These grants laid the first foundation of states which in a few centuries were destined to become rivals to the mother country in wealth, in science, and in power.

9. The supreme government of the colonies was vested in a council resident in England, to be nominated by the king; the subordinate jurisdiction in a council which was to reside in America, and also to be named by the crown, and to act conformably to its instructions. Whatever was required for their sustenance, or for the support of commerce, he permitted to be shipped from England free of duty, during the space of seven years; and as an incitement to industry, granted them the liberty of trading with other nations, appropriating the duties to be laid on foreign traffic for twenty-one years, as a fund for their own exclusive benefit.

10. A vessel of one hundred tons, and two barks, under the command of Captain Newport, sailed with one hundred and five men, destined to remain in the country: among these was a Mr. Percy, brother of the earl of Northumberland, and several officers who had served with reputation in the preceding reign. The first land that was discovered was a promontory, the southern boundary of the Chesapeake, April, 1607: this was named cape Henry, in honor of the prince of Wales. The spacious inlet was entered, and the expedition coasted the southern shore, and up a river sixty miles, called by the natives Powhatan, to which the English gave the name of James River, in honor of their sovereign. Here a site was fixed for the infant settlement, which was named James Town.

11. Imprudent in their conduct toward the natives, this feeble society was early involved in war. Scarcity of provisions introduced diseases; and in a few months half their original number were swept away, and the remainder left sickly and dejected.

12. The government soon devolved on Captain John Smith, who was originally one of the council appointed by the king, but who had unjustly been deprived of his authority by the colonists. This gentleman, who was emphatically the father of Virginia, was a native of Lincolnshire: he had dis tinguished himself in feats of courage and chivalry, particularly while engaged in the Hungarian army against the Turks. His undaunted temper, deeply tinctured with the romantic spirit of the times, was happily adapted to the present trying situation of the colony.

13. Soon after he had been called as their leader, while hunting in the woods, he was attacked by two hundred Indians, who poured in upon him a continued flight of arrows.

After performing wonderful feats, he sunk in the unequal contest, and was made a prisoner. Charmed by his arts and his valor, they released him from captivity. Afterwards he was beset by three hundred more of these ferocious people, pursued into a marsh, and, after he had thrown away his arms, which he could no longer use by reason of the cold, he was taken and carried in triumph to Powhatan, the principal chieftain of Virginia.

14. Here the doom of death was pronounced upon him, and he was about to receive the fatal blow, when the favorite daughter of Powhatan, interposed in his behalf. This amiable child (not then thirteen years of age) not only prevented the execution of Smith by her entreaties and tears, but caused him to be set at liberty, and sent him, from time to time, seasonable presents of provisions.

15. The colony was now reduced to thirty-eight persons. Soon after, however, succors arrived from England, and an addition of one hundred new planters was added to their number. But the culture of the land, and other useful employments were neglected, in the futile idea that gold had been discovered issuing from a small stream which emptied into James River. The effects of the delusion were soon severely felt in the prospect of approaching famine. In the hope of obtaining relief, Smith, in a small open boat, and with a feeble crew, went in search of aid from the Indians.

16. In two different excursions, that occupied upward of four months, he visited all the countries on the eastern and western shores of the Chesapeake bay, entering the principal creeks, and tracing the rivers as far as their falls, and obtained a supply of food for the suffering colony. In these tours, he sailed upwards of three thousand miles, amidst almost incredible hardships, and brought back with him an account of that large tract of country, now comprehended in the two states of Virginia and Maryland, so full and correct, that his map is the original from which all subsequent delineations have been formed until lately.

17. About this period, the old charter being found inconve nient and oppressive, a new charter was granted by James, by which the boundaries of the colony were enlarged; the council in Virginia was abolished, and the government vested entirely in one residing in London, the members of which were to be chosen by the proprietors, and these to nominate a governor, who was to reside in Virginia, and carry their orders into execution.

18. Lord Delaware was at first appointed to this office; but as this nobleman could not immediately leave England,

the power was vested in Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers, who were dispatched from England with five hundred planters. A violent hurricane separated the fleet on their way; and the ships without the officers only arrived at James Town. Presently every thing was reduced to a state of anarchy; Captain Smith, at once the shield and the sword of the colony, being disabled by an accidental explosion of gun-powder, the wretchedness which followed is beyond description; and the arrival of Gates and Somers, who had been cast away on one of the Bermuda islands, although it saved the wretched survivors at James Town from immediate death, was unable to preserve them until autumn.

19. Nothing remained but to seek immediate assistance; and with only sixteen days' provision, the colony set sail, in hopes of reaching the banks of Newfoundland, and getting relief. But before they had arrived at the mouth of the river they met Lord Delaware, who brought a large supply of sustenance, new settlers, and every thing requisite either for cultivation or defence. Under the skilful administration of this nobleman, the colony began, once more, to assume a promising appearanse. He was succeeded by Sir Thomas Dale, who concluded a treaty of friendship with the Powha tans, one of the most powerful and warlike tribes of Virginia. 20. Pocahontas, the amiable female who had preserved the life of Captain Smith, frequently visited the English settlements; and during this intercourse, she was betrayed on board a vessel, and there imprisoned. Her father, who loved her with the most ardent affection, was obliged to discontinue hostilities on such conditions as were dictated by his treacherous enemy. She was afterward solicited by Mr. Rolfe, a respectable planter, in marriage. Powhatan consented, and the marriage was celebrated with extraordinary pomp.

