lace,
that in the inland parts of South America, called Guiana, a country as
yet undiscovered, there were mines and treasures far exceeding any which
Cortes or Pizarro had met with. Raleigh, whose turn of mind was somewhat
romantic and extravagant, undertook at his own charge the discovery of
this wonderful country. Having taken the small town of St. Joseph, in
the Isle of Trinidado, where he found no riches, he left his ship, and
sailed up the River Oroonoko in pinnaces, but without meeting any thing
to answer his expectations. On his return, he published an account of
the country, full of the grossest and most palpable lies that were ever
attempted to be imposed on the credulity of mankind.[*]

The same year, Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins undertook a more
important expedition against the Spanish settlements in America; and
they carried with them six ships of the queen's and twenty more, which
either were fitted out at their own charge, or were furnished them by
private adventurers. Sir Thomas Baskerville was appointed commander of
the land forces which they carried on board. Their first design was to
attempt Porto Rico, where, they knew, a rich carrack was at that time
stationed; but as they had not preserved the requisite secrecy, a
pinnace, having strayed from the fleet, was taken by the Spaniards, and
betrayed the intentions of the English. Preparations were made in that
island for their reception; and the English fleet, notwithstanding the
brave assault which they made on the enemy, was repulsed with loss.
Hawkins soon after died, and Drake pursued his voyage to Nombre di Dios,
on the Isthmus of Darien; where, having landed his men, he attempted to
pass forward to Panama, with a view of plundering that place, or, if he
found such a scheme practicable, of keeping and fortifying it. But he
met not with the same facility which had attended his first enterprises
in those parts. The Spaniards, taught by experience, had every where
fortified the passes, and had stationed troops in the woods, who so
infested the English by continual alarms and skirmishes, that they
were obliged to return, without being able to effect any thing. Drake
himself, from the intemperance of the climate, the fatigues of his
journey, and the vexation of his disappointment, was seized with a
distemper of which he soon after died. Sir Thomas Baskerville took the
command of the fleet, which was in a weak condition; and after having
fought a