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[1608 A.D.]

vailed to load that vessel with cedar, which, with a quantity of skins and furs, constituted the first valuable remittance from Virginia. Martin's place in the council was supplied by Scrivener, who had come out in Newport's vessel.

While the colonists rebuilt their huts and tended their corn-fields, Smith employed himself in the exploration of Chesapeake Bay, for which purpose he made two voyages in an open boat of five tons, attended by a surgeon, six gentlemen, and five soldiers. He explored the numerous rivers and inlets, especially on the west side of the bay; entered the Susquehanna, the Patapsco, and the Potomac, all of which he ascended to their first falls; and, after sailing more than three thousand miles, drew the first chart of the Chesapeake, which was transmitted to England, and presently published, with a description of the country. Smith found the Susquehannas, and other Indians at the head of the bay, already in possession of iron hatchets, obtained probably by way of Canada from the French fur traders in the St. Lawrence. These Indians lived in constant terror of the formidable Massawomacs, no doubt the Iroquois or Five Nations. Smith himself met with a party of that dreaded race returning in canoes from a war expedition. After visiting the Mannahoacs at the head of the Rappahannock, and, in the same expedition, the Nansemonds and Chesapeakes, at the south part of the bay, he returned in September to Jamestown with a cargo of corn. The settlers now also gathered the first corn of their own planting.

On his return from his second voyage of exploration Smith became president of the council, an office held for some time previously by Scrivener, to whom the sick and inefficient Ratcliffe had yielded it. Newport arrived soon after with seventy additional people, among whom were two new councillors and two women, the first who visited the colony. There came, also, eight Poles and Germans, sent to teach the art of making pitch, tar, potashes, and glass. The officers of the company wrote by this opportunity in an angry strain. They were much disturbed by a story, started probably by Wingfield and the other returned emigrants, that the starving and discontented colonists, who desired nothing so much as to get away, intended to seize the territory of Virginia, and to divide it among themselves. They expressed great dissatisfaction that their heavy outlays had yet produced no adequate return; and Newport brought special orders to obtain certain intelligence of a passage to the South Sea, to send home a lump of real gold, or to find some of the lost company formerly planted on the island of Roanoke. Unless valuable commodities were remitted sufficient to pay the expense of this voyage, amounting to £2,000, about $10,000, the colonists were threatened to be left to shift for themselves, "as banished men."

Resolved to make the best of such materials as he had, Smith exerted his authority with vigour. The gentlemen, taught to wield the axe, and converted into dexterous woodcutters, were employed in preparing a cargo for the ship. To eat, they must work. The common store from which the colonists were fed was mainly dependent on corn purchased from the Indians with goods sent out by the company. Newport again visited Powhatan, carrying as presents a scarlet cloak and gilded crown. He wished to engage that chief to assist him in exploring the country of the Monicans above the falls of James river, and, notwithstanding Powhatan's refusal, he undertook an expedition for that purpose, from which he returned with some specimens of alleged silver ore, his men starving, sick, and dispirited. Great exertions now became necessary to secure a supply of provisions. Contributions were levied on the neighbouring Indian villages. Smith also visited Powhatan for

[1609 A.D.]

the same purpose, but found him hostile and treacherous. Again he was saved [he claims] by Pocahontas, who came through a storm at midnight to inform him of his danger.

Already Newport's vessel was dispatched with a cargo of wainscot and clapboards, and specimens of tar, pitch, and potashes, prepared by the Germans. Smith wrote, in reply to the complaints of the company, that it were better to send out thirty working men tnan a thousand like the present colonists. Whatever disappointment might be expressed in their letters to Virginia, the London Company put a good face upon matters at home. Means were taken to make the speculation popular, and the number of adventurers was greatly increased. Besides many noblemen, knights, gentlemen, merchants, and wealthy tradesmen, most of the incorporated trades of London were induced to take shares in the stock.

THE SECOND CHARTER OF VIRGINIA (1609 A.D.)

A new charter was also obtained May 23, 1609, by which the enterprise was placed upon quite a new footing. "The Treasurer and Company of Adventurers and Planters of the City of London, for the First Colony in Virginia," were made a corporation, its affairs to be managed by a council, of which the first members were named in the patent; but all vacancies were to be filled by the stockholders, who were also empowered to choose the treasurer, the chief executive officer of the company. To this corporation was granted a territory extending two hundred miles north from Old Point Comfort, the same distance south, and west to the Pacific. The local council of the colony, distracted as it had been by cabals and personal jealousies, the universal fate of a divided executive, was superseded by a governor, to be appointed by the company's council in England, and to have the sole superintendence of local affairs. That same council was also empowered to make laws for the colony, conformable, however, "as near as might be," to those of England-a restriction inserted into all subsequent charters, and, independently of any charter, a fundamental limitation on colonial legislation. To guard against the intrusion of "Romish superstitions," the oath of supremacy was to be taken by all persons sailing for the colony. Under this new charter Lord Delawarr was appointed governor, Sir Thomas Gates lieutenantgovernor, Sir George Somers admiral, Newport vice-admiral, and Sir Thomas Dale high marshal, all for life.

