vested the right of property in the land extending fifty miles each way from their place of habitation, reaching one hundred miles into the country. The Plymouth company consisted of Thomas Hanham, Raleigh Gilbert, William Parker, George Popham, and others, principally inhabitants of Bristol, Plymouth, and the eastern parts of England. To this company was granted the lands between the 38th and 45th degrees of latitude. They were vested with the right of property in lands to the same extent as in the southern colony neither company, however, were to form settlements within one hundred miles of the other.

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4. Under the auspices of the London company, tlie first settlement in Virginia was commenced. The expedition was commanded by Capt. Christopher Newport; but the government of the colony was framed in England, before it sailed. It was to consist of a council of seven persons, with a president, to be elected by the council from their number. Who composed it was unknown at the time the expedition sailed, their names being carefully concealed in a box, which was to be opened after their arrival.

The original intention of the colony was to form a settlement at Roanoake; but, being driven by a violent storm north of that place, they discovered the entrance of Chesapeake bay, the capes of which they named Charles and Henry. Entering this, they at length reached a convenient spot upon which to commence a settlement.

The code of laws, hitherto cautiously concealed, was now promulgated; and, at the same time, the council appointed in England was made known. It consisted of Bartholomew Gosnold, John Smith, Edward Wingfield, Christopher Newport, John Ratcliffe, John Martin, and George Kendall. Mr. Wingfield was chosen president.

Among the most enterprising and useful members of this colony, and one of its magistrates, was Capt. John Smith. In his youth, he had been apprenticed to a merchant; but, being of a roving turn, he quitted his master; and, although at this time but thirteen years of age, he travelled in France, whence he proceeded to the Netherlands, Egypt, and Germany, and, at length, entered the service of the emperor of Austria, who was engaged in a war with the Turks.

The regiment in which he served was engaged in several hazardous enterprises, in which Smith exhibited a bravery admired by all the army; and when Meldrick left the imperial service for that of his native prince, Smith followed.

At the siege of Regal, he was destined to new adventures. · The Ottomans, deriding the slow advance of the Transylvania army, the Lord Turbisha despatched a messenger with a challenge, that, for the diversion of the ladies of the place, he would fight any captain of the Christian troops.

The honor of accepting this challenge was determined by lot, and fell on Smith. At the time appointed, the two champions appeared in the field on horseback, and, in the presence of the armies, and of the ladies of the insulting Ottoman, rushed impetuously to the attack. A short, but desperate conflict ensued, at the end of which Smith was seen bearing the head of the lifeless Turbisha in triumph to his general.

The fall of the chief filled his friend Crualgo with indignation, and roused him to avenge his death. Smith accordingly soon after received a challenge from him, which he did not hesitate to accept; and the two exasperated combatants, upon their chargers, fell with desperate fury upon each other. Victory again followed the falchion of Smith, who sent the Turk headlong to the ground.

It was now the turn of Smith to make the advance. He de spatched a message, therefore, to the Turkish ladies, that if they were desirous of more diversion of a similar kind, they should be welcome to his head, in case their third champion could take it.

Bonamalgro tendered his services, and haughtily accepted the Christian's challenge. When the day arrived, the spectators assembled, and the combatants entered the field. It was an hour of deep anxiety to all: as the horsemen approached, a deathlike silence pervaded the multitude. A blow from the sabre of the Turk brought Smith to the ground; and, for a moment, it seemed as if the deed of death was done. Smith, however, was only stunned. He rose like a lion when he shakes the dew from his mane for the fight, and, vaulting into his saddle, made his falchion "shed fast atonement for its first delay." It is hardly necessary to add, that the head of Bonamalgro was added to the number.

In a general battle, in which he was subsequently engaged, he was wounded and taken prisoner. On his recovery, he was sold as a slave, and was taken to Constantinople.) He was required to wait upon the lady of his master, who, captivated by his fine appearance, sent him, in the absence of her husband, to the care of her brother, who resided near the sea of Asoph.

But he, being of a cruel disposition, treated Smith with so much inhumanity, that, one day, in a fit of desperation, he killed his new master, and fled into Russia. From this country, he travelled through Germany, France, and Spain; and, at length, returned once more to England.

At this time, the settlement of America was occupying the attention of many distinguished men in England. The life of

Smith, united to his fondness for enterprises of danger and difficulty, had prepared him to embark with zeal in a project so novel and sublime as that of exploring the wilds of a newly-dis

covered continent.

He was soon attached to the expedition about to sail under Newport, and was appointed one of the magistrates of the colony sent over at that time. Before the arrival of the colony, his colleagues in office, becoming jealous of his influence, arrested him on the absurd charge, that he designed to murder the council, usurp the government, and make himself king of Virginia. He was, therefore, rigorously confined during the remainder of the voyage.

