II.

Distress af

He had great influence in healing the divisions, and CHAP. promoting the peace and welfare of the company.

Before their arrival the Indians had been exaspe. rated, by the imprudent and cruel treatment which they had received from the English. In 1585, Sir Richard Greenville burnt a whole Indian town, and destroyed their corn, merely to revenge their stealing a silver cup. Mr. Lane and his company slew one of their sachems, and killed and captivated several of their men.* They therefore made repeated attacks on the colony, and in a short time, killed and wounded nearly twenty. By the middle of July they were so distressed with the badness and scarcity the colony of provision, with sickness, labour, and continual guarding against the enemy, that scarcely ten of the whole company could walk, or even stand alone. By the end of the month fifty of them were no more. Among the dead was that enterprizing gentleman captain Gosnold, the projector of the whole scheme of the plantation.

To increase their misfortunes the president embezzled the public stores, and attempted to run away with the company's bark, and to return to England.t It was therefore found necessary for the common safety, to displace him. Mr. Ratcliffe was elected to the presidency. But it very soon appeared, that his abilities were, by no means equal to the exigencies of the company. The weight of

The weight of government fell therefore on captain John Smith, a gentleman singularly adapted to the management of their affairs. He was a man of quick discernment, superior judgment, undaunted courage, invincible industry and resolution. With his whole ability he addressed himself to build the town and retrieve their affairs. He went first, and bore the largest share in labour, hardship, and danger. By his industry and enterprize before winter, lodgings were provided for the sick, and the whole company were tolerably housed.

II.

CHAP. But such was the badness and want of provisions,

that they were still feeble with hunger. While

captain Smith was employing his utmost exertions en captive. and jeoparding his life, for the welfare of the colony,

he was captivated by the warriors of Powhatan. After he had been carried, for some time, in triumph, from place to place, the savage prince determined upon his immediate death.

Having placed himself and his court in all the majesty and terror, which savage state and magnificence could exhibit, two large stones were brought before him, and captain Smith was dragged forward and laid upon them, that his brains might be instantly beat out with clubs. In this critical moment providence wrought wonderfully, both for his own and the colony's preservation. In the very instant

of execution, when no intreaties could avail, Pocaby hontas the emperor's darling daughter, with surpris

ing tenderness, flying to his relief, clasped his head in her arms, and laid her own upon it, risking her life for his. Such an effect had this on the emperor, that he not only suffered him to live, but, with a trusty guard, sent him immediately back to Jamestown. He was careful to send back to the emperor, to his women and children, such presents as should

give general satisfaction. Distress of On his return he found the colony in the utmost

distress and confusion. Hunger, discontent, and mutiny all united their influence to make them miserable. However, his authority and address, soon recovered them to a better state. His little preserver Pocahontas, with her wild traiņ, once in four or five days made him a visit, and brought him such quantities of provision, as saved the lives of many, who otherwise must have perished with famine. Thus, by this humane savage, only about thirteen years

Saved Pocahontas.

Jamestown.

of age, it pleased the Supreme Ruler to save this CHAP. distressed people. *

While these affairs were transacting in the colony, care was taken, by the company in London, to furnish it with all necessary supplies. Captains Newport and Nelson were despatched with provisions and men to recruit the plantation. Captain Newport arrived soon after the setting in of the winter, but Nelson was driven off the coast to the West Indies. The company supposed that he was lost.

The arrival of captain Newport gave great relief 1607. and joy to the plantation. Instead of famine they had a present supply of provisions. The care of the company in London to send them all necessary supplies, the addition made to their numbers, and the present apparent friendship of Powhatan and his confederates, gave new spirits to the colony. Before the arrival of captain Newport, their numbers were reduced to forty men. The new recruits were a great addition to their strength, and alleviated their fears. They had erected them a church, and their animosities, through the good offices of Mr. Hunt, had been so quieted, that the ordinances of the gospel were regularly administered, and the affairs of the colony wore a more favourable aspect than they had ever before done. But a variety of untoward circumstances united their influence to disappoint all these flattering prospects. Captain Newport's van- Newports ity and imprudence in visiting Powhatan in a kind vanity. of princely state, lavishing his bounties upon him, giving swords and almost every thing which he asked, made him much more self important and insolent, and had a mischievous influence on the Indians in general. Beside other ill effects, it raised their corn and all other commodities, which the colonists had occasion to purchase of them, to a price, ten or twelve times above what had before been us

II.

a

town

CHAP. ual. So much time was wasted in this unhappy

business, that the ship's crew consumed much of the provision, which they brought for the colony. They spent more weeks at Jamestown, than they ought to have tarried days. To these unlucky circumstances

succeed a still greater misfortune. In the depth of James.

winter, their store house, in which their provisions burnt. were chiefly lodged, took fire, and with their whole

town, their fortifications, arms, apparel, bedding, and a great quantity of private goods, were consumed. The Rev. Mr. Hunt lost his whole library, and all his furniture excepting the clothes which he wore. Such however were his fortitude and patience, that it is remarked, he was never once heard to complain.

The company were now reduced to a small allow. ance of meal and water. The winter was uncommonly severe, and by the loss of the town, they were so exposed to the inclemencies of the weather, and so pinched with famine, that by the spring more than one half of them were in their graves. The survivers,

. when the warm season advanced applied themselves to the rebuilding of the town, church, and fortifications. While they were thus employed, captain Nelson arrived from the West Indies, with the provisions and recruits which had been sent out, the last year, in company with captain Newport. The whole number of men, which came over in these ships to recruit the colony, were a hundred and twenty. Nothing could be more welcome or give greater joy to these famished pilgrims, than this unexpected and seasonable relief.

Remarkable was the divine conduct towards them. They suffered correction, but were not destroyed. When stripped of all external means of defence, enfeebled with famine, and thinned by the hand of death, they might have been swallowed up quickly; but the sav.ge nations were restrained and touched them not. When naked and destitute, he who clothes the grass, and feeds the fowls, sent them sup. plies.

1608.

II.

In September captain Smith, who was indeed the CHAP. life of the colony, was chosen president, and took on himself the administration of government. He discovered the principal rivers in the southern states with the countries adjacent.

He obtained numerous victories over the Indians, and made peace with their kings. He baffled all the crafty designs of Powhatan, and induced him to make peace with him and the colony, after he h:d tried every stratagem, which his imagination could devise for its extirpation. The planters travelled with safety into every part of the country. Under his administration the colony flourished, and became formidable to all the surrounding Indian nations. A plantation was begun at the falls,

and another at Nansemund. He had a peculiar presence of mind on the most sudden and pressing emergencies; a quickness, penetration, and nobleness of thought peculiar to himself. He had high ideas of the honour of his country and of the public good.

Meanwhile the colony had its enemies both in Virginia and in England. A number of unprincipled, idle, factious men were constantly disturbing its internal peace; and gross misrepresentations were made of it to the company in London. They were possessed of a thousand golden dreams, and far more intent on immediate gain, than on making a permanent settlement in the country. Not receiving those profitable returns, which they idly expected, they were filled with vexation and resentment. Therefore, Old char. making interest with his British majesty, they obtain-gated May ed a new charter, entirely abrogating the authority 23,1609. and council in Virginia : and, appointing Sir Thomas West, lord Delaware, captain general, Sir Thom. as Gates lieutenant, and Sir George Sommers admi. ral, with many other gentlemen, to various offices for life.

They sailed from England the last of May, with a 1609. fleet of nine ships, on board of which were five hundred people. The admiral's ship, on board of which

abro