-oV*' ,*^-** V.^* .♦ 3rs BOY'S AND GIRL'S LIBRARY. No. XXL t - i =5 UNCLE PHILIP'S fONVEKSATIONS WITH THE CHILDREN ABOUT VIRGINIA LTKH KAhKHJM S.MOtSirHr, 'J-OHArCi .<-r6e (•'^ 1^£ i'-f. -If^i". y I (• *^,0n\ifrijttunu3 l'|.-.l.-.Si)\ .S /^ XKvv V(»|U\, iiA'iii'Ki; (V Hi.a/riiKi.;.s ^--j- (m,iv;|.. s-nc-', iv HISTORY UNITED STATES: ( OR, UNCLE PHILIB^SV^ / CONYERSATIONS WITH THE CHILDREN ABOUT VIRGINIA, NEW- YORK : POBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NO. 82 GLIFF-STREET. 1844. v: ADVERTISEMENT. Some time since we received a letter through the post-office, and it was in these words : — " Mr. Harper, " I am a httle girl who lives in New- York, and I have read all the books which you have printed in the * Boy's and Girl's Library,' and I like some of them very much. And last Wednesday, when my father was talking to me about my geography, he told me some very curious things about the old times when the Dutch people lived in New- York, and how the Quakers first built Philadelphia, and about the Indians who lived in this country a great while ago; and I said I wished that your Uncle Philip would talk to his children about that and let you print it, and my father told me to write a letter to you and ask you to get the old gentleman to tell the children all about it, and so that made me write this letter to you. My father said that he thought you would do it for me ; and I hope you will ask y^ ur uncle to talk with the children all about the white people who first lived in this country; and you must give my love to your uncle ; and this is the longest letter I ever wrote, so I will stop. " A Little Girl who lives in New- York." ADVERTISEMENT. We immediately sent to the old gentleman a copy of the letter, and we lately received from him this book in writing, with the letter below. " My Dear Nephews, " When 1 sent you the book on the * Evidences of Christianity,' I asked you to say to the little girl who wished us to talk about History that we had done so, and now I send you our conversations about Virginia ; for, as that is the oldest State, we begin with that. If she li^ces Virginia, tell her she shall soon have some others ; for I think it very im- portant that all the boys and girls in America should know something about the early history of their own country ; and my children here seem never to tire when we talk on that subject. " Your affectionate " Uncle Philip." Neu'land — How Sir J. Hervev the Governor was sent home for bad con- duct — Sir W. Berkeley Governor— Battle of Upecanchanough with the Whites — He is taken Prisoner by the Governor, and carried to Jamestown 125 CONVERSATION XIIL Uncle Philip tells the Children how Opecanchanough was killed —About King Charles the First and Cromwell— How Virgmia CONTENTS. ' ll supports the King — Surrenders to the Commonwealth — Pro- claims Charles the Second King — W. Berkeley Governor — > iiiteuaed Massacre of the 13th of September .... 134 CONVERSATION XIV. Hncle Philip tells the Children about Governor Berkeley's 'I'roubles, and about Nathaniel Bacon's Rebellion - - - 146 CONVERSATION XV. Uncle Philip tells the Children more about Bacon's Rebellion — Burnmg of Jamestown, and Bacon's Death 160 CONVERSATION XVI. Uncle Philip tells the Children about Sir Wilham Berkeley's Return to England, and his Death — Where the Six Nations lived— Lord Culpepper Governor; and after him Lord How- ard—How a Man by the Name of Beverly is persecuted by the Governor 173 CONVERSATION XVII. Uncle Philip tells the Children about the Peace, at Albany, with the Five Nations — How the Virginians complamed of Lord Howard — Mr. Nicholson is made Governor— Building of Wil- ham and Mary College at Wiihamsburgh — Alexander Spotts- wood Governor — Beginning of Quarrels between England and France 184 CONVERSATION XVIII. Ahout George Washington — Where he was born — His first Bat- tle--Mr. Dinwiddle Governor of Virginia — War between Eng- land and France— General Braddock arrives in Virginia 194 CONVERSATION XIX. General Braddock's Death — More about George W^ashington — Capture of Fort Du Quesne, Louisburg, and Quebec — End of the War with the French— The Stamp Act, Patrick Henry, Mr Pitt, and Lord Botetourt, who was Governor of Vir- ginia 203 CONVERSATION XX. Uncle Philip tells the Children abou^ Governor Dunmore — About the American Congress of 1774— How Lord Dunmore took the Powder from the Colony ; and how Patrick Henry marched to Williamsburgh to attack him— Governor Dun- more runs away — Patrick Henry is made Governor of Virgi- nia — Declaration of Independence, 4ih of July, 1776 - - 221 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. CONVERSATION I. Uncle Philip tells the Children how many States there are^ with their Names — Vir- ginia^ the oldest — Tells of Sir Walter Ra- leighj and the proper kind of Books for Children to read. " Well, children, I've been thinking that while we were learning so many things, we ought to know something about the country in which we were all born. Do any of you know much about this country ?" " No, Uncle Philip, not much, except what we have read in our Geographies. Have you any pretty stories to tell us about our country ?" "Yes, — I can teU you about many great men who lived long before you were B 14 CONVERSATIONS ON THE born, and about the Indians : very interesting stories indeed, I think ; would you like to hear them?" " Oh yesj to be sure, Uncle Philip ; we will thank you, too." " First, then, tell me how many States there are." " Twenty-four States, Uncle Philip." " Yes — twenty-four United States : Maine, Yermont, New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New- York, Penn- sylvania, New-Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. In which of these States do you live ?" " In New- York, Uncle Philip. Will you tell us about New- York ?" " No, no ; not now. Let us begin with the oldest State — Virginia is the oldest. This State was first settled, and it is also the largest in point of extent. So I think we must begin with Virginia. Can any of you tell me how Virginia is bounded?" " Oh yes, Uncle 1 hilip ; we learned that in the Geography — Virginia is bounded on the HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 15 north by Pennsylvania, Maryland, and part of Ohio ; on the east by Maryland and the Atlantic Ocean ; on the south by North Caro- lina ; and on the west by Kentucky and a part of the State of Ohio." "Yery good: this is what Virginia is now ; but what was first called Virginia was mifch larger, for it embraced all that country in North America between 34° and 45° north latitude. But before I go on, I must hang up before you my large map of the United States ; — ^you will then understand better ; for I think that geography and history always go best together." " But, Uncle Philip, tell us what you mean by History." " History is simply the story of things that have happened from a long time back, up to this very day ; and the History of Virginia is nothing but a story about its great men, its great towns, its large rivers, the different kinds of plants that grow there, what the people who lived there did, and a great many other things, which I think will make a very inter- esting story indeed. But look up at the map, boys, between 34° and 45°. Tell me the States that are along the coast." 16 CONVERSATIONS ON THE " There are North Carolina, Virginia, Mary- land, Delaware, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, New- York, Connecticut, Rhode-Island, Mas- sachusetts, New-Hampshire, and Vermont. Surely, Uncle Philip, Virginia never was so large as this." "Yes, my children, this was all called Virginia once ; but the map shows you tTiat it is not so now. Did you ever hear any thing about Sir Walter Raleigh ?" " No, Uncle Philip : who was he ?" " He was a man who lived in England about two hundred and fifty years ago. He was a very extraordinary man. I'll tell you a story about him — would you like to hear it ?" " Yes, yes, Uncle Philip." " This Sir Walter Raleigh was a very handsome man ; and, being very polite alsoj he was a great favourite with Elizabeth, the Queen of England. The story I am about to tell you, will show the manner in which he be- came acquainted with this queen. Once, when she was out upon her walk, the road in some parts was wet and muddy : and as she was walking without much comfort over one of the worst places in the road, she met Sir Walter Raleigh. He knew it was the queen that he HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 17 saw, and immediately, with great politeness, took his cloak from his shoulders, and laid it on the ground for the queen to walk on. The queen accepted Sir Walter's compliment, and walked upon the cloak. Sir Walter alway.i dressed very well : his clothes were all ver^ fine and rich, and of course the compliment was greater to his queen. He became a great favourite with her ; but when she died, the poor man lost his best friend. He soon found a great many enemies, and during the reign of King James the First, who succeeded Elizabeth on the throne of England, he was accused of conspiring against this very king himself. 1 believe, from all that I can learn, that he was not guilty of this crime; but however, his judges condemned him, and he was sent to the great Tower of London." <' Uncle Philip, what became of the poor man ? did he die there ?" "No ; he staid there for twelve years or more, — after he came out he made a voyage to South America, to try to make some discoveries in that country : but he was disappointed. When he got home again, his enemies were more numerous than ever. They brought up the old accusation that he B 2 18 CONVERSATIONS ON THE had conspired against King James, and they said he told falsehoods, and disgraced his country. The poor man was condemned again this time, and sentenced to deatli. But I think he showed himself a good man when they carried him to the scaffold to cut his head off. The executioner came to him to show him how to lay his head upon the block ; but Sir Walter thanked him, and told him not to trouble himself, ' for if the heart is right,' said he, ' it matters but little how the head lies/ I think that Sir Walter was right. This was the speech of a wise man, and he knew that a quiet conscience was the best thing a man could have in this world. I wish you then always to remember the dying words of Sir Walter Raleigh : never forget them, for no one can ever be happy un- less he tries to be good. But the reason I asked you if you ever heard of Sir Walter Raleigh, was this : he was the first man who had any thing to do with the settlement of Virginia. Some Englishmen are now very proud of him, although he was badly treated while living. You will sometimes see pictures of him, with a pipe in his mouth. He is smoking tobacco. This is Virginia HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 19 tobacco. When the first settlement was made in that State, the Indians who hved there used to smoke the tobacco plant. Some of it was carried out to England by the men who went back to get supplies of provisions, and Sir Walter became fond of smoking it ; and this brought pipes and tobacco into fashion in Eng- land. A very laughable circumstance hap- pened to him, however, when he first began to smoke. On one occasion, when he had filled his pipe with tobacco for lighting, he sent his servant below to bring him a mug of ale. While the servant was out, the pipe was lighted, and Sir Walter was smoking much to his comfort when the servant entered the room with his mug of ale. When he saw the smoke coming from Sir Walter's mouth and curling about his head, he thought he must be on fire, and in great fright he ran to him and threw the liquor in his face to put the fire out. The poor servant was not to blame, for he thought he was saving the life of a man who was burning. I told you, that he was a man of sense. He wrote seve- ral books, which, when you are older, you can read. While he was a prisoner in the 20 CONVERSATIONS ON THE Tower, he wrote a History of the World. So you see this man never was idle." " This was a very great man. Did you ever see Sir Walter Raleigh, Uncle Philip?" " Oh no, my children, I never saw him : he lived two hundred and fifty years ago — long before I was born. He lived in the reign of Queen Elizabeth— George HI. was King of England when I was born, and George HI. reigned long after Elizabeth was dead. All I know about him I learned by reading the His- tory of England, and studying the lives of some of the great men born in that country. But all I tell you about men and things is not what I myself saw — for you know many things hap- pened, and many men lived and died before I was in the world : but though these men and things were not seen by me, still other people saw them who lived when they could be seen. These people have left books to tell us all about what they themselves saw and knew to be true ; and when I want to find out any particular thing which happened before I was born, I read the books which tell of that par- ticular thing." " Oh, Uncle Philip, we did not mean to say HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 21 that what you tell us is not true — we know you tell us nothing but the truth." " No, I cannot suppose you meant to be so rude : but I am glad you asked me the ques- tion, because I wish you not only to know that it is true, but to give a reason why you believe it to be true. You believe, then, that such a man as Sir Walter Raleigh once lived in England ?" " Yes, Uncle Philip ; to be sure we do." " Why do you believe it, my children ? you never saw him." " No, Uncle Philip ; but those who did see him have left books to tell us about him : but perhaps the people who wrote the books did not tell the truth, Uncle Philip." " Very good ; some people tell falsehoods in their books. There are good historians and bad historians — and children ought to have some kind friend to tell them what books are good, and what bad ; they ought never to read books without first showing them to their parents or teachers. Reading a book full of falsehoods, is like talking to a man who does nothing but tell falsehoods. Children may learn a great deal by reading; but you had better read no books at all than 22 CONVERSATIONS ON THE to read bad ones. I hope you understand me." " Yes, Uncle Philip — you wish us to read ; and you wish us also to be sure that the books we read are good books." " That is exactly what I mean. We will stop now. To-morrow morning when you come, we will talk more about Virginia." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 28^ CONVERSATION II. Uncle Philip tells how Virginia teas first settled — First Expedition under Amadas and BarloiD — Second, under Sir Richard Grenville and Mr. Lane — Settlement on Roanoke Island — First English Colony planted in Ainerica. "Good morning, good morning, my young companions — how are you all to-day 1 I was just looking for you." *•' All very well, Uncle Philip — how do you do?" "Well, I thank you, and ready to go on with the history of the oldest State in the Union. I told you yesterday that Sir Walter Raleigh first thought of settling Virginia. I will now tell you how he happened to think of such a tiling, " The Spaniards and Portuguese for a long time had been making settlements in what is now called South America, and it occurred to Sir Walter that he could do something in 24 CONVERSATIONS ON THE this way for his own country. He knew too that the Spaniards had been along the coast as for up as the Gulf of Mexico. He also knew that the country north of that was un- known : so he wished to make his discoveries there. Do you know, children, where Spain and Portugal are?" " In the South-western part of Europe, Uncle Philip." " Very good — you are right — Sir Walter then, being a favourite with Queen Elizabeth, laid his plans before her, and she granted him a patent." " Uncle Philip, what is a patent ?" " A patent, is a right given by the king of any country to any one of his subjects to have a right to take and keep all the lands which he may discover for himself." " But, Uncle Philip, what right has the king to give away what does not belong to him ?" " He has in truth no right ; but one is given him by law. When a subject of any kingdom discovers any lands before unknown, these lands by law belong to the kingdom, and not to the subject. But if the king grants the sub- ject a patent, then all the lands which the sub- ject discovers belong to himself. This is the law, bovs ; but T do noi say that it is right. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 25 Sir Walter got such a patent from Queen Elizabeth, and immediately went to work.— The first thing to be done was to find good men to help him. After much difficulty, Sir Walter found two very able commanders; one of them was a man by the name of Philip Amadas, the other was Arthur Barlow. He sent these men to explore the country which the Spaniards called Florida — it bears the same name now. These two commanders sailed from England on the 27th of April, 1584, and arrived at the West Indies on the 10th of June, in the same year. They were not out two months, but we sometimes make much shorter voyages now. Look up at the map, children ; do you see the West Indies ?" " Yesf Uncle Philip: they are south-east of the United States." " Yery well. Here, these two men re- mained for a short time, and then sailed for the American coast. They reached this on the 4th of July, and sailed along the coast 120 miles before they found an entrance into any river. At length they came to the mouth of a river, entered it, and sailing up a short dis- tance, took possession of a body of land, and remained there two days without seeing any c 20 CONVERSATIONS ON THE person whatever. This was the island of Wococon — supposed by some to be what we now call Ocracoke. On the third day three of the natives came in a boat to the side of the island, and the English persuaded one of them to go on board their ships," " Why, Uncle Philip, I wonder he was not afraid." " He was, at first ; but when they gave him presentSj he soon saw that tliey did not mean to hurt him — and he was satisfied. The next day several boats canie to them, in one of which was Granganimeo, a brother of the king of the country. He had with him forty men, who treated him with great re- spect. The English gave him many presents; and he was so much pleased, that he a/terward brought his wife and children on board the ships to look at them. The Indians were so friendly, that in a little time Barlow, with six or seven men, went through Pamlico Sound to Roanoke, an island at the mouth of Albe- marle Sound. On this island they found a village of eight or n4ne houses. This was the home of Granganimeo. This prince himself was not then at home ; tut his wife was there, and treated Barlow and his men very kindly. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 27 The English spent several weeks among the Indians. They then thought of returning home — and, taking with them two Indians, they sailed for England. When they came before Q,ueen Ehzabeth, they reported the country as being so beautiful and rich, and the climate so mild, that the queen called it Vir- ginia, to let people know that this happy country was discovered during the reign of a virgin queen." " Why, Uncle Philip, is that the reason it is called Virginia ?" " Yes, children, that is the origin of the name ; Q,ueen Elizabeth first called it Vir- ginia. When these two men, Amadas and Barlow, got back, they gave Sir Walter such an account of every thing that he was de- lighted with their success ; and he resolved early the next year to make a second trial.'' "But, Uncle Philip, if the country was so pleasant, and the Indians so friendly, what did these people go back for ? Why did they not remain in America .^" " Why, they wanted provisions, and they wanted to tell all that they had seen, and get other Englishmen to come out with them. You know, too, they came out under 28 CONVERSATIONS ON THE Sir Walter's patent, and they would not have done right if they had not gone back to tell him of their discoveries." " Uncle Philip, that was a foolish question : but there is one that I have been wanting to ask you — Why did not Sir Walter Raleigh sail for America himself?" " Really, children, I cannot tell you. No- body knows that but Sir Walter himself I sup- pose, though, he had good reasons for staying at home. Business, or something else, kept him there. But it appears that he was anx- ious to make other discoveries, although he was not able to go out himself; for early in the next year he sent out a fleet of seven ships, with people, to form a settlement in Virginia. Along with this fleet he sent a man by the name of Richard Grenville, who was to be general of the expedition, and another named Ralph Lane, to be governor of the colony. These men sailed from England on the 9th of April, 15S5 ; and reached Virginia, as Bar- low and Amadas had done, by the way of the West Indies. But this fleet was not as fortu- nate as the first, for it came near being ship- wrecked off Cape Fear. However they man- HISTORY OF VIUGINIA. 29 aged to work through the storm, and they anchored at Wococon on the 26th of June." "Uncle Phihp, these men were longer sail- ing than the others." " Yes ; these men were out more than two months : but they had head winds, and a storm off Cape Fear, — that is a very dan- gerous place sometimes : I came near being shipwrecked there once myself, and I shall not forget it soon : but if these men had a hard time in getting there, they found every thing very comfortable when they landed. Sir Richard Grenville went from the island to the conti- nent, and after remaining there eight days, and finding several Indian towns, he went back to the fleet, and sailed for Cape Hatteras. There he was visited by Granganimeo, the prince whom Barlow and Amadas had seen. After much kind treatment from Granganimeo, they next sailed for Roanoke Island, and after remaining there a short time. Sir Richard Grenville sailed for England, leavino^ on the island 107 persons, under the command of Mr. Lane, to begin a plantation. And this was the first English colony planted in Amer- ica. Look up at the map, children ; do you see Roanoke Island ?" c2 30 CONVERSATIONS ON THE "Yes, Uncle Philip ; it is at the entrance to Albemarle Sound." " True, it is. I once passed this island. I did not land, but merely passed by it: there is nothing remarkable about its appearance ; but when I thought of the Indians who once lived there, and of Granganimeo, and his wife and children, and recollected, too, Sir Rich- ard Grenville's colony that was planted there, and that this was the first English colony planted in America, 1 assure you, children, I looked at it with a great deal of pleasure." "Really, I should like to see it too. Uncle Philip, you must have been a great traveller." "Yes, children, I have travelled much and seen many things, and, like most old men, I like sometimes to talk about my travels. But we will stop now. Good evening. " Good evening, Uncle Philip." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA 31 CONVERSATION III. Uncle Philip tells the Children about Sir Francis Drake — Sir Walter Raleigh sends John White out to Vij'ginia — Tells them of the first Person baptized in Virginia — and of the first English Child born there. " Well, my children, we have talked about Queen Elizabeth. She was really a great queen. Englishmen are all very proud of her reign. In 1586, this queen weis at war with Spain, and she was advised to attack the Spanish settlements in America. She resolved to do so. In a little time a fleet of twenty sail was fitted out, with 2300 soldiers, and the com- mand of this fleet was given to a great com- mander whose name was Sir Francis Drake. He sailed directly for the West Indies ; and after he had plundered the Spanish settlements in those parts he sailed for the continent, and there again disturbed their possessions. Being Z2 CONVERSATIONS ON THE near Virginia, he resolved to pay his country- men, who had settled there the year before, a visit, that he might see how they prospered. Sir Francis arrived off the coast of Virginia on the 9th of June ; and, seeing some fires at a distance on the land, he sent his boat ashore with some of his men. They landed ; and on coming near the fire, they saw several of their countrymen belonging to the Virginia colony. These men they carried back to the ships, and learning from them that the colony was in want of provisions, Sir Francis wrote a letter to Governor Lane, who was at his fort on Roanoke, offering him food. The next day Mr. Lane with some of his men came on board the fleet, and Sir Francis offered them one of two things — either to leave them a ship and several boats, with a month's provisions, to enable them to make further discoveries in the country, with sufficient provisions also to carry them all to England ; — or to give them a passage home in his own fleet. They ac- cepted the first ofl^er. The ship was selected for them, but before the provisions were on board, a violent storm came on, which drove the ship to sea, and broke the anchors and cables of several of the others. Sir Fran- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 33 cis then offered the colony a second ship, with provisions ; but Mr. Lane then thought that he had better go home — so he sent for the rest of his company, and the whole colony was taken on board, and went back to England And this was the end of the first English col ony planted in America." "Why, Uncle Philip, this seems very strange — these people took all the trouble of coming to this country, and then went directly back to England." " Not so strange, when you know all about it. These people had difficulties with the Indians : the Indians tried to kill them ; and when they failed in that, they tried to starve them, by not letting them sow any thing on the island : so when they got entirely out of provisions they went home. I think they acted wisely." " But, Uncle Philip, Sir Francis Drake of- ered them provisions." " Yes ; but these provisions would not last long — and they knew how hard it would be to get more when these were gone. But it is a great pity they did not remain a little longer, for then they would have received supplies from home. A few days after tli-ey left 34 CONVERSATIONS ON THE Virginia, a ship sent by Sir Walter Raleigh arrived off Hatteras ; and not finding the col- onists, returned to England, Fourteen or fif- teen days after this ship left the coast, Sir Richard Grenville arrived at Virginia, with three ships of provisions, but searched in vain for the colony he had planted. Unwilling, however, to lose possession of the f^ountry, he left fifteen of his crew upon Roanoke Island, and returned home. " It was this Mr. Lane who, on his return with Sir Francis Drake, first carried the to- bacco plant to England. And Sir Walter, as I told you before, was the first man who in- troduced the smoking of it into fashionable circles. " But Sir Walter Raleigh still appeared intent upon forming a settlement in- America. He resolved to try once more, and accord- ingly fitted out three vessels, and sent in them one hundred and fifty men to Vir- ginia. Before they sailed, he made a man, named John White, their governor, and told them to plant themselves at the Bay of Chesa- peake, and build a fort there. John White, with his men, sailed from England on the 8th of May, 1587, and reached Cape Hatteras on the 22d July. The governor went with UISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 85 forty men in his boat to Roanoke to see his fif- teen countrymen whom Sir Richard Grenville had left there. But instead of finding them, he saw nothing but the bones of one man. whom the Indians had killed. They imme- diately commenced lookmg for the fort and dwelhng-houses which Mr. Lane had built the year before : but here, again, they were dis- appointed : they found that the fort had been destroyed, and the houses were standing, but they were overgrown with weeds and vines, and wild deer were feeding among them. And when they saw all this, they knew that their comitrymen had been killed by the savages. The colony then landed, and com- menced a second plantation : they began by mending and patching the old dwelling-houses, and soon made them comfortable." "Why, Uncle Philip, the Indians were very cruel." " Yes ; they treated the English in a very cruel way. My children, did you ever hear who was the first person that was baptized in Virginia?" "^No, Uncle Philip." " It was an Indian by the name of Manteo. He was once in England, and Sir Waltei Raleigh ordered that he should be baptized 36 CONVERSATIONS ON THE when he came back to America. This Indian was baptized in Roanoke, in the year 1587 ; and as he was very friendly to the English, they used to call him the ' lord of Roanoke.* I can tell you too, the first English child that was born in America." "Who was it. Uncle Philip?" " It was a grand-daughter of governor White. She was called Virginia, because she was the first English child born there." " Well, Uncle Philip, did these people stay in the country any time?" " I do not know : but it was not long before they were short of provisions too : they per- suaded the governor to go to England to bring supplies of food. He went, but when he came back to look for his colony, he found not a man left." "Why, Uncle Philip, did the Indians kill these too ?" " I do not know, children ; nobody can tell : but I am afraid these poor fellows were mur- dered : at any rate, this was the last colony wliich Sir Walter Raleigh planted in America. He bad spent a great amount of money with- out getting any thing in return for it; so he became tired, and sold his patent to a man named Thomas Smith." