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2 Chromeles of the Cape Fear Rwer

Hilton was sent in 1663 for the purpose of examining the coun-
try; he did examine it, reported in glowing terms as to its
beauty and attractiveness, and throughout his report spelled the
name Fair. J answer, Very true. But three years later, in
1666, Robert Horne published his Brief Description of Carolina,
under the eye, and no doubt by the procurement, of the Pro-
prietors; he describes the country in much more glowing terms
of praise than Hilton did, but spells the name, throughout,
Fear. And where are we then? And later still, in 1711, a high
authority, Christopher Gale, chief justice of North Carolina,
like a prudent politician who has not made up his mind which
party to join, spells it neither Fair nor Fear, but Fare. (2
Hawks, 391.) That the name in early times was not infre-
quently spelt Fair is unquestionable. Besides Hilton’s report,
it is so given in the Letter of the English Adventurers to the
Proprietors, 1663; in the Instructions of the Proprietors to
Governor Yeamans, 1665; in Lawson’s history and map, 1709;
and on Wimble’s map, 1738. And perhaps other instances
may be found.

But all these, if they stood alone and unopposed, could
hardly form the basis of any solid argument. For all who are
accustomed to examine historical documents will know too well
how widely independent of all law, if there was any law, our
ancestors were in their spelling, especially of proper names.
Pen in hand, they were accustomed to dare every vagary, and
no amount of heroic spelling ever appalled them.

Some examples will be instructive in our present investiga-
tion. Take the great name of him who was “wholly gentleman,
wholly soldier,” who, falling under the displeasure of a scoun-
drel King and languishing for twelve long years under sentence
of ignominious death, sent forth through his prison bars such
melodious notes that the very King’s son cried out, “No mon-
arch in Christendom but my father would keep such a bird in a
cage”; who, inexhaustible in ideas as in exploits, after having
brought a new world to light, wrote the history of the old in a
prison, and then died, because God had made him too great for
his fellows—that name which to North Carolina ears rings
down through the ages like a glorious chime of bells—the name
of our great Sir Walter. We know that it was spelt three dif-
ferent ways, Raleigh, Ralegh, and Rawlegh.

And Sir Walter’s heroic kinsman, that grand old sea-king
who fought his single ship for fifteen straight hours against

 

 

Exploration and Settlement 3

fifteen Spaniards, one after another, muzzle to muzzle, and
then yielded up his soul to God in that cheerful temper where-
with men go to a banquet: “Here die I, Richard Greenville,
and with a joyful and quiet mind, having ended my life like a
true soldier that has fought for his country, Queen, religion,
and honor.” He was indifferently Greenville, Grenville, and
Granville.

And take another of these sea-kings of old who sailed to
America in the early days—that brilliant, restless, daring
Spirit who crowded into a few brief years enough of wild adven-
ture and excitement to season a long life, and then died little
more than a boy—he was indifferently Cavendish and Candish.
5 Who, without assistance, could recognize Bermuda in the

still vexed Bermoothes” of Shakespeare? And Horne’s pam-

phlets, of which I have spoken, could only improve it into
Barmoodoes.

Coming down to the very time of which we are speaking, one
of the first acts of the Lords Proprietors after receiving their
magnificent grant was to publish the important document to
which I have alluded, the Declaration and Proposals to all who
will plant in Carolina. It is signed by some of the most famous
names in English history—George, Duke of Albemarle, the
prime mover in bringing about the restoration of the King;
Edward, Earl of Clarendon, Lord High Chancellor, and grand-
father of two English queens, but far more famous as the author
of that wonderful book, the History of the Great Rebellion:
Anthony, Earl of Shaftesbury, Lord High Chancellor and one
of the greatest parliamentary leaders that England ever pro-
duced, but far greater as the author of that second charter of
Anglo-Saxon liberties, the Habeas Corpus Act. This very gifted
and very famous Earl of Shaftesbury, who, I am sorry to say,
was more distinguished for brilliant talents than for virtuous
principles, besides being one of the Proprietors had an addi-
tional claim to our remembrance which has not been generally
known. Ata meeting of the Proprietors held at the Cockpit
the 21st of October, 1669 (Rivers, 346), he was elected the first
chief justice of Carolina. As he never visited America I pre-
sume his office was in a great degree purely honorary. But he
certainly executed its functions to the extent at least of its off-

cial patronage. For the record has been preserved which shows

that on the 10th of J une, 1675, by virtue of that office, he ap-

Pointed Andrew Percival to be register of Berkeley Precinct.

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