and the inhabitants were fcattered over a great extent of territory in remote and hazardous fituations. The ill effects of this dispersion, were infecurity from the favages; a habit of indolence; an imperfect mode of cultiva tion ; the introduction of convicts from England, and of flaves from Africa. The fame year (1616) Sir Thomas Dale returned to England, carrying with him Pocahontas, the wife of Mr. Rolfe, and feveral other Indians. The motive of his return, was, to visit his family and fettle his private affairs, after having spent five or fix years in the service of the Colony. He is characterised as an active, faithful Governor,* very careful to provide fupplies of corn, rather by planting than by purchase. So much had thefe fupplies increafed under his direction, that the Colony was able to lend to the Indian Princes, feveral hundred bushels of corn, and take mortgages of their land in payment. He would allow no tobacco to be planted till a fufficiency of feed-corn was in the ground. He was also very affiduous in ranging and exploring the country, and became extremely delighted with its pleasant and G fertile * Stith, 140. fertile appearance. He had fo high an opinion of it, that he declared it equal to the best parts of Europe, if it were cultivated and inhabited by an induftrious people. SINCE the foregoing fheets were printed, I have found the following brief account of Sir GEORGE SOMERS, in Fuller's Worthies of England, p. 282. દ George Somers, Knight, was born in or near Lyme, in Dorfetfhire. He was a lamb upon land, and a lion at fea. So patient, on fhore, that few could anger him; and on entering a fhip, as if he had affumed a new nature, fo paffionate that few could please him." [Whitchurch, where his corpfe was depofited, is diftant three miles from Lyme.] XVIII. SIR SAMUEL ARGAL. WE have no account of Capt. Argal before the year 1609, when he came to Virginia, to fish for fturgeon, and trade with the Colony. This trade was then prohibited; but, being a kinfman of Sir Thomas Smith, his voyage was connived at, and the provisions and wine which he brought, were a welcome relief to the Colony. He was there when the fhattered fleet, escaped from the tempeft, arrived without their Commanders; and he continued to make voyages in the fervice of the Colony, and for his own advantage, till he was made Deputy-Governor, under Lord Delaware, The principal exploit in which he was engaged, was an expedition to the northern part of Virginia.* Sir Thomas Dale, haying received fome information of the intru fion *The time of this voyage is not accurately mentioned; but, from comparing feveral dates and tranfactions, I think (with Mr. Prince) that it must have been in the fummer of 1613. Certainly it was before Argal was made Dep uty-Governor, in 1617, though fome writers have placed it after that period. fion of the French and Dutch within the chartered limits of Virginia, fent Argal, oftenfibly on a trading and fishing voyage to the northward; but with orders to feek for, and difpoffefs intruders. No account of his force is mentioned by any writer. Having visited feveral parts of the coaft of North Virginia, and obtained the beft information in his. power, he arrived at the island now called Mount Defart, in the District of Maine M. where two Jefuits, who had been expelled from Port Royal, by the Governor Biencourt, for their infolence, had made a plantation, and built a fort. A French fhip and bark were then lying in the harbour, Moft of the people were difperfed, at their various employments, and were unprepared to receive an enemy. Argal at once attacked * the veffels with mufquetry, and made an eafy conqueft of them. One of the Jefuits was killed in attempting to level one of the fhip's guns against the affailants. Argal then landed, and fummoned the fort. The Commander requefted time for confultation, but it was denied; on which the garrifon abandoned the fort, and, by a private paffage, See Vol. I. page 340. fage, efcaped to the woods, Argal took poffeffion in the name of the Crown of England, and the next day the people came in, and furrendered themfelves, and their com miffion, or patent. He treated them with politeness, giving them leave to go either to France, in the fishing veffels, which resorted to the coaft, or with him to Virginia. The other Jefuit, Father Biard, glad of an opportunity to be revenged on Biencourt, gave information of his fettlement at Port Royal, and offered to pilot the veffel thither. Argal failed across the Bay of Fundy, and, entering the harbour, landed forty men. A gun was fired from the fort, as a fignal to the people who were abroad; but Argal advanced with fuch rapidity, that he found the fort abandoned, and took poffeffion. He then failed up the river with his boats; where he viewed their fields, their barns and mill; these he fpared; but at his return, he destroyed the fort, and defaced the arms of the King of France. Biencourt was at this time furveying the country at a distance; but was called home fuddenly, and requested a conference with the English Commander.* They met in a meadow, Purchas, v. 1808. |