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 37 CONVERSATION IV. Uncle Philip tells the Children about the London and Plymwtth Company — The Settlement of Jamestown^ and Captain Smith! s early Travels, "This Thomas Smith, children, did very little with the patent. For nine years, in fact, the English did not do much towards settling Virginia." " Uncle Philip, what was the matter ?" "Oh, they had been unlucky, and the In- dians had killed a great many of them ; and I suppose they began to think they could not plant a colony which would last." " But, Uncle Philip, they ought to have tried again." " Well, so they did after a while. In 1606, a man named Richard Hakluyt, with seve- ral other gentlemen, asked King James to 38 CONVERSATIONS ON THE give them a patent for settling two plantations in America. This Hakluyt was a very active man in planting the colony : he wrote a history of the voyages made in settling America ; a very good book, but very hard to be found. When you are older, if you ever see his book, 1 would advise you to read it." " Uncle Philip, did the king give him the patent that he asked for ?" " Yes ; King James granted the patent, and divided that part of North America be- tween 34° and 45° latitude into two parts, nearly equal. The southern part he gave to the London company, the northern part to the Plymouth company. The king had two reasons for dividing this country : the first was, because they asked for tioo plantations ; and the other was, because it was too large for one colony. And now, children, I think we come to the most interesting part of Vir- ginia history. Do any of you know where Jamestown is V " No, Uncle Philip. "So I supposed. It was once a thriving town in Virginia, but now it is all in ruins. I am about to tell you how that town was first built." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 39 "Well, Uncle Philip, tell us all about it if you please." " After these English gentlemen got the pat- ent from King James, they at once began to make efforts to settle the southern colony. They fitted out three ships, put one hundred men on board, and gave the command to a man named Christopher Newport. Captain New- port wished to reach Roanoke Island, but he was driven by a storm into Chesapeake Bay. As he entered the bay he saw two promon- tories, one on the south and the other on the north side of the mouth of the bay. You all know what T mean by a promontory ?*' "Yes, Uncle Philip; that is in the Geogra- phy. A promontory is a point of land extend- ing into the sea." "Very good. Look at the map: do you see Cape Henry and Cape Charles ?" " Yes, sir. There they are, at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. These must be the capes that Captain Newport saw. Uncle Philip." " Yes, these are the capes which he saw : and he gave them their names ; the prom- ontory on the south he called Cape Henry, after the Prince of Wales. That on the north he named Cape Charles, after the Duke of York, who was afterward King Charles 40 CONVERSATIONS ON THE the First, of England. Newport and his men were seventeen days choosing a spot upon which to build. At last, upon sailing up the James River, they pitched upon a peninsula about thirty-two miles from its mouth ; and here they began their town. This was the beginning of Jamestown. They first went to work to cut down the trees and make the land clear, and then to build their log-houses. The negroes on the large plantations at the South live in such houses now, made of logs, and the cracks are stopped up with mud and clay. Jamestown was once a remarkable place — not a large place ; not near as large as some of the towns now in Virginia — but it is remarkable because it was the first town set- tled in North America." "Why, Uncle Philip, did not the Indians have a town upon Roanoke Island ? You told us they did." " Yes, they did ; and they had, besides hat, a great many towns and villages in this country ; but .Jamestown was the first town settled in North America by the English, or white people — that is what I meant, children." "Uncle Philip, did the English stay here, or did they go back, like the others ?" " These remained ; but I believe they would HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 41 have gone back, had it not been for one man they had with them. Did you ever hear any thing of Captain John Smith ?" " No, sir. Was he the man. Uncle Phihp ?" " He was the man : he was the ablest man, I think, among them all ; and as he had so much to do with the settling of Vir- ginia, I think I must tell you all about him. Would you like to know something of him?" " Oh yes. Uncle Philip — tell us some stories about Captain Smith. But, Uncle Philip, be- fore you begin, there is one thing I should like to know — did not they name it Jamestown after King James ?" "Yes, they did. Any more questions to ask?" " No, Uncle Philip." " Now then for the Ufe of Captain Smith. He was an Englishman by birth, but spent very little of his time at home. He came out, as I told you, with the English, to assist in settling Virginia ; and I believe he was then about twenty-ei^-ht years old. But before he came to this country he had been a great traveller, and seen much of the world ; and he travelled to some purpose, boys, for he noticed every thing. Travelling without no d2 42 CONVERSATIONS ON THE ticing men and thins:s, is like reading a book without understanding it." " Uncle Philip, will you tell us about his travels T " To be sure : I am going to tell you all I know about him. Smith, when he was young, was a very wild boy. He never went to school of his own accord, and when at school he was very lazy. He never loved books, but was always running about when other boys were attending to their business ; and it was this roving disposition that made him such a traveller. He sold his books and satchel to raise money to go to sea ; and when he was just ready for starting, his friends found it out, and stopped him. While he was at school his father died, and young Smith immediately fell into the hands of a gentleman who had been a friend of his father's ; and this gentleman thought that as he was not fond of going to school, perhaps he would like to be a shop-boy : and, so he was bound ap- prentice to the gentleman who wished to make a merchant of him ; but Smith had not been there very long before he ran away : and then it was that he commenced his tra-' '*5." " Which way did he go, Uncle Philip ^*' HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 48 " He wandered about in England for a short time ; and he was so very poor that he began to think he nad made a mistake in run- ning away. I believe when he left the shop he had no money with him — at any rate, not more than one or two dollars. But though he wanted money, he had been so very wicked that he was afraid to go back to his guardian, and he was afraid if he remained in England, that his friends would catch him : he resolved to travel on ; and as he had heard that France was a pretty and pleasant country, he was off for France/' " Why, Uncle Philip, how did he get to France without money ?" " He got along very well ; and though he was wild, Smith never was mean and wicked enough to steal. After walking all day, he one night stopped at a public-house, quite tired out, and very sad. He had not been in the house long before an English nobleman drove up ; and after a while he entered into conversation with Smith — he found him to be a boy of parts, and the more he talked with him the bet- ter he liked him. At last he asked him if he was willing to enter his service, and wait upon him. Smith told him that he was. The nobleman then told him that he was 44 CONVERSATIONS ON THE going to France ; and this was exactly what Smith was glad to hear. They both set out for France, and it was not many days before they were there. But they did not stay long together. At first they were very well pleased with each other — the nobleman liked Smith, and he the nobleman ; but this did not last Jong. The nobleman himself was a very Avild young man, but his servant was wilder still. Smith was dismissed ; but his master treated him very kindly — he gave him money enough to carry him to England, and advised him to go home to his friends." '" Uncle Phihp, was not that very good advice ?" "Yes, it was — but John Smith did not choose to follow it. He took the money, and did not once think of going home. He thought now, that he had a chance to see the world : so off he moved for the French capital. What is the capital of France, children ?" "Paris, Uncle Philip." " Right, my young friends : Smith went to Paris. He had heard a great deal of this city — and indeed, it is a very large handsome city with many more people in it than there are in New-York ; which you know HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 45 is the largest city in America. I did not like Paris much myself; but I will tell you about it at some other time. The city was very gay ; and Smith went every day to see some new amusement, until he was perfectly tired. He left Paris, visited all the large towns in France, and then went into Holland, where the Dutch live. This is a very different country from France. The Dutch are not very gay, but very industrious people. He started for Amsterdam. This, too, is a large place ; it is the capital of Holland : but before he reached that city he altered his plans alto- gether ; and I will tell you how it happened." " Did not he get to Amsterdam at all. Uncle Philip ?" " No. While he was on his journey to that place, he one day came to what is called a recruiting post. Do you know what that is ?" " No, sir." " It is a place where an officer hires soldiers to join the army : he offers people wages, and if they agree to take them, they enter the service, and are then said to be en- listed. Smith came to this place, and the offi- cer talked with him, and wished to per- 46 CONVERSATIONS ON THE siiade him to join the army. While they were talking, several men who had just been enlisted came up, and begged Smith to join the army, and told him that he would one day be a great man, a captain or a general." " Well, Uncle Philip, they were right ; he was made a captain." " Yes, he was made a captain after a time ; and he deserved it, for he was a very brave man. Smith consented to become a soldier, and at first he liked his new kind of life very well. But at length he became tired of this too. It appears to me, the great fault of Smith was that he never was pleased with any thing long. He was always restless, and changing his situation. He determined not to be any longer a soldier for the present." " Uncle Philip, which way did he go now ?" "1 will tell you presently. Smith resolved to desert the army, — deserters, you know, if they are caught, are shot : but this soldier was cunning ; he ran away from them on a very dark and stormy night, and before day he had gone so far that they could not catch him. And now he wandered about, for he did not know where to go : he only HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 47 knew that it was best for him not to let the Dutch soldiers see hioi. At last he was for- tunate enough to meet with a gentleman who was going to Scotland. He asked our wild boy if he was willing to go. — for he wished for somebody to travel with him. Smith consented — as he was anxious to see something new, and desired to visit his native country again." " Why, Uncle Philip, he was not born in Scotland." " No ; I did not mean that he was. Eng- land was his home : but Scotland is north of EnHand : and he knew that when he ffot there, he would be nearer home. They went to Scotland together; hut this gentleman did not treat him as well as his English friend had done at Paris. He dismissed Smith as soon as they reached their journey's end, and left him to himself." "Well, Uncle Philip, this was very mean." " Very, indeed : no man should make a promise, unless he means to rememxber it. Smith was very much disappointed, and began to think that his best friends were at home. He was at a great distance from them ; but he set out on his journey, and aftei 48 CONVERSATIONS ON THE several days' travelling, he reached home and showed himself to his mother and his rela- tions. " And now, as it is getting late, we will stop. Come early to-morrow morning, anf^. we will go on." " Yes, sir. Good night. Uncle Philip." " Good night, children." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 49 CONVERSATION V. Uncle Philip tells the Children more of Captain ^Smith^s Travels* "Good mornino^, children. We left John Smith (for he was yet quite a hoy) just re- turned from his travels to see his mother and friends. They were all glad to see him, for they had not heard often from him ; and many of them did not know whether he was dead or alive. He amused them by telling them stories of his travels : and after he had been at home a little while, he set himself down, like a sober boy, to hard study. He became very industrious : he built himself a little log-hut near his mother's house, that he might not be interrupted in his studies. He was constantly reading ; and never out of his little hut, except to eat his meals, and take exercise. History was his favourite study ; and before John Smith left home a second 50 CONVERSATIONS ON THE time, I can assure you he had learned a great deal." " Why, Uncle Philip, I should suppose that he would have been tired of travelling." " No, he was not. I le was, as I said before, restless, and could not long be easy in one place; and I will tell you how he hap- pened to thiiik of leaving home a second time. Smith, you know, came home to his friends poor. When his father died, he left some property to his children ; but tliere were dis- putes about it ; and of course it was not di- vided immediately. Youns;- Smith had not yet received his portion ; and it so happened that the disputes were ended, and the property divided while he was at home at his studies. As soon as he obtained his share, he beo-an to think of seeing more of the world. He told his friends that he was about to o^o : they tried to prevent him, and advised him to stay at home ; but he would not take their advice, and off he started. He travelled a short time in his own country, for the want of a compan- ion. At length he found a Frenchman who was willing to travel, and they sailed for France : and Smith's troubles began again as soon as he started — for this Frenchman was a HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 51 great villain. It was a dark and stormy night when they reached France. The Frenchman said that he wished to go ashore, and that he would send the boat back for Smith. He got into the boat, took Smith's trunk, with all his money in it, pushed ashore, and made his escape." " Well, Uncle Phihp, what did poor Smith do?" " Why, he was very much distressed : but he learned the next time to choose good company. He went ashore, and found some men who were kind enough to lend him money ; and with this he was able to pursue his travels. He had not been in France long before he met the servant of the Frenchman who had stolen his money : he very foolishly attacked him, and nearly killed him. After he had travelled through France, visiting their manufactories, and noticing all the men and things that he saw, he resolved to go to Italy. He found a vessel ready to sail, and he at once engaged his passage. But a very singular circumstance happened to him on the way." " What was it, Uncle Philip?" " Why, it so happened that the vessel in which he sailed was filled with pilgrims, who 62 CONVERSATIONS ON THE were going to Italy ; and these, \ , j, proved bad company for Smith," " What do you mean by pilgrims. Uncle Philip?" " They are people who call themselves very religious, and often make long jour- neys to visit the spot where some saint is buried. They are very strange people, I think ; for instead of taking such long jour- neys, they had better be at home reading their Bibles, and behaving like industrious good men. Smith, however, got on board the vessel with these men ; and before they reached Italy a great storm overtook them, and they were all afraid of being lost at sea. Pilgrims are sometimes very superstitious. In the midst of the storm, while they were all very much frightened, they thought thai Smith was the cause of all their trouble. This was very strange ; for you all know that Smith could not make the winds blow and the waters roll ; but yet they said he made the storm. And what do you think they did with him ?" <' Did -they try to kill him. Uncle Philip?" " Yes, — they caught him, and threw him overboard into the sea. They thought that HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 53 they had drowned him, for poor Smith sank down in the deep water, and it was some time before he rose : he had the good fortune, however, to save his Ufe in spite of them. He saw an island at a great distance, and suc- ceeded in swimming to it: but when he got there, he was so weak at first that he could scarcely stand. What became of the pilgrims I do not J^now ; but I know their throwing Smith overboard did not stay the storm : they should have prayed to God in their trouble, for he makes the winds blow, and he only can still them. Smith was now on this island by himself, not knowing what to do ; when, to his great joy, he saw a vessel come in sight. The poor fellow made signs o^ distress : the captain of the vessel saw him, sent a boat ashore, and took him on board. This vessel was on her way to Egypt ; and of course Smith was carried there. He remained there but a short time, although some very strange things may be seen in Egypt." •' Uncle Philip, what place did he visit next ?" "^e went to France next. He did not stay- long in France ; but soon thought of making another attempt to visit Italy. This is a very £2 64 CONVERSATIONS ON THE beautiful country, boys : the climate is very mild, as 1 told you when I spoke of the manner in which snow is brought into Naples. The Romans lived in this country, and they had a great many temples and public buildings worth looking at. Smith went to Rome, and saw all these ; but he soon grew weary — and off he started for Austria. At the time that Smith went there the Austri^ns were at war with the Turks." " Oh, Uncle Philip, Turks are very cruel, are they not ?" " They are not very cruel, but very proud. The Austrians made Smith a captain. I will tell you how it happened. When he was entering their country he saw the Austrian army going out to fight. They persuaded Smith to go with them : he consented ; and, as it turned out, he made a better soldier with them than with the Dutch. He was a very brave man — fought a great many battles with the Turks, and fought well. To reward Smith for his courage, the chief general made him a captain, and gave him the command of two hundred and fifty horsemen. He con- tinued with the Austrians some time, and was of great service to them. On one occasion, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 55 when the two armies had made a halt within sight of each other, one of the Turks sent to the Austrian general, asking that somebody might come out and fight with him. The Austrians drew lots to determine who should go, and the lot fell to our friend Captain Smith. A great many Turkish ladies had come out to witness the battle, — and next morning, Captain Smith rode out on a fine horse to meet the Turk. His enemy rode out very proudly to meet him — and they fought for a long time — " " But Captain Smith killed him, Uncle Philip— did not he ?" " Yes ; he killed him, and two others also. He cut the head of the first Turk off, and rode back in triumph to the Austrians. A friend of the dead man then asked Smith to fight him — so he went out a second time, and killed this one. And if he had stopped here, he would have behaved well. But Smith be- gan to feel very proud, and thought he would invite somebody to come out and fight him a third time. He sent to the Turkish ladies, and told them if they wished to see any more fighting, to select their man, and send him out. This was very foolish, and also very wicked 56 CONVERSATIONS ON THE in Smith. I am sorry I have to tell this ol him; for it was very wrong. However, the Turkish ladies chose a man, and sent him out. He had a hard fight. The Turk struck Cap- tain Smith such a blow that he fell from hig horse ; and all the Turkish army began to shout, for they thought that he was dead : but they were under a mistake. He was down only for a moment ; in cin instant almost he sprang upon his feet, and then upon his horse, — and dashing upon the Turk, Smith gave him a blow which laid him dead at his feet." " Why, Uncle Philip ; did you ever hear of such a man ? What did the Turks do ?" " Not many such men in the world, chil- dren, as John Smith was. The Turks sent no more men out to fight him ; and the Austrians thought he was the greatest man they had ever seen. The Austrian emperor gave him his picture, with a great many other presents, and promised to give him a large sum of money every year of his life." " But, Uncle Philip, I have heard that Cap- tain Smith ran away from the Turks : do you know any thing of that ?" " Yes ; and I will tell you how that was. Some time after this, in another battle with HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 57 the Turks, the Austrians were defeated, and Smith ^was wounded and taken prisoner. When he got well, they carried him to market and sold him for a slave. A lady of Constan- tinople bought him, to wait upon her. He, poor fellow, was very miserable ; and the lady pitied him very much. She was afraid if he remained in Constantinople her countrymen would treat him badly ; and she loved Smith, and wished to marry him: indeed, she would have married him, but she could not. The reason was this : in Turkey they are all Mo- hanwiedans ; and it is not lawful for a Mo- hammedan to marry a Christian. Do you know, children, what a Mohammedan is?" " No, Uncle Philip ; I was just going to ask you." " Well, I will tell you what the word means. There was a very wicked man, named Mo- hammed, who lived in Arabia more than a thousand years ago : this man said that he was a prophet sent from God ; and that he held secret conversations with the angels. This was all false. He was nothing more than a very wicked man. Sorjie people, however, were foolish enough to believe him, and to do as he told them. These people were called 58 CONVERSATIONS ON THE Mohammedans, after his name. The Turks were among these foohsh people." " Oh, there is something in the Geography about him." " Yes, I know there is : and there is a life of this Mohammed, lately printed by my nephews, which, when you are older, you may read with both pleasure and profit.* But this Turkish woman could not marry Smith, because he was a Christian ; and so she sent him to a brother of hers with a letter, telling her brother that she leved him, and requested him to treat Smith kindly for her sake ; but this did no good : her brother was a Moham- medan, and he treated him very cruelly. When he found that Smith was a Christian, and that his sister loved him, he took all his good clothes from him, and dressed him in coarse clothes, like a slave : but he was not satisfied with this ; he shaved all the hair off his head, and put an iron collar on his neck, and then sent him into the field to work. Such treatment would not be borne by such a man as Captain Smith. He was far from his friends — they could not hear from him, • Family Library, No. X.—Piiblishera, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 59 nor he from them. His master gave him bad food to eat, and not even enough of that : he had no good clothes : in fact, he was in the hands of such a cruel master that he began to think of running away ; but then he was watched so closely that he could not do this for a long time ; and it was almost by acci- dent that he made his escape at last." " Uncle Philip, how did he get away ?" " He was sent out one morning to the field to thrash grain, and was very busy at his work, when his cruel master rode up to see what progress he made : he said Smith was lazy, and began to beat him in a shameful manner, till at last the poor fellow could bear it no longer. He turned round, knocked his master down, and without waiting to see whether he had killed him or not, slipped a little corn into a bag, jumped on his master's horse, and galloped into a forest that was near." " AVell, Uncle Philip, I am glad. Do you think he did wrong?" " No, I cannot say I do. Every man has a natural right to be free ; but we will follow Captain Smith, now, into the wood. The poor man was there several days, living on the corn that he had in his bag. 60 CONVERSAnONS ON THE " Smith did not kill his master : he gave him such a blow that he made him insensible for some time. After he had been in the wood until he thought that they were tired of looking for him, he rode out, and took the first road he found. He galloped along, not knowing which way he was going, except that he was getting away from the Turk. He rode on for sixteen days, till at length he came to a Russian fort. Here he was treated very kindly. The commander of the fort took off his collar, and Smith staid with him some days. He then asked the way to England, for he began to think of his home a second time. The commander showed him the road, and he started. He had to go through Russia, Poland, Germany, and France, to get to Eng- land. He met many of his old acquaintances, on his way, some of whom gave him very rich presents, for he was a great favourite with almost everybody who knew him. When he reached France, he thought he would go to Spain. After he had visited most of the Spanish cities he went to Morocco. Do you know where that is ?" " It is in Africa somewhere. Uncle Philip." "In the northern part of Africa, on the HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 61 Mediterranean. Nothing strange happened to him in this country. He remained in Mo- rocco but a short time, and then went home- wards. And now 1 will stop till we meet 62 CONVERSATIONS ON THE CONVERSATION VI. Smith goes to Virginia — Stories about Smith and the Indians — Smith's Life saved hy Pocahontas. " When Captain Smith reached home this time, his friends were all more dehghted to see him than they were after his first travels. He had gone through some great hardships, and he was glad enough to see home once more, and enjoy some comfort. He was gone much longer this time than he had been in his first travels, and had more stories to tell his friends. They listened to him with great pleasure, because he told them of many things that they knew nothing about, and also be- cause they thought he had come home to re- main with them. But they were under a mis- take : Smith in a little time was tired of this kind of life ; and where do you think he went next r "Really, I do not know, Uncle Philip. I never heard of such a traveller in my life." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 63 " To Virginia, boys. In 1607, he came out with Christopher Newport, and several other gentlemen, who were sent by the London com- pany. . These men, as I told you, built James- town : and here we take up the history of Vir- ginia again. Among the gentlemen who came over was one named Edward Wingfield. They chose this man to be president of the colony, and for some time they succeeded pretty well : some of the men did not like our friend Smith much, at first ; they said he wished to be the chief man among them, and they treated him badly. But it was not true. Smith would have been the last man to be cruel to others ; for he had been in so much trouble himself, that he knew how to feel for others." " Uncle Philip, I think so." " You are right. The colonists found out, at last, that he had no such intention, but that it was Mr. Wingfield who desired to be the greatest man among them. They began then to dislike Wingfield: they turned him out of his office, and chose a new president." "Did they choose Captain Smith, Uncle Philip?" " No ; Mr. RatclifFe was their next presi- 64 CONVERSATIONS ON THE dent : and he served them very well. In a little time Smith and Newport resolved to try to discover the head of the James River. In six days they arrived at an Indian village, of twelve houses, called Powhatan. Here they were treated very kindly; but when they got back to Jamestown, they found that some of the Indians had been there, killed one of their boys, and beat seventeen of their men very badly. And now they de- termined to arrange matters in such a way that the Indians would be afraid of them. They accordingly built a fort, mounted their cannons upon it, and gave the men arms. They had a drill of the men every day, to exercise them. Captain Newport then sailed for England, leaving behind him one hundred men, with plenty of provisions, and plenty of powder and shot." " Captain Smith did not go back with him, did he. Uncle PhiHp ?" " No ; you will hear of him directly. In the mean time I will tell you what acci- dents happened to the colony. Before James- town had been built a year, it was almost all burnt down." