chize the unhappy colonists of Virginia, lur- APPENDIX. ed from their country and kindred, on the faith of the solemn assurance and promise of freedom. These objections are certainly specious, but they are easily answered: The first government of the colony was admirably suited to circumstances.... There was no representative body, 'tis true; for, there were no constituents. Much discretion was necessarily left to the governor and council; and they might, and doubtless did, abuse it: But the charters as well as the instructions of the company, invariably pointed to the trial by jury, and recommended a strict observance of the guarded provisions of the British laws.

THE introduction of martial law, was an act of sir T. Smith, the treasurer; and it was one of the principal charges against this officer, that without the company's knowledge, and in defiance of the rights of the colonists under the charter, and of their privileges as Englishmen, he ordered the governors to enforce those hateful and bloody statutes.

WE find them too, the first moments, a reformation was practicable, hastening to break the chains of the colonists, and unfolding, in the midst of the wilderness, the true principles of the representative system; *universal suffrage, and equality.

Ir ought to be remembered, to the immortal honor of this wise and beneficent body, that the colonists amounted not to two thousand souls, when this great national blessing was bestowed on them: So that, whilst all the great nations of Europe were sunk in slavery, and England herself was en

*The payment of taxes was almost the sole qualifica tion.

APPENDIX. gaged in an incessant struggle with her monarch, in defence of a few undefined and scanty privileges, Virginia, separated as it were, from the whole world, heard the voice of liberty, like sweet music, vibrate in her wilds.

State oflear

AND how gratefully, how endearingly this noble gift was remembered by the colony, let the conduct of their assembly in 1622 speak; when, in defiance of personal considerations, with a spirit, a judgment and intelligence, no wise inferior, they entered the lists with their benefactors, against majesty itself.

OWING to the temper of the times, and the jealous vigilance of the court, the company were not equally liberal on points of religious faith. A strict conformity to the doctrines and forms of the church, was an indispensible qualification in, the ministers, and orthodoxy was enjoined under strict and severe penalties, to every member, of the colony. But there were no courts specially established, as in England, to enquire into those offences and enforce those penalties; no establishments, analogous to the star chamber, or high commission, to fright the citizens with the forms and the powers of an inquisition. The penalties incurred for the breach and non-observance of religious duties, were never rigidly enforced; and they were assessed by the governor and council, who possessed also the power of remitting them.

INDEED, during the government of the company, not a single instance is recorded of a persecution for mere difference of opinion; and the penalties alluded to, ought perhaps, to be ascribed solely to the wish of preserving decent manners, and a moral disposition in the people.

THE state of learning in England, has been ning in co- already described, and its probable influence on lony. the colony But if we except the debates and

public papers of the assembly, there is little dur- APPENDIX. ing the first eighteen years, and indeed very long after, to attract our admiration in this particular. Mr. Stith mentions with praise, a translation of Ovid's Metamorphosis, by Mr. George Sandys, the company's treasurer of Virginia. I have not seen this work, and am therefore unable to speak of its merits. The substance of his dedication is given, as well on account of its allusion to the affairs of Virginia after the dissolution of the company, as because it will serve as a specimen of its style and execution.

He tells the king, "That it was limned by that imperfect light, which was snatched from the hours of night and repose. For the day was not his own, but dedicated to the service of his father and himself; and had that service proved fortunate, as it was faithful, in him, as well as others more worthy, they had hoped before the revolution of many years, to have presented his majesty with a rich and well peopled kingdom. But as things had turned, he had only been able to bring from thence himself, and that composition, which needed more than a single denization. For it was doubly a stranger, being sprung from an ancient Roman stock, and bred up in the new world, of the rudeness whereof it could not but participate; especially as it was produced among wars and tumults; instead of under the kindly influences of the muses.'

THE attention of the company was directed with equal care to almost every subject of political economy; and as the country as yet held out no prospects of sudden wealth in the working of mines, agriculture was naturally resorted to as the means of trade and subsistence. Tobacco had in some degree grown into notice by the whim of

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APPENDIX. the colonists, and the fashion of the times, unaided by the patronage, and indeed, in defiance of the repeated injunctions of the company. But a Agriculture strange taste for this nauseous plant, was rapidly gaining ground in Europe; and the king, notwithstanding his unaffected antipathy to it, tempted by the prospect of revenue, at length permitted it to be entered in 1614, as a regular article of trade. The colonists had learned the art of planting corn, together with the use of this valuable production, from the Indians. Vineyards were attempted; and experienced vine-dressers sent over for this purpose. The culture of silk worms was recommended with a like anxiety; whilst anniseed, flax, hemp, wheat, and barley, with various other productions, formed a large and judicious list for future essay and experiment. nies will, for a considerable time at least, reflect the manners and pursuits of the parent state.... During the last years of the reign of James, a considerable taste for agricultural enquiry prevailed; and numerous *treatises were published on the subject. The company sent fover several of those tracts, for the use of the colony. It is not surprizing then, that at this time, a rage for speculative farming prevailed in the colony.

Colo

THE Commerce of Virginia, from the nature Commerce of things, was for a long time of little value. Before the year 1614, she had no staple. But once, that she was legalized as a fair trader, and the industry of her citizens was excited by the prospect of wealth and the security of freedom, her

* Hume, vol. IV. p- 335.

† Records of Virginia, MS. penes me.

advances were unparalelled and almost miraculous. APPENDIX. In the year 1620, her tobacco was more than sufficient for the English market, and the *continent was resorted to, as a vent for the superfluity.

I FIND in the proclamations of the Virginia governors and councils, the rates of some commodities, and something like a scale of exchange between specie and tobacco. During the administration of captain Argall, tobacco was fixed at three shillings the pound. In 1623, Canary, Malaga, Alicant, Tent, Muskadel, and Bastard wines, were rated at six shillings in specie, and nine shillings the gallon, payable in tobacco.... Sherry, sack, and Aquavitæ, at four shillings, or four shillings and six-pence tobacco.... Wine vinegar at three shillings, or four shillings and sixpence tobacco....Cider and beer vinegar at two shillings, or three shillings in tobacco....Loaf sugar one shilling and eight-pence per pound, or two shillings and six-pence in tobacco....butter and cheese eight-pence per pound, or one shilling in tobacco....Newfoundland fish per cwt. fifteen shillings, or one pound four shillings in tobacco....Canada fish, two pounds, or three pounds ten shillings in tobacco. English meal sold at ten shillings the bushel, and Indian corn at eight. After a careful inspection of the old records, I cannot find any rates of labor specified, although they too are mentioned, as forming a part of the subject of proclamations.

IT has been hinted above, that the islands of Bermudas were settled by the company, and subjected to a proprietary government analogous to that of Virginia. One hundred and twenty mem

* Stith....Robertson....MS. penes me.