RALEIGH

SIR Walter, was bom in Devons hire in 1552, and joined a body of volunteers in aid of the Huguenots in 1569, He distinguished himself in the Irish rebellion of 1580, and attracted the Queen's attention by throwing his cloak in a puddle for her to walk over. He began the colonization of Virginia in 1584, and introduced the potato into Ireland in the same year. He 'served with honour in the Armada and at Cadiz, and lost favour at tourt on the acce ion of James I. In fact, he was sentenced to death for treason, but the sentence was commuted for imprisonment, from which he was released on condition of finding a gold mine on the Orinoco. e failed, and, having injured the Spaniards in his attempt, Itf was put to death by James on his return to England simply to conciliate the Spanish court. His “ History of the World ’’ is a splendid specimen of Elizabeth an language and statesmanship.