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 65 " Did the Indians set fire to it, Uncle Philip?" " No ; it took fire by accident. If the houses only had been burnt, it would not have been so unfortunate ; for you know they might have gone into the forest, cut down more trees, and built again. But they lost a great part of their provisions, and, worse than all, this year, fifty people died: and among the rest, one named Bartholomew Gosnold. I will tell you something about him when I talk to you of New-England." "Uncle Philip, this was dreadful." ''Yes; this was real suffering: to lose so many of their men, to have their town burnt down, and to lose almost all their provisions, were distressing indeed. And I believe many of those who were now alive would have died of hunger had it not been for — " " Captain Smith, Uncle Philip ; he is the man, I know." "Right, my lads; he was the man who helped them : and I will tell you how he did it. The people had brought a small boat with them from England. Captain Smith in this boat, with five or six stron«g men, went down the river till he came to 8 f2 65 CONVERSATIONS ON THE place which the Indians called Ke-coiigh-tan, Here he stopped to buy corn. And how do you think the Indians treated Smith and his men ?" " Did they try to kill them, Uncle Philip?" " Not at first ; but they told them they should have no corn. The Indians, I sup- pose, thought that the English meant to take away their lands. They knew, too, that the English needed provisions very much, and at last they offered Smith one ear of corn for a musket." " Why, Uncle Philip, they must have thought Captain Smith was very foolish." "I do not know, children, what they thoucrht. He soon showed them that he was not disposed to barter on such terms. He told his men to pull the boat ashore and get their muskets. When they had got the muskets, Smitli told them to shoot. He did not mean to kill any of the Indians ; he meant only to frighten them ; and he succeeded very well, indeed ; for the Indians, as soon as they heard the noise of the guns, all ran into the forest as fast as they could go. Smith and his men then went into their wigwams, and saw an abun- HISTORY OP VIRGINIA. 67 dance of corn ; but before they could supply themselves, the Indians came back with fifty or sixty more, to fight the English. They came, armed with clubs, and bows and arrows, and singing very loud. But there is one thing I had almost forgotten to tell you. The Indians, when they came on to fight, brought with thenj their Indian idol, which they called Okee, This idol, my children, was nothing but the skin of an animal stuffed with moss; and having brass and copper chains around it. Poor, foolish Indians ! they thought this thing would prevent the English from hurt- ing them. I often feel sorry for such igno- rant people, and I think it is the duty of every man who calls himself a Christian to praj^ for them, and to seek to enlighten them." " I do not wonder. Uncle Philip, that you pity them. I think every person might feel for them." " The English fired among these Indians : some of them fell ; the rest ran into the forest, and a message was sent to Captain Smith, saying that if he would let them alone, he should have as much corn as he wished. The captain consented, for he did not desire to hurt them : all he sought was provisions to 68 CONVERSATIONS ON THE save the colony from starving. The Indians loaded Smith's boat with corn and turkeys, and off he started for Jamestown ; and when he arrived, I can assure you they were all glad enough to see him, for they looked upon Smith as a man who had saved their lives. After a time this supply of food was exhausted, and Smith obtained more; for the Indians were now very much afraid of him. But I must now tell you about the captain's attempt to explore the country about Jamestown. He fitted out his boat, and sailed up James River as far as the boat could go : he left seven men to guard this boat, and then went in a canoe still higher up the river, and left two men here to watch and prevent the Indians from taking it. The cap- tain went ashore, and took with him an Indian whom he carried as a guide. He had not gone far into the country before he heard a noise, and the next minute an arrow came out of the wood and struck him in the thigh. Two hundred Indians then sprang out of the wood ; but Smith had time to tie his Indian guide to his arm with his garters, and use him for a shield. He fired his pistol at them and fright- ened them very much. He was retreating very fast, and I suppose would have escaped, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 69 had he not come to a miry place and stuck fast. Here the Indians caught him. Smith asked them for their captain. They showed him a man whom they called Opechajicanough^ a brother of Powhatan, of whom I will tell you presently," "Uncle Philip, I wish he had got away from them." '* Then, I should not have been able to tell you one of my most interesting stories. Let me go on. Smith happened to have a little ivory double compass dial in his pocket : he gave this to the Indian captain, and he was delighted with it. But the other Indians were very violent : they said they would kill Smith, and they tied him to a tree. When they had prepared their bows and arrows to shoot him, Opechancanough held up the ivory compass, and they all paused the moment they saw it. This shows how much Indians think of their chiefs." "Uncle Philip, he was very fortunate." " Yes, my children, he made a narrow es- cape. The Indians untied him, and carried him in triumph to their village Orapaks. Here they shut him up in a long log-house, and placed forty men around it to guard him : 70 CONVERSATIONS ON THE and now you will see liow Captain Smith saved Jamestown once more. It so happened that while he was in his log prison, one of the Indian chiefs had a son who was very- sick. The prisoner heard of it, and told the Indians that he had some medicine in James- town, which would cure the chief's son, and promised, if they would let him go there, that he would bring it to them. They refused, and told Smith that they were going to kill all the people in Jamestown." " Uncle Philip, was he not frightened ?" " Certainly ; it was enough to frighten any man. It increased his desire to go more than ever. When he found, however, that they would not send him, he persuaded them to let three Indians go to Jamestown and bring the medicine. This they gladly con- sented to. Smith tore a piece of blank paper out of his pocket-book, and wrote to the peo- ple of .Jamestown for the medicine, and on the same paper informed them what the Indians were about to do, and advised them to dis- charge their cannon while the three Indians were at Jamestown." " That was to frighten them, was it not, Uncle Philip?'* HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 71 " Yes — and they were terribly alarmed : for they went back and entreated the Indians never to think of attacking Jamestown. They then took Smith out of prison, and car- ried him about in great triumph to several Indian tribes. At last they brought him to a place called Werocomoco, where the great chief Powhatan lived." " Yes, Uncle Philip ; you promised to tell us about him." " Very well. This Powhatan was a very great chief among the Indians ; for he was not only king of one tribe, but of all the neighbouring tribes. The Indians, therefore, were all very much afraid of him. "When they brought Captain Smith before him, the chief was sitting on a large seat, like a bed- stead, drawn out before a fire, and he had one of his daughters on each side of him, and be- hind these sat a great many Indian men and women. They were all painted and orna- mented with white and blue beads, and had their heads adorned with birds' feathers, and the chief was dressed in a robe of rackoon-skins. When Captain Smith was led in by three large Indians they all made a great shout. The Q,ueen of Appamatuck was appointed to 72 CONVERSATIONS ON THE bring him water to wash his hands, and an- other Indian brought him a bunch of feathers, instead of a towel, with which to dry them." *' They thought he was a very great man, I suppose." " Yes, they had heard much about him : Smith's name was well known among the Indians. After he had washed and dried his hands, they invited him to sit down to one of their richest feasts ; and after he had finished eating, what do you think they then did 7" " Why, I do not know. Uncle Philip ; but it seems to me they treated Smith very well." " Ah, they only treated Smith with respect at first, to let him see that they knew he was a great man among the white people, that they might insult him more afterward : and I think they acted very basely ; for one of the meanest things that I can think of, is wilfully to insult a person whom you have in your power." " Yes, Uncle Philip, my mother has often told me that." " Well, then, you must remember it. I will tell you now what was done to Smith." " Uncle Philip, I wish to ask you one ques- tion about Jamestown." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA 75 " 'Btsiy, my lad, till I get through my story. Powhatan and the Indians now began to talk among themselves about what should be done with Smith : at length they resolved to kill him-^ and they were about to kill him, too, in a very cruel way. Indians generally shoot their prisoners ; but they determined that Captain Smith should not die by this mode. Some of them went out and brought in two large stones, and laid them before Powhatan ; the rest of them took their clubs, to beat out Smith's brains : but the chief bade them all stand aside, and said he would kill him himself. He took Smith, and tied his hands behind him, and then compelled him to lay his head upon the stones. All the Indians were stand- ing around, waiting, when Powhatan took his club, and lifted it over the poor fellow's head." " Oh dear, Uncle Philip ; that was dreadful." " Yes, it was a sad time for poor Smith. By the side of Powhatan stood his two small daughters who had been sitting by him on his throne: one of these was named Pocahontas, a little girl about twelve years old. She begged very hard for Captain Smith's life, and cried bitterly when she found 76 CONVERSATIONS ON THE that all her entreaties did no good. Her father raised the club to strike Smith ; and just at that moment this kind-hearted little creature ran forward, shrieked, and took Smith's head into her arms, and laid her own upon it, to keep the blow from falling upon him. A minute longer, and he would have been dead. Powhatan said not a word. The Indians all looked on, astonished. They loved Pocahon- tas, and they were afraid that the chief would kill his daughter ; but they were under a mistake : she clung to Smith's head, and did not speak : she looked up at her father, and her tears flowed so fast, that his hard nature was melted. He resolved to spare him. He threw down his club, raised his daughter, untied Captain Smith with his own hands, and promised, for his daughter's sake, that he should not be killed." " Uncle Philip, that was a fine girl." " Yes ; a very good girl. Some Indians are very generous ; but I like Pocahontas better than any Indian of whom I ever heard : in fact, the whole State of Virginia is now very proud of her character, — for some of the best families in Virginia boast that they are de- scendants from Pocahontas. mSTORY OF VIRGINIA. 77 " Which one of you was it who wished to ask me something about Jamestown ?" " It was I, Uncle Philip : I only wished to ask if the Indians knew how to read. I was wondering why they did not read Captain Smith's note when he sent to Jamestown for the medicine." " Oh no ; they did not know how to read ; for if they had, Captain Smith's plan, yon know, would have failed." a2 78 CONVERSATIONS ON THE CONVERSATION VII. I^ith takes his Lidian Guides to Jamestown — )Se?ids Presents back — Kindness of Poca- hontas to the Whites — Second Arrival of Captain Newport^ and his Return — Some Account of Indian Religion and Burials. " How do you do, Uncle Philip ? You ap- pear sick this morning-." " I am not very well, children ; I did not sleep very well last night, and I suppose it was be- cause I did not take my usual evening walk : you know I talked to you yesterday until it was quite dark, and after dark I never go out, except upon very particular business. But, sit down, children ; I can tell you one or two stories about the Indians this morning. Where did we leave off?" " You told us last, sir, about the Indian girl who saved Captain Smith's life." " Oh yes ; but you must remember her name. Pocahontas should not be forgotten HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 79 by any one : if you like Captain Smith, you ought to Uke her." " Oh, Uncle Philip, I shall not forget her soon, for I have heard about her at home. I have heard one of my old uncles, who Hves in Virginia, talk to my father about her, and tell him about some of the people in Virginia who are descended from her. But, Uncle Phi- lip, you did not tell us what they did with Captain Smith after he was untied." " Powhatan, after he promised not to kill him, agreed to send him home, upon certain conditions. He told him he would send him at once to Jamestown ; and Smith was to send him back in return a grindstone and two cannons. The chief dismissed him, and gave him twelve Indian guides to guard him ; for Powhatan was afraid that some of the other Indians would hurt him. Smith travelled on under the protection of these guides, though he was very much frightened, for he was with them all night in the forest ; and he had been so often deceived by the savages, that he thought they would murder him. However,, on the next morning very early they reached Jamestown, and Smith carried them at once 81, «70NVERSATI0NS ON THE to the fort, to get the presents for their king. These Indians had never seen cannons before. Smith loaded them with small stones, and dis- charged them among the branches of a large tree covered with icicles (for it was winter), and the stones made such a rattling that the poor guides ran away half-dead with fear." " Uncle Philip, I have a question to ask you." " Well, my lad, let us hear it." " Do you think that the Indians are brave ? It seems to me that Captain Smith frightened them very easily." " Yes ; I think the Indians were then, and are now, very brave — at least some of them. It is no sign of cowardice, I think, for a man to be afraid of a danger which he does not understand. Besides, the Indians were savages, and they looked upon Smith as doing works greater than their god could do." " Well, Uncle Philip, I do not like Indians much." " Oh, I do, some of them — think of Poca- hontas ; do not you like them, Uncle Philip?" " Pretty well, children : you sometimes find a noble trait of character among them ; HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 81 and you find a great deal that you must pity. You should always remenriber that we are Christians, and Givihzed; they are, for the most part, heathen, and savages. A Christian, then, will always recollect the duty of praying for his heathen brother." " Uncle Philip, what did Powhatan think of the cannons ?" "He never received them. The Indians were afraid to carrry them, and said they were too heavy. So Smith sent presents of toys to the women and children, and dismissed the guides. When Captain Smith returned, Jamestown was all in confusion — the men all dissatisfied, and the women crying for bread : and who do you think relieved them now?" " Captain Smith, to be sure. Uncle Philip." " No, my young friends, you are wrong this time : poor Smith tried, but could not. It was an Indian." " Oh, Pocahontas, was it not ?" ^ " Yes ; the same girl that saved the cap- tain's life. Every four or five days she brought provisions to the town, or the English must have been starved to death. The kind- ness of this Indian girl, together with Captain 82 CONVERSATIONS ON THE Smith's telling them of the splendour in which King Powhatan was living, made them better pleased to remain than to leave the colony. And so we may safely say that these two saved the colony. But their friends in England had not forgotten them. The treasurer and council there despatched two ships with provisions, — one commanded by Captain Newport, and the other by Captain Francis Nelson, a very hon- est, good man. These two ships had on board one hundred men. Nelson was driven by stormy winds as far out as the West Indies ; but Newport arrived safe in Jamestown, shortly after Captain Smith had been sent home by Powhatan. He found that presents were daily brought to Smith from Pocahontas and other Indians, and with these they were barely able to live. Indeed, the poor Indians were now very glad to keep on friendly terms with the whites ; for they believed that the God whom Smith worshipped created all things ; and they used to talk about the God of Captain Smith." " Why, Uncle Philip, did these poor Indians have no preachers to preach to them, and ex- I«lain the Bible ?" *' Yos, children : there was a preacher among HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 88 the white men, who came out from England with them." " What was his name, Uncle Philip ?" " It was Mr. Hunt, a very good man, who lived with them a long time, and succeeded in giving some of them correct ideas of God and his Son Jesus Christ. They would not believe any thing that Mr. Hunt told them at first ; but were willing to kill him." " Uncle Philip, this was strange : surely they must have had a strange religion, if mur- der was allowed." " True, my dear children : to us it seems so ; for the religion of Christ is a religion of charity and love, and the man who can think of killing or injuring another in any way because he does not think as he does, had best examine his own heart closely, to see whether he has that brotherly love for all men which his Bible teaches him he should have. But the religion which the Indians had could hardly be called religion. I told you that they were idolaters. They wor- shipped whatever thing they were afraid of, and which, at the same time, they could not keep from hurting them ; such as fire, light- ning, thunder, cannons, and horses. But the 84 CONVERSATIONS ON THE principal god, as I before said, was the one they called Okee, which Captain Smith called the devil ; and the Indians feared this idol far more than they loved him. They hung the image of Okee in their temples, and near this always was the sepulchre of their kings." "Uncle Philip, tell us how they buried people." " 1 will ; and then I must go on with our history ; for were I to stop to tell you all the strange customs that Smith found among these savages, it would be a long time before we got through. When one of their kings died, they opened his body, and spread it out upon hurdles to dry : when the body was quite dry, they hung jewels and bracelets, such as the king used to wear, about the joints of the knees, arms, and neck, and stuffed them with copper beads, hatchets, and such things : after this, they wrapped them carefully in white skins, and rolled them in mats for their wind- ing-sheets. They then laid them in the tomb, which was nothing more than an arch made of mats, and then placed all the remains of their wealth in baskets at their feet. This was the way when a king died : for common hurials, they dug a deep hole in the earth, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 85 wrapped the corpse in skins, laid it in the hole upon sticks, and covered it in with earth." " Uncle Philip, I should like to ask one more question ; was there no such thing as mourning for their friends among them ?" " Yes, children ; but it was strange mourn-: ing. After a burial, the women returned to their houses, and painted their faces with black coal and oil, and raised a most hideous howling and screaming : this was the way in which they expressed their grief But, my young friends, I am afraid you do not read all the books in the ' Boy's and Girl's Library,' which Messrs. Harper publish, and which I brought home from New-York." « Why, Uncle Philip ?" "Because they have published one book which tells all about the Indians : and if you had read it — " " We would remember it, you were going to say, Uncle Philip : but I do remember something about it now, — it tells all about Indian funerals." " Yes, it tells you every thing about them ; and if you forget, you must read that book over again ; for there is much curious infor- mation in that book. And now we will go on. 86 CONVERSATIONS ON THE After Captain Newport had landed his men and supplies, Smith took him to see the coun- try and King Powhatan, and Newport bought several hundred bushels of corn from the king, for w^iich he paid with some blue glass beads; and then returned to Jamestown. There they placed these new supplies. Then Captain Newport, with many others, began to dig for gold, instead of attending to more necessary work. In a short time he filled his vessel with what he mistook for gold ore, and set sail for England. CONVERSATION VIII. Arrival of Captain Nelson— Smithes Voyage up Chesapeake Bay — Is made President of the Colony — How he manages Affairs^ and compels his Men to leave off SweaHng. "Well, children, we are all here again. Sit down. You remember a day or two since I told you how Jamestown was burnt : of course, you know, it was to be built up again. And now HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 87 we will recollect that all the men were busy in building the large public houses (their own little huts were already finished), when Captain Nelson arrived from the West Indies. He brought with him provisions enough for six months, and gave it all up for the use of the colony. President Ratlifte wished to load his vessel, and send her back to England. This was to be done by Captain Smith : he there- fore went into the country, and procured for Nelson's vessel a load of cedar wood ; and she at once sailed homeward. And now I will tell you more of Captain Smith's exploring the country." " Well, Uncle Philip, if you please ; for I would rather hear about Captain Smith than any of the rest of them." " Very well. Smith left the fort in an open boat, with several white men, on the 2d of June, and sailed to the eastern side of Chesa- peake Bay. He first landed on an island to the east of Cape Charles." "Oh, Uncle Philip, there it is— Smith's Island." " Yes, it was named after him, and is still called Smith's Island. He next landed upon Cape Charles : here they found two fierce- 88 CONVERSATIONS ON THE looking- savages, who after a time talked kindly to them, and directed them to Acco- mack, the place where their king lived. Look to the north of Cape Charles ; do you see that name upon the map ?" " Yes, Uncle Philip." •' Very good. You see tJiat has not changed Its old name. The Indian king at Accomack was very kind : his people spoke the language of Powhatan, and gave Smith descriptions of bays, rivers, inlets, (fee, which were of great use to him in his voyage. Smith sailed on, and saw many islands in that large bay, but could not reach them, because the weather was so rough : the waves there sometimes run as high as they do out in the ocean. I travelled once from Baltimore to Norfolk in a steam- boat, down that bay, and saw larger waves than I ever saw in the ocean. Smith sailed on up the bay, until he reached what he called Russel's Islands." ''Are they there now. Uncle Philip?" "Yes; but not under that name, I believe. I do not know what they are now called, but possibly they may be what are now called Watkin's Isles, situated opposite the land between the Rappahannoc and Potomac HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 89 rivers. At any rate, finding" themselves next day in want of drinking-water, they sailed up Wicomico River ; there obtained a fresfi sup- ply ; and after sailing by many uninhabited islands, they next entered the river Cuskara- waok, which is now called Nanticoke River, When he found that the lands on the eastern side of the bay were low, and no people upon the islands, he sailed on the west side towards the State of Virginia. But here he began again to have difficulties." " What was the matter, Uncle Philip ?" "His men began to talk about compelling him to return. Their bread became mouldy, and they had but little of that ; and. so they begged of their captain to go back to James- town. But he spoke kindly to them — told them that they had a dog on board that would serve for food ; that it was as dangerous to re- turn as to go on, and finally said he was deter- mined to go to the river Potomac." " How did he know that there was such a river. Uncle Philip?" " The Indians on the eastern shore had told him of it. The men consented to go on ; and on the 16th of June they fell in with the river Potomac. They sailed up thirty miles with- h2 90 CONVERSATIONS ON THE out Seeing any one: at last, finding two sav- ages, they w6re conducted up a little creek^ where all the forest was filled with Indians, painted alhover, who were yelling and howl- ing horribly. Smith, in order to frighten them, ordered his men to fire the guns; and the grazing of the balls npon the water, and the echo of the noise through the woods, made them all drop their bows and arrows. He was then used kindly by the savages, who told him that they had beeji commanded to betray them, by Powhatan, because he did not like the whites as his neighbours at Jamestown. Having gone up as high as their boat would carry them, they met many savages in their canoes, with deer and bears. Here they got a supply of food, and commenced their journey homeward. On his way back, Smith deter- mined to visit the river Rappahannoc. When he got to the mouth of this river, the tide was ebbing, and his boat was grounded. Look on the map ; what point and island do you see at the mouth of that river ?" " Stingeray, Uncle Philip "Yes; and I will tell you how it got the name : when the boat was grounded, Cap- tain Smith and his men amused themselves HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 91 by sticking fish with their swords as they swam in the water. The captain thrust his sword into a fish that struck him with the end of its tail, in which there was a sting. His arm suddenly swelled very much, and he seemed like a dead man for some time : his friends prepared for his funeral : but by rubbing his arm with oil, he was at length restored : and the point on the coast has ever since been called Stingeray, from this fact. Passing down then by the rivers Payankatank and Pamunky, they next fell into Powhatan, and soon landed in Jamestown." " Well, Uncle Philip, I am glad the captain has got back home." " So am I, my lads ; for he came just at the time he was wanted. When he reached there, President Ratliffe was forcing the people to build him a large house ; and they were of course dissatisfied. They begged that he might no longer be their president ; but they wished for Captain Smith. Ratliffe was turned out, and Smith was made presi- dent: but he told them to take his friend, while he went again on another exploring voyage." " Uncle Philip, who was his friend ?" 92 CONVERSATIONS ON THE " His name was Scrivener. He was sick at the time ; but Smith chose some honest men to help him in the government, and left them again. About the beginning of the year 1609, Captain Newport again arrived in Virginia, and brought with him Mrs. Forrest and her maid Ann Burras, the first European women who settled permanently in the colony. He also brought a crown to King Powhatan ; and I can tell you of the first recorded mar- riage that ever took place in Virginia." " Uncle Philip, who were the people ?" " Ann Burras and John Laydon made the first marriage. Smith, in his new voyage, discovered the Appamattox tribe of Indians ; visited the Susquehanoes, Manahoes, Nanse- monds, Chesapeakes, and other tribes ; and returned to Jamestown, after a voyage of nearly three thousand miles in an open boat. After his return liome, he received an invita- tion from Powhatan to visit Ijim at Wirowo- comoco. Smith went there ; and during his stay many plans were laid by the king to en- trap the English. Smith was, however, on the look-out for danger : and there was an- other who watcbed as closely as himself: thi* was Pocahontas. When her father had HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 93 planned again the ruin of Jamestown, she travelled on a very dark and stormy night to Smith, and told him every thing." "Uncle Philip, was not she a noble wo- man ?" " Yes, she was, indeed. You see now how she saved the colony a second time. Captain Smith next made a visit to Pamunkey. Here he was attacked by several hundred Indians, under their chief, Opechancanough. Smith took him prisoner, and carried hmi in the midst of his warriors, who immediately gave up their bows and arrows. They begged very hard for the life of their king ; and Smith at last promised to give him up, if they would give him a supply of provisions. They con- sented. Smith then set Opechancanough free ; and they brought him the provisions. A few days after this. Smith was attacked as he travelled through the woods alone by the King of Paspahey. This king was a very large and very strong man ; but the captain took him prisoner, and carried him to James- town. But I ought to have told you how Smith managed matters when he was made president. He stopped the building of Rat- liffe's palace ; had the church repaired, store- houses built, the fort fitted up ; he made the 94 CONVERSATIONS ON THE men do duty upon watch every night in order; had the whole company exercised every Saturday, in the plain called Smithfield, west of the fort ; and sometimes more than a hun- dred savages would come to see them shoot at a mark upon a tree." "Then they were frightened, I know, Un- cle Philip." " Very much frightened : and that was what the president wished. Do you know the way in which Smith cured his men of the bad habit of swearing ?" " No, sir." " He used to have the oaths of every man numbered in the course of the day ; and at night, for every oath, he would pour a mug of water down the man's sleeve, until he should abandon such a low, wicked practice altogether. This will do for this time, children. I am afraid you have not been pleased so much with this as with some of our conversations ; but, for my own part, I like to follow Captain Smith among the Indians." " To be sure, Uncle Philip ; so do we. I am not tired." " No, Uncle Philip ; nor I." " Well, my lads, I am a little tired of talking now. To-morrow we will go on." