Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-04-22
From the Richmond Compiler.
THE oLpEN TIME.


.xcsn, the one owned by Mr.. Jefferson,
entitled The General Historic Of VTgi-
MIA. New-England and the Summer Isles
nth the names of the Adventures Plan
,ers and Governors from their FIRST begin
ming. An. 1884 to this present 1926. &c.
&c. &c. By Captaine Smith sometymes
Governor in those countryes and Admiral
!, of New England. London, printed 1852"
The reader will Immediately perceive
that this is the celebrated work, partly
written by the famous Smith, which gives
the description of the first settlement OF
Virginia, the building of flames Town, the
manners and customs OF the North Ameri-
can In,iians-The adventures OF Smith are
amongst the most extraordinary upon re-
cord They approach almost to romance.
His intercourse with Powhatan, and his
high minded daughter Pochahontas, have
indeed been wrought up into very pref
ty tale.
The Indians present a most Interesting
spectacle at this period-"The forme OF
their commonwealth is a monarchicall 60
yernment one as emperour ruieth euer
many kings or governors. Their chleie
sr,,ler is called Posphatas and taketl ms
name Of his principal PLACE of dwelling
called Po,rhatan." At Werowcomoco,sa says
Smith. on the right side Of the river Pa
,naonkes, was bis residence, when was
delivered him prisoner, seine "a myfes from
James Towne, where for the most part
he was resident, but at last be took SO Int
lie pleasure in our neare neighborhood.
that he retired himself TO Orapakes, in the
desert between Chickamasia and Fought
ssund." (Pamunkey From another pas
sage il appears, that the town OF Powha-
tan was situated about mile below the
falls Of Powh atan, the present seatof VII
liam Mayo, Esq. abouta mile below this
city. near to the river. There is rising
ground at the present Powhatan, hemmed
in On one side by steep precipice, and
susceptable of being strongly defended
which may have been the site OF the " sal
rage forts" spoken Of by Smith in these
FERNS :-ss the rest he seated gallantly at
Powhatan, in that salvage fort. readie built,
and prettily fortified with poles and barks
of trees, sufficient to have defended them
from eli the salvages in Virginia--no place
we knew so strong, SO pleasant and de-
lishtiull in Virginia, tor which we calit
.Nonsnch.' %
Wishing to furnish our readers with some
.pecimen of the style and orthography OF
this curious volume, we have selected a
passage relating principally to Pochahon-
ias-Itis we'll known, that she was the
daughter of Powhatan I; that she married
Mr.. John Rolfe. an Enslishnan, from which
marriage some families in Virginia are de-
.cended: and that with her husband she
went to England. The following is the
interesting piece Of composition we lay be-
fore our readers. M :.
Before she arrived at London, Cap
}.;ne Smith 10 deserue her former courte-
sizes made her qualities knowne TO the
Cueeaes most excellent Majestic and her
count, and writ little booke TO this effect
10 the Queene: An abstract whereof ioi-
lows. 80.
tn the most ai;gh and rirtaous Prinessse
Queens .inre Of Great Brafana'e.
Mos. adnared Quesne--The leue |
beare my God, my king and countrie, hath
go oft emboldened NEE in the worste Of ex-
IRENE dangers, that now domestic doth con-
s,ra;ne me presume thus farre beyond my
selfe, to present your majestic this short
discourse: ii iugratitude be deadly poyson
ts all honest vertues, / must be guiltie OF
that crime if | should omit any means 10
bethankfull. Soitis. =.
"That some ten yeeres agoe being IN
Virginia, and taken prisoner by the power
O, Poxhatan their chiefe king, recelued
from this great salvage exceeding great
cour,isis, especially from his some Na'a-
ouas, the most manifest, contest, beldest
spirit, euer saw in salvage, and ms SIS
ter Poeakonias, the king $ most dear and
well beloued daughter, being but childe
oftwelue or thi.teeae yeeres OF age, whose
! compassionate pitiful heart, OF my despe-
rate estate, gaue me much cause TO respect
her: being the FIRST christian this proud
) king and his grim attendants ever saw; and
: thus inthrailed in their barbarous pow