On their arrival in the country, he was liberated, but could not obtain a trial, although, in the tone of conscious integrity, he repeatedly demanded it. The infant colony was soon involved in perplexity and danger. Notwithstanding Smith had been calumniated, and his honor deeply wounded, his was not the spirit to remain idle, when his services were needed. Nobly disdaining revenge, he offered his assistance, and, by his talents, experience, and indefatigable zeal, furnished important aid to the infant colony?

Continuing to assert his innocence, and to demand a trial, the time at length arrived, when his enemies could postpone it no longer. After a fair hearing of the case, he was honorably acquitted of the charges alleged against him, and soon after took his seat in the council.

The affairs of the colony becoming more settled, the active spirit of Smith prompted him to explore the neighboring country. In an attempt to ascertain the source of Chickahoming river, he ascended, in a barge, as far as the stream was uninterrupted. Designing to proceed still farther, he left the barge in the keeping of the crew, with strict injunctions on no account to leave her, and, with two Englishmen and two Indians, left the party. But no sooner was he out of view, than the crew, impatient of restraint, repaired on board the barge, and, proceeding some distance down the stream, landed at a place where a body of Indians lay in ambush, by whom they were seized.

By means of the crew, the route of Smith was ascertained, and a party of Indians were immediately despatched to take him. On coming up with him, they fired, killed the Englishmen, and wounded himself. With great presence of mind, he now tied his Indian guide to his left arm, as a shield from the enemies' arrows, while, with his musket, he despatched three of the most forward of the assailants.

In this manner, he continued to retreat towards his canoe, while the Indians, struck with admiration of his bravery, followed with respectful caution. Unfortunately, coming to a sunken spot filled with mire, while engrossed with eyeing his

pursuers, he sunk so deep as to be unable to extricate himself, and was forced to surrender.

Fruitful in expedients, to avert immediate death, he presented an ivory compass to the chief, whose attention was arrested by the vibrations of the needle. Taking advantage of the impres sion which he had thus made, partly by signs and partly by language, he excited their wonder still more, by telling them of its singular powers.

Their wonder, however, seemed soon to abate, and their attention returned to their prisoner. He was now bound, and tied to a tree, and the savages were preparing to direct their arrows at his breast. At this instant, the chief holding up the compass, they laid down their arms, and led him in triumph to Powhatan, (their king.

Powhatan and his council doomed him to death, as a man whose courage and genius were peculiarly dangerous to the

Indians. Preparations were accordingly made; and when the time arrived, Smith was led out to execution. His head was laid upon a stone, and a club presented to Powhatan, who himself claimed the honor of becoming the executioner. The savages in silence were circling round, and the giant arm of Powhatan had already raised the club to strike the fatal blow, when, to his astonishment, the young and beautiful Pocahontas, his daughter, with a shriek of terror, rushed from the throng, and threw her

self upon the body of Smith. At the same time, she cast an imploring look towards her furious, but astonished father, and, in all the eloquence of mute, but impassioned sorrow, besought nis life.

The remainder of the scene was honorable to Powhatan. The club of the chief was still uplifted; but a father's pity had touched his heart, and the eye that had at first kindled with wrath, was now fast losing its fierceness. He looked round as if to collect his fortitude, or perhaps to find an excuse for his weakness, in the pity of the attendants. A similar sympathy had melted the savage throng, and seemed to join in the petition which the weeping Pocahontas felt, but durst not utter, "My father, let the prisoner live." Powhatan raised his daughter, and the captive, scarcely yet assured of safety, from the earth.

Shortly after, Powhatan dismissed Capt. Smith, with assurances of friendship; and the next morning, accompanied with a guard of twelve men, he arrived safely at Jamestown, after a captivity of seven weeks.*

In 1609, circumstances having arisen to interrupt the friendly dispositions of Powhatan towards the colony, he plotted their entire destruction. His design was to attack them unapprized, and to cut them off at a blow.

In a dark and stormy night, the heroic Pocahontas hastened alone to Jamestown, and disclosed the inhuman plot of her father. The colony were thus put on their guard, and their ruin averted.

It may be interesting to add, concerning Pocahontas, that some time after this, she was married to an English gentleman of the name of Rolfe, with whom she visited England. She embraced the Christian religion, and was baptized by the name of Rebecca. 1 She left one son, who had several daughters, the descendants of whom inherited her lands in Virginia, and are among the most respectable families in that state.

5. The colony, thus commenced, soon experienced a variety of calamities, incidental, perhaps, to infant settlements, but not the less painful and discouraging. Inefficiency and a want of harmony marked the proceedings of the council. Provisions were scarce, and of a poor quality. The neighboring tribes of Indians became jealous and hostile; and, more than all, sickness spread among them, and carried a large proportion of their number to an early grave.

By the middle of July, they were so distressed with the badness and scarcity of provisions, with sickness, labor, and contin

* Burk's Virginia.