The Augusta chronicle and gazette of the state. (Augusta [Ga.]) 1789-1806, December 07, 1805, Image 1

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SATURDAY, December 7, igoj. AUGUSTA CHRONICLE , G A Z E X T E O F THE STATE. i ; : \ 4* . , . . ~ ‘ -’‘"M- 1 ’ kEEDOM o» thi PP.S S S a*» TRIAL sir JU K inviolat*. Ccnfiitntisv of Georgia* .. ■ , .... " ' • '■ -A— ■ ■■ —— ■, A U G U S T. A: Printed by D. DRISCOL, near the - %I3&ket. [3 Dolls, per Annum, ■ V. ■ * 'w ' " .■■■.■..■»■'- —■ ■■■——■■■ i. ■ ■ - - . - ■ - I II , - - to- , . —mi »m n i —!■■ ■■ >1 —■*iiWiw in W—*—«l—————■!■ i mi w,, , «mi—.■» ■■ -i i - ~, , , imk t’MnmoiranMMn mn*m< - ■-- * Sr ' ~ age Wi Ti' ~4i I i rr~ i mi™f ■■ ■■ b ■■■— i —— KEW HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. yft have for a considerable time past pof flfTed the firft volume of tha elegant and spirited hijiiry of Virginia by Mr, J. D. Burk —and gratifed by the peruul of the foil have looked anxiously for the publica tion of the ficcccdlng volumes—-that our readers m»y be able to form for themfelvcs av opinion of the manner and ftyic of this in\«rett»ng publication, wc Hi all offer a small extract, on this day and another on a future day—recommending the work to the liberal and tie lover of meritorious talent employed to the h#nor and ch® credit of American lit— rature. Memoirs of Vacahontas, front the JtrJi <Vflumt of Burke’s h 'jiorj of Virginia. T 6o7— After making th® tour of aimed all the tribes, who acknowledged the autho rity of iW«tkn, captain Smith was at length brought into the prefenc® cf ths «tn pcr*r, at Wcrowoc»moce, Werowecomoco, lay on the north fide •f York river, is Gloucester county oppo se Queen’s «r«ek, aboat twenty.fiv* miles 1 below the fork «f the rircr. It wai at that time Powhatan’s principal place of refidencc although afterwards, not admiring the iicigbourhood of tk« Engliih, k® retired to Oropake. Here, the fam* ceremonies wer® repeated and the fame attention was paid to tke com fort a»d sccamvrfodation of th* prifoaer.— Hat bt rightly canfidered that ®o eenclu kor. ought to be drawn in his fav®r from these fymptoMS, imr from tke pad forbear awte ®f this people : on tke contrary la* con clijded, he had keen spared to gratify th® court h v the pageant cf a triumph, and t® give fole»nity to his fentencc, lay having it prwcaaccd by the m®atk of their Mon arch. Tins o®Ukrs,ted ohieftian, who, by his valor and address, had educed under ki® power, th® numerous tribes, who inhabit th# spacious country between James river, from its mouth to the fills--rand th« falls of all tke great rivers cn the Pot®wrmc «rcn ta Putuxcnt, in Maryland; and whofc tame ftr**k t«rrar to the nations bordering ea the lakes—wm at this tins® sixty years old, of a marked sr.d penetrating counte nance and msjellic department. On _ tke entrance of Smith, ho wts drcfiLd in 3 clc«k mode of the ikUM of the racoon, and v-ac elevated •» a woodtn throne, f®m® what in shape rsfcmbliug a bcuftcad, before a larga fire. On cither hand ®f tke chief, Ikt two y®vmg girls, his daughters : Hia •ouafellon, adorned with fh«lls and leath ers, wsre ranged on ®a,ch fid® of the houfc, wirb 8 n equal number of womtn ftaeding behind them. On Smith’® entrance, the attcadunts of Pawhatltn (houted. The queen of Appamatox was appointed to bring feias water to walk, whilst anotner driwi kis fcands witk a bunch of feathers. A confutation of th® emperor and his •ouncil, having taken place, it was ai jodgsd cxpsdicaf t© put Smith to d«ain, as a man whofc fuperi®r c*«rag® a»d mnvu Made him peculiarly dnngwoas to thefafety ol Hit Indians. The dccifion kiing made known to tke attendants of the *mp®ror, preparations immediately conunetced for carrying it into exscuci®*, by rues::* ft iuspl* aad famwa/y ** the »atar® or th® tri#l * * . . , Tw# Urge Unnss were brought in, and placed at tke fwt of the «mpcror—a»d- on them wes laid the bead or th® priloner, »*itu larg* club was brought in, witk wki«k Powhatan, far wkoasoat of reipcct, w*s r®Tcrv®d this konor, prepared to cruft the besd of his captirc. Ike afllmbly lookf| on witk sensations cf awe, tproba kly not anmixed with pity for the fate of *■ en®®*tr, wkof«krav®ry had aoramanded their admirativn—and in whof® misforttnes thrir hatred was forgotten. The fatal dab was apHftcd—tk® br®aft« •f tlis company already by aaticipatioa, | felt tke dreadful crash, which was to bc rwive th® wre«tchcd viAim of life-—wk«a th® y#!i«g #rd btaatifal Pocahontas, ta® iViovfd da»ghi«r es th® ®wp®rop, witk a » fcrick-cf terr#r and agaay, thr«vv herfclt •n the body of Smith. Her hafir was l«ofe, and k?r ®yes ftrtaming witk tears, wail® h;r who!