Domestic Papers. Letters from J. Burgh, dated Plymouth January 8, 1628. As Buckingham progressed in experience, and his views became more enlarged, his enthusiasm for naval affairs increased; and was, doubtless, heightened by the knowledge that Cardinal Richelieu, who, amongst his other titles, enjoyed that of High Admiral of France,[276] and who thought it no shame to wear the badge of office over his cardinal’s robes, and famous hair shirt beneath, supported commerce, the very channels of which are on the wide ocean. These considerations were, early in the reign of Charles the First, strengthened and brought into play by the certainty of a speedy war with Spain. Footnote 276: Macpherson, 339. But it is reasonable to infer that the example and the works of Sir Walter Ralegh still held their influence over society, as they had done over the dawning intellect of Henry, Prince of Wales. The immature projects of that royal youth, suggested, it is probable, by the spirit of enterprise to which Ralegh had sacrificed his own interests, were now revived by Buckingham. King Charles co-operated with him in these earnest endeavours to carry out the discovery of the north-west passage to China, “an action,” says Macpherson, “of great importance to trade and navigation, and in sundry respects of singular benefit to all our realms and dominions.”[277] As a reward for this undertaking, Buckingham received a present from King Charles of one of his pinnaces;[278] but death put a stop to these public-spirited endeavours. Footnote 277: Macpherson, iv., 4, 377. Footnote 278: Ibid. The period of Buckingham’s administration over the Admiralty affairs was, however, one of incessant activity, carried on, as is shown by correspondence in the State Paper Office, almost to the last hour of his life. It seems idle to adduce the language of panegyric to support a statement, else might we refer to the verses addressed by Carew “to my Lord Admiral, on his late sickness and recovery,” in which he alludes to "Sorrow like that which touched our hearts of late; Your pining sickness and your restless pain, At once the land affecting, and the main: When the glad news that you were Admiral Scarce through the nation spread, ’twas feared by all That our great Charles, whose wisdom shines in you, Should be perplexed how to chuse a new."