。
Raleigh had no sooner made good his footing at the court of Elizabeth than he joined Sir Humphrey in a new adventure。 But the Queen peremptorily retained Raleigh at court； to prevent his incurring the risks of any 〃dangerous sea…fights。〃 To prevent Gilbert from embarking on this new voyage seems to have been the device of the council rather than the Queen； for she assured Gilbert of her good wishes； and desired him； on his departure； to give his picture to Raleigh for her； and she contributed to the large sums raised to meet expenses 〃an anchor guarded by a lady；〃 which the sailor was to wear at his breast。 Raleigh risked L 2；000 in the venture； and equipped a ship which bore his name； but which had ill luck。 An infectious fever broke out among the crew； and the 〃Ark Raleigh〃 returned to Plymouth。 Sir Humphrey wrote to his brother admiral； Sir George Peckham； indignantly of this desertion； the reason for which he did not know； and then proceeded on his voyage with his four remaining ships。 This was on the 11th of January； 1583。 The expedition was so far successful that Gilbert took formal possession of Newfoundland for the Queen。 But a fatality attended his further explorations： the gallant admiral went down at sea in a storm off our coast； with his crew； heroic and full of Christian faith to the last； uttering； it is reported； this courageous consolation to his comrades at the last moment： 〃Be of good heart； my friends。 We are as near to heaven by sea as by land。〃
In September； 1583； a surviving ship brought news of the disaster to Falmouth。 Raleigh was not discouraged。 Within six months of this loss he had on foot another enterprise。 His brother's patent had expired。 On the 25th of March； 1584； he obtained from Elizabeth a new charter with larger powers； incorporating himself； Adrian Gilbert； brother of Sir Humphrey； and John Davys； under the title of 〃The College of the Fellowship for the Discovery of the Northwest Passage。〃 But Raleigh's object was colonization。 Within a few days after his charter was issued he despatched two captains； Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlow； who in July of that year took possession of the island of Roanoke。
The name of Sir Walter Raleigh is intimately associated with Carolina and Virginia； and it is the popular impression that he personally assisted in the discovery of the one and the settlement of the other。 But there is no more foundation for the belief that he ever visited the territory of Virginia； of which he was styled governor； than that he accompanied Sir Humphrey Gilbert to Newfoundland。 An allusion by William Strachey； in his 〃Historie of Travaile into Virginia；〃 hastily read； may have misled some writers。 He speaks of an expeditio