* niacner bespoke the ceep diirtis usd sgoiy of her bosom. She calf a bc ficehing lack at her ferioat and aft®n:fhcd fstker, deprecating his wrath, ®fid implor iag his pity and tks life ®f the prisoner, wiih ail th® eloaa«nc® of iaip*iS»a*u forraw * TT. remainder of this fccnc is honourable to the Powhatan ; it will re remain a lifting monument, that though different principles of .rftion, and the influ ence ofcuftosn, have to the manners and opinions of that people, an appearance neither amiable nor virtuous, they still re tain the noblest property *f th* human cha racter, thc<o«ch of pity, and the feeling of humanity. The club of the emperor was still uplift ed—but pity had- touched his bosom, and hi* eyn wa* every moment losing its fserce nef»; he looked round to collect his forti tude, or perhaps to find an excuse for his wcaknefs in the faces efhis attendants ; but every eye wasfufFufed with the fwcetly con tagious foftnefs. The generous savage no longer hefitared.—The* cnmpefllpn of tic rude date is neither oftentatiaus, nor dila tory ; nor do*s it insult its objeft, by tne execution of impoflible conditions ; Powha tan lifted his grateful and delighted slaugh ter ; and the captive was scarcely yet aflared ofjfafety from the «arth. 1609 —The proceedings on both sides, from this moment, refisdved themselves into a game «f (kill betwe»o the sagacious Euro pean, sxerciied in the refined arrificc of ci vilization, and th* wild barfrarian, whose facilities were sharpened by exercij*, and unimpaired by luxury. On this occasion, Smith was fared only by tic affrftionate folicitudc of Pacahontas. Thii interesting maiden, who appears on all ©ccafions, as th* guardian ganiua of th* Engliui, being apprised of the intentions of her father, ventured at midnight through the woeds :to the quarters of Smith, and with tears ftrea mlng from her eyes warned him of his dan ger, and besought him tn confute his fafa ty. -• 161 1—Meanwhile captain Argali, who had just arrived from Europe, having by the mtags of Sic bny Spillam the praceding year eftabiifhcd a friendly interccuife with th* Indiens ot the Potomac, proceeded on*e more on a trading adventure to that rivtr. By the means of Japafawas, king ofFowtoinsc, he difeovered that Pacahnn ta» wit concealed in the ncighourhood, and hn immediately conceived ths design of get ting her into his powar; the pofihflion of so valuable an hostage, would operate as a check upon the hoftiledifpofitten of the cm pertr, and might perhaps lie made an instru ment of peace and reconciliation. V The integrity ofjapfawas was not proof against ih* reducing appearanc* of a copper kettle which was fixed as the price ®f hit treachery, and this amiable maiden, whose foal nature formed on one of its kinddft mo dal# was betrayed by her perfidious host, in to the hands of the pcopl* whom h*r tender and compafilonate spirit had often frmched from famine and the sword. For the causes of the piinceff’s ahfcnce from her father we arc left to hare conjeft irc; H*r avowed partiality for th* Eng lish had probably drawfi down cn her, the difpieafur* oY this high spirited monarch ; and fh* had retired to avoid the effefts of his immediate resentments. The news of this flagrant violation of faith had at irft, a different efthft to what )■ had been contemplated ; fnr Powhatan, dearly as he loved Pocahontas, had too much at heart the fa fety es hit people, tn make any confidcrable f.tcrifices for her re iteration. He lent two of hisfonsnuth* faith »f a flag of trace t* afcert.fin her fitaa tion ; with whose report he appeared to he fatisfied—hut he Rill perfilted in refufing the prepofed ransom. An incident however, occurred at this timo which contributed to foften the ob darate spirit of the savage. A tender rc pard''",*ad commenced in th* fenfiblcandfuf ccptiul* bosom of P«caho«t.as, for a Mr. Rolf?, which every day gained strength by the deli«are attention of that gentleman* Th«ir mutual paflions at length found words and was disclosed with all th« fears and ro i deßy ©f love, to Sir T. Dale ; whilst a sim ilar confotinn was made tn her brother, by Pacahontas. Information of thole circum r f jmccs being dispatched to Powhatan, he formally gave his canfent to the proposed union ; aad the marriage was folcmnized in tkc pretence ofOpachifn, unci* toPosa hontas, ard nf h*r two brojh*r#. —This year, fir T. Date, return ed to Rurop*, taking with him the prbeefs