ry, lying, much of it, scattered and fragmentary, in part
slumbering in the dusty oblivion of Transatlantic archives, ought to be
collected with pious care, and embalmed in the perpetuity of print.

The work now presented to the reader will be found to be written in
conformity with the following maxim of Lord Bacon: "It is the office of
history to represent the events themselves, together with the counsels,
and to leave the observations and conclusions thereupon, to the liberty
and faculty of every man's judgment."

I avail myself of this occasion to express my acknowledgments to Hugh B.
Grigsby, Esq., (who has contributed so much to the illustration of
Virginia history by his own writings,) for many valuable suggestions,
and for having undergone the trouble of revising a large part of the
manuscript of this work.

PETERSBURG, VA., _September 2d, 1859_.

SUMMARY OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.--Early Voyages of Discovery. Sir Walter Raleigh's
Colony of Virginia. 17

II.--Early Life and Adventures of Captain John Smith. 30

III.--Landing at Jamestown and Settlement of Virginia
proper. Wingfield, President of Council. Ratcliffe,
President. 35

IV.--Smith's Explorations. Smith, President. 55

V.--Smith's Adventures with the Indians. His Administration
of the Colony. His Departure. His Character and
Writings. 70

VI.--The Indians of Virginia. 85

VII.--Sufferings of the Colonists. Wreck of the Sea-Venture.
Miscellaneous Affairs. Percy, President. Lord
Delaware, Governor. Percy, Acting Governor. Sir
Thomas Dale, High Marshal. Sir Thomas Gates,
Governor. 92

VIII.--Pocahontas visits England. Her Death. Yeardley,
Deputy Governor. 112

IX.--Argall, Governor. His Administration. Powhatan's
Death. 124

X.--Sir Walter Raleigh. 132

XI.--First Assembly of Virginia. Powell, Deputy Governor.
Yeardley, Governor