EXTENDING FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF JAMESTOWN, IN 1607, TO 1606. 1. Of what does Part II. treat? CHAPTER I. 2HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. DIVISIONS. 2. Ofrohat does Chap. 1. treat? 3. What are of Chap. 1.7 the divisions I. Virginia under the first charter.-II. Virginia under the second charter.-III. Virginia under the third charter.IV. Virginia from the dissolution of the London Company to the commencement of the French and Indian War. I. VIRGINIA UNDER THE FIRST CHARTER.-1. The ernment of administration of the government of the Virginia col- comb 4. To 10hom had the gov the Virginia intrusted? * VIRGINIA, the most northern of the Southern States, and until 1845 the largest in the Union, often called the Ancient Dominion, from its early settlement, contains an area of nearly 70,000 square miles. The state has a great variety of surface and soil. From the coast to the head of tide water on the rivers, including a tract of generally more than 100 miles in width, the country is low, sandy, covered with pitch pine, and is unhealthy from August to October. Between the head of tide water and the the cause of 1607 ony had been intrusted to a council of seven persons whom the superior council in England had been per mitted to name, with a president to be elected by the 1. What was council from their number. 'But the names and inthe early structions of the council having been placed, by the which arose, folly of the king, in a sealed box, with directions that and it should not be opened until the emigrants had arrived imprisoned? in America, dissensions arose during the voyage; and 1607. John Smith, their best and ablest man, was put in con finement, upon the absurd accusation of an intention to murder the council, usurp the government, and make himself king of Virginia. dissensions roas Smith said of Wingfield, Smith treat arrival of and hoo was ed on the the company? 2. What is 2. Soon after their arrival, the council chose Edward Wingfield president, an ambitious and unprincipled man,-and finding that Smith had been ap pointed one of their number, they excluded him from their body, as, by their instructions, they had power to do, but released him from confinement. As Smith de manded a trial upon the charges brought against him, which were known to be absurdly false, his accusers thought best, after a partial hearing of the case, to withdraw the accusation; and he was soon restored to his station as a member of the council. 3. What is said of the the emigrants? 3. Of the one hundred and five persons on the list character of of emigrants, destined to remain, there were no men with families, there were but twelve laborers, and very few mechanics. The rest were composed of gentlemen of fortune, and of persons of no occupation,mostly of idle and dissolute habits-who had been tempted to join the expedition through curiosity or the hope of gain;-a company but poorly calculated to 4. Their re- plant an agricultural state in a wilderness. "The the natives? English were kindly received by the natives in the immediate vicinity of Jamestown, who, when informed of the wish of the strangers to settle in the country, offered them as much land as they wanted. ception by a. Note p. 44. 5. Of Pordhatan and 4. Soon after their arrival, Newport, and Smith, his subjects? and twenty others, ascended the James river, and Blue Ridge, the soil is better, and the surface of the country becomes uneven and hilly. The interior of the State, traversed by successive ridges of the Alleghany, running N.E. and S.W. is a healthy region, and in the valleys are some of the best and most pleasant lands in the State. The country west of the mountains, towards the Ohio, rough and wild, with occasional fertile tracts, but rich as a mineral region. curred after ure of Newport? visited the native chieftain, or king, Powhatan, at his 1607. principal residence near the present site of Richmond.* His subjects murmured at the intrusion of the strangers into the country; but Powhatan, disguising his jealousy and his fear, manifested a friendly disposition. 5. About the middle of June Newport sailed for 1. What oc England; and the colonists, whose hopes had been the depart highly excited by the beauty and fertility of the country, beginning to feel the want of suitable provisions, and being now left to their own resources, soon awoke to the reality of their situation. They were few in 2. What s number, and without habits of industry;-the Indians sufferings of began to manifest hostile intentions, and before autumn, the diseases of a damp and sultry climate had swept away fifty of their number, and among them, Bartholomew Gosnold, the projector of the settlement, and one of the ablest men in the council. in said of the the colony conspiracy was the President detected? 4. What is cliffe, and 6. To increase their misery, their avaricious presi- 3. In what dent, Wingfield, was detected in a conspiracy to seize the public stores, abandon the colony, and escape the company's bark to the West Indies. He was herefore deposed, and was succeeded by Ratcliffe; but the latter possessing little capacity for government, and being subsequently detected in an attempt to abandon the colony, the management of affairs, by common consent, fell into the hands of Smith, who alone seemed capable of diffusing light amidst the general gloom. 7. Under the management of Smith, the condition of the colony rapidly improved. He quelled the spirit of anarchy and rebellion, restored order, inspired the natives with awe, and collected supplies of provisions, by expeditions into the interior. As autumn approached, wild fowl and game became abundant; the Indians, more friendly, from their abundant harvests made voluntary offerings; and peace and plenty again revived the drooping spirits of the colony. 8. The active spirit of Smith next prompted him to explore the surrounding country. After ascending the Chickahominyt as far as he could advance in boats, said of Ratinto whose the govern hands did ment fall? 5. What to manage said of the ment Smith? Nov. 6. Under what cir cumstances taken pris oner by the was Smith Indian Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is on the north side of James river, 75 miles from Its mouth. Immediately above the river are the falls, and directly opposite is the village of Manchester. †The Chickahominy river rises northwest from Rie mond, and, during most ❤ 1607. with two Englishmen and two Indian guides he struck into the interior. The remainder of the party, dis obeying his instructions, and wandering from the boat, were surprised by the Indians and put to death. Smith was pursued, the two Englishmen were killed, and he himself, after dispatching with his musket several of the most forward of his assailants, unfortunately sinking in a miry place, was forced to surrender. 1. In what manner did life? 9. His calmness and self-possession here saved his he save his life. Showing a pocket compass, he explained its wonderful properties, and, as he himself relates, "by the globe-like figure of that jewel he instructed them concerning the roundness of the earth, and how the sun did chase the night round about the earth continually." In admiration of his superior genius the Indians retained him as their prisoner. 2. How did regard him and what 10. Regarding him as a being of superior order, the Indians but uncertain whether he should be cherished as a did they do friend, or dreaded as an enemy, they observed towards with him? him the utmost respect as they conducted him in triumph from one village to another, and, at length, brought him to the residence of Opechancanough, where, for the space of three days, their priests or sorcerers practiced incantations and ceremonies, in order to learn from the invisible world the character and de signs of their prisoner. 3. What is decision of 1608. 4. Under cumstances 11. The decision of his fate was referred to Powsaid of the hatan and his council, and to the village of that chief his fate tain Smith was conducted, where he was received with great pomp and ceremony. Here it was decided that he should die. He was led forth to execution, and what cir- his head was laid upon a stone to receive the fatal was his life blow, when Pocahontas, the young and favorite Pocahontas? daughter of the king, rushed in between the victim and the uplifted arm of the executioner, and with tears and entreaties besought her father to save his ife. What did The savage chieftain relented; Smith was set at liberty; and, soon after, with a guard of twelve men him? was conducted in safety to Jamestown, after a captivity saved by Porohatan do with of seven weeks. ourse, runs nearly parallel to James river, which it enters five or 'x miles above 'amestown See Map p. 44.) |