P*cahontas, and her hulband Mr. Rolfc, with fevcral Indians of both sexes. He left the government tc isptain G. Y«ardly dur ing kli abfituc*. G S OR QJ A. n Willi——»r»TMiin "Hf "»»»-»*«»*»«!n»^ Whilst- tlttfe filings were tranfafted in Virginia, Pocahontas, now called th# lady Rebecca, had become a fubjeft of curiosity to all deferiptions es people ia London. Captain Smith, at the time of ker arrival, was on the cv# of embarking on his second expedition to Nev-Eegland ; but he felt himfelf bound by gratitude and attachment, to attempt something in f»var of his beae fafliafs previous, to his departure. After fame deliberation as t* the bcfl mode of ef fect ng his purpefe, he draughted a petition to the queen, fitting down at large the me rits of this princcfs, and her claims on the patronage cf her raajelly, aid the whole Jhnglifh people, ’3 bis petition, which bears his fignatare, is fail to have made a favorable impieifiau on the Kind of the queei, which every day gained strength by tb« demeanor and into. | rtftinjjf'runners of the ptinctfs, Site I.J I already Acquired ooanderah!# proficiency in the £#glifh language ; whilst the original capacity and vigour of her mind, improved by oWVmtlon, aid tempered by foftiefs and fincsmy, made herccnverfation esarted by the principal nobility. In the language of the church, fire had become a chrhftian, having exchanged by th# my {tenons t«r«- monies of bap dim, her Indian name of Po. cahantus, for the more modest and gofpcl ode of Rebecca ; while the native cl«;.ancs of her mini, was delighted at the fortunate transition from the coarse and licentiois niaanrrs of her former slate, to the dclicat# and decorous redraints of social life. She lived in the niidft of refinements unalloyed by the vires, which clvbafe its value, pre fiHtirg a solitary bnt honorable example of artiijci.il dcccacy fuperadded to native vir tu#, 4 Such, at the court ©f London, was the' priscafs Powhatan ; such was Die, r. hen caplin Smith paid her a visit at Brantford, whither Ih# Haa fetirca witn r.cr mnatrrurro avoid the fmokn and noise of the city. She Iwd/been told, (for What purpose hillory does not inform us) that Smith, was dead, ' akcl (tow feeing him, all at once, in her pre fenqi, overcome, by the conflicting emotiins of joy and resentment at tbc iaipofitio* wjlich had been pradifed on her, flic turned atvay from him, hitting her face with her bands. After Tome entreaty she conquered her emotions, and with n mixtun ci firm, ■cfs and tenderness, flic addressed him in cite fallowing words : “ Yob,” said (he, ** proirufed my fatfcsr that whatever wm yours, fhoulJ be kis, and that you and he would be all one. Be ing a stranger in our country, you called Powhatan father ; and I tor the fame reason will now call y*u so." In rain Smith represented, the absurd arid jealous pride of the court, as a re:;fi#n fair declining this grateful and honorable ti tle.—She continued in a more elevated tone: “ You were not afraid to come into ray father's country, and ftfike a fc*r into ere. ry body but rnyftdf; and :. r e Iftsre afraid to let me call you father ? I tell you then I will call you father, anil you Hull call me child; and so I will for ever be of yesr eountry and kindred., They always told us yea were dead ; and I knew rot other wise 'till I came to Plymouth, but Pow hatan commanded Temoceme t© fee you, and to know the truth, because your coun trymen are much given to lying." . It is imagined i»y f«mc phiiofophen, that the varieties of the human character depend lass on nature than in the difference ia the external circumstances being infinitely more mam?mus and varied in society than in the ravage date, th# uniformity of manners ia the latter, arising from the abfenee ®t arts and feianecs, would indue# an alm#ft {icrfeft \ tmf#raiity of character. Conformably to this theory, the charafler of ore ladian, would he th# character of every individual in his tribe. But the eharaflef of Powha tan is, no more tha charaftcr ©f Bougli, than the charafter of Ulysses, i* ! that of N#ftor #r Agamemnon j a#d the fceijr js «nd •totality ol Pocahontai, dsfco- I ver a character so evidently difbnct froi« i th# rest of h#r tribe,'that a reader #rKC [ quainred with the circmiftaiscti, would be apt to pltce herh»rth in Torn# agcaad nation where a drawing virtue and amiable imp!i#i ty *«r« beginning tojprevail. The character of Urn wom»», as it hand* in the concurrent accounts ec ail ourhiftorians, is not, it is with confidtacs affirwed, furpafled by a»y in the wfcol# range