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extracts in Purchas's Pilgrims. In .1627, he published his general history of Virginia, New England and Summer Isles, with the names of the adventurers, planters and gov. ernours, from their first beginning A. D. 1584, to the year 1626, with the proceedings of those several colonies, and the accidents that befel them in all their journies and discoveries. Also the maps and descriptions of those countries, commodities, people, government, customs and religions yet known.

This work, the subject of our Review, is the most complete account of several voyages and settlements now remaining. The extracts in Purchas, Churchill, &c. are rather portions of history than full narratives.

It is a folio edition, divided into six books, and Smith is styled Admiral of New England, in the title page. The frontispiece is curious and well designed. At the top are the pictures of queen Elizabeth and James and Charles, who were kings during the progress of his discoveries. Upon the sides are the arms of England, St. George and Dragon crest, and the motto, Gens incog nita mihi serviet. At the bottom is the ocean with a ship in full sail, Quo fata ferunt The dedication and preface of the history are in the quaint style of a literary man, who is conscious of merit, who has a claim to publick attention, but too inde pendent of spirit to court that favour, which he is willing to receive, if not grudged him.

The first book begins with the voyage of Madoc, 1170, and relates the several voyages to the discoveries of Capt. Weymouth, 1605. Smith does not pretend to establish the truth of the ancient voyages, as they are called, previously to the Vol. V. No. VIII. 3H

time of Columbus. He gives the honour of the discovery of the American continent to John CABOT and his son Sebastian. "Though Columbus," says he, "discovered certain islands, he did not see the continent till 1498, which was a year after Cabot had visited it. Americus did come a long time after, yet the whole continent, to this day, is called America." is called America." He speaks of the Floridas in the romantick style of an adventurer, as abounding in every thing which can astonish and delight. "No part of the world produces so many grapes; and as to tall trees, the cedars of Libanus are not equal to them."

The second book is, "the ac count of Virginia, now planted, as discovered by Capt. John Smith."

The bounds of Virginia were then "the great ocean, eastward; on the south side, Florida; on the north, Nova Francia; as to the west, the limits unknown."

His Indians differ from those of our northern tribes, who are said to have no beards. Writers, however, express different opinions; some declaring they have none, others that nature produces a beard, of which they deprive themselves as soon as it makes its appearance. "The men,” says he, "wear half their beards shaveu, the other half long. For barbers, they use women, who, with two shells, will grate it away of any fashion they please."

Capt. Smith closes his account with saying, how different those people were, who submitted to social order, from the idle vagrants among the colonists, who would submit to no discipline or authority, who suf fered most grievously. "In all this time I lost but seven or eight men, yet, subjected the savages to obedience, and received contribution

from five of their kings, to protect and assist them against any that should assault them; in which order they continued true and faithful, and as subjects to his majesty, so long as I did govern them, until I left the country; how they have revolted, the country lost, and again replanted, and the business hath suc ceeded from time to time, I refer you to the relations of them return ed from Virginia, that have been more diligent in such observations."

*

The third book gives, "the pro ceedings of the colony, from the relations of several of the first settlers, collected by Wm. Symonds D D. These accounts are correct and impartial, and tend much to the honour of Capt. Smith, the President. It is a short view of the state of the colony from the pens of others, who were eye witnesses of his proceedings and of the accidents which took place."

The fourth book is an account of the proceedings after the alteraof the proceedings after the alteration of the government."

