and for this purpose the wretched remnant of the colony embarked on board the vessel just arrived from Bermuda, and set sail for England. None dropped a tear, because none had enjoyed one day of happiness. But they met Lord Delawar in the river, with 3 ships, and a recruit of new settlers and persons from England, who prevailed on them to return, and, on the 10th of June, re-settled them at Jamestown.

On the 10th of May, 1611, Sir Thomas Dale, who had been appointed to the government, arrived with fresh supplies of men and provisions, and found the colony relapsing into its former state of idleness and penury. It required all the authority of the new governor to maintain public order, and to compel the idle and dissolute to labour. Some conspiracies having been detected, he proclaimed martial law, and instantly executed it, by punishing the most guilty. These severities, which, in the ordinary state of society, would not, and ought not to have been submitted to, were then deemed necessary, and are spoken of as having probably saved the settlement.

In the beginning of August, Sir Thomas Gates, who had been appointed to succeed Thomas Dale, arrived with six ships, and a considerable supply of men and provisions. The colony being now greatly strengthened, began to extend itself up the James River, and several new settlements were made. In March, 1612, a new charter was issued, granting to the treasurer and company all the islands situate in the ocean, within three hundred leagues of the coast of Virginia.

It was ordained that four general courts of adventurers should be holden annually, for the determination of affairs of importance, and weekly meetings were appointed for the transaction of common business.

To promote the settlement, which had already cost such considerable sums, license was given to open lotteries in any part of England. These lotteries, which were the first ever drawn in England, brought twenty-nine thousand pounds into the treasury of the company. Captain Argal arrived from England with two vessels, and was sent round to the Potomac, for a cargo of corn. Here he understood that Pocahontas, who had saved the life of

Smith, and ever had been steadfast in her attachments to the English, having absented herself from her father's house, now lay concealed.

By bribing some of those in whom she had confided, Captain Argal prevailed on her to come on board his vessel, where she was detained respectfully, and brought to Jamestown. His motive was, the hope that the possession of Pocahontas would give the English an ascendancy over her father, Powhatan. In this, however, he was disappointed. Powhatan offered corn and friendship, if they would first restore his daughter, but would come to no terms until reparation was made for what he resented, as an act of unhandsome treachery.

During her detention at Jamestown, she made an impression on the heart of Mr. Rolfe, a young gentleman of estimation in the colony, who also succeeded in gaining ber affections. They were married, with the consent of Powhatan, who ever after continued to be a sincere friend to the English. This led to a treaty with the Chiccahominies, a brave and powerful tribe, who submitted to the English, and became their tributaries. In 1613, Sir Thomas Dale divided a considerable portion of the lands into lots of three acres each, and granted one of these to each individual in full propriety.

Although they were still required to devote a great portion of their labour to the public, yet a sudden change was made in the appearance and habits of the colony. Industry advanced with rapid strides, and the colonists were no more fearful of wanting bread, either for themselves or the emigrants, who came annually from England. Early in the year 1614, Sir Thomas Gates returned to England, leaving the government again with Sir Thomas Dale. In 1615, fifty acres of land were allotted to each individual, which was actually laid off and delivered to the persons having titles to them, who were permitted to exercise over them, in such a manner as was agreeable to themselves, all the rights of ownership. About the same

time, tobacco was first cultivated in Virginia.

This plant was detested by the king, who used all his influence to prevent its use. He even wrote a pamphlet against it, which he styled the counter blast. It was dis

countenanced by the leading members of parliament, and also by the company, who issued edicts against its cultivation. And, although on a first experiment, it was unpleasant in its taste, and disagreeable in its effects, it surmounted all difficulties, and has, by an unaccountable caprice, been brought into general use, and become one of the most considerable staples of America.

In the spring of 1616, Sir Thomas Dale sailed for England, having placed the government in the hands of George Yeardly, his deputy, who after a very lax administration of one year, was succeeded, in May, 1617, by Captain Argal, who had been appointed deputy governor by the company.