21. From this time, the most friendly intercourse subsisted between the colonies and the Indians. Rolfe and his wife went to England, where, by the introduction of Captain Smith, Pocahontas was received by the court with the respect due to her birth; she was instructed in the Christian religion, and publicly baptized. About returning to America, Pocahontas died at Gravesend; leaving one son, from whom are sprung some of the most respectable families of Virginia.

22. Hitherto no individual right of property in lands was established; all was holden and dealt out in common. But the governor, in 1616, divided a considerable extent of land into small lots, and granted one of these for ever to each individual; from which period the colony rapidly extended, The culture of tobacco, since become the great staple of Vir

ginia, was introduced; but the eager demand for the article in England, caused for some time a scarcity of food in the colony.

23. About this time, a Dutch ship from the coast of Guinea, having sailed up James River, sold to the planters a part of her negroes; which race has been augmented in Virginia by successive importations and by natural increase, till it forms more than one third part of the population.

24. In 1619, Sir George Yeardly, the governor, impelled by that popular spirit of freedom which has ever been the characteristic of Americans, called the first general assembly which was held in Virginia. At this time eleven corporations sent representatives to the convention, which was permitted to assume legislative power, the natural privilege of man. The supreme authority was lodged, partly in the governor, partly in a council of state appointed by the company, and in a general assembly, composed of representatives of the people.

25. A natural effect of the happy change was an increase of agriculture. The company extended the trade of the colony to Holland and other countries. This measure produced the first difference of sentiment between the colony and the parent state. Jealous at seeing a commodity, (tobacco,) for which the demand was daily increasing, conducted to foreign ports beyond its control, thereby causing a diminu tion of revenue, the latter endeavored to check this colonial enterprise, without considering that the restraint was a breach of the sacred principles of justice.

26. The suspicion of the monarch James was soon roused, and the charter, by decision of the king's bench, was declared forfeit, and the company dissolved. Charles I. adopted all his father's maxims in respect to Virginia, which, during a great part of his reign, knew no other law than the royal will. But the colonists resisting, Charles yielded to the popular voice: he recalled Harvey, the obnoxious governor, and appointed Sir William Berkeley, a man of great abilities, prudent, virtuous, and popular; whose influence was directed in finally restoring to the people much the same share in the government, as they had enjoyed previously to the revocation of the charter.

27. After the execution of the king, and the establishment of the commonwealth under Cromwell, through the influence of the governor, the colonists continued to adhere to their loyalty to the king. In 1651, the English commonwealth took vigorous measures to reduce the Virginians to obedience. A numerous squadron, with land forces, was dispatched for

this purpose. Berkeley resisted, but was unable to maintain an equal contest, and was soon defeated. The people were, however, allowed to retain the privileges of citizens; but Berkeley retired as a private citizen.

28. Cromwell's parliament framed acts prohibiting all intercourse between the colonies and foreign states, and allowing no trade but in English ships. On the death of Mathews, the last governor appointed by Cromwell, the Virginians burst out in new violence. They called Sir William Berkeley from his retirement, boldly erected the royal standard, and proclaimed Charles II., son of their late monarch, to be their lawful sovereign. Charles was however soon placed on the throne, and the Virginians were thus saved from the chastisement to which they were exposed by their previous declaration in his favor. But the new king and parliament rewarded their fidelity by increasing the restraints upon colonial commerce!

29. The number of inhabitants in Virginia in 1688, exceeded sixty thousand; and its population in the previous twenty-eight years was doubled. In 1691, the college of William and Mary was founded. To aid in its erection and support the sovereigns whose name it bears, gave nearly two thousand pounds out of their private purse, and granted twenty thousand acres of land, and a duty on tobacco, for its further encouragement.

QUESTIONS.

When and by whom was America discovered?

By whom and when was the continent of North America discovered?

On what account did Virginia derive its name?

Who made the first attempt to colonize this part of the continent?

To whom did Sir Walter Raleigh afterwards assign his interest in the coun try?

From what did James River take its name?

On what account did Captain John Smith obtain his first release from the Indians?

Who effected his second release from them?

On what account was the cultivation of the soil neglected by the first colonists?

What is the history of Pocahontas subsequent to saving the life of Captain Smith?

Who first brought the African negroes into this part of the country? What part did the Virginians take in relation to the revolution of the mother country under Cromweli?

What was the population of Virginia in 1686 ?

SECTION II.

Settlement of Massachusetts.

1. THE partition of the great territory of Virginia into North and South colonies, has already been mentioned. Still more