When this charter was issued, neither the king, who granted it, nor the people who received it, had any idea that they were about to lay the foundation of great and opulent states, which were one day to rise in successful opposition against the power by which they were first established.
In consequence of the grants which we have men tioned, both companies prepared to take possession of the lands which had been assigned to them: and in a short time colonies were established in Virginia and New England ; the former in the south, and the latter iu Gc north. As these colonies were the first which wire planted in this division of the New World, and are to be considered as the parent settlements, under whose protection the others were founded, it will be sufficient to trace their origin and progress, and to state, in a few words, at what time, and by what means, the inferior settlements were established.
Of the principal colonies, Virginia is the most ancient, and has the first claim to our attention.
In the year 1608, captain Newport sailed from Eng land with three ships and 105 men who were destined to remain in the country which they were about to visit. Among these were some gentlemen of distinguished families, particularly Mr Percy, brother to the earl of Northumberland, and several officers of reputation, who had carried arms during the reign of Elizabeth. Though they followed the old course, and sailed towards the West Indies, yet when they had reached the American shore, they were driven to the north of Roanoke by a storm, and accidentally discovered Cape Henry. This is the southern boundary of Chesapeake bay. They stretched at once into that noble harbour, which re ceives the waters of the Powhatan, the Potomac, the Susquehanna, and all the rivers which give fertility to this province of America, and adapt it so wonderfully to the purposes of inland navigation. Newport sailed tip the Powhatan, to which he gave the name of James River, in honour of the sovereign under whose au thority he acted: and here he chose a place of residence for the adventurers who were to settle in the country. They raised a few huts to protect them from the in clemency of the weather: and the council, who were nominated by the king, and were to reside in America, opened their commissions, and entered upon their of fice. The infant settlement was called James-town; an appellation which it still retains: and, though it ne ver rose to great wealth or distinction, it was the first of the English establishments in the New World, and has all the honour among the American states that an tiquity can confer.
The Indians, among whom the European adventurers had settled, were divided into small and independent tribes, and separated from one another by hereditary and unabating resentment. They were able, however, to disturb the colony by their petty hostilities; though they could not, at this time, muster a force sufficient to destroy it. But this was not the only calamity which the Europeans were doomed to suffer. The stock of provisions which they had brought with them from England was nearly exhausted ; and what remained was of a quality so bad, that it was unfit to be eaten. This scanty allowance to which they were reduced, as well as the influence of a climate to which they were not yet habituated, gave rise to diseases, and quickened their virulence ; so that the number of tire colonists gradually diminished. In this exigency, they were re lieved by the talents and activity of captain Smith. Immediately after the arrival of the settlers, and in con sequence of the disagreements which had taken place during the voyage, he had been expelled from the council, though chosen by the king as one of its mem bers: but such were his abilities and enterprising tem per, that he was now unanimously called to his seat, and invited to take a chief part in the administration. He was not unworthy of the charge, or unequal to the do mes which his situation required. Ile fortified James town, so as to protect the colonists from the injuries of the savages, He marched in quest of those tribes who had given most disturbance to tire Europeans: and partly by fOrce of arms, and partly by address and good treatment, he put an end to their hostilities, and pro cured from them a supply of provisions, of which the colony was so much in need. By the exertions of Smith, contentment was speedily restored : and this he consi dered as a sufficient recompense for all his toils and dangers. But, unfortunately, in one of his excursions, he was surprised by a numerous party of Indians, and compelled to retreat; and the savages pressing hard upon him, he sunk to the neck in a morass, and was taken prisoner. Ile was carried to Powhatan, the most considerable sachem, or chief, of Virginia, and would have suffered a cruel death, if Pocahuntas, the daugh ter of Powhatan, animated by that concern for the Eng lish which the adventurers from the west never failed to experience, had not rushed between him and the executioner, and hegged her father to spare his life. Her request was granted ; and she afterwards procured him his liberty; and from time to time sent provisions to the colony.