He was a man of great talents and energy of mind, but selfish, haughty, and tyrannical. He provided with ability for the wants of the colony. Martial law was continued during a season of peace; and Mr. Brewster, who was tried under this arbitrary system, for contemptuous words spoken against the governor, was sentenced to suffer death. A respite of execution was with difficulty obtained, and on an appeal to the council in England, the sentence was reversed. While martial law was, according to Stith, the common law of the land, the deputy governor seems to have been the sole legislator. His edicts mark the severity of his rule, but some of them evince an attention to the public safety.

He ordered, that merchandise should be sold at the advance price of 25 per cent., and tobacco taken in payment at the rate of three shillings a pound, under the penalty of three year's servitude to the company; that no person should traffic with the Indians, or teach them, the use of fire arms, under pain of death; that no person should hunt deer or hogs without leave from the governor; that no person should shoot, unless in his own defence, until a new supply of ammunition arrived, on pain of a year's personal service; that no one should go on board the ships without the governor's leave; that every person should go to church on Sundays, under the penalty of slavery during that present week, for the first offence; a month for the second, and a year for the third.

The rigour of this administration necessarily excited

much discontent, and the complaints of the Virginians at length made their way to the company. Lord Delawar, being now dead, Mr. Yeardly was appointed captaingeneral, with instructions to examine with attention the wants of the people, and to redress them.

The new governor arrived in April, 1619, and soon after, to the inexpressible joy of the inhabitants, declared his intentions to convoke a colonial assembly. This is an important era in the history of Virginia. Heretofore, all legislative authority had been exercised, either by the corporation in England, or by their officers in this country. The people, either personally or by their representatives, had no voice in the government of themselves, and their most important concerns were decided by persons unacquainted with their situation, and always possessing interests different from theirs.

This first assembly met at Jamestown on the 19th of June, 1619. The colony was not then divided into counties, and the members were elected by the different boroughs, amounting to seven in number. The assembly, composed of the governor, the council, and burgesses, met together in one apartment, and there debated all matters thought conducive to the general welfare. The laws then enacted, which, it is believed, are no longer extant, were transmitted to England for the approbation of the treasurer and company, and were said to have been judiciously formed.

The emigrations from England continued to be very considerable, and were made at great expense to the company; but as yet few females had ever crossed the Atlantic. Men without wives could not contemplate Virginia as a place of permanent residence, and proposed, after amassing some wealth, to return to their native land. To put an end to a mode of thinking in its effects so ruinous to the colony, it was proposed to send out 100 maids as wives for the colony; 90 young girls were transported in the beginning of the year 1620, and 60 more in the subsequent year. They were immediately disposed of to the young planters.

The price of a wife was estimated first at one hundred, and afterwards at one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco,

then selling at three shillings per pound; and a debt so contracted was made of greater dignity than any other. The education of the children was likewise attended to, and several steps were taken towards founding a college, afterwards completely established by William and Mary. About the same time, the company received orders from the king to transport to Virginia 100 idle and dissolute persons, then in the custody of the Knight Marshal. These men, dispersed through the colony, became a useful and acceptable addition of labourers, and were the first convicts transported to America.

CHAPTER III.

From the embarkation of the Plymouth Company to the close of the Pequot War.

WE have seen with what slow and difficult steps the first, or southern colony, although supported by individuals of great wealth and influence in the nation, advanced to a firm and secure establishment. Let us now employ our attention in viewing the establishment of the Plymouth Company. King James first granted Letters Patent to this company, in 1606, to possess all the lands in America lying between 34 and 45 degrees of north latitude. They applied for leave to go under the royal sanction, but were refused.

At length they obtained permission from the Virginia company to make a settlement near the mouth of Hudson's River. It was resolved that part of the congregation should remove first, and the remaining part, with their pastor, after the new settlement had commenced. This produced a scene at parting not to be described. They took their leave of one another, which proved to be their last leave, with many of them. They sailed from Holland to Southampton, in England, where they met the other ships, and their friends who were to accompany them from England, in July, 1620.

On the fifth of August they sailed from Southampton,