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 95 CONVERSATION IX. First Arrival of Gates — Smith Returiis Home — Lord De la War comes to Virginia — Death of Ratliffe — Starving-time in Virginia — BniUing of Henrico and Ber- mudas by Sir T. Dale — Pocahontas taken Prisoner — Married to John Rolfe — Peace with Powhatan. " It was in the year 1609, in the month of May, that the powers of the president and council were given to a company in London,' who had also the right to appoint all the offi- cers of the colony. The company soon chose their men. They made Lord De la -War, captain -general of Virginia; Sir Thomas Gates, lieutenant-general ; Sir George Som- ers, admiral ; and Captain Newport, vice-ad- miral. " About the last of May, Gates, Somers, and Newport sailed for Virginia, with nine ships, filled with passengers and provisions. Sir 96 CONVERSATIONS ON THE George Somers's ship was wrecked in sight of Bermudas ; the rest of the fleet reached Vir- ginia safe. Somers soon fitted up a bark in Bermudas, and went from there to Vir- ginia. He found the colony in a very bad way : they were about to lose their best man." "Who, Uncle Philip; Captain Smith?" . *' Yes : the captain was about leaving them. He was tired of the quarrels of his country- men ; and said he wanted to see the country aofain wFiere he was born : and I do not won- der at that. Every good man loves the place where he was born. I cannot think that the man who does not love his home is worth much. Smith then sailed for England, and said that he should never again see the shores of Virginia." " Well, Uncle Philip, I suppose the Indians were glad when he went." "Yes: and in a very little time he was missed by the white men. Smith had placed a man by the name of Martin, with a hundred men, at Nansemond, and another named West, with one hundred also, at the falls of the James River (or Powhatan, as it was then called). As soon as he sailed ,for England, the Indians drove these men from their posts, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 97 and Ratliffe, the old president, who was sta- tioned at Old Point Comfort, was taken, with about thirty men, by King Powhatan." " Uncle Philip, what did he do with Rat- hffe ?" " Killed him, and all his men — no one was saved, except a boy named Henry Spilman, whose life Pocahontas begged for, and Pow- hatan spared him. She sent him up among the Patawomekes, where he lived many years. You will hear of him again as I go on. These things happened shortly after Smith left them : but the worst was the famine that visited the colony, commonly called " the starving time." The captain had left behind him fifty or sixty men — poor, miserable crea- tures. They had nothing to eat, and could get nothing from the savages. They fed on roots, herbs, acorns, walnuts, and berries, and now and then got a litle fish. They ate even the skins of their horses." "Shocking, Uncle Philip!" " Yes, my lads ; it was a dreadful time. One poor, half-starved creature killed his wife, and had eaten a part of her before it was known : as soon as it was found out he was taken, and hung. O, my young friends, we I 98 CONVERSATIONS ON THE think too little of the blessings we enjoy. We live in pilenty, and therefore do not know what it is to want. We onght to be very, very thankful to God, that we hear of famine at a distance, but never feel it." "Uncle Philip, why did not these men leave the country ? I am sure they had good reasons now." " They did start, and got nearly to the mouth of the James River, when they met Lord De la War with three ships loaded with provisions, and he persuaded them to go back with him to Jamestown. When he reached the town he gave the people provisions, and began to guard the country against the sav- ages. He built two forts, and drove the In- dians back from the white settlements, and every thing went on tolerably well, as long as the supply of food lasted : the people, when this was exhausted, were again dissatisfied. Lord De la War then sent a vessel com- manded by Captain Argall up the river Pa- tawomeke to buy corn. The Indians would not sell corn to them : they were driving them away without any thing, when Captain Ar- gall saw a white boy among them, and requested that he might talk with him." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 99 " Uncle Philip, what bay was this? "Do you not remember my teUins^ you of a boy that Pocahontas sent there ?" " Oh yes, sir ; it was Henry Spilman." " Right ; this was the boy. He had lived with them some time, and was very much liked among the Indians of that tribe. After he talked with Captain Argall, and heard of the sufferings of his white friends at James- town, he went to the Indians, and persuaded them to give the ship a load of corn." "Uncle Philip, that was fortunate." "That was Pocahontas, again, Uncle Philip." "Yes, my children ; and she was the best friend the whites ever had among the Indians. The ship returned home well loaded, but Lord De la War was very sick. As soon as he became better he went to England, leaving a man by the name of George Percy to take care of the colony, until Sir Thomas Dale, who was expected every day, should arrive. But little was done while Percy was president; so we will pass on to the month of May, 1611, when Dale reached Virginia. He found the people all playing in the streets of James- town, — asked them how much food they 100 CONVERSATIONS ON THE had, and they showed him their store of about three months' provisions. They had planted no corn at all : the first thing that Dale ordered was to plant corn. He then compelled them to mend their houses, which were almost falling over their heads, and em- ployed them in cutting large supplies of tim- ber. He kept them day after day cutting down the trees, and they, not knowing what he wanted with so much timber, became dis- satisfied." "Well, Uncle Philip, what did he want* with it?" " He was about to build a new town, boys. After looking about for some time to find a situation, he selected a point of land twelve miles from the falls of James River, which he called Henrico, after Prince Henry. Sir Thomas Dale made some good laws, and compelled the people to obey them. So when Sir Thomas Gates arrived in Virginia, in August of the same year, he found the colony in pretty good order." " Uncle Philip, is this the man whom you told us was lieutenant-general ?" "The same man. He had been to Eng- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 101 land, and returned. Dale gave up the gov- ernment to Sir Thomas, and then told him of his plan for building a new town. Sir Thomas thought the plan was good ; so, in the beginning of September, Dale went with some of the men to the spot which he had chosen, and fenced in a place for his town. At each corner he built a high watch-house, also a church and store-houses, and then made some small huts for the men to live in. The ruins of this town are still to be seen at Tuckahoe, I believe." " Uncle Philip, I wish to ask you one ques- tion. Can you see any thing of Jamestown now?" " Very little of it is now standing. As you descend the James River you may see a point of land with something rising upon it, and when you come quite near you will find that it is the old tower of the Jamestown church: this is all that now remains of it." "Uncle Philip, I should like to see that old tower." " Yes, it is pleasant to see such things ; they remind us of so much that is worth re- membering. Dale obtained another town for the whites." i2 102 CONVERSATIONS ON THE " Where was that, Uncle Philip ?" " He took the town of the Appamatuks about five miles from Henrico ; you will find on the map the name Bermudas : that is the place, he gave it the name. And now 1 am going to tell you of something which I think was not very kind in the white men." " Uncle Philip, I am sorry for that." " So am I : but let me tell you what it was. Captain Argall, about whom I was talking a little while ago, made a second voyage to the Patawomekes to procure corn. He found out in some way that Pocahontas lived among them, and he thought that if he could get her as a prisoner, that he might make her father promise to do any thing." " Uncle Philip, how happened Pocahontas to be there ?" " She had gone there to avoid seeing the white men killed : her father hated them, and killed all he could take : she loved them, and did not wish to see it. Japazas, the king of the Patawomekes, was an old friend of Cap- tain Smith ; so he received Argall kindly, and after talking with him a long time prom- ised to put Pocahontas a prisoner on board his ship, if he would give him in return a HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 103 copper kettle. He made Argall, however, promise not to injure her." " Uncle Philip, what did they do with her ?" " Carried her to Jamestown ; and the gov- ernor sent word to King Powhatan that they had his daughter a prisoner, and would send her to him if he would return the guns and muskets that he had stolen from the whites. Powhatan was at first very angry, and said he would do no such thing. He loved his daughter very much, but he loved his people more. He however sent two of his sons to see their sister, and discover how she was treated. They were very happy to find her well and comfortable, and went back to tell their father ; but still the old man said he would not give up the guns. And how do you suppose matters were settled at last ?" " Pray tell us, Uncle Philip." " Pocahontas was married to a white man Did you ever hear of Mr. Rolfe ?" " No, sir." " Well, he was her husband : they had loved each other for a long time. He had told Mr. Dale ; and she had sent word to her brother, that she was about to marry John Rolfe." 104 CONVERSATIONS ON THE " Uncle Philip, how did her father like it 7^ "At first he would not listen to his son who told him, and for a little while was very angry, and then suddenly said he was very willing that the marriage should take place. In ten days from this, he sent an old uncle of hers, named Opachisco, and two of his sons to observe the way in which they were married, and to act as his deputies at the wedding." " What does deputy mean, Uncle Philip ?' " The deputy of a man is one who stands in his place to do his business. So, if Pow- hatan had been wanting at the marriage, these men would have done what he himself would have done if he had been there. Is this plain r " Yes, sir." " Well, after this there was peace between Powhatan and the white people; they traf- ficked with him and his men without any trouble." " Uncle Philip, tell us what sort of a man Mr. Rolfe was." "A very good man. You will hear more of him before we get through with our his- tory.*' HISTORY OF VIRGINIA 105 CONVERSATION X. Uncle Philip tells of the Chicahoniiny In- dians — Pocahontas's Sister — Pocahontas is baptized — Changes her Name, goes to England^ and dies there — Leaves a Son — George ^eardly Governor. " Come in ; you are quite late this morn- ing. I am about to tell yt)U something more about that peace with the Indians. When Powhatan made his peace, the Chica- hominieSj another tribe of Indians who lived near the whites, agreed to make peace also. They sent messengers to Mr. Dale, requesting him to be their governor, and promising to own King James as their master. He was very glad to make them his friends ; and so he sent them word, that he would be happy always to treat them kindly, and that they in return should do all that they could to help him and his men. And now, my children, I 106 CONVERSATIONS ON THE will show you that Mr. Dale was an able man. When he first went to Virginia, the men were accustomed, to plant corn, and when they gathered the harvest, they put it in a common stock, to last for the next year. Every man in the colony would come and get an equal part of this stock. So whether a man was industrious or lazy, he got exactly the same supply." "Uncle Philip, that was not fair. Some who did no work received just ^s much as those who worked very hard." " Exactly so. Mr. Dale put a stop to this : he gave each man his own separate piece of land to cultivate ; each man gave two barrels and a half of corn to the common stock ; all the rest that remained belonged to himself — he could do with it what he pleased. So, you see, the harder any man worked the more corn he had to traffic with. They soon then had no lazy men among them." " No, Uncle Philip, because the more a man worked, the better it was for himself." " True, my young friends ; I am glad you understand so readily. Sir Thomas Gates re- turned to England in 1613, and left Dale to HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 107 govern the colony by himself. He soon heard that the French and Dutch had settled them- selves in a part of North Virginia ; and he was not willing that they should remain there, because he thought that all Virginia belonged to his master the King of England. He sent Captain Argall up to the Bay of Fundy, who took a French ship, with all the clothes and provisions in it, and brought them to James- town, i should have told you that Captain Argall, on his way home, stopped before the fort of New- Amsterdam, on the Hudson, and the Dutch governor there surrendered." " Uncle Philip, that place is in New- York ; is it not V " Yes ; but it "-as then called North Vir- ginia." '' Well, Uncle Philip, I have heard my father say that New- York once belonged to the Dutch ; and Captain Argall was an Eng lishman." " So it did ; and the very next year after the fort had surrendered to Captain Argall, a new supply of Dutchmen came — built another fort on the south end of Manhattan Island, where New- York city now stands, and 108 CONVERSATIONS ON THE held tne country for many years, under the name of New-Netherlands." " Oh, now I know. Uncle Philip, how it is." " Children, did you ever hear that Pocahon- tas had a sister ?" " Yes, sir ; you told us about Powhatan's two little daughters being- by his side when Pocahontas saved Captain Smith's life." "True; so I did. Well, Mr. Dale wished to marry this daughter : he sent a messenger to her father, with presents, begging him to send his younger daughter, as he wished her for his wife. When the messenger arrived, he found Powhatan smoking his pipe : he laid it down, asked many questions about his daughter and son-in-law, seemed pleased to hear that she was happy ; and after many other questions were answered, he desired to know what Mr. Dale had sent him for. ' He sent me,' said the messenger, ' to ask you for your youngest daughter : he wishes her to be his wife.' Powhatan was surprised, and angry : the man then told him that her sister Pocahontas desired her to be sent. Powhatan would not believe this. At last the old man spoke. * Go back,' said he, * to your governor, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 109 and tell him that I value his love and peace, which, while I live, I will keep : tell him that I love my daughter as my life ; and though I have many children, yet I love none like her. If I could not see her, I could not Hve ; and if I give her to you, I shall never see her. I hold it not a brotherly part to desire to take away two children at once.' " He then told the messenger to sleep for the night. In the morning early he waked him, gave him a buck-skin for himself, and two for his daughter and son-in-law, and sent him away." " Well, Uncle Philip, Powhatan was not as bad as I thought he was." " No ; for a savage, as I before said, he had some very good feelings : he loved his chil- dren tenderly. When the man reached home, Pocahontas and Mr. Dale were both sorry, for they both felt almost sure that the sister would come. Did you ever hear that Pocahontas changed her name 1" " No, Uncle Philip ; what was her new name ?" " The whites instructed her in Christianity, and she was baptized. It was at her baptism that she laid aside the name of Pocahontas, K 110 CONVERSATIONS ON THE and was called Rebecca. In the year 1616, after Mr. Dale had arranged every thing in good order, he thought of going home to Eng- land. At last, finding a man by the name of Yeardly, who he was willing should be gov- ernor in his absence, he sailed for England, in -company with Mr. Rolfe and Pocahontas. And now tell me, would you like to follow Pocahontas to England, or first go on with Captain Yeardly ?" " Tell us, Uncle Philip, about Pocahontas first." " She landed in England, a perfect curi- osity. Everybody was eager to see her : she was called everywhere the Lady Rebecca. Mr. Rolfe, her husband, travelled through the country with her, that she might see every thing. When she reached London, Captain Smith was then just about sailing for Virginia. As soon as he knew that she was there, he went to see her. She had heard that he was dead. When she saw him, she covered her face with her hands, but in a little time she was able to talk with him." " What did she say. Uncle Philip ?" " ' You,' said she, ' promised my father that whatever was yours should be his, and that you HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Ill and he were as one. When you was a stranger in our country, you called Powhatan your father ; and I, for the same reason, will call you my father.' Smith begged that she would not call him so, because he was afraid the king might not like it : but she said she would. She then told Smith that she had heard he was dead, and that Powhatan had sent fne of his men, Tomocomo, to know whether it was true, and also to find out many things about the country. Smith recollected that Pocahontas had saved his life, — and wished to do some kindness for her. He wrote a letter to Queen Anne, in which he told her that this was the first Virginian that ever spoke English, and the first Virginian that ever was a Christian ; and therefore hoped that Q^iieen Anne would notice her. In a little time Captain Smith met Tomocomo. He was the husband of one of Powhatan's dausfhters, and was sent by the king to see how many people there were in England ; to see the English God, — and their king and queen. And how do you suppose he went to work to find out how many people there were in Eng- land?" " Did he count them, Uncle Philip ?'* 112 CONVERSATIONS ON THE " He tried to do so. When he first landed, he procured a long stick, and cut a notch upon it for every man tliat he met. At last he be came tired, and threw away his stick. He told Smith he wanted to see his God : Smith told him he could not be seen. He said he wanted to see the king : Smith told him he had seen him ; but he would not believe him." " Uncle Philip, I should like to know what he told Powhatan when he went back." " When he reached home, the king asked him how many people there were in Eng- land ? He told him to count the stars in the sky, the leaves on the trees, and the sands upon the seashore, and then he would know the number." " Well, Uncle Philip, did the queen do any thing for Pocahontas after Captain Smith wrote that letter ?" " Yes, she did : but now I have sad inform- ation for you. The queen had just obtained for Mr. Rolfe an office in the Virginia colony, in which he would have been able to live as the husband of a princess would wish : and Mr. Rolfe, with his wife, was just returning homeward, when Pocahontas was taken sick and died." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 113 « Oh, Uncle Philip !" " She was twenty-two years old when she died ; and left one son, who was given to his uncle, Mr. Henry Rolfe, to be reared by him. He became a distinguished man in Virginia, and left one daughter only ; and it is through her" that some respectable families trace their descent to the Indian queen." '' Uncle Philip, I am glad she was a Chris- tian." " Yes, and so am I, children. Now let us go back to Mr. Yeardly. He was no sooner left governor than the Chicahominies began to take his men, and kill them. He immediately went among them, and put them down. On his return home, he met Opecanchanough,and agreed with him not to make any peace with them without his consent. Opecanchanough then went directly to the Chicahominies, and told them that he alone had saved them from death. They all called him their king : and you will see, as we go on, more of the cun- ning of this chief." "Uncle Philip, how did Powhatan act when he heard that his daughter wa.s dead ?" k2 114 CONVERSATIONS ON THE "When the news reached Virginia, the old man had left public life, and given his king- dom to his brothers. He was very sad when he first heard it, and nothing could cheer him until he heard that his grandson was alive, and was a fine promising boy." " Uncle Philip, who brought him the news?" " Captain Argall : he was just about sailing for A^irginia, and Pocahontas was to have re- turned home with him. Argall, when he got back, was made deputy-governor : and he was very cruel." " I knew it. Uncle Philip ; he was the man who took Pocahontas prisoner." " True, my lads. Argall was very unkind, particularly to a man by the name of Brew- ster ; and the people sent to ask that Lord De la War would come to be their gov- ernor. He started, but died on the voyage. Do you know any part of the United States that takes its name from this man ?" " The State of Delaware, Uncle Philip." " Yes ; he died at the mouth of Delaware Bay ; and the State and the bay are both named after him." " Uncle Philip, what became of Argall ?" HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 115 " He was so very cruel, that at length the company in England told Sir George Yeardly to examine into his conduct upon the spot. Captain Argall had private letters from Eng- land, informing him pf all this ; and he ran away." ^ CONVERSATION XI. IJyicle Philip tells the Childreti of Governor George Yeardly — Begimiiiig of Slavery in Virginia — Sir F. Wyatt Governor — Ope- canchanough's War with the Whites — Sto?y about Jack-ofthe-feather — Cruelty of some of the White Men — King Jwines quarrels with the London Company ^ and takes away their Charter. "It was in the year 1619 that Governor George Yeardly gave orders that some of the people should meet him at Jamestown, to con- sult about the best way of managing the colony. The people were all pleased : and I wish you to remember, my young friends, that this was 11 (J CONVERSATIONS ON THE thii first assembly of the people lield in Vir- ginia. It was in this same year, too, that the London Company sent ont one hundred men of bad character, to be servants in the colony." " White men, Uncle Rhihp ?" .''Yes; and they sent out, also, one hnn dred young girls, to be wives to the men in the colony. Yeardly had a very easy time for a while. The people liked him ; and he would have gone on very smoothly, had it not been for King James." " What was the matter. Uncle Piiilip ?" " The men cultivated tobacco, and sold it m England. King James did not like it^ and made laws about it, which you can understand when you are older. Do you know liow that plant obtained the name of the tobacco-plant ?" " No, sir." " Because it was first found in the Island Tobago. And now tell me, have you never heard people speak of owning slaves ?" "Yes, Uncle Philip." " Well, Virginia is one of the States in which people own slaves ; and I will tell you how slaves were introduced there. In the year 1620. a Dutch ship, bound home from the HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 117 coast of Guinea, sold twenty blacks to the col- ony : and this was the beginning of slavery in this State. Did you ever hear any thing of the war of Opecanchanough with the Eng- lish r « No, Uncle Philip." " It was while Sir George Yeardly was gov- ernor that this horrid plot commenced : but Sir Francis Wyatt, who came to the country in 1621, was governor when the war began. We have already talked of Opecanchanough. When Sir Francis first arrived, he built the Indian chief a splendid palace, hoping to make him a friend to the white men. He was pleased for a short time, and very proud of his house, and was in the habit of sending for his men to come and see him turn the key in the lock : this, you know, was all new to him. He, however, hated the whites, and was deter- mined to make war upon them. And now I wish you to notice the cunning and cruelty of this Indian. He had promised to keep peace ; but he did not mean to do it. He went about among the men of his nation, and talked to them, until they were ready and wilhng to murder all the colony. He told 118 CONVERSATIONS ON THE tlieni tliat they were sufferiiitr, that they were cheated, and that the Eiiglisli desired to be their masters. For four years he went about in tliis way. Every man was made ready ; and all that they waited for was an excuse to begin. You see they were ^ not going to break the ]ieace, but waited for the whites to do it. Just about this time something happened which gave them an excuse to begin." " Uncle Phihp, tell us what happened." " There was among the Indians a war- rior, commonly called Jack-of-the-feather, and they thought much of him." "That was a strange name, Uncle Philip." " Yes ; his real name was Nemattanow. He had been many times in battle against the whites ; and because he had never been hurt, the Indians supposed that he never could be hurt. He received that strange name because he would dress himself with feathers of all manner of colours. He had often stolen from the English : and at length he murdered a white man by the name of Morgan, and was caught by Morgan's servants. He tried to get away, but one of them shot him through the body, and killed him. But, my young friends, I have heard a strange story about his death j and I HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 119 will tell it to you. When he was dying, he called some of the white men to him, and re- quested them to conceal his grave after he was dead: and what for, do you think?" "Really, Uncle Philip, I cannot tell." " Because he thought that his countrymen, if they could never find his grave, would think that he never died. He wished to be thought immortal ; that is, a man who could never die." " That was strange. Uncle Philip." " After his death, Opecanchanough pre- tended to be very angry, though some say that he was glad, because he was afraid that the Indians would think as much of Nematta- now as of him. However, you know this was a good excuse for breaking peace." " I should have thought, Uncle Philip, that the English would have found out something about it in four years." " Well, my lads, the governor did become t: suspicious long before Nemattanow's death ; but the cunning Indian told him ' that the sky should fall sooner than he would break the peace.' This caused the English to feel safe. But when Opecanchanough found so good an excuse for war, he began to bring all the dis- 120 CONVERSATIONS ON THE tant tribes of Indians together. Some of them liad to march through large forests by- nothing but the hght of the moon and stars ; and yet not one made a mistake. They came along in Indian file, and covered up their tracks with the long grass behind them, so that nobody could trace them.'