SMITH, JOHN 0579-1630, the best known of the early settlers of Virginia, was born of excellent parentage at Willoughby, in Lincolnshire, England. He attended school but was an unwilling scholar, the call of the sea making itself heard in his conscious ness. Hence when about 16 years of age he started on his ad ventures. These he pursued on land and sea, with a short inter ruption, for ten years, and to his lot fell a great number of un usual experiences and hairbreadth escapes.
It is unfortunate that our main source of information in refer ence to this period of Smith's life is the testimony of Smith him self, but where it has been possible to check his narrative it has been found substantially correct. Hence, argue his friends, why not accept his credibility as a whole? It is a notable fact that probably the closest student of Smith's works, Edward Arber, who in 1884 edited John Smith's works for the English Scholar's Library, gives his adherence unreservedly to this credibility. Professor Arber's hope, however, to establish Smith's reputation beyond dispute was vain, for very shortly after the appearance of Arber's edition Mr. Alexander Brown brought out his two books, The First Republic zn America and The Genesis of the United States, in both of which Smith is heavily attacked. His animus against Smith arose from the fact that an exaltation of Smith appeared to him to carry with it a belittling of those engaged with Smith in the effort to establish a settlement at Jamestown, an effort engaged in by many leading Englishmen of the time, and of such importance as to merit disassociation from it of the idea that its success was at any time dependent on any one man.
When Smith finally returned to England in 16o5, he was only twenty-six years of age, but his varied experiences had matured him early, and he had graduated from the ranks of the mere fighter and entered those of the pioneer and the colonizer. He threw himself with energy into colonization schemes. He em barked heart and soul in the London Company enterprise—first in securing the charter and then in securing colonists. Not only did he go himself, but he spent his money in getting others to go. It is a great compliment to Smith that the Council of the com pany in London chose him to be a member of the Council in Vir ginia. His selection shows that, though young, he was already a man of mark.
The colonists set out from England Dec. 19, 1606, and did not reach Virginia till April 26, 1607. When the box containing the names of the members of the Council was opened, and it was found to contain Smith's, he was not permitted to take his seat, being under arrest on a charge of conspiracy on the trip over. Later, however, he was cleared, and his principal accuser fined £200. He was admitted a member of the Council June 26, 1607.
The actual landing of the colonists at Jamestown was made on May 14, and on May 22 Captain Newport with a party in cluding Captain Smith made explorations up the James River, reaching the site of Richmond at the falls. Beyond this he desired to march inland but was dissuaded by the Indian chief whose town was at the falls. Reaching Jamestown on the return on May 27, the party found that the Indians had the day before made an attack on the English when they were busy planting their corn, unsuspicious and unprepared. It was by means of the guns of the three ships lying close inshore that the enemy was forced to retire. In this fight was disclosed at least one of the advantages of Jamestown as the place of settlement, what ever points there may have been in its disfavour. The channel of the river there runs very close to the shore. Moreover, James town Island was at that time a peninsula with a narrow, easily defensible neck, which was later, when Smith became president, protected by a block house.
On June 21 Captain Newport sailed away to England leaving 105 people at Jamestown with provisions for thirteen or fourteen weeks, under the command of the Council, with Edward Maria Wingfield as president, elected by the Council itself. Now a serious defect of organization soon become apparent. It was the Council that had the authority, not the president, who, however, presided at the deliberations of that body and had an additional vote in case of a tie. This form of government was absolutely bad. Too much time was taken up in wrangling in the Council, too much feeling was engendered between individual councillors. The situation—scanty provisions and sickness within the stockade among inexperienced and largely unsuitable colonists and, without, lurking and hostile savages—called for concentration and not dispersion of power. The strong hand was needed.