Lord Delawarr's affairs detained him for some time in England; but a fleet of nine vessels set sail at once, with five hundred colonists on board, including twenty women and children. Gates, Somers, and Newport sailed in this fleet, with authority to administer the government till Lord Delawarr's arrival. Not able to agree about precedence, these three commanders embarked in the same vessel, and, in a violent storm which dispersed the fleet, they were cast ashore on one of the Bermudas. The other ships, except one which was lost, arrived safely in James river. Most of the new comers were of the same sort with those formerly sent out, poor gentlemen, indolent, dissolute, and insubordinate, or else broken tradesmen, "fitter to breed a riot than to found a colony." The old system had been abrogated; but, owing to the non-arrival of the three commissioners, there was no person in the colony authorised to act under the new charter.

The new comers disputed the authority of Smith, who struggled, however, to maintain his power, in which, indeed, he was justified by the express provisions of the new charter, which continued the old government until the

H. W.-VOL. XXII. 2P

[1610 A.D.]

new one should be formally organised. To rid himself in part of these troublesome guests, he established two new settlements, one at the falls of James river, the other at Nansemond, near the present site of Norfolk. These settlers conducted with great insolence, and soon involved themselves in dispute with the neighbouring Indians. Smith quieted matters for the moment; but the colony soon lost his valuable services. Severely wounded by the accidental explosion of his powder-bag as he was sleeping in his boat, he was obliged in October to return to England, in one of the newly arrived vessels, for surgical aid. He left near five hundred persons in Virginia, well supplied with arms, provisions, and goods for the Indian traffic. Jamestown had a fort, church, store-house, and about sixty dwelling houses, with a stock of hogs, goats, sheep, fowls, and a few horses; but the cultivated land, the produce of which went into the colony store, was limited to thirty or forty acres. The main resource for food was corn purchased or extorted from the Indians, and dealt out from the common store.

THE STARVING TIME; DALE'S ADMINISTRATION

At Smith's departure the colonists gave themselves up to riot and idleness. They wastefully consumed the store of provisions, killed the stock, traded away their arms with the natives, and presently suffered severely from famine. Ratcliffe, with a numerous party, on a trading expedition for corn, was waylaid by the Indians, and cut off with all his company. Many stragglers, wandering about in search of food, suffered the same fate. A company of thirty seized a small vessel belonging to the colony, and sailed away to turn pirates. In the traditions of Virginia, this period was long remembered as the Starving Time." In six months there were only sixty persons remaining, and those so feeble, dejected, and destitute that, without aid, they could not have survived for ten days longer.

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At this critical moment (May 26th, 1610) Newport, Gates, and Somers, with an hundred and fifty men, arrived from Bermuda, in two small vessels built of the cedar of that island and the fragments of their stranded ship. Even shipwreck had not reconciled the jealous commissioners, who had formed two parties, and had built separate vessels. Arriving from such a land of plenty, the new comers were horror-struck at the starving condition of the colony. They had themselves but sixteen days' provisions. It was resolved to abandon Virginia, and to sail for Newfoundland, there to seek food and a passage home from the fishermen. So great was the disgust of the disappointed colonists that on leaving Jamestown they were hardly restrained from setting fire to the buildings.

As they descended the river, June 10, a boat was seen coming up. It was Lord Delawarr, the governor, just arrived from England, with three ships, bringing provisions and colonists. He persuaded the fugitive settlers to return to Jamestown, where he entered ceremoniously upon his office with a speech from himself and a sermon from his chaplain. Somers sailed to the Bermudas for hogs, and died there, leaving his name to the islands. Gates returned to England for supplies. Captain Argall, in a private trading ship, obtained a cargo of corn from the Potomac. Delawarr established a post at Kiquotan, now Hampton, at the entrance of James river. In punishment of injuries inflicted by the Indians during the late distressed state

['So Smith puts it, all other contemporary accounts say he was sent to England, “to answer some misdemeanors." Both reasons were correct it now seems from a MS. at Petworth House in Surrey.]

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[1610 A.D.]

of the colony, he attacked and burned several of their villages, but was repulsed when he attempted to renew the settlement at the falls. Taken sick, he presently returned to England (March 28th), leaving Percy as his deputy. The colony now consisted of two hundred men.

Sir Thomas Dale arrived (May 10th) with three ships, some cattle, and three hundred settlers, and, in Delawarr's absence, assumed the government. He proclaimed a code of laws, harsh and strict, by its excessive severity fitter for a camp than a colony, and intended to prevent a repetition of the late disorders. This code, printed at London by the care of Secretary Strachey, remained for eight years the law of Virginia, additional regulations being from time to time added by proclamations of the governor.

Being superseded by Sir Thomas Gates, who came back from England in August with six ships, three hundred and fifty colonists, and a supply of live-stock, Dale proceeded to settle a new plantation up the river, enclosed by a stockade, and called Henrico, after the king's eldest son. Another settlement, called New Bermuda, was established at the junction of the Appomattox with the James. The Indians who dwelt there were driven away, and a stockade from river to river inclosed a considerable extent of ground. To all the indented servants of the company Dale assigned three acres each to cultivate on their private account.