* *' What do you mean by Indian file, Uncle Philip r '' One behind the other, so that they might all step in the same track. Indians always march in this way. They halted when they came near the white settlements, and some of th^m even went to the houses of the white men, under pretence of trading. The Indians knew so well how to deceive that they even showed some of the straggling whites the way to their houses, and gave them presents of venison and wild-fowl, in the name of their chief The white men were deceived by this cunning ; for they lent the Indians their boats on that same morning to go a fishing. But Opecanchanough and his men were not going to catch fish. They took the boats, crossed over to the other side of the river, and told their countrymen on tllat side what was to be the signal, and the hour for the attack. When HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 121 they got back, they gave up the boats, and then waited for the hour. When the hour came, the whole wood was filled with the noise of the war-whoop. The savages rushed from their hiding-places, and killed every white man, woman, and child that they met ; and not content with that, they tore their bodies to pieces, after they had killed them." "Uncle Philip, what did the white men do?" " They did not expect such an attack ; and of course they had no way to defend them- selves. In one hour, three hundred and forty- seven men, women, and children were killed by the Indians, without making any defence at all." " Uncle Philip, that was a large part of the colony." " Yes ; and an accident was all that saved the rest from destruction." " What was it, sir?" "A Christian Indian, by the name of Chanco, lived with a white man, named Rich- ard Pace, and loved his master very much. On the night before this dreadful massacre, the brother of Chanco slept with him, told him all the plot, and commanded him in the L 122 CONVERSATIONS ON THE name of Opecanclianough to kill his master. The grateful Chanco refused to do it ; but as soon as his brother had gone, he went to Mr. Pace and told him of the plot. Mr. Pace sent a messenger before day to the governor at James- town, and that was the only thing that saved Jamestown, and the settlements in the neigh- bourhood." " Uncle Philip, this was worse than the starving-time." " Much worse, children, than any thing that had yet happened to them. The plantations were reduced from the number of eighty to six only ; and the people on these were forced to stop work to defend themselves. A long war followed this cruelty. The whites were determined to be revenged : but the Indians knew more about the country than they did, and the whites could not find where they were hidden. For whole days the Indians would lie upon their faces, in the woods, and wait for an opportunity to steal, and murder people. They were very near the same colour as the ground, and they were always so quiet that nobody ever saw them until they sprang upon them. When the white men found tfiat the Indians would not come to an open war, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 123 they resorted to a trick which, I am sorry to say, was base and cruel. The Indians were drawn from their hiding-places, by the solemn promise of safety and forgiveness. They were no sooner settled in their old employ- ments than the white men fell upon them at the same moment and murdered all the men, women, and children that they could find." " Did they kill Opecanchanough ?" " No, my children. They thought, at first, that they had him a prisoner, but they were under a mistake. He did not believe the whites when they promised to forgive his country- men ; and it was owing to him that many Indians were able to make an escape into the forests. But th'fe Indians did not lose many men ; not near as many as three hundred." " Uncle Philip, this was a dreadful war." " Yes : and when the news reached the company in London, they were very sad. The king, too, pretended to be sorry, and said that he would get young men out of all the counties in England, and send them to Virginia. But it all ended in promising; for every man who came to Virginia shortly after this, had to pay his own expenses. The fact is, that King James never liked 124 CONVERSATIONS ON THE tilis colony. A body of men governed at a distance, and doing much as they pleased, did not please him. He quarrelled with the company in London, — said th«at it was their fault that the Indian massacre ever occurred, — that the people in Virginia ought not to have an assembly, and finished by taking away the charter from the company, and keeping the right to manage the colony in himself" " Uncle Philip, do you think that the king did right?" " No, I cannot say that I do ; for the people in Virginia sent to entreat King James not ta blame the company, and to permit them to hold their assembly. These quafrels between the king and the company lasted for two or three years ; and in the mean time Sir Francis Wyatt continued to govern the colony. He made war upon all the Indian tribes but the Patawomekes. This tribe was friendly to the whites, and the only tribe that Opecancha- nough could not persuade to join him in his HISTORY OF VIRGINIA 125 CONVERSATION XH. Uncle Philip tells the Children of Mr. Year Sly being Governor a second time, and of his Death — Governor West, and Governor Potts — Settlement of Lord Baltimore in Mary- land — How Sir J. Hervcy the Governor was sent home for bad conduct — Sir W. Berke- ley Governor — Battle of Opecanchanoiigh with the Whites — He is taken Prisoner by the Governor, and carried to Jamestoivn. " You will remember what I told you yes- terday about Kin^ James. The company had sent Sir F. Wyatt as their governor, but the king had taken away their charter. So Mr. Wyatt was up longer governor. He con- tinued, however, to rule the colony until the king should send some other person to take his place. About this time King James died." " Uncle Philip, what year was it ?" " It was in the year 1625 that he died, and in the same year his son Charles the First l2 126 CONVERSATIONS ON THE succeeded him as king of England. Wyatt was still figliting with the Indians, and he was unwilling to leave his countrymen with' out any leader. As soon as Charles was king, he made Sir ('eorge Yeardly govtruor, with council of twelve men." " The same man wlio was governor before, Uncle Philip?" "The same individual. One of the first things that he did was to burn all the wood and grass upon a large piece of land in the neighbourhood of the white settlements, so that the Indians could not creep upon them without being seen The Indians were still at war with the English, and once or twice during the time that he was governor, it was said that the savages were preparing for an- other massacre. However, these u^ere no- thing more than false alarms. In 1G27 Sir George died. The council then elected Francis West to succeed him as governor. He ruled for a very short time, and the only thing that I know which he did was to order the people to take care of their powder, be- cause they would need it if the Indians should rise upon them." " Then tell us who was the next governor, Uncle Philip." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 127 "John Potts was the next. He began, at once, to prepare the men to defend them- selves. And it was fortunate that he did so. He had just finished putting his men in order, when the Chicahominies and Pa- munkies, under Opecanchanough, made an attack upon him. They killed so many- men that Mr. Potts was anxious to make peace, and proposed it to them. But they said that they would not believe in any peace that the white men could make, because they had once told falsehoods, ^he governor did not, at first, know what they meant; but they told him of the promises of the white men six years before, when they killed all the Indians whom they could find. So you see, my children, there was no peace made, and you will notice the reason too. When we know that a man has once told a lie, and de- ceived us, we never know when to believe him." " But, Uncle Philip, I think that the Indians deceived the whites first." " Well, that is no excuse. If a man tells me a lie to injure me, that gives me no right to tell another to injure him. Tell me, now, what is the name of the largest town in Mary- land?" 128 CONVERSATIONS ON THE " Baltimore. Is it not, sir ?" " Yes. Do you know how it obtained the name ?" " No, Uncle Philip ; tell us, if you please." " It was in 1628, while Mr. Potts was gov- ernor of the colony, that Cecilius Calvert, a Roman Catholic nobleman, commonly called Lord Baltimore, left Newfoundland, where he had made a settlement, and came to Virginia. He had heard so much of the country that he was desirous of living there. The English hat^d the Roman Catholic reli- gion very much. The Virginians disliked it as much as the English did : so when Lord Baltimore arrived among them, they desired him to swear to obey their king, and all his laws. He refused to do it. They said that he must take the oath, and he continued to refuse, and it was not until the year 1632 that King Charles, to settle matters, made him a grant of land. " The land given to him was a part of Vir- ginia, and he called it Maryland, after Queen Mary. And the city of Baltimore is named after him. Look on the map. Now, Thomas, put your finger on the city of Baltimore." "There it is, Uncle Philip, on the Paiapsco River running into Chesapeake Bay." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 129 "Well, this place now has in it about eighty thousand people, and it has all grown up, too, during the last fifty years : for at the time of the American revolution, Baltimore had but about sixty houses in it, and half of these made of logs." "Uncle Philip, how many houses are in Baltimore now ?" " Indeed, I cannot tell. It is now a large city. The houses are built of brick, as they are in New- York, Philadelphia, and Boston. And now let us go back a little ; I wish to tell you something of Sir John Hervey, who was made governor of Virginia in 1629. He was one of the most cruel governors ever known in the colony. He compelled some of his men to work so hard that they died. He caused them to pay heavy taxes to support him ; made the assembly do just as he pleased : and almost all his men became tired of such a master. The only good thing that he did for his country men was, to build a strong fort at Old Point Comfort, and at this same place there is nowone of the strongest fortresses in the United States. I should have told you that when King Charles made his grant to Lord Balti- more, the Virginians complained that he had given away a part of their country. But in a 130 CONVERSATIONS ON THE little time they became satisfied, and would have continued so if a man, named Claiborne, had not acted as he did." '^ What did he do, Uncle Philip ?" "He had received from King Charles 'a license to trade in all those parts of America for which there was already no license,' and had settled himself at Kent Island, in the neighbourhood of Annapolis. The people of Maryland thought that he had no right to remain there, and told him so. Virginia and Maryland had just agreed to traffic with each other : but this man persuaded the Indians to fight against the people of Maryland. He was caught, tried for mur- der, and found guilty ; but made his escape and came to Virginia. He thought that Gov- ernor Hervey would protect him: but the people watched the governor so closely that when Lord Baltimore's people demanded Clai- borne, that they might hang him for his Vvrickedness, he said that he could not give him up without permission from King Charles; and so he sent him to England with his wit- nesses." "Well, Uncle Philip, that man ought to have been liung." " I think so too. The people were very an^ HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 131 gry at what Hervey had done ; and early in the next year they openly accused him of cru- elty, and sent him in chains to England, with the witnesses against him, to answer to the king, his master." " What did the king do with him, Uncle Philip?" "He did what I think was very wrong. He refused to hear the men who brought him ; said he did not believe their story, and took the chains off Sir John Hervey, and sent him back to the colony, to be their governor." " Well, was that justice, sir?" " No ; and the king soon found that it would not do. He was afraid that his people at home would not like it; and he then sent out Sir William Berkeley." " Uncle Philip, what became of Hervey ?" " I cannot say ; but one thing I know, my children, his conduct made so much difficulty at home, that the people were all disturbed, and the Indians found this a good time for them to make war." " Uncle Philip, they did nothing but fight." " Nothing else, as long as Opecanchanough lived. He had moved to the head of York River, and was living there in the midst of 132 CONVERSATIONS ON THE Ilis poo])lo, wlieii he began this war. He sent word to all the tribes along Chesapeake Bay^ and they again murdered all the white men that they conld find. In the neighbourhood where the chief lived, almost every white man, woman, and child was killed. He spared nobody ; and wliat makes it worse is, that a little time before this, Thomas Rolfe (Poca- hontas's little boy), had visited his kinsman Opecanchanough, and the Indian had told him how much he loved the white people." '• Uncle Philip; he never told the truth ; did he r "Sometimes, I hope; though, like many others, he often deceived people. I wish that nobody told falsehoods but the Indians. The colony lost this time five hundred persons. Besides this, many were carried into captivity. They burnt the houses of the white men, their farming instruments, and every thing else which was necessary to make them comfortable." " Well, Uncle Philip, if I had been one of the white men, after this I should have desired to get back to England, and remain." " Well, rny lads, many did desire it, and would have gone, but for Sir William Berkelev. As soon as this bloody murder HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 133 was over, he ordered every man who could bear arms to join the militia ; and then chose some of the bravest of his men, and marched with them into the enemy's coun- try. When Sir William met the Indians, he found Opecanchanough at their head. But how do you think this old Indian led on his men?" " How, Uncle Philip ?" " He was so old that he could not walk ; but he caused some of his men to carry him in a litter, that he might command in the battle. While the men were fighting he became very weary, and his eyelids were so heavy that he could not see unless his men hfted them up for him." " Well, this was a brave man, sir." " Indeed he was. The old man continued to give his orders, even when his eyes were shut. But this was the last battle that he ever fought : for Sir William Berkeley, who watched his opportunity, suddenly surprised him and took him prisoner." « Took him at last. Uncle Philip?" " Yes : took him, and carried him to James- town. Come early to-morrow morning, and we will find out what became of him." M I3i CONVERSATIONS ON THE CONVERSATION XIII. Uncle Philip tells the Children how Opecan- chanoiigh was killed — About King Charles the First and Cromioell — Hoio Virginia supports the King — Surrenders to the Commonwealth — Proclaims Charles the Second^ King — W. Berkeley Governor — Intended Massacre of the ISth of September. '' Now, Uncle Philip, tell us if you please, what they did with Opecanchanoiigh.'^ " I am glad to be able to tell you of the kindness of the white men towards this un- fortunate old captive. Governor Berkeley was particularly kind to him ; and when he reached Jamestown, every man there seemed anxious to be kind to him, and please him." " Uncle Philip, I pity the poor old man." " Yes, it was a sad sight to see such an old man a prisoner ; but he would not have thanked either you or me for pity ; for he was HISTORY OP VIRGINIA. 135 very proud. Hre was so anxious to make his enemies believe that he did not feeJ, that he never uttered a complaint, and would not per- mit anyone to raise his eyelids, because he said, they would think that he was anxious to know what they were doing ; and he did not wish them to suppose that he thouglit about them at all." "Well, did the white men put him in prison ?" " Yes ; and he was so much beloved by his countrymen, that several Indians entreated that they might wait upon him ; and if he was to be killed, that they might die with him." " Uncle Philip, how old was he ?" " Just one hundred years : but let me tell you all about him. As he was sitting up one morning in his prison, a soldier who was placed on duty to guard him shot him in the back. He fell, and begged that his eye- lids might be raised. As soon as he saw the crowd that gathered around him to see him die, he sent for the governor. Sir William came immediately; and the old man then raised himself from the earth, looked sternly at him, and said, ^Had it been my fortune to 136 CONVERSATIONS ON THE have taken Sir William Berkeley prisoner, I would not meanly have exposed him as a show to tny peopled " After the death of Opecanchanough, the Powhatan confederacy was divided." " What do you mean by that, Uncle Philip V "I mean that the thirty tribes that were joined together to fight the EngHsh were di- vided. Governor Berkeley found this a favour- able time to make peace with nearly all of them : and then commenced improving the colony. And now I shall have to carry you a little into the history of England about this time, in order that you may understand me. Do you know who was King of England then ?" " Charles the First, you said. Uncle Philip." " Yes ; and he was any thing but a happy king. He thought that the king had, and ought to have, a great deal of power ; and when his parliament opposed him, he quar- relled with the members. Just at this time a man named Oliver Cromwell, of very low birth, began to place himself among the king's enemies, and in a little while became their HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 137 leader. He was a very ambitions man, and he was determined to work himself into some high place, no matter how he reached it. He succeeded at last in getting the command of the army ; and the king was brought to trial, and condemned to die on the scaffold. The people in England divided themselves into two parties— one called the Cavaliers, and the other the Roundheads. The Cavalier party supported the king, and the Roundheads were in favour of the parliament." " Uncle Philip, what do these names mean?" " The Cavaliers were so called from their being generally mounted on horseback, and the Roundheads from their short-cropped hair. There was a long war between the king and parliament; and Virginia had to side with one party or the other." " Uncle Philip, which did she support?" " She stood by the king, until he was exe- cuted. Many of the Cavaliers came to Vir- ginia, and told the colonists of the sufferings of the king and his family ; and for some time the colony refused to submit to the parliament. After Charles was beheaded, Cromwell became what was called the Protector of the Com- monwealth. Virginia refused to own his IVI2 138 CONVERSATIONS ON THE authority ; and he sent a body of men under Sir G. Aiskew to force her into submission. Sir Wilham Berkeley was a warm friend to King Charles, and made ready for opposition. It so happened that some Dutch ships were trading at Jamestown when the troops of the commonwealth arrived, and the governor pressed them into his service." " You mean forced them to help him, Un- cle Philip?" " Yes ; but the Dutch did not require much forcing. They were trading with Jamestown, and the parliament had just passed a law against any country's trading with the colony. So you perceive they had to aid the Virginians, in order that Cromwell's troops might not take them prisoners. Sir G. Aiskew was sur- prised when he sent a message to the town commanding them to surrender, to get for answer that they would do no such thing, and that he might do as he pleased." " Uncle Philip, I like Sir William Berke- ley." " And so do I ; for he was a brave man and a good governor. But, after all the prepara- tion, there was no battle. The troops of the commonwealth were frightened; and their HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 139 commander thought it was best to make terms of peace. So Virginia surrendered upon her own terms." " Uncle Philip, what became of the Dutch ships ?" " The governor took care of them. By his articles of agreement he protected Virginia and every person who had assisted her in her opposition. So he sent the Dutch ships home. After this, Sir William Berke- ley, not liking the new order of things, went to his plantation in the country, there to re- main until an opportunity was offered for car- rying his property away from Virginia." " Then was Sir G. Aiskew governor, Uncle Philip?" "No: the country then was managed for a while by those who were called Commissioners of Parliament ; but in a little time they chose Richard Bennet to be governor for one year, until they should hear from England. It was while this man was governor that the Vir- ginia Assembly passed a law, which showed the kindness of the white men towards the poor Indians." " Uncle Philip, what was the law ? I am glad of that." 140 CONVERSATIONS ON THE " The white men were coming to the coun- try so fast that the Indians were driven from their homes, and the Assembly then said that Totopotomoi, the chief who succeeded Ope- canchanough, should have such lands for him- self and his people as he should choose on York River." " Uncle Philip, this was very kind, for these Indians had done much injury to the colony." " Yes ; and it made Totopotomoi a friend to the whites for life : for afterward, when some of the Indians came upon the colony, this chief fought for the white men, and lost his life in the battle." " Uncle Philip, I have heard that the white men drove the Indians out of their own coun- try." " So they did, in some parts of the country : but when the people of Virginia found that some of the Indians continued constantly to make war upon them, the Assembly sent some of the white men to buy their land from them, so that they might go elsewhere. Some men were so base as to cheat the Indians out of their land, until the Assembly made an- other law, saying that no sale of land be- tween a white man and an Indian should take HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 141 place, unless by the consent of the Assembly. This law was made purposely to prevent the cheating of the Indians. Sir Edward Digges was the next governor ; and the people were very much pleased with him : and you remem- ber that man named Claiborne of whom we talked ?" " Yes. sir." " Well, he came back to the country, and began to make more mischief. He went into Maryland, and persecuted the Roman Catho- lics about their religion. The Protector heard of this, and sent word to the Governor of Virginia to mind his own concerns, and let other people alone. And it so happened that some of the people fled from Maryland, and took refuge in Virginia. Claiborne sent work to England that the Virginians were support ing Lord Baltimore, against the wishes of most of the people. Then the Virginians sent Sir Edward Digges with Mr. Bennet to Eng- land, to let Cromwell know the truth." " Uncle Philip, that Claiborne was a wicked man." ^ " A very base man, my young friends. Sir William Berkeley was still at his house in the country, waiting for a ship to carry 142 CONVERSATIONS ON THE him home. I have heard it said that Crom- well made cruel laws about the trade of Vir- ginia ; and I have seen it contradicted in books. At any rate, the people were dissatis- fied from some cause or other, and went to Sir William Berkeley's house in the country, and proclaimed him their governor. He re- fused at first to act ; but when they said that they would serve Cromwell no longer, and boldly proclaimed Charles the Second King of England, he consented. So the Virginians were the first people who proclaimed the new king.^' " Well, Uncle Philip, what became of Crom- well r " He died, after he had been Protector for five years. He pretended to be very religious before his death ; and 1 hope he was so. This was a very bold step by the people of Virginia ; and they were waiting to know what was to be done, when the news reached them that Charles the Second had been proclaimed king in England. One of the first things that the new king did was to send a new commission to Sir William Berkeley as governor." " Well, Uncle Philip that was good news." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 143 " Yes. The governor went to England to see the king; and Charles then told him what to do. He caused laws to be made by which he forgave all the people of Virginia, except those who were concerned in killing his father. He told Sir William that the people must make something else besides tobacco there. He wished them to make flax, and pitch, and hemp, — but, more than all-, he wished them to manufacture silk, I should have told you before, that the Virginians had made a little silk, and sent a piece as a present to the king. It was made into a robe, and Charles wore it at his coronation." " What does coronation mean, sir ?" " I mean that he wore this robe of Virginia silk when he was crowned king : and he told the governor that he had worn some of their silk, and he desired them to make more of it. About the last of the year Governor Berkeley came home, and built him a large house in Jamestown ; and in a little while several of .the people followed his example." "What year was it, Uncle Philip?" " In 1663. It was in this year also that the Quakers began to settle in Maryland and Vir- 144 CONVERSATIONS ON THE ginia. Lord Baltimore's people treated them very kindly ; but in Virginia the people were not at all disposed to be friendly to them." " Well, Uncle Philip, let me interrupt you. I wish you to tell me why it was that some of these kins^s hated tobacco so much ?" " They thought that the colonies planted too much : and they thought right ; for once or twice the people were near starving for the want of grain. There was a special law made while Sir W. Berkeley was governor, that no tobacco should be planted foi one year. This did not please the people ; they said that King Charles was a hard master, and did not treat them as well as they had treated him ; and that they had much easier times under Cromwell. At length some of the old soldiers who had served under Cromwell, and who came to Virginia after his death, be- gan to talk about an insurrection. They found a great many ready to join them ; and formed their plot, and managed every thing so secretly, that it was not discovered until the night before it was to have been executed." " How was it found out. Uncle Philip?" " A poor miserable wretch, named Berk- enhead, one of their party, was frightened, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 145 and laid the whole plot before the gov- ernor. He immediately sent orders to the militia to go to the spot where the conspira- tors were to meet, and to seize them as they arrived. The order was obeyed. Many were taken prisoners, but some escaped." " What was done then. Uncle Phihp ?" " The o^overnor had some of them hung ; and shortly after, when the Assembly met, they returned thanks for their escape from the plot of the 13th of September, as it was called, and voted that Berkenhead should be set free, and have five thousand weight of tobacco as a reward for his faithful conduct." " ' Uvfaithfid^' I think those men that were hung would have said." " Yes, my lads ; but he was faithful to the country, and saved it. However, I look upon Iiim as a base wretch, for having had any thing to do with such wickedness. And now I think my young companions must be tired ; so I bid you good evening." N 116 CONVERSATIONS ON THE CONVERSATION XIV. Uncle Philip tells the Children about GoV" ernor Berkeleifs Troubles^ and about Na- thaniel Bacon^s Rebellion. " Well, children, we have talked a great deal about the Assembly : where do you sup- pose it was in the habit of meeting T " In some house, Uncle Philip." " Yes ; in the tavern at Jamestown. This, you know, was inconvenient ; and only think, the people in Virginia had been more than fifty years without any house in which to hold public meetings ; for it was not until the year 1664 that they thought of building a State-house." " Is that what you call a public house. Un- cle Philip?" "A state-house is one that is made for the public to do state business in. Did I tell you any thing about Colonel John Washington ?** HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 147 " No, Uncle Philip ; was that General Washington's father ?" " His great-grandfather ; and that is the reason why I asked you the question : for I think that every American child ought to know something of General Washington. But all I wish you to remember now is, that Colonel John Washington was his ancestor ; and that he came from the north of England, and set- tled in Virginia about this time." " But what sort of a man was he, sir ?" " A very good and respectable man. He was a land-suiveyor, and understood his busi- ness very well." " Who was governor now, sir ?'