New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-02

fhar
the barren rocks of New-Engand. This. he said,
was no, so fsr the colony of Virginia enrolled
smonu its members many men Of arden. and de-
voted petv. Both had profigates among them,
and both we're blessed with those OF the highest
Cbris,iao characters And i, worthy of re-
mark tha, the first duel that ever occurred on this
con,iuen, wa. fought in New-England within a
wear after the Pilgrims landed upon the plymouth
Rock.
SMITH commenced The work of building Jams :
town. He provided for all comfortable shelter,
and it was in perfect keeping with the gene
rosi,v of his heart, that thous ne built habita-
tion for every other man in the colony, be made
none for himself. Provisions becoming scarce lie
went out among the Indians-with whose language
even he was entirely unacquain;ed. But ne came
back loaded with corn. Again he toiled scheme
OF Winfield and again he procured food from the
savages around them. AT length he became involved
wirh some of the Indian tribes; and being at
tackled By p great number he for long time kept
them a, bay, but finally sank to his middle in
morass. He then threw away his weapon and
surrendered He expected instant death, and yet
stopped not to ask his life. He produced pock-
ct compass, and they gazed at the needle with
wonder and astonishment. But be was bound to
tree and their arrows aimed at his heart, when
suddenly the chief held up the compass and his
life was spared.
He was brought to the Court of Powhatan. In
all his peril he never for moment betrayed tear
or lost his selt-command The sayages threatened
to burn jamestown and for e long time he endeav-
Srea to dissuade them from it-but to no purpose
He finally asked to send messenger there to which
they assented. He wrote to the people there
full account of the destruction threatened and
ala1t h,ol- l,y
Indians might know he had made communication
TO them They did so: and the Indians were over
whelmed with astenshment, declaring that he was
either prophet or else could make paper talk
Still he condemned to death; and then occur
red the preservation of his life by the interpositen
of Pocahontas. Verify she was Priacess of Gods
own making He returned TO the Colony after an
absence of seven weeks and found two factories
existing, and the stronger of them about to take
the bark and sail for England He rescued it from
them and then conspiracy was formed against his
life; but he speedily had the consprators in irons.
All the colony feared him-and the Indians feared
him even more than the coonists. Jamestown was
burned the energy of Smith rebuilt it. The In
dians committed robberies upon the coonists they
ceased when he took them in hand and adminis-
tered the wholesome discipline of the whip.
Still he determined to explore the Chesapeake: :
the 2nd of June from jamestown and returned on
the Sd of July. He was then chosen President Of
the Colony-but soon set out again with twelve
men, and on the Sd Of September returned again
after voyage of 5000 miles, making q map of the
country he had explored, which has never since
| been surpassed for its accuracy Onhis return ne
formally inducted into the Office of President,
and the Colony became orderly and prosperous.
The English Council soon sent out a ship with
seventy more colonsts and an order that they
should not return until they had done three things
two of which were impossible: l. TO discover
the South Sea: 9. to bring back lump Of
gold and 3. to bring one of the lost company who
had gone out with Reliegh in 1537-only l9 years
before The manly sense of SMITH was reused al
these exhibitions OF folly: and he treated with per
feet contempt the idea of accomplishing either o
the three matters enjoined upon him.
! Dr. II. related several anecdotes Of SMITH 5
adventures with the Indian tribes, WITH some or
| whom he became involved in war On one occa-
sion he ventured out among the Pamunkey Indians
and induced to visit the hut of the chief
under pretencc of friendship, and promises of q
| supply of corn. When they had arrived within.
the house was surrounded by some two hundred
Indian bowmen. SMITH was not one whit dis
mayed q, the prospect of almost certain death:
but marching boldly up to the chief, he told him
that he perfectly understood his treacherous pur-
pose, and that he de6ed him and all his men.
Drawing pistol from his belt, he twined one
hand in the locks OF his savage foe and presented
the pistol to his breast with the other He then
led him forth before them al and dared the whole
Pamunkey tribe TO discharge a single arrow at him.
He told them he perfectly knew their intent and
would take bloody vengeace on them if they dared
to injure a hair OF his head. And now,', said
ha ,bn loo,
promised to load it with corn; if you do not do il!
within two hours, l III load ii mith your dead car
cases +" The bows of the Indians were laid
aside, the ship was loaded, and Smith set sail for
home.
The Company, having ebtained new charter,
Lord Delaware was appointed President and large
fleet was out but only seven vessels arrived at
jamestown. Those in which the officers of
the colony embarked were wrecked upon the pas
sage and on the arrival of the remainder scene
of great disorder was presented. 1t was known
that SMITH had been suspended bat his success
sors were not there, and, though he still properly
continued in office, they refused to obey him. Al
length msrule threatened the destruction of the
colony; the more sober portion eatreated SMITH
to assume the control of their affairs, and he ac-
cordngly resumed command.
SMITH soon resolved to leave Virginia, and in
the autumn of 1909 he babe her farewell forever,
and at the age of 80 took his last look of the
colony for which he had toicd so fai,hfully-the
first permanently planted on the shores Of America.
Let his name he held in honorable momofy for
John Sns:th was a nobleman Of Heavens own
making!
The above sketch presents barely the outlines of
this very interesting discourse, which was heard
with marked pleasure by very fashionable and
intelligent audience.