ministration of colonial affairs to certain of his privy councillors in conjunction with Sir Thomas Smith and a few other persons. Thus fell the Virginia Colonization Company, after having expended upwards of £150,000 without any considerable return. Their dissolution was effected. by a king whose power was then absolute-whose will was law. Such were the acts which brought about the revolution, and the death of Charles I.

King James now issued a special commission, reappointing Sir Thomas Wyatt governor, with twelve councillors. The colonial assembly is not mentioned in this instrument; but it was continued as a matter of usage. The king seemed to favor the commercial interests of the colony in his proclamation, renewing the former prohibition of the culture of tobacco in England, and giving the exclusive trade in the article to Virginia and the Somers Islands. He also designed composing a code of laws for the government of the colony; but his death in the next year frustrated his intention. Thus ended a reign distinguished for the establishment of the British empire in America. James encouraged and promoted the growth of the colony, but his arbitrary acts in regard to those who had given their time and wealth to the support of it must receive condemnation.

HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, CONTINUED UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE

FRENCH WAR, IN 1756.

ING CHARLES I. had been educated in the maxims of his father, and when he ascended the throne, gave evidence of his design to maintain them as far as he was able. He declared that the government of Virginia should depend immediately upon himself; and his first act was to prohibit the planters from selling their tobacco to any but his agents. Thus the Virginians saw their legislature superseded by a council responsible to the king alone; all the profits of their industry engrossed, and their staple commodity monopolized by their sovereign.

On the death of Wyatt, Sir George Yeardley was appointed governor. He died in 1627, and during the two following years, the council elected

West and Pott as temporary governors. In 1629, Sir John Harvey arrived and became the ruler. He is generally represented as a haughty, rapacious and cruel man; and though this has been denied, the fact of his being arrested by the colonists and sent to England, with two commissioners to state their grievances, is good evidence that he was not the best of governors. Instead of redressing their wrongs, Charles reinstated Harvey, and returning to Virginia, the governor became more tyrannical than This provoked complaints so loud and vehement that there was a prospect, if Harvey's government continued, of the revolt or ruin of the colony.

ever.

UT a deliverance was at hand. Charles saw the signs of a storm approaching, which was destined to overwhelm him. He became anxious, therefore, to conciliate the colonists. Harvey was recalled and Sir Francis Wyatt appointed governor. The latter held the office two years and then yielded it to Sir William Berkeley, who assumed the government in February, 1642.

Berkeley appears to have been a true cavalier; faithful to the king and the Episcopal church under all circumstances. He was extreme in some of his measures, particularly in his opposition to the culture of tobacco. His appointment gave the colonists great satisfaction; and his influence insured the loyalty of the Virginians when the civil war broke out between the Cavaliers and Roundheads.

But a new calamity was impending over the colony. Opekankanough was still alive and retained all his hatred of the English. The peace he had concluded with them in 1632, was a mere truce to mature a terrible

design. For nine years after, he was engaged in secretly bạnding the Indians together for the extermination of the now powerful English. The storm burst upon the colonists with the sudden force of a gust in summer. On the 18th of April, 1644, the Indians fell upon the English in the moment of their security. Five hundred persons were killed, and a large number carried into captivity. Whole villages, with all the corn, household utensils and farming implements were given to the flames. The blow was a severe one; but the colony was too deeply rooted in the soil of Virginia to be exterminated at that time.

All who were able to bear arms were embodied as militia for the general defence; and a chosen body, comprising every twentieth man, marched under the command of the governor, into the enemy's country. Opekankanough had now grown so old and decrepit that he was not able to walk. alone, but was carried about by his men. His flesh was macerated, his sinews slackened, and his eyelids so heavy that he could only see, when they were lifted up by his servants. In this condition, he was surprised and captured by Governor Berkeley, with a party of horse. He was

conveyed to Jamestown, and treated with all possible respect; it being the desire of Berkeley to send him to England.

Opekankanough maintained his proud spirit even when so old and in captivity. One day, hearing the noise of the tread of people about him, he caused his eyelids to be lifted, and finding that a crowd of persons had been let in to see him, he called, in indignation, for the governor. When he came, Opekankanough told him that had it been his fortune to take Sir William Berkeley prisoner, he should not meanly have exposed him as a show to the people.

Berkeley could not preserve his captive's life above a fortnight; for one of his soldiers, resenting the calamities the colony had suffered through this prince's exertions, basely shot him through the back and killed him. After his death, the Indians speedily submitted, and tranquillity was so effectually restored to the province, that, two months after the massacre, Berkeley set sail for England, leaving Richard Kemp, as his substitute. After his return, in 1646, a treaty was concluded with the Indians, by which they made a large cession of territory.

CONSIDERABLE interval of tranquillity now elapsed, of which we shall take advantage to exhibit a view of the state and progress of the colony. The population had increased to twenty thousand persons. Jamestown was the principal settlement. But several others, situated further up the James river, were rapidly growing in importance. The colony was divided into eight counties. The governor appointed lieutenants for each county; the sheriffs were chosen by the inhabitants. The laws of England, so far as regarded personal rights, the rights of property and the punishment of crime, were in force in the colony. The assembly claimed no authority to legislate on such subjects. That body found sufficient employment in framing such laws. as the particular necessity of the colony demanded. A large number of the colonists were persons of criminal or doubtful character. Hence, arose a state of society unusual in a new colony. The poorer gentry and the younger children of high families came from England, and obtaining considerable grants of land, lived "as great lords" in the transatlantic region. Thus an ultra aristocratic character was given to the colony, and royalty found it faithful. The commerce of Virginia was now in a flourishing state. Twelve ships were engaged in the trade with England, twelve with Holland, and seven with New England. Though wheat was raised in considerable quantities, tobacco continued to be the principal article of trade.