* " Indeed, my lad, you must think, and re- member ; 1 wish to have no inattentive boy about me. Was it not Sir William Berke- ley? You should remember him; for he was Governor of Virginia for more than thirty years, and spent much of his own money for the good of the state. The people, too, were all attached to him, — though I have heard it said that he was a proud, hanghty man ; but I suppose it was merely because he loved the king. You know I told you yesterday 148 CONVERSATIONS ON THE that tlie people were displeased with King Charles. I will tell you now of another cause of complaint. Do any of you know the meaning of the words jwll-tax ?" " No, sir." " It is a tax that is laid upon a man's head : hat is, a man pays so much a year for the right of living in a certain community. Every man in Virginia was taxed in this way, and paid the same tax, whether he was rich or poor." " Was this fair, sir ?" « Why not ?" " The rich ought to have paid the most, I think." " Yes : and that was what they complained of. They said that the man who had five hundred dollars' worth of property ought to piiy more for having that property protected than the man who had but one hundred dol- lars' worth. They wished, you see, to tax the jrroperty^ and not every man's head. Do you understand me?" " I do, sir." " I am afraid the smallest children do not; but you will, perhaps, when you are a little older. Well, the people complained of this; HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 140 and they said very plainly that Charles did not treat them well ; and everybody was mur- muring again. The governor endeavoured to keep them quiet, by employing them ; and it is a very good plan ; for when I was a small boy, my faJ;her often told me that ' an idle mind was the devil's work-shop.' It is always best to be busy. So, Sir William sent some of his men to explore the co4.mtry of the In- dians ; and when they came back, he deter- mined to go himself; but the clamour was so great that he could not leave home. As the governor was now quite old, and affairs had for some time been getting worse, the court of England sent over Sir H. Chicherly, to be lieutenant-governor and general of the colony. Matters still went on badly, and the people soon found an excuse for showing themselves in open rebellion. The Indians, although many of the tribes lived at a distance, were in the habit of trafficking with the people of Vir- ginia. The English had taken possession of Monadas, as it v\^as then called. It is now Manhattan Island ; and they were anxious to have all this trade to themselves. They therefore persuaded the Indians to traffic with them ; told them that the Virgfinians were 150 CONVERSATIONS ON THE their enemies, and tliat they desired nothing but the power to destroy all their race. This, of course, provoked the Indians ; and all along the frontier of Virginia, as the trading savages passed by, they made furious attacks ; and they always ended in spilling the blood of many white men ; who made this an excuse for taking up arms at first against the Indians, as they said, — and, as it turned out, against their own countrymen also." " Why, Uncle Philip, did they take up arms against their own countrymen ?" " The truth is, that they hated King Charles's government, and they were determined to oppose it as soon as the least excuse was af- forded for beginning. They heard every day more news about the Indian murders, and every day made them more and more dissatis- fied. When the first excitement was over, they began to look about for some man to be their leader. There was a young man in Virginia, at this time, of very handsome ap- pearance, well educated, and who was thought to be very promising by everybody." "Of course th'ey chose him, Uncle Philip what was his name ?" " Nathaniel Bacon. They selected him for HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 151 their commander. He was educated a lawyer, and knew how to speak very well in public. So, when the people chose him, he immedi- ately called them all together, and made a lon^ speech to them, telling them of all thei) suiferings." " Pray tell us something that he said, sir." " He told them that the king would not let them cultivate tobacco — that he taxed the poor as much as the rich — that he took away lands in Virginia from the old settlers to give to his favourites, and that he made them build and keep a great many forts which were perfectly useless. Then he said he was determined to resist such a government, and he hoped that they would promise to help him as much as they could. The people all shouted, and promised that they would never desert their leader. Then he sent a messenger to Gover- nor Berkeley, to let him know what the people were doing, and told him that they had made him their leader, and that he wished him to confirm their choice. Sir William knew that the excitement was very great, and he did not therefore refuse to do it, but sent word to Mr. Bacon that he could not decide on so great a matter without calling 152 CONVERSATIONS ON THE his council together, and he promised to do this at once, and then send their answer to him." " Uncle Philip, that should have satisfied him." "But it did not ; for as soon as he got this answer he started with a body of six hundred men against the Indian tribes, and he sent three or four messengers to hurry the gov- ernor in getting the answer from the council. But Sir William Berkeley was an old Cava- lier : he loved his king, and he hated rebels. So he sent word this time, that he would not consent that Mr. Bacon should be the leader of the people, and that if he and his followers did not lay aside their arms immedi- ately, he would publish them as traitors. But the old governor did not stop here. He called together some of the few who were in favour of the government, and started in pur- suit of the rebels. He had barely reached the falls of James River when he heard that all the neighbourhood of Jamestown had risen in arms against him ; so he faced about and went back as fast as he could to defend his capital." " But, Uncle Philip, I thought that every- body liked Sir William Berkeley." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 153 " So they did at first, and he had now some sincere friends : but you know that the best man sometimes has his enemies. Frequently, when a man is a great favourite with the people, some individual, who envies him, and wishes to be a great man himself, goes among the people, and talks to them, until they very often hate the very same man that they before loved." " Well, Uncle Philip, I believe that is true." " I know it is. And remember what I tell you now : envy is one of the basest feelings that a man can have. You all know what envy means T " Yes, sir. It means to hate another be- cause he is doing better than we are." ' " Yes ; and to be willing to pull him down, that we may rise in his place. This is base, and I hope that none of my young friends who are now near me will ever be envious of anybody. Thank God for what you have, and never hate another for having more than you ; it is too selfish. And now let us go on with our story. When the gov- ernor reached Jamestown, he found that his authority, which the people had obeyed for thirty years, was worth nothing. The people 154 CONVERSATIONS. there had risen, under two men, named In- gram and Walklate, and were doing what- ever these men commanded. They soon made the governor dissolve the Assembly, which was then sitting, and said that new members should be elected : and when the new election came on, Bacon was sent a member from Henrico County. But Bacon was now marching against the Indians. He burnt some of their towns, and took a great number of captives. He was re- turning slowly, in a sort of triumph, with his Indian prisoners placed in the middle of his army, when the news reached him of the revolution at Jamestown. He thought that this was his time, for if he could get to the capital he would make the governor say' that he Avas no rebel, and pardon him, if necessary. So he left his army, got into a sloop with forty men, and sailed down the river towards Jamestown. But the river was at this time full of English ships looking out for him. As soon as the sloop came in sight, one of the ships, commanded by Captain Gardiner set sail, in order to cut her off from the land. The men in the sloop did all they could to make their escape, and Bacon got mSTORY OF VIRGINIA. 157 into a small boat, and was trying hard to reach the land, when he was caught by- Gardiner, and sent a prisoner to Jamestown." "And I suppose he was hung. Uncle Philip r " No> vou are wrong. The governor, find- ing the people so much disposed to go on iu their rebellion, thought that he would make Bacon and all his followers friends to the government if he should pardon him and let him take his seat in the council." " So he pardoned him, sir?" "Yes: and you will see now how his kind- ness was returned. Bacon, in a little while, left the town and joined his army again. He then told them of all that he had suffered, and requested that they would assist him to de- stroy a government so wicked. The people could hardly wait until he had finished talking before they entreated him to lead them to Jamestown. Bacon started immediately, marched all night, and early on the next day went into Jamestown, He made his army halt in front of the state-house and sent a message to the Assembly, where he had a great many friends, saying that they must own his authority. The members were all o 158 CONVERSATIONS ON THE alarmed. They went to the governor, and petitioned that he would yield to the wishes of the people ; but he refused. Bacon made threats, and the old governor at last, upon the earnest entreaties of the Assembly, signed the commission, making Bacon general of the colony. " But even this did not satisfy the people. They made the governor sign a letter to King Charles approving Bacon's conduct, and say- ing that he was a very good and useful man to the colony. After this, Bacon marched towards the frontier, and left the governor to get along as well as he could." " Well, that was a hard case, Uncle Philip." " Indeed it was ; and I never think of Sir William Berkeley, old and infirm, with all these troubles crowding upon him, without feeling sorry for him. After he signed that letter to the king, he thought he was disgraced, and he was determined to publish to the world that he did not willingly sign it, but was forced to do so. But he could not do this until he had more friends around him. He determined to leave Jamestown, but he did not know where to go, for almost all the country was in arms against him. But HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 159 there was one part of Virginia which still loved the king. The people of Gloucester County- sent an invitation to the governor, in the midst of his troubles, to come and live with them, and they promised to protect him. As soon as he arrived he published Bacon as a traitor again. When Bacon heard this, he went after the governor. The old man had raised his standard, but when he found that he had so few friends he was unwilling that they should expose their lives to certain death, and he fled to Accomac." "Well, Uncle Philip, the people in Glou- ster County did not keep their promise." " Yes they did, as far as they could ; but they were unable to protect him. They did their best to aid him. So now, my lads, we will leave the governor at Accomac, and stop." " Good-night, Uncle Philip." "Good-night, children. I wish you all a pleasant sleep." " Thank you, sir," ' IbO CONVERSATIONS ON THE CONVERSATION XV. Uncle Philip tells the Children more about Bacon^s Rebellion — Burning of Jamestown^ and Bacon's Death. " We left tlie governor, in what place ?" "In Accomac, sir." " Do you see it on the map ?" " There it is, Uncle Philip, on the eastern side of the bay." " When Sir William Berkeley reached this place, he found that he had about twenty friends with him ; but fortunately Bacon did not pursue him. Accomac, you must know, was subject to the laws of Virginia, though it was looked upon as a distinct territory. Bacon tlien called the people together, said that their governor had deserted them, and that they ought to elect some new man to serve them." "And I suppose, Uncle Philip, that he wished to be that man ?" *' Yes : and let me tell vou how he sua- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 161 ceeded. The people met in convention, and resolved that this man. Bacon, should be their general until they should hear from England ; and they promised to support him in whatever he did. When Bacon first marched against the Indians, you know, he took a great many prisoners. As soon as he left them, however, to go against the whites, the savages rose in a body, and made horrible destruction. This not only frightened the white men, but made them anxious for a second attack upon the Indians. So soon, then, as Bacon was made their general, he knew that everybody was watching him to see what he would do. So he started against the Pamunkies and Chickahominies, burnt their towns and all their corn : but these tribes did not oppose him at first, for they had laid a deep plan to make him their pris- oner." "What was it. Uncle Philip?" " They were much better acquainted with the country than he was, and they retreated before him, hoping to get him as far as the falls of James River, where a large num- ber of Indian warriors had collected to seize him." o2 162 CONVERSATIONS ON THE "And did they seize him, sir 7" " No. After lie had pursued them on their retreat for some time, they came at last to a small stream, and on the side of a hill that overlooked it, a great many savages were waiting for him ; and they had built a fort there, in which all their old men, women, and children were placed for security. Bacon rushed with his men up the hill, broke into the fort, and murdered so many that the blood ran down into the water from the top of the hill, until the stream was almost as red as the blood itself" "Oh, Uncle Philip, that was horrible. I never heard such a dreadful tinner." " But it is true ; and that battle is now known by the name of ' The Battle oi Bloody Man J It was only about two miles from Ba- con's plantation." ''Well. Uncle Philip, if I had been Mr. Berkeley, I would have returned to England.'* " No, my children : he remained, hoping for better times ; hut the people of Accomac treated him badly. They, after a little time, began to complain against King Charles, and of course against his governor, Mr. Berkeley. This was another hard case ; for the governor HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 163 had thought that he was at least safe in this corner. But this was not all that was done ; for there was one man who endeavoured to surprise the governor at Accomac, and carry him away. His name was Giles Bland. He privately put a number of armed men on board a ship which he had seized and taken from Captain Larimore, its commander^ and took along with him one or two other vessels, and sailed, as he said, to cut off the supplies which were going to the governor. This was a story that seemed likely enough to be true ; for Bacon had before this declared that all vessels which should be found carrying pro- visions to his enemies might be taken as law- ful prizes." " Uncle Philip, what do you mean by law- ful prizes ?" " When we seize and take possession of any thing which the law allows us to seize, then it is a lawful prize." ." That is plain now, sir." " Very good : you know that Bland's object was to take the governor, and not to cut off the supplies. Beforehand, however. Captain Larimore sent word to Mr. Berkeley that if he would despatch a brave officer, with brave 104 CONVERSATIONS ON THE soldiers, who would put liini in possession of his ship, that all the rest of the vessels might easily be taken. The governor did not know what to do. He had but few friends ; and he began to compare his present situation with what it had been formerly, and he felt it deeply." " Well, Uncle Philip, I would have gone, if I had not found more than twelve men to go with me." " You do not know that, my lad. No man knows how he would act until he is tried. Many a one has thought himself brave, until he came in the way of danger ; and many an- other has boasted that he would always do his duty, until something happens so that he does not know what his duty is. So you cannot say what any one of you would have done, with certainty." "Well, Uncle Philip, tell us what Mr. Berkeley did." " He did nothing at first, and would have done nothing at all, had it not been for one of his friends. Philip Ludwell was a friend to King Charles, and he told the governor that he would arrange the business for him. He chose twenty good men, and placed them at HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 165 midnight on board of two boats. Larimore fixed his signal, and the two boats were along- side of the ship before Bland's men knew any- thing about it. They were all asleep in the ship ; so that the twenty men took immediate possession, not only of that ship, but of the whole squadron." *' What does that last word mean. Uncle Philip ?" " The whole squadron means all the vessels that were sailing together. As soon as Mr. Berkeley heard of Ludwell's success, he col- lected six hundred men, and waited till the ship should come to him." " As many as six hundred, Uncle Philip ?" " Yes, boys : surely you understand that. Suppose any one of you were in trouble to- morrow ; do you think that you would find as many friends as you do now? The man who is in sorrow will find his Maker his best, and sometimes his only friend ; for whether you are happy or miserable, God will not for- get you. But let me go on. Bacon was now absent on his Indian expedition with the greater part of his men ; so that Jamestown was left unprotected ; and the governor landed 166 CONVERSATIONS ON THE there with his six hundred men without any trouble, and found himself again master of his capital." " Well, Uncle Philip, I am glad of that." " The first thing that Sir William did was to declare to the people that whatever he had done in favour of Bacon was done because he was forced to do it. He said, again, that he was a rebel, and should be punished as a traitor. He then arranged every thing as nearly as he could in the old way, and sta- tioned his men at short distances throughout the country, — so that he might easily call them to his assistance if necessary. '^ Bacon was on his return, with his Indian captives, when he heard of the misfortune of his friend Bland ; and in a few days he heard also of the taking of Jamestown. He was not discouraged even at this time. He marched on as rapidly as possible towards the town. The rebels reached Jamestown just as the sun was setting, and Bacon immediately or- dered a cannon to be fired, and a trumpet to be sounded, in token of defiance. He then kept his men busy until midnight, raising a breastwork for their defence ; and behind this, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 167 they were able to lie down and rest, — for they had made a very rapid march. Early on the next morning Bacon sent some of his men to discover whether the governor's force was a strong one ; but these men were not satisfied with skirmishing about the governor's lines They fired several times at his guard, and after offering a great many insults, they had the good fortune to return without losing any of their number." " Well, Uncle Philip, the governor with six hundred men might have driven them all back." " So he thought ; and he brought out all his men to the attack, — but Bacon's followers kept up such a steady fire from behind their breast- work, that the governor's men ran away, and disgraced themselves." " Did Sir William run too, sir ?" "No, none of the officers fled. They en treated the men to halt ; but it was all to no purpose — they did not stop until they were out of danger. Sir William then told them that he v/as determined to defend his capital as long as he lived, and hoped that they would stand by him. And how do you think they acted ? They thought that he was half-crazy 168 CONVERSATIONS. — that he did not care for his own life ; and they told him at once that they would not re- main with him — at least most of them did. Twenty only promised to stand by him ; but these at lust became frightened. They per- suaded him to retire ; told him ' that he could not fight with advantage, or die with honour.' The poor old man at last said that he would leave the town. He sent word to the command- ers of the vessels on the river to haul in closer to the land, and have their boats ready to start at a given signal. In the mean time, in order to keep Bacon from making an attack, the gov- ernor induced him to believe that he was ready for him ; and at midnight the loyalists went on board the boats, silently dropped down the stream, and came to an anchor before day, at a sufficient distance from th^guns on shore," " Uncle Philip, I wish not to interrupt you ; but will you tell me what you mean by loyalist?" " One who is faithful to the king and his government. As soon as it was light enough to see on the next morning, Bacon found that the governor had departed ; and he marched directly into the town. He saw nothing but empty walls, — not one man was to be seen. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 171 Every thing that was valuable was carried away ; and whatever was too heavy to be carried the men had thrown into the river. The ships lay off at a distance, out of the reach of the cannons, ready to return as soon as the rebels left the town. Bacon was of course disappointed: he had laboured hard for a week to take the place ; and when he had made himself master of it, it was worth nothing. And novv^, what do you suppose he did?" "What, Uncle Philip?" " He determined that, as Jamestown was worth nothing to him, it should be worth no- thing to his enemies. He commanded his men to prepare torches ; and he himself led the way, in setting fire to the town : and in a little time the church, the State-house, and all the other buildings were wrapped in flames." " Oh, Uncle Philip ! Did the people in the boats see the fire ?" " Yes, my lads ; and when they found that there was no hope of their returning to James- town, they sailed towards the territory of Ac- comac ; and Bacon dismissed all his men, and told them to be ready to help him at the short- 172 CONVERSATIONS ON THE est notice. Governor Berkeley had sent to England some time before this, to beg that troops might be despatched to him ; and this again made Bacon uneasy. He was daily ex- pecting their arrival, — and this forced him to call out his men once more. He placed them at their different stations, began to drill them regularly, and made them all willing and anx- ious to fight under so bold a leader, — for they all knew that he was a brave man. But he took violent cold in the trenches at James- town ; and this, together with his labours and watchings, made him very sick. Still he kept on with his work, determined that, if he could prevent it, his plans should not be defeated. But he was not strong enough to go through with it. He died in Gloucester County, at the house of Dr. Pate ; and I have heard it said that Sir William Berkeley endeavoured to get his body after his death, — but that Bacon's frierids hid it." " What did he wish to do with it, Uncle PhiHp?" " He wished to hang it up, and expose it, as the body of a traitor : so it is said, — but I do not know that we ought to believe this story ; at any rate, I have never seen any proof that it is true." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. ' 173 CONVERSATION XVI. Uncle Philip tells the Children about JSir William Berkeley'' s Return to England ; and his Death — Where the Six Nations lived — Lord Culpepper Governor} and after him LordHoxoard — Hoxo a Man hythe Name of Beverly is persecuted hy the Gov- ernor. " Well, Uncle Philip, what became of the rebels after General Bacon's death ?" " They endeavoured at first to continue in their rebellion, and began to look about for another leader ; but they :oon found that nei- ther Ingram nor Walklate. nor any of the rest of them, could do what Bacon had done ; and they then proposed making peace. This pleased the governor, and he made terms with them at once. He promised to forgive them all their offences, and they were to give up all their arms, and to restore all the plunder that they had taken in the course of the war. But p2 174 CONVERSATIONS ON THE the fact was, that everybody was so anxious to have peace, that they thought but httle about the terms. They had been in a long and bloody war, and they were tired of it. But in a httle time the people were suffering quite as much as they did in the war. 1 sincerely re- gret that Governor Berkeley did not keep his promise to forgive them. In all parts of the country executions were going on, — and the plantations of the rebels were taken from them. People were fined : and when the governor found that the judges would not condemn all the rebels that were brought to trial, he went to the court-houses himself, to frighten them into his wishes. The jails were crowded with prisoners, waiting for their trials ; and the whole colony was very much disturbed. Just at this time Herbert Jeffries, who had been made lieutenant-governor by the king, arrived in Virginia, and brought with him John Berry and Francis Morrison, who were commission- ers to inquire into the state of the colony. He brought along, also, a regiment of regular troops, to put down the rebellion (for they did not know that it was ended). The commis- sioners went immediately to the governor, and read to him King Charles's proclamation, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 175 saying that all the rebels should be pardoned except Nathaniel Bacon. They were sur- prised when they heard that so many had already been hung ; and requested the gov- ernor to stay the executions, and publish the king's pardon to the people, in order to satisfy them. The governor refused, because he said there were other rebels besides Bacon who ought to die. When the commissioners found that the old man was stubborn, they at once commenced the business for which the king had sent them, and opened a court to hear and examine the complaints of the people. Com- plaints of the governor's cruelty came in so fast that the commissioners would not hear them until they should send for witnesses from all the counties. When these came, they told the same stories about the governor : and the agents of the king then went to him, and told him that he ought to restore the land which he had taken wrongfully from the people ; and they read to him the opinion of Mr. Coke, a great lawyer in England, in which he said that these lands could not, and ought not, to be held by the governor. He refused to give up these lands, and said that he would appeal to the king." 17d CONVERSATIONS ON THE " What do you mean by appeal. Uncle Philip?" " That he would ask tlie king's opinion, and do as the kinsf said he ouorht to do. He was very much provoked at what he thought impertinence in the commissioners, and just at this time Giles Bland, with nine others, were brought out for trial before the judges. Mr. Berkeley then, in order to show the com- missioners that he did not regard them, sent for them to co-me to this trial, and condemned these prisoners before their faces." "And were they all hung, Uncle Phili[)?" "Every one of them executed: and there was but one thing that induced the governor to desist in his cruelty. The Assembly was then sitting, and they sent to him entreating that his trials and liis executions might cease." " How did he act then, sir?" " His pride was hurt, and he determined at once to leave the country. He set sail almost immediately with the fleet, and returned to England. He was anxious to o^o there, for he wished to justify himself before the king. But when he reached home, and began to talk wit.i the few friends that he had left, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 177 he found that almost everybody in England thought that he was a cruel tyrant ; and that the king, though he had not joined in con- demning him, had said openly that he would not sanction such cruelty." " Uncle Philip, what became of him ?" " He was taken sick almost as soon as he landed, so that he did not see the king, and he did not leave his chamber at all after he was carried into it. He died as he had lived, a friend to the king, for you will remember that he was the last man to submit to Crom- well, and the first to proclaim Charles *IL And though during the last part of his stay in Virginia he was cruel to the colony, yet he was mild and just for more than thirty years ; and I think he may be safely called a good governor to the colony. At any rate, the people in Virginia thought so, after he was dead, for the Assembly sent a message to the king, declaring that he had been a useful governor to them, and praying that Lady Berkeley might receive 300/., on account of the services of her husband. " After Sir William went home, Herbert Jef- fries was governor for a short time : and all that he did was to persecute Mr. Ludwell, and 178 CONVERSATIONS ON THE to make a peace with the Five Nations of In- dians, as they were called." '• Uncle Philip, tell ns what yon mean by the Five Nations ?" " They were five tribes that had joined toii^ether for their own safety. If I shonld .ell yon their names yon wonld not remember them, bnt you might remember where they lived. They held a tract of conntry, back of tlie English settlements, from the north of New- Etjo-land to Carolina on the south, and west- ward as far as the waters of the Mississippi Ri^er ; at least, twelve hundred miles in leni{th, and six hundred in breadth. You may perceive that they must have been dan- gerous enemies." " Well, then, Jeffries did one good thing. But, Uncle Philip, tell me the names of those tribes, if you please, and I will remember them, for I like Indian names." " The Senecas, the Mohawks, the Onon- dagas, the Cayugas, and the Oneidas. These were the five. The Tuscaroras were after- ward added, and then tliey were called tlie Six Nations. Jeffries did not live more than a year in Virginia, and then Sir H. Chicherly was left in charge until the arrival of Lord HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 179 Culpepper, in 1679. He at once proclaimed to the people the king's pardon for all past olfences, and this made him a great favourite. They increased the governor's salary one thousand pounds ; and were so anxious to 3how their love, that they said they were wil- ling to do any thing that was reasonable for the governor to ask, but that they would not do any thing by force. But the new governor left Virginia early in the next year, hoping that he might live in England quite at his ease, and enjoy the salary that was paid by the colony. And now I must go back a little, that you may understand