The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-05
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH.
gr. Heny'S Article IN His Defense Con-
Clad6d.
THE ATTACK Oh HlM IN THE GENESIS
Assunrtlon on Which II Ia Based-Authori-
Ties cited 10 Prove Its Ground
lcssness.

Mr. Brown bases ms attack upon Hiili1n 40
an actorin the Virginia colony. and It's MS
tnrian. on the assumption thai the affairs OF
the Virginia Company Of London which
nlon.ed the colony at jamestown, were velled
in the greatest secrecy, mainly for fear OF the
Spainards and that mo accurate account OF
the location Of the colonies or number OF the
colouists. no description OF the country us
position. It's rivers. ports harbors, etc. no
map Of the country, could have been given to
the public in print 10y any officer OF the Wy
c;nia companics without classifying bis solemn
notb AM euch data were closely Kept by the
rnuuooels OF the companies. and no part OF
tbom could be honorably published without
tho consent Of His Maiostcs Prvy Counsrl
cr the Counsel of Virginia. or the more part
OF them" page 4jl. The author refers ~ no
authority for this statement. by which ~ one
blow he attempts 20 destroy the credit OF All
the publications made concerning me VIZ
GINA colony. unless mado 10y or with the con
sent of the privy council or ihc '"1"'l ~
London The only authority he can nave Is
the oath prescribed for the council IN Nlr-
Cinia in The Instructions gwen when Inc col
ony was first sent ont IN these no oath was
required Of anyone except the president ana
council That oath is found in Niells His
tory OF tie Virginia Company IN London, at
mace Z Each member of the council was re-
ru,red 10 swear: 81 shall faithfully and
truly declare my mind and opinion accord
Ing to my heart and conscience IN all things
treated If in that counsel, and shall Keep
secret all matter committed and revealed
INTO me concerning tho same, or that shall be
treated of secretly IN thE counsel. until time
ms by the consent Of His Majesty pryy coun-
sci or the counsel % Virginia or the more
part of them, publication shall De MADE
thereof"
SMITHS TRUE RELATION.
IL. a.,
.cpt tie members Of the council taking It,
and az 10 them it only required secrecy aS To
matters discussed in the secret sessions OF
Ia. council As to 'the location Of the
colony. number Of cOlonists, description OF
the country It's position. It's rivers. ports
and harbors. and is map these not beng
part of the secret proceedings OF the council,
Their publication was not prohibited 10 any
any one in or ont oftue council Accordingly we
find numerous publications concerning Viz
riuia dur-g the period of which Mr.. brown
writes lG01-l6lG. some under the direction Of
the council in London. but most Of them 10y
the col0rists. The first Of those was the
letter Of Captain Smith 10 friend in England;
known as Smiths True Relation printed
in 1903. It was published and sold by VIII
liam Welby. statiOuer, who was
personally interested IN the Virginia
enterprise, and who, instead Of being
rebuked by the council IN England
WAS soon afterward made the publisher
for the company see the authors statement
Of these facts at page 1871. This little publ
cation gave an account of the seating OF the
colony on n river entering the Chesapeake
Law tho VOYAGE up the river. the explorations
of Smith, his capture and liberation. short
description Of the country and its inhabitants,
and some account Of events at jamestown.
81 course the Spanish minister got possession
Of this tract and of the chart of Virginia, be-
hoycd to lave been ssnt with 1t, and we find
hiu on 10Th September 1GOS, sending copy
Of the chart To MS king. and the report
given him 10y person who had been IN Viz
Cinia' pages 1913 100 of the "Genesis'). Ii 1t
was the policy OF the London company 10
cOucenl from the Spaniards the particulars OF
the colonization at jamestown. rs Mr.. Brown
guupOacs 1t was strange they did not prevent
the publication of this letter OF Smith and
did no, keep secret the chart ne sent them.
Instead Of maintaining this secrecy the Lon
don council in 1910 authorized and directed
the put licatlOn of two tracts. both full OF In
formation about the colony. One was a
True and sincere declaration of the purposes
and ends Of the Plantation BEGUN IN Virginia.
of the degrees which it hath received, ana
mean, bv which IL hath been advanced; and
the resolution and conclusion If his Maiesties
Council of tho Colony, for the constant and
patient prosecution thereof, until by the mer-
cies Of God it snail rctrlhuto fruitful harvest
10 the Kingdom Of Heaven. and this Common
wealth. The other is STYLED \ True Decla-
ration of tie estate of the Colony OF Virginia.
with "a Continuation OF such Scandalous reports
o. have tcnded 90 the disgrace of so worthy an
enterprise.
THE OXFORD TRACT.
These publications gave sufficient nforna-
tion 10 the Sgaa,ards % enable them 90 de-
stgOy the colony If they had been disposed
and able 20 attempt It, They also admitted
the feeble condition OF the colony and gave
tine reasons for IT, Two years aftefward
publication was made of the accounts given
bv several of tine colOnists of affairs in Viz
ginia. vhichis known as the oxford Tract "
because printed at Oxford This contained
description of the country and OF its inhabi-
ianis written hv Smith but the historical
nart was not written nor compiled bv him
although Mr.. Brown constantly refers 10 il as
Smiths production. lhI, tract gave the
version of their trials ANA troubles related
by the men no jamestown. The historical
part has the following tItlc-pagc.
The proceedings of the English Colonie in
Nirgin'a since their FIST beginning from Eng
land. ~ the yeare Of our Lord 1905. tiil this
present 1872, With aI their accidents that be-
fell them ln their JoUruies aud Discoveries.
Also The SAyagcs discourses OmtiOuS and re
latoIs %. the Bordering ucChbors and how
they became subject to the English Unfold
Ing even the fundamental causes from whence
have spyung SO many miserics b the under
takers and scandals 10 the businessc Taken
faithfully us they were written ont of the
writings OF Thomas Studlcy. the first prOvant
master, Anas Todkill. Walter Russell. Doctor
If ihsicke Nathaniel Powell. William Phetty-
place, Richard Nyflin. Thomas Abbay. Tho.
Hope, Richard Potts and the labours of divers
other dihgcnt observers chat were residents
in Virginia. And perused and confirmed low
diverse now resident in England that were
actors IN this business. By W. S. at Oxford.
Printed by Joseph Barnes l6l2n
SMITHS HISTORY.
Tho initials are those of Dr. William Sv-
monds. a distinguished min sterof the Church
OF England. The compilation was made hy
Richard Potts Out of the writings of the colo
nists. whose d.scour-es ara signed by their
names g, We learn boy q NOTE q the reader
signed IT Abhay.' VINO published IT. know
ing as Dee SAYS. "thc writer's 20 Ice honest
me-. and being witness g. part Of the trans
actions Dr. Symonas. after giving the
Ms. an editorial supervision. sent il 10 Smith
with note IN which he says. "Captaine
Smith. returne YOU the fruit of my labours
a. Mr. Crashaw requested me. which | be-
slowed in reading "a" discourses 4 hearing
tho relations Of such which have walked e
observed the land with YOU The pains |
tooAe was great: Vet did the nature of the
argument. and hopes conceived Of the ex-
pcdilon gave mo exceeding content | can
not hnde there 10 anything. but what they
al aihfme, or cannot contradict" This tract
was very closely followed 10y Captain smith
III MS General History. except where he en-