cf htftory j and for thof# quajitits more cfpacially, which do k#*#r H sir aa. [Yot. XX. No. 1001 turc ; a* humane and feeling heart; an ar< tUr-and a*{haken constancy in ker attach m*nt3 5 flic Hand*, aknoft, without a rival. At the firft appearance of the Europeans, her young heart was impressed wtthadrau ratio* et the perfows and manners ,of the flrangers ; but it is not during their prof • perity, that (he difpiays her attachment— (he is not inflenced by atfv of their greaf ncfs/ or feat of their refcntmcr.t, ia the af fiance fne affords them; It was during their fitvereft diftreffti, when their mtA celebrated chief was a captive in their hands and was dragged through the country, as d fpcdlacle for the sport and detifion of her people, that (he placed hcrfelf between then and dellruftion. The fpcdacle of Pocahontas in an atti tude of entreaty, with her hair loofc, and her eye* dreaming with tear* fupplicatin? her enraged father for the life of captain* ' Smith, when he was about t© croft the head of his prolhate vidlirn with a club; is a fituution equal to the genius of Haphrel : and when the reyal lavage direds his fero cious glance for a moment, from Ids victim, to reprova his weeping daughter ; when foftened by his did relics, hi* eye, Jofes its ficrcencfs and lie gives his captire to her tears, the painter will difeover anewoc cafion for cxercifing his talents; In Pocahontas, wc have to admire, not th*fofter virtacs only. She is found, when the interell of liar friends demands it, full ot forefight and intrepidity. When a conspiracy is planned for the ex termination of the Engliih, (he eludes die jealous vigilance of her father, and venture at midnight, through a thousand perils, to apprise them of their danger, Matin no fitnation dnes (he appear to more advantage, than when di (gutted with the cold formalities of a court, and the impertinent and tronblcfomc cariouty of -•w- -ry-r—»- -jj- - i.-_j _ pathetic remouftrancfe to captain Smith, on the distant cnldnefs of his manner—briefly fke. ftatri the rife and prog refs of their Triendftip, modestly ihe pointed out the fer viccs, Hie had rendered kits ; concluding with an ?)ijfl;dlin» picture of her (ituation, ar a diftanc# from her coantry ami family * and fummnded by Grangers in a ft range land. Indeed, there is ground for apprehension, that poflerity in reading this part ot Amer ica.* hlilory, will he inclined to corifiiler the {lory of Pocahontas, as an iv.tcrcfting romance ; perhaps recalling the palpable fiction ot early, travellers and navigators, they nrej fupoofe, that in ihofc rimes, 3 portion of ficHen was deemed cdcutial to ike cmbclliihrocMt of hiftory : it is n6t even iaipr: ’.able, tlur, conquering every thing relating to captain Smith and Pocahontas as a merefiftion, tk?y may vent their fplceu ajamfl the historian, for impairing the in to rest of his plot, by marrying the princes of Pawkatan to a Mr. Rolfe, of whom noth ing had previously been fdd, i« dyfiancc cf all the expectation* railed by the foregoing parts of the fable. It is the last fad office *f liSSory to record the fate of this incomparable woman, Th* severe m»fc, who pntfrrles over this depart ment, cannot plant tkc cyprcfs over her grave and consign her to the tomb, with the fUtelypwip and graceful tears of poetry* f*c aa«:m with pious for row inurn the alli es cad immortalize the virtues of the dead by the foul pierccir.g elegy, which fancy, • myftcrious deity, pours ouf, wild ana! plaintive; her hair loofc, and white. b©f6w throbbing with anguish; Thofc thing; ar« placed equally beyond !ier reach and her in clinafions Rat hiftory aftacls not to concial her furrow on this occasion. She died at Gtavcf*nd r where (hr was preparing to embark with her hufbahd and fori on kcr rsturn to Virginia, Every tiling; had bam dona f*r the accommodation of this intercftlig family d the voyage, and ia ord*r that the Itatc and figure of k*r huf | ba*d might k»ar fom« proportion of tha j quality of the princafs, he was *r;ade fectc- . ry *r recorder general, a place, which ap paar* to have beta created cxpfcfaiy for tka occasion, Har death was a happy mixta;# of Indian l»rtitilde aed thriftian fubmiflibn, aifaeding all tkofc whs fa .r her, l*y the lire - ly and edifying picture of piety and virtu* which marked ker latter moments. Tke tender years cf tha younger Rolfe, I thus bar* ft of tha nccaflary car* end atr«n. S tioa »f his mother, fuggrilcd tlt* expedien cy of 1 giving UI in iu Er.ghad, until « t ft rang tk ansklau him t»b*sr tke &i : \ » *