Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-07

- q - $,tNe >pess"
h4v< rctsatly received q copy o.
t1rG'nie vetux1A. during the reign Of
1nte che First, containing Letters and
Documents never before printed.
~ Edward D. Nell. J Munsell's Sons.
xlbsny. y. Y.
The book contains 4 great deal Of in-
(ereStine and valuable historical data
s<lative to Virginia from her Majcsty's
elS{c-paper Office. the British Museum.
~ Duke ofManchester Records Rim
kol(on MSS.,. the Percy Records. and
lfoxn other t!epositoriesin Great Britain ;
also MANY titIc-parts. in !" fac simils. y
efyare /" virrin;an > tracts and sermons,
x;thextrxcss lrom them. There are like
wise interesting biographical sketches
efmsny men Of the Colony and Company
Of Virginia.
Although all virginians do not agree
with Mr.. NELL in al Of his opinions,
d do not myself.l vet all virginians
must feel obliged to him for collecting
and preserving by the grand art preser-
xAf;ve. and thus making available TO the
general public such mass of rare. CO.
Temporary. =. yirginiau y historical mat
. Ter. do, most sincerely.
In his preface Mr.. Neill says: !" II Is
cutie remarkable that for two eentu-
vi<s historical writers chiefly depended
upcn book compiled by an adventurer
for q knowledge Of the early English
colonization in North America Cap
tain John Smiths History.) This is
true. but the reason for it is evil
dent. The Colony was founded by
the Virginia Company Of London the
business element in that company
Was largely composed Of the great mer-
chants Of London they were business
men, not authors workers, not writers.
These = marplots." so called, complied
not their own culogies. they blew not
their own trumpcts but they founded
the Colony Of Virginia, and " from
Greenland's icy mountains to lndis's
coral strand they established the com
Incrce Of Great Britain. They kept
acconnts Of their transactions, and such
narratives as met with their approba-
ton were preserved among tnelr re-
cords; but they published only such
things as they deemed advisable LOT the
encouragement of colonization. Ihey
published no history Of the founding Of
Tiryinia, and no history has erer been
complied from Their carly records. On
the 18th of July, 1924, James !. or
dered the Virginia Company oil London
to pfoee al 81 Their BOOKS, papers,
&C., Sc., o. erey 8'nd mhdtSoere',
INTO the hands OF a hoyai commission,
which order was, OF course. complied
with. what has become oil these re-
cords do not know. Ihey may nave
been burnt IN the great fire IN London
IN 1866; they may have been destroyed
IN some other way, OF they may be sun
existing somewhere IN whole or IN part
All o' TINS 'na'er'ai' IRON "ni0n " ,,u'
history mgn, nave peen cohpneu'
pAsseo mo 'ne nailos Vi 'n'o oon'i'i,>-
sion. ana even 'ne ra'e VI snese pape''
j. sun unki'own' OaP'a,n o''ii'n III, Ms
Tory OF virginia appeared ia'er III io-f'
ana from ,nat 'ime until ABOUT Scne-
ration ago IL mas peeh almost Tue only
source ., iiio'i'a.,cn iesaiu'is ou'
saiy n'S'o'y. n,s'o''a l''e,s
nau 'u' n.ue .,so 20 oo'p"e
IRON, VOW .he oo,,ec''ohs !" inos'
~ wv great puoiio anu private
repositories on VreM DTi'am anu else
where have been indexed, and many
rare publications. manuscripts, &C.. are
available TO historians. There Is no
longer any necessity Tor following blind
ly the romance of Captain John Smith,
which has so long cast a stigma upon
nearly every leading man among our
founders. Tins TACT must oe source
Of sratiiication TO those who love old
Virginia. II certainly is to me; for |
must confess that ! am very tired OF
reading the extravagant praise which
has been heaped upon captain john
smith as tiie only man IN virginia,
20 caheu' ana 80 ior'h' anu the
most unpardonaoie abuse oil 'he mar
Yrs 10 our carry eoiohiza''on' especiai-
~ as TINS mas been done on tne evidence
OF captain John SmHh h'mseV ana
ms authors. The material that will
enable us to do justice to the men who
really gave their time, their talents
and their hves TO the founding oil VIZ
gmia mas been long wanting; put much
OF |. Is no" oehs coiiec'eu' anu nope
20 i've 70 see men VINO nave oeeh 50
ichg 'iiineo IN our histories most amply
''nGicS'ea.
Inc positions occupied IN our oiogra-
pines oy eaP'aih 'ohh omith anu OF
ILLUSTRATIONS oil the very great power oil