me perfectly. Some time before Governor Berkeley's death, King Charles had been endeavouring to have towns built up in Virginia. His plan for doing this, you will see, when I tell you of the law that he had made. ' The planters were all to carry their to- bacco to a particular place, to put it on board the Eno:lish vessels, and the vessels were allowed to go to no other place to receive it. This was the law : and the king thought that this place for loading and unloading the vessels would bring people together for the purposes of trade, and that this would make a little town in the beginning, which, growing every 180 CONVERSATIONS ON THE day in size, would at last become a large city. " The planters did not like this ; for those who lived immediately upon the rivers pre- ferred that the vessels should come to their plantations to take in their loads of tobacco, and in this way the planter might have saved the expense of carrying it to market, that is, to the place where it was to be sold and put on board the vessels. This had been for some time a cause of dissatisfaction among the people, and shortly after Lord Culpepper departed for England, the season came on for shipping tobacco. " The captains of the vessels found that it was cheaper to purchase the tobacco at the plantations, and so they were scattered all along the rivers, receiving it from the diiferent planters. The planters who lived near the market-places gave information against the captains, and so the other planters could not sell their crops, because they could find no one to buy unless they carried the tobacco to market. Is this plain ?" " Yes, sir. But, Uncle Philip, I should like to know why these men informed against the captams of the vessels ?" HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 181 "Because they lived near the marketing- place, and their land was worth more money if a town should be built near it ; and besides that, it was very little trouble to them to carry their tobacco to market, for the market was almost at their doors. " The people were mostly dissatisfied about this law, and several riots took place while the governor was in England : but Mr. Chich- erly, who was left to take care of the colony, succeeded in putting them down ; and in the midst of the troubles Lord Culpepper came back. The people rejoiced when they knew that he was again in Virginia, for they looked upon him as a very good man, and one who was a friend to them. But they were under a great mistake. He told them that the king had asked a great many questions about them, and was anxious that they should do well, and be happy. But he said that the colonists did not deserve as kind a master as Kinar Charles, for they had lately rebelled again. So he called them traitors, and said that the king had ordered him to have all those brought to trial who had been guilty of the riot. The jails were then crowded with these unhappy men. Many of them had been set 182 CONVERSATIONS ON THE free before the governor arrived, upon prom- ising that in future they would beiiave better. But Lord Culpepper caused all whom he found to be tried : and I wish you particu- larly to remember one case, of which I am now going to tell you. Robert Beverly was the clerk of the Assembly, and kept all the journals of their proceedings." " Uncle Philip, I do not understand that." " I mean that he kept the books in which -all that the Assembly had done was written down. The governor and his council de- manded the books ; and Mr. Beverly said that he would not give them up, because 'his masters (the members) were the only persons who liad a riffht to demand them.' He was then ordered to jail, but as they were afraid that he would not be safe on shore, he was placed on board a British ship that was then lying in the river. " As soon as he was a prisoner, the gov- ernor sent some of his men to the house, that they might seize the journals. But Beverly had taken pains to hide them ; and this pro- voked Lord Culpepper still more. And now they moved Beverly first on board of one vessel and then of another, until at last he had the HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 183 good fortune to make his escape. A new order was immediately given to the sheriff to put him in prison again. He was taken, and when he still refused to give up the journals, he was tried by the order of the governor, not only for this, but also, as the governor said, for breaking open public letters. I have told you this, that you may know something of the way in which Lord Culpepper governed the colony. He was often, too, in England, absent from Virginia for several months at a time, while he was governor, and the king thought it best to send another man out to serve in his place." " I think so too, Uncle Philip. Who was he ?" " Lord Howard was the man. He however did very much as the old governor had done. He continued to persecute poor Beverly, and at last, when his friends persuaded him very earnestly, he consented to beg pardon of the council." " Beverly did, sir ?" " Yes : he did it to please his friends, but he would not give up the journals ; and, in- deed, they knew he would refuse as often as they made the demand. So they said nothing more about it." 1S4 CONVERSATIONS ON THE CONVERSATION XVII. Uncle Philip tells the Children about the Peace, at Albany, with the Pive Nations- How the Virginians complained of Lord Howard — Mr, Nicholson is made Governor — Building of William and Mary College at Williamsbiirgh — Alexander Spottsicood Governor — Beginning of Quarrels betioeen England and France. " Well, children, I hope you are not tired of these stories about Virginia." " No, Uncle Philip, we are not tired ; and I wish to ask you something about the Five Nations of Indians of which you told us." " What do you wish to know, my lad ?" "When I went home last night, I was talking to my father about the stories you were telling us, and when I said something of those Indian tribes, he asked me if I knew HISTORY or VIRGINIA. 185 any thing about the ^^ewce at Albany ^ and I did not know what he meant." " Well, you shall know now, for that shall be the first' thing that we will talk about this fiiorning. He meant the peace which these Indian tribes made with Lord Howard. You know where these tribes lived. The French who were settled in Canada persuaded these Indians to make an attack upon Virginia, until, at last, the governor found that he could not raise troops to defend himself and his people. He determined therefore that it was best for him to make • peace with them. So he went to Albany with two of his council, and met there the Indian sachems." " What, Uncle Philip, is the name ?" " Sachem : it means Indian chief Eight Mohawk, three Oneida, three Onondaga, and three Cayuga sachems were there. Gov- ernor Dongan of New- York was there too." "Bat, Uncle Philip, there was another tribe." " Yes ; but the Senecas had not arrived. When they all met. Lord Howard spoke first, and told them that they had broken their promise to live in a friendly manner, but that he had now come to make peace with them a a2 186 CONVERSATIONS ON THE second time. Then an old Mohawk warrior answered for them all, and after reproving the other tribes, declared that his tribe had not broken the peace that had been made. He said that ' he had come to brighten every link in the chain which bound the Indians and the white men together; and that he would bury the hatchet of the Five Nations in the earth for ever.' " " What did he mean by burying the hatchet, Uncle Philip ?" " He meant that there should be no more war between them and the white men. He caused each tribe to bury a hatchet in the ground, and Lord Howard buried his hatchet also ; but the old Mohawk said that he would not bury one for his tribe, because his people had not broken the first peace. Then he gave Lord Howard an Indian belt, that he might know that this treaty was to be kept sacred. You know Indians always give presents when they enter into a treaty, and the Indian belt is a sign of friendship and peace. Does any one of you know in what year this treaty was made ?" Yes, sir. My father said it was "^ the year 1684." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 187 " Very good : I wish you to remember this for another reason too. You know we have been talking of King Charles II. sometimes, and it was not long after this that he died. Early in the year 1685, I think it was, and I should like to know what you think of this king." " I think. Uncle Philip, that he did not treat the Virginians well." " I think so too. And now you would like to know who was the next king of England I suppose." " Yes, sir." " It was James II., the brother of Charles, and very much like him in his treatment of the colony. As soon as he was proclaimed in England, the Virginians sent messengers to him, offering him the service of their lives and fortunes ; and he, in return, said that he would continue the old officers in their places, and that he would send them a new seal as a token of his regard for Virginia. But he did very little more than make promises to the people." " Did the people like Lord Howard, Uncle Philip?" " No : and it was no pleasure to them to 188 CONVERSATIONS ON THE hear that he was to be continued in. office. They were all tired of him, and the Assembly which met in the latter part of the year 1685 sent a complaint against him to King James.' " What had he done, sir ?" "The principal complaint was, that he ..eized individuals, put them in prison, and would not allow them to come out even to be tried. The only answer that King James sent to the Assembly was, that he hoped they would hereafter behave themselves better, and that he should hear no more of their irregular conduct. But they Avere not to be frightened in this way : for not long after this. Governor Dongan, of New- York, sent word to Virginia that Kinof James had ordered him to build forts in his province, and that all the other colonies were to aid in doing it. The As- sembly sent him word that they would not give him one shilling. You will take notice, Iso, that this was the first time that any one tried to unite the English colonies in America. And they went even farther than this in showinof their dislike to the king-. They sent Philip Ludvvell to him, to tell him once more of the oppressions of Lord Howard." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 189 " Well, what did he say this time. Uncle Philip?" " The complaints were laid -before what is called the privy council, which means a cer- tain number of men who are the king's ad- visers. The council said that Lord Howard had been cruel, but that the people of Virginia had been very bad subjects. However, the governor, finding himself in difficulty, and his health also declining, Sir Francis Nicholson was sent out to take charge of the colony as Lord Howard's deputy. But let me tell you something more about King James. He quarrelled with his subjects at home, and acted so badly, that they at last, in 1688, invited another man to be king over them, and James made his escape into France." " What man was it, sir ?" '' It was William, Prince of Orange. He had married King James's daughter Mary, and the people thought, therefore, that he had some right to be king. You can tell me now, perhaps, why the privy council listened to Lud well's complaints." " When did he carry those complaints, sir?" "In the year 1689." " Oh, then I know, Uncle Philip. It was 190 CONVERSATIONS ON THE not the privy council of King James, but of King William, which said that Lord Howard was a cruel governor." "You are right. And now we will talk about Mr. Nicholson. When he reached Vir- ginia he found the whole colony ready to break out into open rebellion, but he soon satisfied them. He proposed that they should have a post-office, and said that they ought to have a college to educate their young men : and he travelled through the country visiting the people. He then called an Assembly, to know what they thought about his college. They all agreed with Governor Nicholson that they needed one ; and a subscription was then opened. The governor signed the sub- scription-paper first. And in a very little time twenty-five hundred pounds were subscribed for the college, for some of the merchants in London assisted them. The Assembly sent a clergyman, named Blair, to England to get a charter from the king." " Does not that mean a right to build the college. Uncle Philip ?" " Yes. But the people did not like Nichol- son long; for the next year, when Sir Edmund Andros came as governor, they were all glad to see him. Sir Edmund brought the char- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 191 ter for the college with him, collected some of the money, and laid the foundation of the building. He had not time to do much more, for he was recalled in a short time, and Mr. Nicholson was made governor again." " Uncle Philip, where was the college built ?" "At Williamsburgh. Governor Nicholson laid off this place in the shape of the letter W, and moved the seat of government here from Jamestown. He called it Williamsburgh after King William. And here he had a new state* house built directly opposite the college. Do you know the name of the college?" " No, sir." "It was called William and Mary College, after the King and Queen of England ; audit has the same name still. Mr. Blair, of whom we talked, was the first president of it. I wish you to remember that there is but one college in the United States older than William and Mary, and that is Harvard College, at Cam- bridge, in Massachusetts. Did you ever hear the name of Spottswood?" " No, Uncle Philip." " Sir Alexander Spottswood was one of the governors in Virginia. He had been a soldier, and had performed several brave acts in the W-'st TndieSj bof.ire he came to this connt^v 192 CONVERSATIONS ON THE He was a very kind friend to the Indians, too, for he sent a great many Indian boys to the college, and they learned there the Eng- lish language, and some of them were very useful men afterward. One of the first things that Governor Spottswood did, was to march with some of his men over the mountains and view the country. I will tell you what he was thinking about. " You know the French were living on the St. Lawrence Hiver, in Canada, and the coast of Nova Scotia, which was then called Acadia. They had another settlement, also, on the Mississippi River, and they were anxious to keep the way open between these two planta- tions. The country on the Mississippi was called Louisiana, and the English said that it belonged to them." " How was that. Uncle Philip ?" " The French claimed the country, because one of their own countrymen, a man named La Salle, discovered it. But the English said that the country belonged to them from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi. So Spotts- wood went over the mountains to find good places for English forts, because he was anx- ious to keep the Frenchmen at the south and those at the north from having any communi- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 193 cation with each other. This was the gov- ernor's own plan : but when he sent to Eng- land a map, showing all the places where he desired forts, the people there were very much displeased. Spottswood was dismissed, and retired for some time." "Well, Uncle Phiiipj did the English and French go to war ?" " Not yet, my lad : but they did afterward. And here I must explain to you something about the Ohio Company, as it was calle-d. This was a company made for the purpose of trade with the Indians. Many Virginians, some of the people of Maryland, and some London merchants were in it. They had fixed their settlements on the Ohio River, and were doing very well. But this company did one thing which was wrong, and which gave them some trouble after vvard. "When they first went to the Ohio River, they drove the Indians away from the land without giving them any thing for it ; and afterward these very Indians were persuaded to fight against them in time of war. I told you that the Frenchmen were anxious to unite their two settlements in America. To do this, they began to build forts all along on R 194 CONVERSATIONS ON THE the lakes and rivers between Canada and the Mississippi ; and they went to the Ohio River and there they built one. And now we will stop." CONVERSATION XVIII. About George Washington — Where he loas horn — His first Battle — Mr, Diniuiddie Governor of Virginia — War between Eng land and France — Genei^al Braddock ar- rives in Virginia. " Good morning, good morning", Uncle Philip ; pray tell us something more about those men on the Ohio River, for I think you are going to say something about soldiers.'' '' Yes, I am ; for before we get through I shall talk about one of the bravest and best men that ever lived. "We were talking, you will remember, about the Frenchmen, who built a fort upon the Ohio River, and disturbed the English settlements there. Mr. Dinwiddie was' gov- ernor of Virginia now : and as many of his own men were disturbed, he determined to HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 195 send a message to the commander of tlie French fort. For a long time he could not find any man that he was willing to send upon such business. At last, aftei looking about for some time, he found a young man, about nineteen years old, who seemed very anxious to go, and he was just such a man as the governor was anxious to find." " So young a man, Uncle Philip ! I think he should have chosen some one who was older." " Well, children, he selected this young man ; and who do you suppose he was ?" " I cannot tell, sir ; but this, I suppose, is the brave man you were to talk about." "It was George Washington, — afterward General Washington." " Indeed, sir, he was a brave man. Tell us, if you please, all about his going to Ohio." " Washington, after a very hard journey, reached the French fort, and delivered the letter from the governor. When the com- mander read it, he said he could give no an- swer to Governor Dinwiddie until he couid send his letter to the Governor of Canada, and hear what he should say ; for that he had or- dered him to keep the fort, and that he could not leave it. Washington went immediately 196 CONVERSATIONS ON THE back, and told the governor what the French- man had said. The governor then began to raise troops ; and he soon found as many as three hundred men, and gave the command of them to Mr. Fry, and Washington was made second in command. As soon as the Governor of Canada heard of these mihtary preparations, he sent word to the French com- mander to destroy all the British forts and trading-houses on the Ohio. In obedience to this command, the French began. They re- duced a fort at Logstown, as it was called, and carried every thing that was valuable away. At the same time another body of the French marched to a fort which the Americans had built on the point of land where the Ohio and Monongahela rivers join ; and that was also reduced. Washington set out to help his countrymen, and had not gone far when he met some Indians who were friendly to Vir- ginia; and they told him that the French were building a fort at the junction of the Al- leirhany and Monongahela rivers, and that a French party was coming down towards him. Washington took these men as guides, to show him where the Frenchmen were. He marched all night ; and early next morning came in sig^ht of them. They were just pitching their HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 197 tents in the bottom of a valley. He imme- diately sent some of his men round upon the other side of the hill, which overlooked the French,— and they began the attack. Wash- ington then came upon them from the oppo- site side, — and every man of the French was taken prisoner but one. Twenty-one were taken, and Junonville, the leader of the. French, was killed. I wish you to remember this first battle of Washington. " Shortly after this, more Virginia soldiers came to Washington, and he started for Fort Du Quesne : on his way there, he met other Indian friends, who told him thai 'the French were coming as thick as pigeons in the woods.' He then thought tliat instead of trying to drive the French from the Ohio, i would be better for him to return and protect the frontier of Virginia. Besides this, his men had been five days without bread. He started to go back, and reached a place where he determined to stop, and which was after that named Fort Necessity. He had not been h >re long before fifteen hundred Frenchmen and Indians came up, commanded by DeVillier and immediately commenced firing upon them. This was kept up for some time. The French r2 198 CONVERSATIONS ON THE fou^^ht behind the trees and the long grass, and the Americans returned their shot, stand- ing up to their knees in mud and water. At last De Villier sent a message to Washington, proposing terms of peace ; but the terms were so insolent that Washington refused them. He then sent another messenger, saying that Washington and his men should keep their arms and baggage, and march out with the honours of war, and without any further trouble, to the inhabited parts of Virginia. He aofreed to do so. But this was not all. The Americans had a French prisoner named La Force, — and De Villier thought that this was a favourable time to ransom him, that is, to get him back. So he demanded two hos- tages, and they were given. They were Lieu- tenants Stobo and Van Braam." " But tell me what you mean by giving two hostages, sir, if you please." " The Americans gave two of their men to the French, as pledges that they would treat La Force well. Do you understand?" " No, Uncle Philip ; I cannot see how that was ffoinsf to make them treat the French prisoner well." " Why, my lad, if the Americans had treated La Force in a cruel way, then the HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 199 French would have been unkind to these two hostages. Now this is plain, I suppose." " Yes, sir, — I know what you mean now." " Washington, after agreeing to the terms proposed by De Villier, started homeward ; and on his march he was constantly disturbed both by night and day by the Indians, who were allowed to follow him, contrary to the treaty that was made. He reached Williams- burgh with his men very much fatigued ; but Governor Dinwiddle wished the soldiers to go immediately back to attack Fort Du duesne. Washington said that they were then tired, after so hard a journey, and endea- voured to persuade the governor to give them rest for a time. He would not consent to do so ; but sent a message to the Assembly, which was then sitting, saying that he wished them to help him in raising the troops for this second attack upon the French. But they were un- willing to do any such thing ; because they said all the English colonies ought to fight against the French as well as Virginia." " What did Governor Dinwiddle do then, Uncle Philip ?" " He told them that they were an expense to the country, without being useful, — and therefore he did not wish them to sit an 200 CONVERSATIONS ON THK longer. After this, Washington resigned his command of the army. He did not do it, however, because the governor had acted so strangely." "What for, then, sir?" " An order came from England, saying that the officers who were appointed by the crown should take a higher rank in tY\e army than those appointed by the governors in the colo- nies. This w£is the reason. And now we will look after that man La Force. He had been trying to make his escape for a long time. He at last broke his prison at Wil- liamsburgh, and started for the French fort. He knew nothing about the country through which he had to travel, and was afraid at first to ask any questions, fearing that some one might discover who he was. He travelled on, until he fell in with a countryman, and he asked him how far it was to Fort Du Quesne 7 The countryman began to suspect him imme- diately ; and after some other questions, he knew that this man was La Force, — and he took him, and started to carry him back to Williamsburgh. La Force offered to give him a large sum of money if he would let him go ; but he refused it. He then told the country- man that if he would carry him to Fort Du HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 201 Qiiesne, he would not only give him money enough to make him rich, but he would make him an officer in the French army. The countryman was not to be tempted in this way. He knew what his duty was: so he refused all the promises, and carried the Frenchman back to Williamsburgh. And after this, poor La Force was treated in a very cruel way. He was loaded with a double weight of irons, and chained to the floor of his dungeon. When "Washington heard of this cruel treatment, he went to Governor Dinwiddle, and requested that La Force might be treated in a better way. He told the governor that it was not only cruel to treat a poor prisoner so badly, but that it was breaking the terms of the peace that had been made with De Yillier. But the governor con- tinued his cruelty towards this man. " About the same time that the Frenchman made his escape, the two hostages, who were confined at Quebec, broke their prison. They were just going out of the city, when they saw the Governor of Canada riding in his carriage. Stobo made his escape, but Van Braam was fainting with fatigue and hunger, and called out to the governor and said he was anxious to surrender. The governor 202 CONVERSATIONS ON THE took him in his carriage and carried him back to prison, but would not allow him to be treated cruelly. When the news of all this reached Virginia, Mr. Dinwiddie still kept La Force chained in irons to his dungeon-floor." " Uncle Philip, I think he should not have done so." " You are right ; he ought to have treated his prisoner better. And now look for Hamp- ton Roads on the map, and recollect, that at this time the English vessels had just arrived there, and were filled with English soldiers. Did you ever hear of Edward Braddock ?" " No, Uncle Philip ; but 1 see Hampton Roads on the map, at the mouth of the James River." "Very good: Edward Braddock was the man who came with these troops, and brought along with him the king's commission, making him commander-in-chief of all the American armies. He ordered the troops to go to Al- exandria, and he went with Governor Din- widdie to Annapolis to meet there the gover- nors of the other states, and talk about this war with the French. The governors of New- England, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Vir- ginia were all there, and they all determined to carry on this war. Governor Dinwiddie HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 203 then went back to Williamsburgh, called the Assembly together, told them what the other colonies were determined to do, and that the king had sent troops to help them ; and said he hoped that they would do all that was in their power to assist in fighting against the French. The Assembly resolved to do all that they could ; and the governor, after thanking them, dismissed them." CONVERSATION XIX. General Braddock^s. Death — More about George Washington — Capture of Port Du Qtiesne^ Loidshurg^ and Quebec — End of the War with the French — The Stamp Act) Patrick Henry^ Mr. Pitt, and Lord Bote- tourt, who was Governor cf Virginia, " General Braddock, very soon after his arrival in the country, became acquainted with George Washington. When he heard that he had once been commander of the army, and knew why he had resigned, he was very much pleased with him. He thought that he was a young man who knew more about the country titan he did, and he 204 CONVERSATIONS ON THE invited him to be one of his aids, tliat is, one of his officers. Washington consented to the proposal, and the army set out from Alexan- dria to go to Fort Du duesne. When they reached Fort Cumberland, which was the farthest settlement on the Virginia frontier, they halted to wait for the baggage- wagons and provisions. After they left this place the road was very rough ; they had to build bridges over the streams, and cut down the trees as they marched along. It was almost impossible to travel." "I think so, Uncle Philip. They must have travelled very slowly." " Very slowly, indeed : and Washington was afraid that before they reached this fort, the French would send a -great many soldiers there. So he advised that they should march on rapidly, with barely enough provisions for the men, and leave the heavy wagons to come on afterward. General Braddock thought that this was good advice, and he left one of his officers. Colonel Dunbar, behind, to take care of th:j baggage, and he marched on with the army. Washington was now sick with a burning fever, and they had to leave him be- hind also. Still they marched on very slowly, for tllPV WPrP fr-i t', niMi» no.rlx^'rj M'hnlp ^v>nntb HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 205 before they reached the Monongahela River. When they got thus far, several friendly In- dians came to see them, who told them that a great number of French soldiers had just gone from Canada to Fort Du Quesne. They told them, also, that many of the Indian tribes had joined the French. Still Braddock de- termined to go on. Just before they crossed the river,Washington overtook them. He was brought in a covered wagon, still sick, and very much fatigued by his journey ; but he would not rest, and immediately began the duties of his station. The fort was six miles higher up, on the other side of the river ; so they began at once to cross over, for they all felt sure of victory. General Braddock started with his men from the other bank, and he had not marched a half-mile when a tremendous firing was heard, and the men began to fall, and yet no one could see any enemy." <' How was that, Uncle Philip ?" " The French and Indians were their ene- mies. They had hid themselves in a piece of wood, by which the English had to pass, and the first knowledge that Braddock had of this snare was, when his men began to fall dead around him. His men were all very s 206 CONVERSATIONS ON THE much frightened, for they were not accus- tomed to this kind of fighting ; bat Braddock rode in the midst of them and entreated them to advance. They did advance, but it was only to be killed. Most of Braddock's officers were killed. He had five horses shot from under him, and his two aids were shot at his side. Still he continued to fight, until he re- ceived a shot himself, and fell from his horse." " O, Uncle Philip ! where v/as Washington all this time ?" " In the midst of the battle, my lads. He had two horses shot dead under him, and four bullets passed through his clothes, but he es- caped unhurt. When Braddock fell, his men began to run, and the general would have been the prisoner of the French arid the In- dians had it not been for Washington." " I thought he fell dead from his horse ?" " No ; he was shot, and very badly wounded. Washington, with the help of Braddock's ser- vants, carried him off the field. The army continued to fly until it was on the other side of the river ; and there the French and the In- dians stopped their pursuit. This battle lasted for three hours, my children ; and the English lost more than sixty able officers. Besides History of Virginia. 