Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-22
Colonial History OF yirginia-Interesting
Discovery.

Discovery.
J We are informed that bill has been reported
in the State Senate, TO which every true Vir-
| gilman must wish success, as it is intended to
rescue from oblivion the colonial History of the
/ Commonwealth While all the other thirteen
original States have sought in foreign archives,
and preserved with pious care, the precious
memorials of their ancestors and their works,
we, with strange neglect, have permitted ours
to lie buried in oblivion, as if they were I'M
i worthy of preservation. Our history, the most
interesting of all, crowded with romantic incl
dents and instructive teachings, has been al
lowed to depend for its very existence upon the
unassisted exertions OF private individuals, and
consequently swarms with errors.
/ We learn that a rich mine of historical mate
rails has been discovered by member of the
| Virginia Historical Society, in the State Paper
office in London. Here lie the archives of the
Board of Trade. This board, which existed
from 1886 to 1892, superintendent the "planta-
tons in America and elsewhere" and received
the papers of the councils and committees of
the Priyy Council which had previously per-
formed the same functions. As might have
been anticipated, their records are magazine
Of historic matter they contain more than two
| thousand large folio volumes, relating chiefly to
American affairs, kept with much care and sys-
TEN, the documents relating to each colony
being preserved in separate books All the
correspondence and official reports ofthe Royal
| Governors are to be found in these records,
and in fact, most of the authentic information in
| existance concerning the Colonial history Of
this country. sfn#
The examination Of these records, made by
the gentleman already mentioned resulted in q
most interesting discovery.
| Heretofore it has been matter of doubt and
dispute among our historians, when the first
4 House of Burgesses assembled in Virginia, and
not vestige was supposed to remain of their
laws. Stith says that they met in the latter
end of June, 1919, "but that he could nowhere
find among the records extant, any account Of
the particulars that passed" Beverly says that
they met in May, 1920, and sat in the same
house with the Governor and Council, after the
manner of the Scotch Parliament. Henning
reports that, "after a careful examination of
the ancient records relating to Virginia" he
could only find brief notice of their proceed
ings.
All this obscurity is now cleared away. A
manuscript of thirty pages has been discovered,
containing full account of the assembling of
the first House of Burgesses, the name of the
members their manner of proceedings, their re-
solutions and acts or ordinances. The forms
observed are described with minuteness that
might serve to direct painter, and in fact, we
know of no finer subject for a historical paint
of Delegates than the assembly of their prede-
cessors two hundred and thirU-six years ago.
On the 30th of July, l6l9 several years be-
fore the landing on Plymouth Rock, only
twelve years after the landing at Jamestown,
and when this vast continent wilderness
unbroken by the settlement of white men, ex-
cept at st. Augustine, and few plantations
on James River, the first representative As
semby that ever met in the New World, con.
vened in the choir Of the church at jamestown.
The Royal Governor, Sir George Yeadley, is
described in the old manuscript as sitting sin
his accustomed place, those of the couucil of
estate sat next him, on both hands, except
only the Secretary, then appointed Speaker,
who sat right before him-John Frome, Clerk
of the General Assembly, being placed next
the Speaker, and Thomas Piercie, the Ser
geant, standing at the bar to be ready for any
service the Assembly should command him.
Bat, for as much as mans affairs do little pros
per aohen Gods serUice IS neglected, all the
Burgesses took their places in the choir until
a prayer was raised by Mr.. Buckle, that it
would please God to guide and sanctify all our
proceedings to his own glory, and the good of
this plantation"
We cannot imagine nobler or a more i'm
pressive scene for painter. 1t fully equals the
famous prayer of the Continental Congress re-
presented to us on canvass That little band
of twenty-five Burgesses, solemnly inaugural
ing representative Government in a New
| World, are not one whit less interesting than
their glorious successor who indicated and
established it.
We learn that catalogue of the most inte
resting manuscripts relating to Virginia, is in
the hands of the Historical Society, and that
arrangements have been made, by which
copies of them can be procured without send
ing an agent TO Europe or any other expense,
except the mere cost Of copying. The society
has permanent fund of $4,000, and an an
nuity of $50 per annum from the city of
Richmond, but their income from these and
other sources will not suffice to publish .the
manuscripts, much less to procure them; they
therefore ask grant from the Legislature of
/ $1,000 year for five years in aid of their
own funds, and propose in return to distribute
copies OF the annual volume to all the colleges
and library institutions of the State. The
society set forth in their memorial, from which
we chiefly draw Our information, that they have
commenced the formation of a historical library
and gallery Of paintings of eminent Virgil
mans and distinguished persons connected
with the history of Virginia, and have already
procured considerable number of valuable
books and paintings which may be seen at
their rooms in this city.
We think that the appropriation they ask
could not be applied to better purposes than
those intended, and will be tardy acknowl.
edgment by the Legislature Of an obligation
long existing. The amount is about one-ffth
of the sum appropriated by New York for
similar purposes, and is, we believe, less than
the expenditure Of States both North and
South of us. The longer the appropriation is
delayed, the less effcacious it will be in saving
our historic memorials from the devouring
tooth of time, and the casualties of fire and
other contingencies.
We earnestly hope, therefore, that the trifng
aid asked may be promptly granted. Exchange.
1 Difference.
The Speaker of tie British House of Com
mons is an Office of considerable emolument
according to the Washington Globe in com !