2. Sir Walter Raleigh hastened to send over a colony of men to
take possession of Roanoke. Ralph Lane, a gentleman of courage
and experience, was appointed Governor. The seven ships,
conveying one hundred and eight emigrants and the two Indians who
had visited England, sailed on the 9th of April; they were
commanded by Sir Richard Grenville, who was a cousin of Raleigh,
and famous as a seaman.

3. This fleet also came over by the southern route, and was in
considerable danger off Cape Fear during a great storm, but the
ships all safely rode out the gale, and, on the 26th of July, 1585,
they dropped their anchors in Trinity Harbor, off the coast
where the fleet had lain during the visit of the previous year.
News of the arrival was at once sent to Wingina, at Roanoke
Island.

4. Governor Lane had one hundred and eight men to remain with
him, among whom was Thomas Hariot, the celebrated mathematician
and historian. With these colonists he landed upon Roanoke
Island, and began to build and fortify a town upon the northern
part of the island, which he named the "City of Raleigh." The
island is twelve miles long and about four broad, and is to this
day fertile and pleasant as a place of residence. It then
abounded in game, and countless and choice varieties of fish were
to be caught in the sounds and sea at all seasons of the year.

5. Admiral Grenville was active during his stay at Roanoke in
visiting many Indian towns and in exploring the many broad waters
that are found connected with one another in that portion of
North Carolina. On one of his expeditions he lost a silver cup,