The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-06-03

| Ito 4 captivity worfc thah death. The Indications
| md corn the irnruments of farming, and houehod
enlis; in word, every thing tina, efIensii! to
| their comfort convenience, continued with
fire; while the minds of the furvivors were appalled,
by the fears of Famine and the elOomeh prclages OF
| future calamities.
This Eruption had been deciive ofthe fate of Vir-
ginia, but for the operation of circumstances
which Opeehancanough could have no controul. The
wife meaflres devfcd by former alembies, had pro-
hibited all trade and intercourse with this people
cept tated markets the frontisrs and it sb
folutely neceHary that the ron.ier houd b. forced
before the interior and the feat of could
| be anaed. Time thus afforded the inland coun-
ties to in their defence; prepare ior which,
they had timely notice from the ugitives, who had
been able to effect ther efcape from andt the ruins
OF their houles and the dead bodies of their murdered
| countrynen.
| The na!Iacre fell with the greate(t weight the
plantations the fouth Tide of James river, and the
heads OF all the rivers it particularly detruc-
tive at the iource Of York Pamuuev river, where
iinee tine mafacre of 1924, Opechancanough had re-
tired with his tribe, and where on this occaion
he commanded in perlon.
Mareb ef calamity 70 dreadful s unexpected
sir Ws9. gave fhock 20 violent, as wears of peace,
Se'ke'yin- and the utnloa esertions of mild and
totb. Indian able administration were unable to re-
country. pair. Sir William Berkeley on his arri-
val, had iet Oh foot various profess for the improve
ment OF the commerce, manufactures, and laple of
the country; and the prome of royal bounty was TO-
enny pledged to the author of any ueful and fucceI
| iu experiment. Warmed by the Genial ray and fof-
terng hand OF liberal patronage the genius of the
colony was beginning TO peep and expand itfef ;
but the terrors of Indian fufpended the labors
OF the loom and the Psugh, together with the fpecu-
latons OF the cloet.- All, who were able to bear
arms, were embodied militia for the defence of
the colony while chofen body, COMPUTING every
twentieth man, commanded by the governor in per-
| ion matched into the enenly's country
The Separations of this war, which ragged hence
'orlh wthous any inermifion till the death of Ope-
ohancanough, are rot detailed by any hiftoran The
early records OF the rate, which might have fupped
this de'ect, arc ent OH the fubje. The relation of
Beverley introductory and Imperfect as it is, con-
tans every particular, which has frvived the rava-
gt OF time and the inaccuracy Of the original repor-
| tiers.
We are told, thar Opeehancanoush at this time
was 10 decrepid nv age, to b. unable to walk; but
that his Prit, riiing above the ruins of his BODY d-
rected from the litter OH which he was carried by
his Indians the oniet and the of his warriors
He Jwbri- The efa,igues he encounteredin
/et cHdtJkrs this difficult and laborous fsrvice COM
Inn fry0n- plc:ed the wreck of his contribution ::
rfo James his feih became macerated; his Enews
| 1"7o1 !oit their tone and ela9icity and his
eye-ids were 10 heavy that he could not fee unles
they lifted up by his attendants In this forlorn
purified him cloe with fquadron of light cavalry &
| carried in triumph to James. Town.
L" the honor OF the governor ihould be recorded
that his conduct to his luxurious venerable captive,
was invariably marked by great tenderness and uma
| NIFTY; and the members of the council and anembly
Par'ook Ill the intereh and pity excited by his maiei-
TIC aud manly appearance In general too, the feel
ing ofthe coonifts did honor their nature on this
| occation: They faw the terrible enemy who had
been the author OF 90 many milchies Virginia now
captive III their hands, bending under the load OF
years, and iiattered by the hardihps of war and
they generously relnlved bury the remembrances of
their injuries, III his Prelent melancholy reverle of
fortune.
Astor him, his department fuitable to his for
mer glory, and the lofty fpr and mnxilus of al Ind
an hero. He obtained to utter any complaint or to
n'aniiet the fghteit unesine and nitead of depre-
eating the torturcs which he calculated were prepar-
ing for him, his language aud demeanor befpoke the
mott abfo'ute contempt and defiance But for the moi
! part, his iprit was ihrouded in naughty and dif
dsinul relerve. So eoniummate his real or aHu-
med indifference and apathy that he rarely permit
ted his eye-lids to be lifted up if he derous
OF ihewing his enemies, that there was nothing in
their poieiion, which he conceived worthy to excite
his approximations, or attract his curioiity.
He it In this ftate he continued feveral DAYS,
accounted BY attended by his faithful Indians, who
one Of biz begged to be admitted to the honor of
g~ordf. fharinS his fate, and performing ,hore
Offices about their beloved chief which his merits and
iniiEmities required But neither his undaunted FIJI
rt, nor the generoiy of his enemies could preferve
his life He was bafely ot through the back by one
OF the folders appointed to guard him, without any
other provocaou, than the recollection of injuries
which ihould have been forgotten; and the appre-
heniion of eicaPe, which it his duty 10 prevent
His aFoa- To the laft moment, bis courage re-
ybi2g firm mained unbroken, and the nearer death
".J5 md approached, the greater caution he uled
7'qgnlnimi- in concealing his detection, and prefer
ty' wing the dignity and ferenity of his al
pet. few moments before he expired, he heard an
mutual buisie in his Pron Having ordered his atten
dants to lit up his eye.lids, he dcovered a number
OF perions croudiDG round him, for the purpofe of
gratifying an UNREASONABLE ard cruel curiofity The
dying Chief felt this ndiguity with keenneis of fem
ibilty the more VIOLENT it was new and unforeGern
| 1t was buzz OF PATTON, nlomentary attendance
of nature the habits Of education and its erbi
bit!on and effect mat be acknowledged to correCpond
with the greatnels Of the occafon Without dr;gn-
ing notice the truders, he RATED himfelf from tbe
earth, and wh the voice and tone of authority. COM
! Hire maoded that the governor ihould be inn
6roc;59 mediatey called in. When he made
Lfr WHiiam his appearance Opechancanough rcorn-
! Berf'icy fully told him, th1., had it been his
fortune to have taken fir William Berkeley. prifoner
lie FhonId not mcany have expelled him as ihow to
his people"
Hif dlaf6. II is fiid, that fir William Berkeley in
tended Tending him to England, with the view oe