History is fortunate in possessing Barlow's account of this voyage.
It has, as one writer says, "all the freshness and gayety of an
idyl. His description of the sweet smell wafted to the voyagers from
the American shore, as from some delicate garden abounding with all
kinds of odoriferous flowers, was noticed by Bacon, and utilized by
Dryden to flatter one of his patrons."
Howison's story of the ill-starred colony and the conjectural refuge
of its remnants among the Croatan Indians of Virginia--as Raleigh
named the whole region, including the present North Carolina--fittingly
completes the history of Sir Walter's American enterprise. The
failure of the colony has been freely charged to his own neglect,
occasioned by the turning of his mind to more brilliant prospects
presented by the illusory "El Dorado," whereby so many other
adventurers were misled.
ARTHUR BARLOW
The 27. day of April, in the year of our redemption 1584, we departed
the west of England, with two barks well furnished with men and
victuals, having received our last and perfect directions by your
letters, confirming the former instructions and commandments delivered
by yourself at our leaving the river of Thames. And I think it a matter
both unnecessary, for the manifest discovery of the country, as also for
tediousness' sake, to remember unto you the diurnal of our course,
sailing thither and returning; only I have presumed to present unto you
this brief discourse, by which you may judge how profitable this land is
likely to succeed, as well to yourself, by whose direction and charge,
and by whose servants, this our discovery hath been performed, as also
to her highness and the commonwealth.
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