Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-22

search and industry Of the accomplished
editor Of the " Genesis . are interesting ana
valuable as combinations Of the history OF
the downfall OF bigotry and abs9lutism,
and the uprising OF freedom IN the new
World.
JOHN SMITH AND PocAHosTAs.
Tho parts of brief history In these vol
umes OF the Genesis which we consider
least reliable are those relating to Captain
John Smith and the Indian princess Pocas
hontas. The modern attempts to diseredit
John Smith and his narratives OF events IN
Virginia began with @ Massachusetts, gem
tleman. DR.. Charles Deane, in 1860: For
some reasons not very clearly explained
the learned editor of the Genesis" has
arrayed himself with this school of unbe-
lief. He seldom writes of Smith without
remarks of disparagement. Yet mp 70 TINS
time all efforts to repudiate Smiths re-
ports, relations, and maps are palpabie
failures. They ara oil met and over
thrown blythe perfectly established fact that
Smiths first narratives of events IN Viz
ginia were printed and published to the
reading world in 1912 and in Oxford, the
very centre of light and literature in Eng
landl Then, all parties concerned in the
truth of those narratives we're alive, and
reputation would have been easy. But no
refutation was attempted. George Percy
was the only person who impeached the
accuracy of Smiths statements. But
though George was brother to the Earl OF
Northumberland, he was also one OF that
wild and unruly set who came early TO
Virginia, and whom Smith was obliged to
govern with a strong hand.
SMITHS ACCIDENT.
We are sorry to find ground for the
charge that the learned editor has not
given q full account Of Smiths reasons for
leaving Virginia in 1909. The true reason
was that this brave and useful man had
met with q dangerous accident by an ex-
plosion of gunpOwder, which inflicted q
wound that could not be cured without
such surgical treatment as the colony
could not furnish. Yet the Genesis"
never mentions this incident, but several
times asserts that Smith was "sent home
to answer for his misdemeanors.n
THE VIRGINIA PRINCESS.
The short biography under the title
"Pocahontasp is especially unfortunate in
its spirit and statements. IL intimates
that King Powhatsn had several daughters
who were entitled to the name of "Poca-
hontas," which the learned editor believes
to mean "a little wanton," and that the
princess who first met Smith and after
wards befriended the colonists was not the
Pocahontas who was united in marriage to
John Rolfe. Not ashadow of historic basis
sustains such intimations.
The learned editor attempts also TO pro-
duce the impression that the generous
letter of Captain John Smith 10 the Queen,
introducing PocahOntas and speaking in
her behalf, was really never delivered TO
the Queen. Yet he does not explain the
established fact that that letter was pub
lished in the General History" in 1924,
when the Queen Anne Of Denmark had
been dead only five years, and when the
King. James |, was still alive, and hun
dreds of other persons were also alive who
| could have denounced the pretence as to
the letter if it was false.
But notwithstanding oil these questions
Alexander Browns Genesis must be
reckoned as among the most important
and interesting publications of our age
| and country.