Among the writers who describe this period of their history, may be

Beverly gives a sad account of the idle part of the company. They found a fresh stream of water springing out of the ground, near Jamestown island, in which was a yellow sort of dust isinglass, which they took to be gold, and which made them distracted, for they neglected the necessary means of defence against the Indians, and the support of their bodies by securing of provisions. They were so reduced, that, for a time, they lived upon wild fruits, or upon crabs and muscles, as some of the laziest Indians, who have no pleasure in exercise, and wont be at the pains to fish and hunt. Many of them were destroyed, and the rest had only what fell into their mouths. Whereas by the care and management of Capt. J. Smith, in the year 16c8, those who followed him were able to gather Indian corn of their own plant ing.

reckoned Mr. John Rolfe ; he signs his name, attesting certain proceed ings, June, 1618. This man was the husband of Pocahontas, daugh. ter of Powhatan, to whom he was married, A. D. 1613.†

the relation of Capt. N. Powell, and othDuring this time (1617, according to

ers) the lady Rebecca, alias Pocahontas, by the diligent care of her husband, Master John Rolfe, was taught to speak such English, as might well be under stood, well instructed in christianity and was become formal and civil after our

English manner. She had also by him a

child, which she loved most dearly, and the treasurer and company took order for the maintenance of her and it; be sides these even persons of great rank and quality had been very kind to her. And Smith, to deserve her former courtesies, before she arrived in London, Capt. made her qualitie known to the queen's most excellent majesty, and her court, and writ a little book to this effect to the queen.

This little book is an address to

hontas; and it is such a curious queen Anne, recommending Pocamorsel of writing, according to the taste of that day, that we wish it were consistent with our limits to give the whole of it; but we must refer to the several histories of Virginia, where it is carefully preserved. During this time Capt. Smith met with

To the curious it may give pleasure to know that the first christian marriage in this part of the world was in 1609, John Leyden and Anna Burrows were then joined together in wedlock

The first child that was born of christian parentage was at Rocnoke, August 18, 1587, and she was christened by the name of Virginia. She was a daughter. of Mr. Ananias Dare. During the same month, the first Indian that was made a christian in these American regions, was baptised by the name of Manteo, and they styled him Lord of Dassamonpeak.

We here speak of English America, not extending our remarks to the Span ish dominions at the south.

Pocahontas in England. supposed he was dead.

Being about this time to set sail for New-England, I could not stay to do her that service I desired, and she well deserved; but hearing she was at Brenford with diverse of my friends, I went to see her. After a modest salutation,

She had this reason when she saw him, she seemed to think herself much affronted, for that they had dared to impose so gross a sense upon her, and at first sight turned away. She put him in mind of her former kindness, and then upbraided him for his forgetfulness of her, shewing by her reproaches, that even a state of nature teachesto abhor ingratitude."

without any word, she turned about, ob served my face, as not seeming well con tented; and in that humour her husband, with diverse other, we all left her for two or three hours, repenting myself to have writ she could speak English. But not long after she began to talk,

and remembered what courtesies she had

done; saying, You did promise Powha-
tan what was yours should be his, and
He the like to you; you called him fa-
ther, being in his land a stranger, and
for the same reason so must I do you;
which, though I would have excused, I
durst not allow of that title, because she
was a king's daughter. With a well set
countenance she said, Were you not
afraid to come into my father's country,
and caused fear in him and all the peo-
ple (but me) and fear you here I should
call you father? I tell you then I wi!!,
and you
shall call me child, and so I will
be forever and ever your countryman.

They did tell us always you were dead,
and I knew no other till I came to Ply
mouth; yet Powhatan did command
Vitamatomekkin to seek you and know
the truth, because your countrymen will

lie much.

The quotation we make not only as a specimen of primeval simplicity of manners, and plainness of style, but as containing an account of the interview so complete, that nothing need be added or diminished. Yet it is somewhat different from several narratives, which have come under our cognizance. One only will serve, which is to be found in Bev. erly's History of Virginia, to shew

that the text and comment do not

always agree. He says, that when this lady arrived in England, she had been informed,that Capt. Smith was dead, because he had been diverted from that colony by making settlements in New-England. "For

In the American Biography it is thus related, that," at her first interview with Smith, she called him father, and because he did not immediately return the salutation, and call her child, she was so overcome with grief, that she hid her face, and would not speak for some time."

