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SMITH RETURNS TO ENGLAND.

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and proceeded to overthrow the colonial presidency and council. Investing themselves with the powers, they were unable to devise any frame of government; sometimes they resorted to the old commission, and sometimes a new model was attempted, and the chief direction of affairs passed from one to another, without any improvement. By this revolution in its government the colony was involved in distress and disorder, and the Indians were exasperated by the insolence and injustice of the new settlers. In this emergency, Smith declared his intention of retaining his authority and enforcing the old commission, until his legal successors should arrive. He imprisoned the chief promoters of the tumult, and, to prevent a return of the former disturbances, he sent a portion of the new colonists to form a settlement at some distance from Jamestown. These detachments soon converted the neighbouring Indians into enemies, and were compelled to apply to Smith for assistance. Whilst exerting himself to redress the grievances of both the settlers and the savages, he received such a dangerous wound from the explosion of some gunpowder, that he was obliged to proceed to England for surgical aid; and, although he abandoned with regret the society he had so often preserved, he rever again returned to Virginia.

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administration continued; but with him the fortunes of the colony departed. The command was now intrusted to Mr. Percy, a man of worth, but wanting the vigour that gives efficacy to virtue; and the direction of affairs soon fell into the hands of persons utterly unfit for the task. The colony became a prey to anarchy; the provisions were quickly exhausted; and the Indians, no longer restrained by the

ARRIVAL OF LORD DELAWARE.

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presence of the man whom they respected, but incensed by repeated injuries, harassed the colonists by continual attacks. To complete their misery, famine prevailed; and, six months after Smith's departure, there remained only sixty persons alive at Jamestown. In this distressing situation they were found by Newport and his colleagues, who arrived from the Bermudas, in May, 1610; and they all determined to abandon the settlement. Embarking on board the vessels that had arrived from the Bermudas, they sailed for England; but, before reaching the mouth of James River, they were met by Lord Delaware, who had arrived with a considerable number of new settlers, a supply of provisions, and means of defence and cultivation. Encouraged by this prospect, they returned to Jamestown, and were prevailed on by Lord Delaware to remain.

This nobleman was well qualified for his situation. His assiduous attention to his duty, aided by his dignity and firmness, soon restored order and industry among the colonists, and once more taught the Indians to respect the English character.

In order to give the reader a graphic description of the state of the colony under the administration of Lord Delaware, we quote a passage from a quaint old historian:* "The Lord De La War, upon his arrival, reprimanded the planters for their divisions, idleness, and ill conduct, which had occasioned their misfortunes; advising them to reform, or he should be compelled to draw the sword of justice and cut off the delinquents; declaring, however, he had much rather draw his sword in their protection and defence; and telling them for encouragement, that he brought them such plenty of provisions that they would be in no danger of wanting for the future, if they were not wanting to themselves in providing such things as the country produced. Then he proceeded to constitute a council, consisting of Sir Thomas Gates, his lieutenant-general; Sir George Summers, his admiral; the Honourable George Percy, one of his captains; Sir Ferdinando * Salmon. Modern History.

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CONDITION OF THE COLONISTS.

Weinman, his master of the ordnance, and Christopher Newport, his vice-admiral. These, and the rest of his officers, having taken the oaths to the government, his next care was to furnish his people with flesh; for, notwithstanding there were not less than five or six hundred hogs in the plantation || when Captain Smith went to England, there was not one left alive at this time; they had been either eaten by the colonists or killed by the Indians, who, to distress them, had also driven all the deer and other game out of the country; and the English were so ill-provided with nets, that though there was plenty of fish in their rivers, they knew not how to take them.

The company had sent over a supply of clothing, biscuit, flour, beer, and other liquors; but taking it for granted that they had hogs, venison, fowl and fish enough in the country, had made no provision of flesh. Whereupon Sir George Summers, the admiral, was despatched to Bermudas to bring over live hogs from thence; for these Sir George found plenty of in that island when he was cast away there, though there were no people upon it. The governor also set some to fishing within the bay, and others without, where there were shoals of codfish; but their nets and tackle were so defective that they could not catch any; whereupon he endeavoured to settle a correspondence with Powhatan and other Indian princes, that he might purchase flesh of them for other English goods; and in some of these negotiations he succeeded, particularly with the King of Patowmack, one of the most potent of the Indian princes. But notwithstanding he represented to Powhatan that he had already promised to acknowledge the King of England for his sovereign, accepted of a crown and sceptre, and other ensigns of royalty from him, with presents of great value; this prince would give him no other answer, but that he expected the English should depart his country, or confine themselves within the limits of Jamestown Island, and not range through every part of the country, as they continued to do, only with a view of subduing it, as he apprehended; threatening to issue his orders to cut them off and destroy them, if ever they were found without the limits he prescribed

GATES SENT TO ENGLAND.

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them; and commanded the messengers his lordship sent to him not to see his face again unless they brought him a coach and six horses; for in these, he had been informed by some Indians who had been in England, their great Werowances were drawn.

The Lord De La War, finding that he was to expect no friendship from Powhatan, determined he should fear him: having taken an Indian prisoner, therefore, he cut off his right hand, and sent him to his master Powhatan, letting him know that he would serve all his subjects in that manner, and burn all the corn in his country (which was ripe at this time), if he did not forbear all acts of hostility for the future; which had so good an effect, that the colony lived in peace and plenty for some time, every day making fresh discoveries, and forming new alliances with some Indian princes. And thus the company's affairs being happily established again by the conduct of the Lord De La War, Sir Thomas Gates was sent to England to give an account of the state of the colony, the ships being freighted home with cedar, black walnut, and iron ore; which returns appeared so inconsiderable, that the company were in suspense whether they should not send for the Lord De La War and the colony home; however, they first desired Sir Thomas Gates's opinion upon it; who told them that these were not the only returns they were to expect; that if they would send over men who understood how to make pitch and tar, and plant hemp and flax, they might furnish England with all manner of naval stores; and that it would be very easy also to set up a manufacture of silk, the country abounding in mulberry trees, as well as in silk grass; that the soil was exceeding fruitful, producing corn, grass, grapes, and other fruits in abundance; that European cattle and poultry multiplied prodigiously; and there was great plenty of venison, fish, and fowl, which they could never want, when they should be provided with boats, nets, and engines to take them. The company need then be at very little charge to support the colony. On the contrary, they would in a short time meet with returns answerable to their expectations. Whereupon

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