Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-05
Ertracts from TIE EDITORS Prefaee.
PEIEsTLEr's Let. ox H1sr. pa. Il

Much of the present work has existed
until now only in manuscript, and in sin
gle copIesi and has been inaccessible to
all our Historians. To this cause NAV b.
sscribed some Of the errocs with which
all he histories of Virginia abomnd bu.
90 many of hem NAV h.. traced IN the
gross ignorance or W lfui rais, epresenla.
lions OF the English his,orians. Excen
he rays OF light reflected by Mr.. Burk
(rom the scantY materials in his Doeses
sIon,) on that portion Of our history VII oh
comprises the existence Of the common.
wealth. of England, the whole Of that ne
Rod Is either enVelnped in total darkness
Or has been mos, ineccura'ely represented
by every historian who pyofessed 60 depic
It In detailing he leading event ofthat
dav' II has been said 1" that the governors
OF Virginia were appointed By the com
monweaith or by Cronsei' that The peo-
pie, tired OF the restraints imposed on their
commerce. & strengthened in PRINCIPLES Of
Loyalty by the reyalsts who Cooked hi,h.
er from England, were innDAtien 10 shake
OFF the woke OF Cromwell and dragging
Sir William Berk-le ley from his retirement,
nnaT'rl uslg app -inied him governor, and
proclaimed Charles ii, WIKI all his ii les,
before the restora ion had been e!fected
in England" There is not one word OF
truth in any part Of this relation M.
single governor was appoincd e'thc~ by
the parliament or by Cromwell bu they
were all eiecled by the House Of Burres
SEES, ia pursuance of the powers vested
in them by the provisional articles of go.
vernment, adopted at the surrender ofthe
country TO the commissioners appointed
on behalf Of The parliament. The corn.
merce of Virginia was even more tree
han that OF the mother country. None
Of the restrictions Of the ael Of navigation
were felt. The vessels Of all nations we're
admitted into their ports and a du,y Of
zen shillngs a hogsheed imposed on all
tobacco exported, and shipped 10 any par:
OF America or elsewhere except in English
vessels directly bound to England from
the payment OF which du.y, vessels belong.
ing 10 Nirginisus were afterwards eZemp..
ed. Finally the assembly passed an aEl
asserting the right Of the colony 10 free
trade wish ali nations in amny wish the
people o. England, and compelled an mas
tiers % vessels 10 give bond, in the penal.
~ of two thousand pounds sterling, not to
modest any person trading here under the
protection OF The laws So FAR were the
assembly from erecting the roya! s,a,dard
and proclaiming CHARLES II. at the time
ehen they eleeled SIR William Berkeley
governor, that, by the very FIRST an Of DE-
same session they expressly took th- pow.
ers of government into their own bands
and directed that all wits should issue
" in he name Of the Grand ASS ,l5ly .
BY he second a9 they appoinie Sir Wi
lam Berkeley, governor enjcned 1t on
nm 20 call an assembly once IT, two years
Z. least, or oftener il necessary gave him
he power Of making choice Of a Secreta
and council Of ate, with The approb4
son Of The assembly F; and restrained hin
from dissolvlng tue assembly without In.
.onsent os the major part OF the house,
These atls Pc ssed 10 ao assembly held IT.
March 1890, between the res gaaiior
IF Richsrd Cromwell, (on tie 22d OF A
prib 1851 and the tsslorsGgnof Charis