The Life of George Washington, Vol. 1 | Page 9

they were under the necessity of resorting for food to the precarious
supplies which could be drawn from the rivers and woods. In this state
of distress, they were found, in June, by Sir Francis Drake, who was
then returning from a successful expedition against the Spaniards in the
West Indies. He agreed to supply them with about one hundred men,
four months' provisions, and a small vessel; but, before she could be
brought into a place of security, and the men and stores disembarked,
she was driven out to sea by a sudden and violent storm. Discouraged

by this misfortune, and worn out with fatigue and famine, the colonists
unanimously determined to abandon the colony, and were, at their own
request, taken on board the fleet which sailed for England.[6]
[Footnote 6: Robertson. Chalmer. Stith. Smith.]
Thus terminated the first English colony planted in America. The only
acquisition made by this expensive experiment, was a better knowledge
of the country and its inhabitants.
[Sidenote: Grenville plants a second colony.]
[Sidenote: Destroyed by the Indians.]
A few days after the departure of Drake with Lane and his associates, a
small vessel which had been dispatched by Raleigh with a supply of
provisions, reached its place of destination. Not finding the colonists,
this vessel returned to England. Soon after its departure, Sir Richard
Grenville arrived with three ships and ample supplies. Having searched
in vain for the colonists he had left, and being unable to conjecture their
fate, he placed fifteen men in the island with provisions for two years,
for the purpose of retaining possession of the country, and returned to
England. This small party was soon destroyed by the Indians.
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Not discouraged by the ill success which had thus far attended his
efforts to make a settlement in America, Raleigh, in the following year,
fitted out three ships under the command of captain John White, and, it
is said, directed the colony to be removed to the waters of the
Chesapeake, which bay had been discovered by Lane in the preceding
year. Instructed by calamity, he adopted more efficacious means for
preserving and continuing the colony than had before been used. The
number of men was greater; they were accompanied by some women,
and their supply of provisions was more abundant. Mr. White was
appointed their governor, twelve assistants were assigned him as a
council, and a charter incorporating them by the name of the governor
and assistants of the city of Raleigh in Virginia, was granted them.

[Sidenote: Third colony arrives.]
Thus prepared for a permanent settlement, they arrived in July at
Roanoke, where they received the melancholy intelligence of the loss
of their countrymen who had been left there by Sir Richard Grenville.
They determined, however, to remain at the same place, and began to
make the necessary preparations for their accommodation. Aware of
the danger to be apprehended from the hostile disposition of their
neighbours, they endeavoured to effect a reconciliation with the natives,
one of whom, who had accompanied Amidas and Barlow to England,
and who was distinguished by his unshaken attachment to the English,
was christened, and styled Lord of Dassa Monpeake, an Indian nation
in the neighbourhood.[7]
[Footnote 7: Robertson. Chalmer. Stith. Smith.]
About the same time the first child of English parentage was born in
America. She was the daughter of Ananias Dare, and, after the place of
her birth, was named Virginia.
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Soon perceiving their want of many things essential to the preservation,
and comfortable subsistence of a new settlement, the colonists, with
one voice, deputed their governor, to solicit those specific aids which
their situation particularly and essentially required. On his arrival in
England, he found the whole nation alarmed at the formidable
preparations for their invasion, made by Philip II. of Spain; and Raleigh,
Grenville, and the other patrons of the colony, ardently engaged in
those measures of defence which the public danger demanded.
Mingling, however, with his exertions to defend his native country,
some attention to the colony he had planted, Raleigh found leisure to fit
out a small fleet for its relief, the command of which was given to Sir
Richard Grenville; but, the apprehensions from the Spanish armament
still increasing, the ships of force prepared by Raleigh were detained in
port by order of the Queen, and Sir Richard Grenville was commanded
not to leave Cornwall, where his services were deemed necessary. On
the 22d of April, White put to sea with two small barks, but, instead of

hastening to the relief of his distressed countrymen, wasted his time in
cruising; and, being beaten by a superior force, was totally disabled
from prosecuting his voyage.[8]
[Footnote 8: Robertson. Chalmer. Stith. Smith.]
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[Sidenote: Raleigh assigns his patent.]
The attention of Raleigh being directed to other more splendid