thority on which the lotteries were grounded was the Charter of King James, (1609) and fo tenacious was this monarch of his prerogative, that in a subsequent proclamation he vainly interdicted the "Speaking against the Virginian Lottery." Yet when the House of Commons (1621) began to call in question fome of the supposed rights of royalty, these lotteries and the proclamation which enforced them, were complained of and prefented among the grievances of the nation. On that occafion, an apology was made by the King's friends,* " that he never liked the Lotteries, but gave way to them, because he was told that Virginia could not fubfift without them;" and when the Commons infifted on their complaint, the monarch revoked the licence by an order of Council; in consequence of which the treafury of the Company was almost without refources. * Chalmers Annals, 33 XVII 20 XVII. THOMAS, LORD DELAWARE. SIR THOMAS GATES. SIR GEORGE SOMERS. CAPT. CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT, SIR FERDINANDO WAINMAN. THE HE history of these perfons is fo blended, that a feparate account of each cannot be written from any materials in my poffeffion. Their characters, however, may be distinguished in a few words, before I proceed to the hiftory of their united tranfactions, in the employment of the Company and Colony of Virginia. Lord DELAWARE is faid to have been a worthy peer of an ancient family; a man of fine parts and of a generous difpofition; who took much pains, and was at a great expense, to establish the Colony; in the fervice of which he suffered much in his health, and finally died at sea, (1618) in his fecond voyage to America, in or near the mouth of the Bay which bears his name." Sir THOMAS GATES, was probably a land officer. Between him and Sir George Somers, *Purchas, v. 1757. Keith, 131. Stith, 148. e Somers, there was not that cordial harmony, which is always defirable between men who are engaged in the fame bufinefs. Excepting this, nothing is faid to his disadvantage.* Sir GEORGE SOMERS was a gentleman of rank and fortune, of approved fidelity and indefatigable induftry; an excellent fea commander, having been employed in the navy of Queen Elizabeth, and having distinguished himself in feveral actions against the Spaniards in the Weft-Indies. At the time of his appointment to be Admiral of Virginia, he was above fixty years of age.t His feat in Parliament was vacated by his acceptance of a colonial commiffion. He died in the fervice of the Colony (1610) at Bermuda, highly efteemed and greatly regretted‡ CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT was a mariner of ability and experience in the American feas. He had been a commander in the na vy of Elizabeth, and, in 1592, had conducted an expedition against the Spaniards in the Weft-Indies; where, with three or four fhips, he plundered and burnt fome towns, and took several prizes, with a confiderable booty. He was a vain, empty, conceited man, and very +Chalmers, 27. Stith, 115. By the advantage of very fond of parade. going to and fro, he gained the confidence of the Council and Company in England, and whatever he propofed, was adopted by them. Some traits of his character have been given in the life of Capt. John Smith. In 1621 he imported fifty men, and feated them on a plantation, which he called Newport's News. Daniel Gookin came with a cargo of cattle from Ireland, and fettled firft on this plantation. He afterward removed to New-England.* Sir THOMAS DALE is faid to have been a gentleman of much honour, wisdom and experience. To him was entrusted the execution of the laws fent over by Sir Thomas Smith; which, though perhaps necessary at that time, (1611) when fo many turbulent and refractory perfons were to be governed, yet were fubverfive of that freedom which Englishmen claimed as their birthright, and gave too much power into the hands of a Governor. Though his adminiftration was marked with rigour and sever ity, yet he did much toward advancing the fettlements. On a high neck of land in James * Stith, 205. Beverly, 37. Purchas, v. 1792. James River named Varina, he built a town which he called Henrico, in honour of Prince Henry, the remains of which were visible when Mr. Stith wrote his hiftory (1746.). On the opposite side of the river he made a plantation on lands, from which he expelled the Indians, and called it New-Bermuda.* He ftaid in Virginia about five years, and returned to England (1616) after which there is no farther account of him. Of Sir FERDINANDO WAINMAN, nothing is faid but that he died foon after his ‘arrival in Virginia, with Lord Delaware, in the fummer of 1610.† When the new Charter of Virginia was obtained, the Council and Company immediately equipped a fleet, to carry fupplies of men and women, with provifions and other neceffaries, to the Colony. The fleet confifted of seven ships, in each of which, befide the Captain, went one or more of the Counsellors or other officers of the Colony; and though there was a difpute about rank between two officers, Somers and Gates, they were placed in one fhip with Newport, the third in command. The Governor- * Stith, 123, 124, 138. † Stith, 117. |