GATES, ARGALL, AND YEARDLEY; THE FIRST ASSEMBLY (1619 A.D.)

The heavy outlay since the new organisation of the company, without any return, gave occasion to loud complaints on the part of the stockholders. They seem very unreasonably to have looked to the colony as an immediate source of mercantile profit. The returned emigrants had brought back many unfavourable reports; and Virginia, late the theme of such romantic hopes, fell into very bad repute. It was sneered at on the stage; even the abandonment of the enterprise was openly talked of. Something must be done to appease these discontents; and a supplementary charter was obtained, under which the control of the company's affairs was taken from the council and given to the body of the stockholders, who were to hold a great and general court once in each quarter for more important business, besides meetings weekly or oftener for smaller matters. The Bermudas were also annexed to Virginia; but these islands soon passed into the hands of a particular association, and were occupied by a separate colony. The supplementary charter also authorised the company to raise money by lotteries, now introduced into England for the first time. About £30,000, near $150,000, were subsequently raised by this means.

Captain Argall, again in Virginia with two ships on private account, in a new expedition to the Potomac to trade for corn, found Pocahontas there, of whom the colonists had seen nothing for two years. With the assistance of the chief of that district, whom he bribed with a brass kettle, he enticed the Indian girl on board his ship, and carried her to Jamestown. Powhatan demanded the release of his daughter, but the colonists refused to give her up except in exchange for some German servants who had deserted to the Indians, and the English tools and arms of which Powhatan's people had possessed themselves, by purchase as they alleged, but, as the English said, by theft. The Indian chief declined these terms, and vowed revenge, but was appeased by a fortunate circumstance. John Rolfe, a young colonist of respectable condition, having won the favour of the Indian maid, was encouraged by the governor to ask her in marriage. Her father willingly

[1613 A.D.] consented. He did not care, indeed, to trust himself in Jamestown, but he sent two of his principal warriors as his representatives at the marriage ceremony. The young bride was baptised, and by means of this connection a good understanding was established with Powhatan.' As yet there were very few white women in the colony; yet Rolfe's example was not followed. Intermarriage was urged by the Indians as the only test of sincere friendship; and such a course, as a native historian of Virginia has remarked, might have prevented the subsequent Indian wars and gradually have absorbed the native inhabitants into the growing body of white colonists. But the idea of such an intermixture was abhorrent to the English, who despised the Indians as savages, and detested them as heathen. They would receive them only as subjects.

Sailing to the eastward on a fishing voyage, in 1613, in company with a number of other English vessels, Captain Argall broke up a little station called St. Saveur, on the island of Mount Desert, not far from Penobscot Bay, which two Jesuit missionaries from Port Royal, dissatisfied with their treatment there, had just established, by assistance of a pious lady of France. Some of the Frenchmen were allowed to seek a passage home in the French fishing vessels; the others were carried to Virginia-among the rest one of the Jesuits, the other having been killed in the attack.

With three vessels and sixty men, piloted by his Jesuit prisoner, Argall soon after visited Port Royal, which he burned; but the dispersed settlers found shelter in the woods. On his homeward voyage the English commander entered the mouth of the Hudson, and compelled the Dutch traders, lately established on the island of Manhattan, to acknowledge the authority of the English. England was at peace both with France and Holland, but the English claimed all that coast as a part of Virginia. This expedition, forerunner of future bloody contests for the possession of North America, had no immediate results. Upon the departure of Argall, the Dutch flag was again hoisted at Manhattan. The French also re-established themselves at Port Royal, where they continued to carry on a prosperous fur trade; and they soon occupied other points of the neighbouring coast.

By the original proposals of the company, all persons coming to Virginia, or transporting others thither, were entitled, for each person so introduced, to a hundred acres of land. This allowance was now limited to fifty acres, at which amount it remained fixed so long as Virginia continued a British colony, subject, like all grants of land in Virginia, to an annual quit-rent, at the rate of two shillings for every hundred acres. The labourers consisted mainly of indented servants, of whom many belonged to the company. The governor had for his support a plantation cultivated by a hundred of these servants; and the salaries of other colonial officers were paid by similar assignments. Besides the grants to actual settlers, the members of the company had received large tracts of land in consideration of their payments into the treasury; and other large grants had been made for meritorious

['Even Pocahontas' marriage has been questioned. E. D. Neill has tried to prove that, since John Rolfe left a widow and children when he died Pocahontas could have been only his mistress, though she is known to have borne him a child. Ralph Hamor,' however, who knew Pocahontas well in Virginia, describes the marriage as taking place "about the fift of Aprill," in 1614, and states that Powhatan sent her uncle as sponsor and her two brothers as witnesses. There can be little doubt that the marriage was formal; Pocahontas made a sensation in England as Rolfe's wife. She is believed to have died at Gravesend, March 21st, 1617, as she was sailing for her American home. There is a reference in the records of St. George's church there of the death on that date of "a lady Virginia born." But this is also under dispute.]

[This raid on the Dutch settlements is denied by some historians; by others the scene is laid at the present site of Albany.]

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