209 this, they lost more than three hundred soldiers, and all their baggage and provisions. The first thing to be done, after crossing the river, was to obtain more provisions for the men. So Washington was sent to Colonel Dunbar for that purpose. He reached the colonel on the next evening, and in a little time the remainder of Braddock's army came there also, bringing with them their general. It was fortunate, too, that Colonel Dunbar was left behind, for if it had not been for the provisions left with him, it is said that the men would have starved. General Braddock did not live long after he reached this place. He died of the wound that he had received : and I think, whatever others may say, that he was a brave man, and a good soldier." " So do I, Uncle Philip ; for no one would have fought as he did unless he had been brave." " True, children : and after his death Colo nel Dunbar was made commander-in-chief. He went with his men to Philadelphia, to re- main through the winter, and left all the sick at Fort Cumberland, with not more than one hundred soldiers to protect them. And after this, a scene of bloodshed and murder, such s2 210 CONVERSATIONS ON THE as I cannot describe, commenced. The French and Indians were turned loose upon the coun- try, and men and women, with their children, were killed ; their houses were burnt ; and they suffered every cruelty that the savages could invent. The governor, at last, called the Assembly together to see what could be done. They raised a large number of men, and laid aside money to be given to any others who would join the army : and Washington was made commander-in-chief of these and all other Virginia soldiers." " That shows, sir, how much the Virginians thought of Washington." " Yes, it does indeed ; for he was still very young. But matters still went on badly, for Washington did not have a sufficient number of soldiers to guard the Virginia frontier. But Virginia was not the only state that suffered. All the others were attacked by the savages and French in the same cruel way. You have all heard of Benjamin Franklin ?" " Yes, sir." "Well, he lived in Pennsylvania; and he thought that the best way to stop these mur- ders, would be for all the colonies to join. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 211 Commissioners met from all the states, at Albany, for that purpose; but the doctor's plan did not succeed." " Why not, sir ?" " Because, when it was sent to England they did not hke it there, and the Assemblies in the different states disliked it also." " Was not that very strange, Uncle Philip?" "I think so; for they might have done much better if they had all joined together But as they did not, their troubles still con- tinued. Complaints every day reached Wash- ington, and people were found flying in every direction to save their lives. You will under- stand better how much these poor creatures suffered, when I read to you a part of one of Washington's letters, written to Governor Dinwiddle, at this time. Give me that large thick hook on the lowest shelf, Thomas." " Is this the one, sir ?" " Yes, thank you. This is a Life of Wash- ington, and here is the letter of whch I was talking. Listen, children, to this part of it. " ' The supplicating tears of the women^ and the moving petitions of the men^ melt me with such deadly sorrow ^ that I solemnly 212 CONVERSATIONS ON THE declare^ if I know my own mind^ I coidd offef myself a loilling sacrifice to the butciiej^ing' enemy, if that would contribnle to the peojde's ease.'' " " Washington must have been a very great man, Uncle Phihp." " Yes ; he was not only great, but good. I wish you may all be as good as he was. Shortly after this. Lord Loudon, another Brit- ish officer, arrived in Virginia with troops, but he went to the northern part of the coun- try with his men, so I will say nothing more of him for the present. To make matters worse, while Virginia was in this sad condi- tion, Governor Dinwiddie left the country, and returned to England. " The next governor who was sent out, was Francis Fauquier. It was while he was governor that the English thought of making another attack upon Fort Du Quesne. The Virgmia army was ordered to march there, and armies from many of the other colonies were to meet there for the purpose of reducing the fort. On the way the Virginians had a battle with the French and Indians, at a place called Loyal Hanning, where a Virginian, named Captain Bullet, behaved very bravely. After this they continued their march towards HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 213 the fort, and before they came in sight of it. they saw dry bones scattered along the road." " Bones, did you say, Uncle Philip ?" " Yes, children ; the bones of men and horses that were killed when Braddock was defeated The Indians had neglected to bury them, and they were strewed all along on the highway At last they saw Fort Du Quesne at a dis- tance, and walked on over these bones until they came within one hundred yards of it. The English then laid a train of powder to some combustible matter in the fort. The train was set fire to, and the fortress was blown up with a tremendous noise." "What! with all the Frenchmen in it, Uncle Philip ?" " No : Washington was the first man who dashed into the midst of the smoking ruins, and planted the British flag. No Frenchman was to be found there. They had got into their boats and dropped down the river when they first saw the English." " Were they afraid to fight, sir ?" " Oh no. Brave men were in that fortress, but they found their Indian friends forsaking them, and that was their reason for deserting the fort. So you see how it was at last taken by the English. After this they gathered up 214 CONVERSATIONS ON THE the bones of poor Braddock's men, and buried them all in the same spot. And do you know wliat the place is now called where Fort Du Quesne stood ?" " The town of Pittsburgh stands now on the place where the Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers join, sir." "That is the place. The English, after repairing the old fort, and leaving men to guard it, named it Pittsburgh, after William Pitt, a great man who was then living in England, and who was a great friend to America. The war continued in other parts of the country still. The English succeeded in taking Louisburg, on the Island of Cape Breton : Crown Point and Ticonderoga were reduced, and Quebec was also taken from the French. And I ought not to mention the battle at Quebec without saying something to you of one of the best soldiers, and bravest men that ever lived. This was General Wolfe. He was the English commander in that battle, and, though he gained the victory, lost his life in doing it. He fell dreadfully wounded in the midst of the battle, and was carried by his men from the field. While some of his soldiers were standing round him, they heard some one cry out ^They HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 215 run. They run.' Poor Wolfe heard the cry. He raised himself, and opened his eyes for an instant to ask 'Who runs?' They told him that the French were running. Then said Wolfe, ' / die contented? " This was the last of the war, my children ; by which the French lost all Canada, and many other possessions." " What other possessions, sir ?" " Cape Breton, and all the other islands in the Gulf and River of St. Lawrence, besides several West India islands." " And does Canada belong to the English now. Uncle Philip ?" " Yes. After this war with the French was ended, the Virginians lived peaceably enough until they began to feel the oppressions of the mother country." " What do you mean by the mother coun- try, sir ?" " I mean England, when I speak of the * mother country;' for Englishmen settled the country, and for a long time England patron- ised the colonies, and assisted them. There- fore she was called the mother country. You have all, I suppose, heard of the Stamp Act .^" " Yes sir : but I do not know exactly what if mr-ins." 216 CONVERSATIONS ON THE " It was a law made in England, laying a tax upon all paper that was to be used in the colonies for legal purposes, that is, for draw- ing deeds, and all similar things. And it was called the Stamp Act, because all this paper was stamped with a particular mark. You know that this tax must have been very- oppressive ; for a deed was just as good when written upon any other paper, as upon stamped paper." " What was the act made for, then, sir?" " Merely to get money out of the American colonies. The act passed in England in the year 1765 ; and when the news reached America every individual was provoked at the injustice of it. The Virginia Assembly was then sitting, and a young man named Patrick Henry, was one of the members for that year. He was a very intelligent man, and a great friend to liberty. He was, besides this, one of the finest orators that was ever born in America. So he introduced resolutions in the Virginia Legislature, con- demning the Stamp Act as unjust. He said that the colonies ought to tax themselves, and not be taxed by the people in England. A^ery few of the members thought as he did, at first, but he persuaded most of them that he was HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 217 right. You will think this strange, my chil- dren, when I tell you that many of the mem- bers laughed at Patrick Henry when he first rose to speak, because he was so awkward." " Well, Uncle Philip, that only proves that they knew nothing about him." " Surely it does. And after Virginia had opposed the Stamp Act, many of the other states followed her example. In a little while deputies from nine of the colonies met in New- York, to know what was to be done. Timothy Ruggles, of Massachusetts, was the man who was made president of this meeting : and I wish you to remember that this was the first colonial congJ^essJ'^ " But what was done after they met, sir ?" " They sent a petition to the king and par- liament of England begging that the Stamp Act might be repealed. Do you know what that means ?" " Yes, sir ; you mean that they requested that this law about stamp paper might no longer be the law." " Very good. When this petition reached the parliament of England, it was very much opposed by many of the members, but particu- larly by Mr. Grenville : but Mr. Pitt, who 218 CONVERSATIONS ON THE was then a member of parliament, made a very able speech in favour of America, and the Stamp Act was repealed." " That was the Mr. Pitt that was such a friend to the colonies, I suppose, sir ?" " Yes, my children ; it was the same man. When the Virginians heard that the Stamp Act was repealed, I can assure you they were very much pleased. The Assembly returned thanks immediately to the king and parliament : and this ought to have convinced the king that this colony was very friendly to Aim." " Uncle Philip, I wish to know who was king of England at this time ?" "King George III. But the Virginians were not allowed to rejoice long. A man named Charles Townsend, one of the king's officers in England, said that he knew how to raise money from the colonies without giving them any offence. Mr. Grenville per- suaded him to try his plan ; and while Mr. Pitt was absent, a bill was passed to tax tea, glass, and many other things. When the Vir- ginia Assembly heard of this, they entered into new resolutions, saying that these 71010 laws were oppressive also, — and they hoped they would be repealed. " About this time Lord Botetourt, the new HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 219 governor, arrived in Virginia. Fauqueir had died there not long before. liord Botetourt had not been in the country long before he called a new Assembly. He had made many friends among the people by his kindness towards them ; but when the morning came upon which he was to meet the Assembly, they be- gan to be afraid of him, I will tell you what he did on that morning. He seated himself in a very handsome carriage that had been given to him by the King of England, and eight milk-white horses drew it up before the State-house. This is the way in which the king himself goes to parliament; and the people began to think that Lord Bote- tourt was too much like a king. However, the Assembly that was called was so warmly opposed to the conduct of the king and par- liament, that the governor dissolved it. But the Assembly then went to a private house in the city, and there drew up a paper, saying that they would not buy any of those things which were taxed when they were sent out from England. This paper was signed by all who were present, and was then ordered to be sent throughout the country for all the people to put their names to it. This independent be- haviour of the Virginians pleased Lord Bote- 220 CONVERSATIONS ON THE tourt, although he had dismissed the Assem- bly. He sent word to England that the Virginians were good, patriotic citizens ; that they loved their king, and they also loved justice ; and unless justice was done to them, he would resign his place." " Uncle Philip, I am pleased with that man : what did the king do, sir ?" " He sent orders to the governors of all the colonies to tell the people that those laws which they disliked so much should be re- pealed. This message made matters better for a little while. The people believed what was said, and were better satisfied. But the governor's conduct did one thing which we ought not to forget. It attached the Yirgin- ians to I^ord Botetourt : and now, the name of not one of the old governors is more respected and loved in Virginia than his. He was indeed a good governor to them. He did all that he could for them while he was alive, — and he died with them. They did not forget him ; but the first Assembly that met after his death, wishing to show their love towards him, ordered a monument to be built to his memory : and the monument was still standing when 1 was last at Williamsburghj the old capital of Virginia * HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 221 CONVERSATION XX. Uncle Philip tells the Children about Gov^ ernor Dumnore — About the American Con- gress of 1774 — Hoiv Lord Diinmore took the Powder from the Colony ; andhotv Patrick Henry marched to Williamsburgh to attack him, - Governor Dtinmore runs away — • Patrick Henry is 7nade Governor of Vir- ginia — Declaration of Independence^ Atk of July^ 1776, " Well, Uncle Philip, here we all are, ready to hear more stories from you. Tell lis what was done after Lord Botetourt died. Who was the next governor ?" '• A man called Lord Danmore was the next. He was governor in New-York, and was re- moved from that place to be Governor of Vir- ginia. But before I go any farther, I must say something of the other colonies in Amer- ica : you will then understand me better. Those laws about taxes were felt in other parts of the country, as well as Virginia. All the states were dissatisfied; but none was t2 222 CONVERSATIOIfS ON THE more bold than the state of Massachusetts, m showing her dislike to the king- and parlia- ment in England," " Yes, Uncle Philip ; it was there that they threw the tea overboard, — was it not, sir T" " Yes ; and I am g^lad to find that you know something about American history. This tea was sent to America from England for the use of tlie colonies : but the Americans were not willing to pay any tax at all. So, when one of the vessels went into Boston with her load, anumber of citizens, dressed like Mo- hawk Indians, went on board, and threw more than two hundred chests of tea into the sea." " Yes, Uncle Phihp - and after that the people of Boston were carried out of the country to be tried, and treated very badly by the English governor in Massachusetts." " That is all true. The Assembly of Vir- ginia was sitting when the news came of what had been done in Massachusetts ; and they began at once to complain of the cruel- ties that were practised upon the citizens of Boston, and said plainly that the English were determined to make all the people in America their slaves. Governor Dunmore imme- diately dissolved the Assembly ; but they went then to a long room in one of the taverns in HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 223 Williamsburgh, and there signed another paper, saying that the conduct of the English government was cruel and oppressive. " It was during Dunmore's administration that the Indians again made an attack upon the "Virginia frontier. They were defeated, after a terrible battle, at a place called Point Pleasant, where General Lewis, a very brave Virginian officer, lost his life. After this bat- tle, another peace was made with the Indians. They said that the lands on this side of the Ohio River should always belong to the white men." " Well, Uncle Philip, was not one of those Indians named Logan ?" " Yes : tell me where you learned that." " My father has told me something about a letter that Logan wrote to Governor Dun- more." "Yes: this Logan was a distinguished In- dian chief, who was a great friend to the white men for a long time: one of the white men at last killed his wife and all his chil- dren ; and Logan, after that, hated the whites, and determined always to fight against them." « Was that right, sir ?" " Oh no : but what better could you expect from a savage? This letter of which your 224 CONVERSATIONS ON THE father told you was found in a cabin tied to a war-club, and brought to Lord Dunmore, When you are older, you can read this letter of Logan's. " You have all, I suppose, heard something of the great American Congress that met in Philadelphia in September, in the year 1774." " Yes, Uncle Philip ; I have heard my father say that some of the ablest men in America were in that Congress." " That is very true, my lad : this Congress was made up of deputies sent from all the other states ; and I think it had more ability m it than any other body of men that was ever brought together in America. Peyton Ran- dolph, of Virginia, was made President of it." '' Uncle Philip, can you tell us the names of some of the men who were there ?" "Yes, I can: — George Washington, Pat- rick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Lee, Edmund Pendleton, John Adams, John Han- cock, Benjamin Franklin, and a great many others. These were some of the men. You must remember the Congress of 1774, for Americans often speak of it with great pride. And I assure you, my children, that it is not to be wondered at." " It is strange. Uncle Philip, that the Ena- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 225 Ash governors did not stop these men from going to this Congress. Where was Governor Dunmore, sir ?" " At home, shut up in his palace ; and it is said that he did attempt to have George Wash- ington and Patrick Henry both seized on their way to Philadelphia. However, he did not succeed. The people did not like Governor Dunmore, because he was no friend to them. He knew this, and kept almost entirely away from them, and seldom had any thing to do or to say with any of them. And now 1 will tell you what caused them to dislike him still more. Orders came from Eng^land to the governors of the colonies to disarm the people in America, by seizing their stores of arms and powder. As soon as the order was received. Governor Dunmore had the powder secretly carried from, the magazine at Wil- liamsburgh, and put on board an English ves- sel that was riding in the river. He was so much frightened after he had done this thing, that he armed all his servants, that they might defend him if he was attacked ; and he had a great many loaded muskets laid upon the palace-floor, ready, in case the people should attempt to take him. As soon as the people in Williamsburgh discovered what was done 226 CONVERSATIONS ON THE they took their arms, and insisted upon going immediately to the palace to seize the gov- ernor. They thought, however, that it was best first to send messengers to him, to know what he meant by taking the property of the colony away." ^' And what was his answer to this question, Uncle Philip?" '' He said that he did it for their own safety, because he was afraid that the negroes might seize the magazine. But this was all false, for at the very time when he gave this answer, he had armed negroes to guard the palace every night. Besides this, you know, that if he had really been afraid of the negroes he might have placed a guard of Virginians to take care of the powder." " To be sure he might. Were the people satisfied with that answer, sir?" Not exactly : but they determined to wait and see whether the powder was returned as the governor promised it should be. But he did not intend to keep his promise, and he knew what would follow. So he sent Lady Dunmore and her family, by night, on board a British ship which was there. But although the people at Williamsburgh were willing to wait a while, to see what was to be done in the HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 227 Other parts of Yirginia, the rest of the country determined not to wait for one moment. In Hanover County, Patrick Henry called out his company of men, and started immediately for the capital. When he came within sixteen miles of the place, he found that he had five hun- dred men with him. The governor was fright- ened at this news, and called his council toge- ther to know what should be done. Henry still came on with his men, and the alarm became greater. Some of the citizens of Williams - burgh went out to meet him, and persuade him to stop. But it was all in vain. Henry still marched on. In his journey he had to pass by the house of Colonel Corbin, the man who was the receiver of the king's taxes, and there he made his army halt. He forced Corbin to give him a bill for the value of the powder, and then dismissed his men, and went to Philadelphia." " Well, that was right, Uncle Philip. Pat- rick Henry acted bravely, I think." " Surely he did. The governor was still so much frightened that he sent a message to the captain of an English ship down at York, to send him some of the sailors to protect him. The sailors were landed by night and went to the palace. The Yirgini- 228 CONVERSATIONS ON THE aris were more provoked still, when this was done, and at last this miserable governor was forced to call his council together again. The council advised him to call an Assembly, but it was a long time before he would do it." "Uncle Philip, Governor Dunmore must have been a strange man." "He was a very base man, children. When the Assembly met, they waited for the governor for some time, to know what he wished them to do, but no governor came. Where do you think he was ?" " I do not know, Uncle Philip." " He had run away in the night, and got on board a British vessel. He left a message for the Assembly, ordering them to meet him on board the British ship." " Did they go, sir ?" " No. They wrote a letter to him, inviting him to come back, and they requested that he would order the powder and the guns to be returned to the magazine. He would do nei- ther o»rthese things : but sailed down the river, and published his proclamation commanding all the people to come to his standard. He promised pardon to those slaves who would leave their masters and join him." " Did any of them join him, Uncle Philip ?" HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 229 "Oh yes. He had a great many of the slaves under his command. He issued, too, a special proclamation against Patrick Henry, and all his men, calling them rebels. But the people of Virginia returned thanks to Mr. Henry for what he had done. Shortly after Lord Dunmore left Williamsburgh, a conven- tion met in Richmond, and there they ap- pointed what was called a Committee of Safety. This committee was composed of some of the best men in Virginia, and they began to raise forces to defend the country. Lord Dimmore went about through the coun- try with his miserable army doing all the mischief that he could. He attacked Hamp- ton, but was driven away ; and he set fire to Norfolk and the whole town was burnt." " Why, Uncle Philip, that was the largest town in Virginia, was it not ?" "Yes: but Lord Dunmore had no easy time : he was- driven from one part of Vir- ginia to another by the Americans, for they all hated him. Another convention met at Williamsburgh in May, 1776, and ordered that their delegates who should meet the Ameri- can Congress, in Philadelphia, should propose that the colonies of America should be de- 230 CONVERSATIONS ON THE clared free and independent. They then made regulations for the government of the state, and chose Patrick Henry for their governor." " Well, I am sure he deserved to be their governor." "Surely he did. Not long after this, Gov- ernor Dunmore was driven out of the country, where no man loved him, and he went to Staten Island and joined there an English fleet. In a little time, however, he left this place and returned to England. And I think, my children, that Lord Dunmore was one of the basest men who was ever in America ^.s a governor." " Uncle Philip, ought not this man to have been severely punished ?" " Yes : and he would have been if the Vir- ginians had caught him. And now let me talk a little of some other parts of the country, for it will be difficult for me to mention any thing now about Virginia without saying something of the other states. In Massachu- setts the people had taken up arms and fought the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill." " Was not General Warren killed there Uncle Philip ? I have seen a picture abou t that." " Yes ; he was killed at Bunker Hill. In Connecticut, Georgia. South Carolina, North HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 631 Carolina, and indeed in all the states the people began to resist. And I wish you to remember one thing about North Carolina. The people in Mecklenburgh County, in that State, were the first people in America who declared independence." " What was the year, Uncle Philip ?" " It was on the 19th day of May, 1775. They met in a little town, called Charlotte, in Mecklenburgh county, and said they had a right to befree^ and that they icould he free ; and they passed some very bold resolutions, and sent a copy to the President of the Con- gress in Philadelphia. They had just heard of the battle of Lexington." " Well, Uncle Philip, this was more than a year before the United States declared inde- pendence." " Yes ; you know Congress declared inde pendence on the 4th of July, 1776. Richard Henry Lee, from Virginia, introduced tlie motion for independence in Congress, and five of the members were appointed to draw up the declaration." " Oh, Uncle Philip, tell us their names." "Thomas Jeflferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Five very great men." 232 CONVERSATIONS. "Uncle Philip, my father has told me that Mr. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Inde- pendence." *- So he did. When he had finished it, how- ever, the other gentlemen of the committee altered it in some few places. And now I am about to stop. We have come up to the year 1776, and the history of all the States after this time should be told together, for they were all joined to fight against England." " Will you tell us about this war, Uncle Philip?" "No, not now. Perhaps at some other time, when we all meet again, I may talk to you of the American Revolution, and tell you how this country was at last made free and independent. Good-by, my children. I hope you will remember all that I have told you about the people in Virginia." " We will try to do so, sir." " Then you will succeed. Never be afraid to try to learn, for when a child determines that he will try^ he is likely to do well. The first step in knowledge is the resolution to try to learn. Remember this always." 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