VI.

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 havé 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 acquaintance 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 embraced by him, and he embarked with the other colonists for America.

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

VI.

SECT. other, to him, (Newport,) in conjunction with capt Bartholomew Gosnold and capt. John Ratcliffe, re1606. specting the form and administration of the government. These last, being the most important, were close sealed, and accompanied with orders that they were not to be opened for twenty-four hours after their arrival on the coast of Virginia. To these were added also by his majesty, by way of advice, instructions of a general nature; containing, however, one or two strange particulars, concerning a communication by some river or lake between Virginia and the Indian or South Sea.*

The first

colony

settle Vir

ginia un

port, and

nent set

This little squadron sailed from Blackwall, on sent out to the Thames, on the twentieth of December, 1606; but by some unlucky accidents, were for several der New weeks detained on the coast of England. At last, a perma- they continued their voyage, and having taken in tlement fresh water and other necessaries at the Canaries, proceeded to the Caribbee islands, where they arrived on the twenty-third of February, 1607, and staid amongst them, but chiefly in the island of Nevis, about five weeks. These delays seem to have af forded nourishment to some violent dissensions, which arose, during the voyage among the adventu rers. Jealousy of power, and seem to have been "

141

d by the 1607.
rmed of
as they
tertain.

l as not

ut some

, it was heir first barked on

es' town,

The sealed

opened, it

John Smith,

r Newport, rge Kendall,

g duly sworn, instruction un

ed, to elect their

detail of the proceedings of these

VI

SECT. long afterwards, and that on the north side Cape Charles, in honour of the then duke of York, who 1607. 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.

ły 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 entertain. ment. 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 acquit ted of the charges against him, and took his seat in the council.

As a minute detail of the proceedings of these