Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-05-30
WI I $ C e l. n N X.
From The Farmers Register.
SIR WILLIAM BERKELEY'S ACCOUNT OF
VIRGINIA, IN 1871.

From the Farmers Register.
SIR WILLIAM BERKELEY'S ACCOUNT OF
VIRGINIA, IN 1871.
The next extract presented, will be the
entire copy Of the Enquiries to the Go.
vernon OF Virginia, submitted by the
Lords Commissioners of Foreign Planta-
tions, with the Governors answers to each
distinct head" Henning says of this pa
per, that "a more correct statistical ac-
count OF Virginia, at that period, cannot
perhaps any where be found. The m.
swers appear to have been given with
great candor, and were from a man well
versed in every thing relating 10 the
country" Sir VIM. Berkeley was for
thirty-six years Governor of Virginia, by
royal authority, and exercised the power
during that whole time, except the short
intervals when dlspossessed, first by the
establishment of the English common
wealth's rule, and afterwards by Bacon's
rebellion. The Governor was an admit
rable specimen Of the loyal cavaliers of
his time. His emit re devotion to his mon.
arch, and submission to the regal will,
had nothing in it ofthe merceiary motives,
or crawling servility, of a modern cour-
tier, OF even Of many a republican office.
holder, or office. seeker, Of four own time
and country. His loyalty was founded
in principle and mistaken as the princl-
pie was, and misdirected TO the basest of
kings, Charles ii, the feelings and mo-
tives yet command our respect, as much
es those of the stern puritans who stood
on the extreme of opposite ground
Berkeley's loyalty was like that so admit
rabIy depicted by Scott in the character
Of Claverhouse. Even amidst his expires.
sions Of loyal devotion TO royalty in these
answers, there may be discovered a proud
ard stern bearing, and scorn, which he
scarcely cared TO repress, for the mea.
sures o fmisrule. But, bold and free as
was the old cavalier in expressing disap-
probation of the foolish and injurious poll.
cy of the royal authority, still. in bis eyes
there were no crimes so black as disloy.
atty and rebellion /; and the implacable
vengeance with which, a few years after
wards, he pursued, and the cruelty with
which he punished, the participators in
Bacon's most noble (and for a short time,
successfully resistance to the calling des-
potism OF the royal government, were
doubtless deemed by Berkeley to be strict
ly required by his duty, nd only as a
Governor, but as a mar and a christian.
Under the influence of noble feelings and
impulses thus unfortunately perverted, aft
ter the suppression OF the rebellion, he
caused the blood of the actors TO be
"poured out like water :" and consider
ing the small amount of population of the
colony, (Which then had existed but 10
years perhaps in no country, under like
circumstances, was the vengeance of the
law more u%nsparingly and ~bloodily infllc-
ted. Yet Governor Berkeley, who urged
on and carried through these acts OF cru.
city and legal murder, doubtless consider
ed his course as necessary and as praise
worthy, as if he had been engaged IN ex-
terminating ferocious or predatory wild
beasts. With all this, Berkeley was just
the man who, under different framing,
would have made one Of the purest and
sternest OF republicans. The same ma
terials land they are of the most superior
kind, which were fashioned by education
into a Berkeley, or Clayerhouse, would,
under different circumstances, have made
a Cato, a Pym, or a Carnot. /,
ENQUIRIES TO GOVERNOR BERKELEY,
AND ANSWERS.
l.. What councils, assemblies, and
courts of judicature are within your 60
vernment, and Of what nature and kind?
Ansrer. There is a governor and