From Smith's account, every thing which took place at the interview may naturally be accounted for. She was dumb from astonishment, seeing one, who, as she supposed, was dead, a man to dear to her, and that after her heart was let loose upon the occasion, and the etreams of sensibility began to flow easily, she conversed freely, calling him father, &c.

This child of nature, or this amiable young lady, as she was called, after being introduced to civilized and cultivated society,died at Gravesend, just as she was ready to sail for her native land, which doubtless had charms more congenial to her disposition.

"It pleased God to take her to his mercy," according to the relation of Capt. Argall," and she made not more sorrow for her unexpected death, than joy to the beholders to hear and see her make so religious and godly an end.”

The fifth book is a relation of the

discoveries of the Summer Islands, otherwise called Bermuda, from a Spanish ship that was cast ashore. Sir George Summers died here, in 1609, from whom they took the

1

name.

ed by general computation one hundred
thousand pounds at least. Therefore,
honourable and worthy countrymen, let

not the meanness of the word FISH dis-
taste you, for it will afford as good gold
as the mines of Guinea and Potasie, with
less hazard and charge, and more cer-
tainty and felicity.
J. S.

They are sometime called Somer isles, and he is named Somers. This fault runs through the book, and it shows how little regard was paid to the spelling of names in our ancient records. Words of all kinds are spelt as differently in this book, in the relation of the same voyage, as though they were written in different ages. There was indeed no standard of orthography. Capt. Smith's voyages to New-Eng- fancy glows while he is narrating

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The sixth and last book contains

land, and the

map beforementioned of these coasts, very curious, with a large portrait of Capt. J Smith, Admiral of N. England. The first voyage was A. D. 1614. He made a second the succeeding year.

The part we call New-England, is between 41 and 45 degrees, the very mean between the north pole and the line, but that part tris discourse speakethof,stretcheth from Penobscot to Cape Cod, some 75 leagues by a right line drawn from each other. Within which bounds I have seen forty several habitations upon the seacoasts, and sounded above twenty-five good harbours, in many whereof there is anchorage for five hundred ships of any burden, in some of them for one thousand; and more than two hundred islands overgrown with good timber of diverse sorts of wood, which do make So many harbours, as required a longer time, than I had, to be well ob

served.

Notwithstanding the dryness and barrenness of this history to those who read works where the pages are adorned and enriched with the observations of the writer, whose

the things which happen; we must
think our ancient books fruitful in

events worthy of attention, and such
as may excite our admiration.
Hence we offer to the publick this
work among the objects of our Re-
trospective Review. As to the style,
we submit it to the opinion of the
reader. It is as good as the times
remarkable for their enterprize and
would allow, especially from men
activity, rather than any litera-
ry character. Here is much appa-
rent truth and candour, and we look
into such books for curious matter,
and find naked facts without any
Future his-
attempt at ornament
torians will be able to build very
beautiful superstructures with these
rough stones for the foundation,
whether of war or peace; and when
Every transaction is mentioned,
Capt. Smith writes, he often expa.
tiates upon circumstances that are

The conclusion of the work is a complete specimen of his opinions, interesting. But it is not only for and manner of writing.

I have thrown myself with my mite into my country's good, not doubting God will stir up some noble spirits to consider and examine if worthy Columbus could give the Spaniards any such certainties of his design, when queen Isabel sent him forth with fifteen sail And though I promise no mines of gold, yet the warlike Hollanders let us imitate, but not hate, whose wealth and strength are good testimonies of their treasury gotten by fishing.

And New-England has already yield

the use of future writers we wish those ancient records to be kept. In every generation there are some few, whose minds are soothed with the remembrance of their fathers”. virtues; who seek their footsteps, and the lines which mark the place of their habitation. In this volume they will find precious documents of their earliest history; and their eyes will glisten with pleasure over the first map ever made of their coaste.

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Sunt bona sunt quædam mediocria, sunt mala, plura.—Mart.

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