The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-05

| yyaS 10th To Wearle the fthutI
fins time" He also follows the OXFORD Tract
substantially. for the most part literally.
With such careful compilation from original
ecurces and such attestatiOns OF It's truth, the
history contained IN the OXFORD tract mas
ever been regarded az the highest authority.
II gives none of the secret prOceedihgs Oh tne
council in Virginia Nor does Smith IN any OF
his writings. til 1924. when he published his
General History. written, MS he states, at the
instance Of the company; put NOT pupIishei
tin after its charter had been taken from u
and the company dissolved. II Is the history
in Tho Oxford Tract which makes a hero of
Cantain Smith and describes him rs having
saved the colony from abandonment and de-
struction.
THE TRACT DIsCBEDIrrD.
Mr. Brown is well aware that rs long ms the
Oxford Tract is accepted as authority his at-
tack upon Smith "a q colonist must fan. lie
therefor attempts to discredit the authority
Of the tract lie saws tina. Richard Potts
who compiled it. was clerk TO Smith while IN
NirCinia and their interests were probably
identical This may possibly account Tor
bias in Smiths favor. which. however. would
be 10 the credit OF Smith But 1t does not
account for the fact that number Of Smiths
companions attcsted the truth of the nara
tive. rs appears by their verses printed with
history: nor for the fact that 20 learned and
careful a historian as Samuel Purchas. with
access 10 It's authorities and 10 many other
documents touching the period, now lost 10
the world attest the accuracy and truthful
ness of the Oxford Tract. and of Smiths his
tory based on it. But while service under
Smith would bias "A man in his favor and
make him unreliable in Mr.. Browns estina-
ton. he attacks Anas 1odkill. another writer
in the tract. because he had been "a servant
10 President John Martin. and evidently bore
Martin malice" And so everything IS at
tempted to be turned so as to support Mr.
Browns theory.
GROUND OF ATTACK.
Another ground of his attack on the Oxford
Tract Is. that in it Thomas Studley is gwen rs
authority for events between September. 1901.
and January. IG0H, while he says Studley died
2sth August 1907. This statement rs % the
date OF Studley's death is taken from a nara
tive Of George Percy. one of the first c0lOnists.
and Is found At page j61 Of the Genesis. When
Percy wrote the narrative is not stated. and he
may have mistaken the year of Studieys
death. as he did his name, for he calls him
"StOOde" But if the date Is correct Is writ
ten by Percy, the mistake would he IN the
editor Of the Oxford Tract and might have
well arisen from rs oversight as o. the true
author quoted when many were before him.
However Smith, when relating the same incl
dents. follows the tract in giving Thomas
Studlcv rs authority but adds also the names
of Robert fenton. Edward Harrington. and
/ j. S. CJOhn Smith rs authority for the events
related before the arrival Of the first supply.
January. 1905: and Anas TOdllll ~ authority
for the events subsequent. until 2d June, ltO'.
And Pmchas for the same periods cities
Thomas Studley and Anas Todkill as his au-
/ thOrities. In each case the authorities are
/ given at the end of the period.
II thus appears TINT if Studey was dead
there were writings Of others which furnished
the basis of the narrative we have
SMITHS SERVICES.
In order to Justly appreciate the services Of
{ Smith IN Virginia, we must recall the eXpe
/ rences of the colony while he was with 1t.
/ They are briefly as follows: On the 18th of
/ December. 1906 three vessels left the Thames
with 1915 colonists to effect the settlement.
Detained by unfavOrahle weather. they did
not reach Chesapeake bay until the 26th OF
April. 1901 and on the 18Th Of May they landed
at the spot on James river which they named
I Jamestown. and commenced settlement.
/ Their government under their charter was
council. of which Edward Maria Wngfeld
was the first president, and Bartholomew
GosnOld. John Smith, Christopher Newport,
/ John Radcliffe, John Martin snd George Ken
dali were the other members. Newport. az
ter ascending tho river to the falls. returned
| TO England on the largest ship. the Susan
/ Constant on the 22d of June. The late period
of their arrival in Virginia prevented the
/ planting of a sufficient crop for the next sea-
/ son, and until the fall of 1908 the colony was
dependent upon the provisions brought with
I them, OF brought IN bN vessels sent 10 them,
and on what tlcy could get in the country.
The result was tity were very soon. and more
than once afteTNard reduced 20 the greatest
straits for food The Indians soon showed
4 themselves hostile and ucacherOus, and the
I locality chosen for settlement WAS un-
7 healthy.
sUTFERING AMONG THE COLONIsTs
Cro,t .,rror;ne, O., opco commenced. .bis
eroerdsr.d 5isseneinns and IS a cnnseouan,,
Keu5nil was nrt in doth WiprtielI ,ya, de-
T posod and ininri ....,..i and RatcnG,. elected
in his place Gabriel Archer WIS sworn as
one # tie council and attempted 10 have
Smith put 90 death ou charge that be WAS
7 respone De for tie lose OF his two men killed.
/ by the indians iu tu. state Of affairs Cap
tain Newport arrived atl january. lcGS. and
/ on gOtl Auril flli .wiu1a shin under CautnIu
! Nelson -cparafol nom nina, ~ sea nl.n came
in. Thee lrourh' one hundred and two new
4 colouiSt- and "a good suu,1v of provisions
Amoug the now arrival. Was Matthew
/ Scrvouor. who sworn ono of the council
/ Captain Ncwuort returned 70 Fuolnrd
10th April. 1909. carving with him WINFIELD
and Arelcr and when g,ptqin Nelson re-
turned be carried back Marlin. On 23d Jnlv
Ratchfe vae dcpnscd from the presidency and
/ Scrivener elected I'D his place. and bv his
exertiors the crop Of that wear was gath
cred, hut was much injured hv rain. On 10th
September zoos Captain Smith WIS elected
president. and about that time Newport re-
turned with seventy additional colorsts
l,0H n' i'''..I - i.o',. ',o 'v'Hcl, Jul