and therefore styled the London company.

The Northern district he granted to Thomas Hanhan and his associates, who were styled the Plymouth company. The two districts were called South and North Virginia. The members of these companies were principally merchants; their objects were the extension of commerce and the discovery of mines of the precious metals which were supposed to abound in North as well as in South America.

For the supreme government of the colonies a grand council was instituted, the members of which were to reside in England, and to be appointed by the king. The subordinate jurisdiction was committed to a council in each colony, the members of which were to be appointed by the grand council in England, and to be governed by its instructions. To the emigrants and their descendants were secured the enjoyment of all the rights of denizens or citizens, in the same manner and to the same extent as if they had remained or been born in England.

Before the date, however, of these letters patent, the king of France granted to the Sieur De Monts all the territory from the 40th to the 46th degree of north latitude, or from New Jersey to Nova Scotia, then called Acadie. By virtue of this grant a settlement was made in 1604, on the south eastern side of the bay of Fundy, and called Port Royal. In 1608, Samuel Champlain, the agent of De Monts, laid the foundation of Quebec, the capital of Canada. From these possessions of the French, the colonies of New England and New York were, for more than a century, frequently and cruelly annoyed.

CHAPTER 1.

HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.

THE London company, soon after its incorporation in 1606, despatched to America three ships, having on board one hundred and five persons destined to begin a settlement in South Virginia. · Christopher Newport commanded the squadron; he was accompanied by Captain Gosnold, and other distinguished individuals; some allured by curiosity, and some by the prospect of gain, to visit a country said to be inhabited by a new race of beings, and to abound in silver and gold.

A sealed box was delivered to Newport, with directions that it should not be opened until twenty-four hours after the emigrants had landed in America. During the voyage, violent dissentions arose among the principal personages on board the squadron. Of most of them, John Smith, one of the adventurers, incurred the distrust and hatred. His superior talents, and the fame he had acquired by his exploits in war, excited their envy, and probably caused him to claim for himself greater deference than they were willing or bound to yield.

In his youth, he had been a merchant's apprentice. At the age of fifteen he quitted his master, and travelled in France, the Netherlands, Egypt,

and Germany. Having joined the army of the emperor of Austria, who was then at war with the Turks, he received as a reward for successful stratagem, the command of a troop of horse.

In three personal combats with Turkish champions, he came off victorious, at each time killing his adversary. In a battle which subsequently took place, he was wounded and taken prisoner. After his recovery he was sent as a slave to Constantinople. He had fallen into the hands of a cruel master; but his mistress, captivated by his fine appearance and heroic character, and commiserating his fate, sent him, in the absence of her husband, to her brother who dwelt near the sea of Asoph. He, disregarding her directions, assigned to Smith degrading and laborious tasks, and beat him without mercy whenever he failed to perform them.

Seizing a favourable opportunity, he killed his new master, and fled into Russia. After visiting Germany, France, Spain and Morocco, he returned to England, became acquainted with Gosnold, and was easily persuaded to embark in an expedition to a country he had not yet visited, in search of new scenes and new adventures. While yet at sea, he was accused of an intention to murder the council, usurp the government, and make himself king of Virginia; and upon this absurd accusation was put in confinement.

The place of their destination was the disastrous position at Roanoke. A storm fortunately drove them to the mouth of Chesapeake bay, which they entered on the 26th of April,

1607. Discovering a large and beautiful river, they gave it the name of James River, ascended it, and on its banks had several interviews with the natives.

In one of these a chief came forward, holding in one hand his bow and arrows, in the other a pipe of tobacco, and demanded the cause of their coming. They made signs of peace, and were received as friends. Paspiha, another chief, when informed of their wish to settle in their country, offered them as much land as they wanted, and sent them a deer for their entertainment.

On the 13th of May, they debarked on a place which they called Jamestown. On opening the sealed box, it was found to contain the names of the council, and instructions for their guidance. In the list were the names of Gosnold, Smith, Wingfield and Newport. Wingfield was elected president, and a vote was passed excluding Smith from his seat at the board. He was however released from confinement.

The whole country was then a wilderness, in which a few Indians roamed in pursuit of their enemies, or of wild beasts for food. In colour they were darker than the European, but not so black as the negro. They possessed all the vices and virtues of the savage state; were cunning in stratagem, ferocious in battle, cruel to their conquered enemies, kind and hospitable to their friends. They had no written language; they were unacquainted with the use of iron and the other metals; their weapons of war were a bow and arrows, a stone hatchet, which they called a toma

hawk, and a club. They lived principally by hunting, but sometimes cultivated small patches of Indian corn.

From such neighbours the emigrants could expect but little aid or comfort. Yet they took no care to provide for their future subsistence or preservation. They planted nothing the first year.

The provisions brought from England were soon consumed. In four months, famine and the diseases of a hot and damp climate swept away fifty of their number.

These dreadful distresses led them to reflect upon their situation and conduct. Having become sensible of their injustice to Smith, they at his request, had granted him a trial, which resulted in an honourable acquittal. His personal talents and activity now enforced, in adversity, the same regard and deference which, in prosperous times, are yielded only to vested authority and official

station.

By his advice a fort was erected, to protect them from the attacks of the Indians. To procure provisions and explore the country, he made frequent and distant excursions into the wilderness. In one of these, he seized an Indian idol, made with skins stuffed with moss, for the redemption of which as much corn was brought him as he required. Sometimes he procured supplies by caresses, sometimes by purchase, and when these means failed of success, he scrupled not to resort to stratagem and violence.

But in the midst of his activity and usefulness, he was, while exploring the source of the river