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eventuated in the arrest of capt. John Smith, on the SECT. absurd charge of an intention to murder the council, usurp the government, and make himself king of 1607. Virginia; and he was accordingly kept in close confinement during the remainder of the voyage. Smith was, perhaps, the most extraordinary personage, of whom the early histories of North America have made mention. The accounts of his adventures in the east of Europe, seem rather to have been borrowed from some romance of the thirteenth century than taken from any real scenes of life. After these adventures, he had returned to England, his native country, and had accidentally formed an acquaint ance with captain Gosnold, in the height of the zeal of the latter for colonising America. Gosnold rightly conceiving that Smith's active genius was peculiarly fitted for such an undertaking, communicated his schemes to him. They were ardently em. braced by him, and he embarked with the other colonists for America.

1

Thus disturbed by internal dissensions, the little fleet left the West Indies, on the third of April, 1607, but not falling in with the land for three days after their reckoning was out; serious propositions were made for returning to England. The place of their destination was the old disastrous situation at Roanoke; but fortunately they were overtaken by a storm, which drove them to the mouth of the Chesapeake, which they entered on the twenty-sixth of April. The promontory on the south side of the entrance into the bay, they called Cape Henry, in: honour of the then prince of Wales, who died not

SECT. long afterwards, and that on the north side Cape

VI.

1607.

Charles, in honour of the then duke of York, who was afterwards king Charles I, of England Impatient to land, a party of about thirty men went on shore at Cape Henry, to recreate and refresh themselves, but they were suddenly and boldly attacked by only five savages, who wounded two of them very dangerously. A large and beautiful river which empties itself into the bay, on the west of Cape Henry, naturally first invited their attention. It was in that season of the year when the country is clothed in its richest verdure, and seemed to present itself to them dressed in its most attractive charms. In search of some fit place for a settlement, they proceeded up this river, to which they gave the name of James, in honour of his majesty; though called by the natives Powhatan, probably in honour of their grand chief or sovereign, who occasionally dwelt on its banks. Near the mouth of this river they met with five of the natives, who invited them to their town, Kecoughtan, or Kichotan, where Hampton now stands. Here those who went on shore were feasted with cakes made of Indian corn, and "regaled with tobacco and a dance."*, In return, they presented to the natives beads and other trinkets. As they proceeded further up the river, another company of Indians appeared in arms. Their chief Apamatica, holding in one hand his bow and arrows, and in the other a pipe of tobacco, demanded the cause of their coming. They made signs of peace, and were received in a friend

!

Smith's Hist. of Virginia.

VI.

ly manner. On further exploring the river they SECT. came to a peninsula, situated on the north side of -it, where they were also hospitably received by the 1607. natives, whose chief Paspiha, being informed of their intentions, offered them as much land as they wanted, and sent them a deer for their entertainment. As this peninsula was so situated as not only to afford them convenient anchorage, but some security against any invasion of the natives, it was fixed upon as the most eligible spot for their first colonisation. Accordingly they here debarked on the 13th of May, and called the place James' town, which name it has ever since retained. The sealed instructions before-mentioned being now opened, it was found, that Bartholomew Gosnold, John Smith, Edward Maria Wingfield, Christopher Newport, John Martin, John Ratcliffe, and George Kendall, were appointed counsellors, who being duly sworn, proceeded, according to the king's instruction under the privy seal before-mentioned, to elect their president, of which their choice fell upon Edward Maria Wingfield. They excluded Smith from the council, and a declaration was entered on their minutes, setting down at large their reasons for so doing. He was released from his confinement, but it was with some difficulty that he could obtain a trial in the colony, his accusers proposing that he should be sent to England for that purpose. After a fair hearing, however, he was honourably acquitted of the charges against him, and took his seat in the council.

As a minute detail of the proceedings of these

VI.

SECT. colonists, and the events which attended them, more properly appertains to a history of Virginia, of 1607. which there are several, we shall for the future confine ourselves only to those incidents thereof which have some immediate relation to that of Maryland.

SECTION VII.

The distresses of the first Virginia colony, and the services of cap tain Smith-His first attempt to explore the bay of ChesapeakeHis second attempt more successful-A general sketch of the tribes of Indians then inhabiting Virginia and Maryland-Smith becomes president of Virginia, and the tenor of some instructions from England to Virginia-An attempt of the Plymouth company to settle a colony in Maine-The second charter of Virginia, and the causes of granting it-The settlement of the Dutch at New -York-English attempt to settle Newfoundland-The third charter of Virginia-Captain Argall's expedition to break up the French and Dutch settlements at Nova Scotia and New York.

VII.

tresses of

and the

Smith.

}

DURING the remaining part of the year 1607, SECT. after the arrival and settlement of this first Virginia colony at James' town, it appears to have struggled 1607. with much difficulty for existence. The provisions The diswhich were left for their sustenance by Newport, the first Virginia who sailed with his ships for England, some time in colony, June this year, were not only scanty, but bad in services of their quality, having received damage in the holds captain of their ships during the voyage. Hence the cololonists became subject to diseases, arising as well from the unhealthiness of the climate, as from a scarcity bordering on famine. This contributed much to a diminution of their numbers. They were harassed also with repeated attacks by the natives, who were far from being content with the visit of these strangers, when they found out that it would probably be permanent. Added to those difficulties, the conduct of their president Wingfield, and his successor Ratcliffe, was such as to