land, known as the London Company. This district was called South Virginia. South Virginia extended from Cape Fear to the Potomac; North Virginia from the mouth of the Hudson River to Newfoundland. The region between the Potomac and the Hudson Rivers was to be neutral ground, on which the companies were at liberty to form settlements within fifty miles of their respective boundaries. 7. By the London Company, so organized, the first English colony was firmly planted on the continent in the year 1607, at Jamestown, on the River James, in the present

State of Virginia. The river was so called in honor of the King, James I. of England.

ment was made by the English? How was it effected? What were the names of the two new companies? How was the Raleigh grant divided? What name was given to each part?

7. Where was the first colony planted? What name did it take, and why? Of

The colony took the general name of Virginia. The number of settlers consisted at first of one hundred and five persons. But few of them were laborers, and all were single, that is, unmarried men. The plan of government was set forth in the charter. The officers consisted of seven members of Council, viz., Bartholomew Gosnold (the navigator, who, in the year 1603, had visited and explored the shores of Massachusetts), John Smith, Edward Wingfield, Christopher Newport, John Ratcliff, John Martin, and George Kendall. Mr. Wingfield was chosen president or governor.

8. The season after their arrival proved very sickly, and nearly half their number died before the cool weather set in. Among those that died was Bartholomew Gosnold, one of the ablest men of the Council. The native people, the savages, called Indians, as before stated, were numerous in the neighborhood, and were sometimes hostile. Captain Newport, who had command of the squadron in which the settlers had come over, after a short stay sailed for England, leaving the colony in a very feeble condition. Provisions were scarce, the water was bad, and many of the men were sick. To add to their misfortunes, they quarrelled among themselves. They excluded Captain Smith from the Council; deposed Mr. Wingfield, the president, and put Mr. Ratcliff in his place. Their condition rapidly grew worse, until they gave the management of their affairs to Captain Smith, whose great skill, capacity, and courage, soon restored harmony, brought order out of chaos, and laid the foundations of a permanent prosperity.

9. The government of the settlers, with the right to pass all laws, was vested in the members of the Council, who were appointed by the stockholders of the Company; the

what number did the first settlers consist? What are the names of the first Council appointed? Who was first president?

8. What is said of the condition of the colony? Who died? What is said of the Indians? How long did Captain Newport remain ? How did the colonists act? How was harmony restored?

9. What was the government of the colony at first?

What was the estab

governor, or president, was also, according to the charter, appointed by the stockholders. Changes in these particulars soon followed, as we shall see. The religion of the Church of England was established as the religion of the colony, and the right of trial by jury was secured to all persons charged with murder, or other crimes which were punishable with death. There was no restriction on trade, lande descended according to the common law, and permission to coin money was granted to the colony.

CHAPTER III.

THE COLONY OF VIRGINIA-CONTINUED.

1609-1621.

Captain John Smith-Jamestown-Pocahontas-Arrival of Lord Delaware, etc.

1. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH was born in Lincolnshire, in England, in the year of our Lord 1579. He was apprenticed to a merchant, but not liking the business, he ran away from his master and went to Holland, where he enlisted as a soldier. After some time he went to Austria. which country was then at war with the Turks. He joined the Austrian army, and soon became distinguished for his great personal bravery and skill in single combat. He was rewarded for his services by a patent of nobility conferred upon him by the Duke of Transylvania.

2. After many singular adventures he was taken prisoner by the Turks and sold as a slave. He secured the favor of his mistress, and she, intending to do him a kindness, sent him to her brother, an officer in the Crimea, which was

Kshed religion? What civil rights were secured by the charter? What is said of trade and other matters ?

CHAPTER III.-1. Where was Captain Smith born? 2. How was he treated after being taken prisoner? escape?

What army did he join!
How did he make hit

then a part of the Turkish Empire. Contrary to her expectations, her brother treated Smith with great cruelty. But his spirit was not broken, and he determined to make his escape whenever a favorable opportunity presented itself. He was employed in threshing grain about three miles from the dwelling of his master, and one day, when the bashaw came as usual to oversee him at his labor, he killed him with the flail used in threshing, hid the dead body, and made his escape on his master's horse.

3. On his way back to England he passed through Russia, Poland, Germany, France, and Spain. He reached England just in time to join the companies which were then forming for settlement in America. He became attached to the expedition under the command of Newport, and was made one of the Council.

4. Soon after the affairs of the colony were committed into his hands, as mentioned in the last chapter, he made treaties with the Indians, kept them quiet for a time, and calmed the fears of the settlers. Following the instruc tions of the London Company, as soon as the colony became tranquil, he determined to set out upon a voyage of discovery. With a party of men he went up the Chickahominy River, a branch of the James. They were attacked by Indians about thirty miles above the junction of the two rivers. His companions were slain, and he was made prisoner.

5. He had the great good fortune to persuade his captors that he was a magician, by showing them his pocket-compass, and by writing to his friends in Jamestown. His life. was spared, but he was kept a close prisoner, and carried bound to Powhatan, the king. After consultation with the principal chiefs, and due deliberation, it was determined by Powhatan that the prisoner should die. His head was laid

3 What countries did he pass through on his return to England!
4. What river did he explore? What happened to him and his men ?
5. What did he persuade his captors, and how? What happened
as Powhatan's conclusion?

upon a log of wood, and a huge club was raised by the strong arms of Powhatan himself, to strike the fatal blow.

6. But the blow was not struck, and the prisoner's life was saved. Pocahontas, the daughter of Powhatan, a beautiful girl of about twelve years, had been, all this time, a silent spectator of the scene. When she saw the upraised club about to descend upon the victim's head, she

sprang forward, threw herself upon his breast, and with eyes streaming with tears, begged his life of her father. Moved with pity, he hesitated, then glancing around, he saw in the faces of the chiefs present that they also were deeply moved. The club fell from his hands. He took his weep. ing daughter in his arms, and gave the prisoner his life.

Was he killed! How was his life saved? Can you describe the scene