The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-29
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH.
REPLY TO MR.. ALEXANDER BROWN'S
ATTACK IN "THE GENESIS"

n'rom tho Magazine Of American History for
April lsll.l
In the Genesis of the United States Nlr.
Alexander Brown. Of Virginia. has made an
invaluable contribution to the history of the
colonization Of America by the English, in
collecting and arranging $50 documents re-
lating To the movement between lCO5and 1916,
which resulted in establishing colony at
Jamestown OF the documents printed
nearly 800 are here for the first time
given 10 the public having been for the most
part unoarthed III the archives of Europe by
the interchangeable author The whole presents
"a panorama the grand movement which
established III North America n bulwark
against the all-ahsorbing Spanish power. and
finally gave North America 10 the English
people as a theatre upon which 10 demonstrate
TINT man Is capable of sefgoverment
Mr. Brown is 10 be congratulated upon the
rundeur with which he has invested the
movement. IN preserving the facts relating 10
IT, And for his painstaklng IN thus, as IN the
sketches Of the actors appended, me deserves,
as ] am sure he will receive the hearty thanks
Of an students Of America history.
With So much TO commend IN bis admirable
volumes u is u grief 10 the writer 10 notice
that the author SCENE % be filled with dis
Ike. or rather a hatred, of the most conspicu-
ous figure IN the settlement of jamestown
during the first three years of IT'S existence,
the ureservcr Of the colony and its historian.
Mr. Brown but seldom. If ever. mentions the
name of the celebrated Captain John Smith,
The hero of 50 many adventures IN Virginia
and elsewhere. except 90 sheer az HIM or 20
denounce him. A. q historian the author pro
n0unCes him unworthy of belief. He SAYS.
1t is true the accuracy Of all his statements
cannot ho tested, but enough can be 90 make
II evident that all must be- before they
can be safely taken for use IN accu-
rate history OF Biography And Of
whom * this sweeping condemnation made,
A man selected 10y the company IN London 20
be one Of the council which was 20 govern the
colony. the truthfulness of whose writings
upon Virginia was attested 10y numbers 81
men who were actors I'D the events described,
one who enjoyed the friendship and conf
dence Of many oi the most learned and pious
men Of MS age. and whose history was from
the time of its publication IN 1924 till the rise
of the race of icOnoclasts in late years, known
o.. the school of higher criticism, accepted rs
the STANDARD authority upon the early English
colonization Of North America. Surely 20 ex-
poet o. utterly discredit such q man displays
degree OF self-confdeuce IN our author which
IS remarkable.
SMITHS ADVENTURES.
Fortunately for the old hero who is thus OK
pected to boo annihilated at q blow me pointed
T. the authorities which attest ms accuracy IN
tho matters concerning WHICH MI DlhNI
makes the most determined assaults upon
him and by these the writer viii permit him
20 stand OF fall. Ia ms sketch of Smith Mr..
Brown hercely attacks his account of ms adj
ventures before coming % Virginia, contained
In True Travels. Adventures and Obserya-
tons of Captain John smith published IN
1929 as we'll as his record of affairs IN Virgil
MA from the settlement IN 1907 TILL the publ
cation of his General Historic of Virginia,
Now England and the summer Isles' in 1924.
This attack will be- noticed IN some detail
As an instance of Smiths lnaccuracy. Mr..
Brown states that he was baptized 9th Janu-
airy. 1879. and his father died IN April, 1886,
bis mother surviving, yet Smith tells ms his
parents died when he WAS about thirteen years
OF age Mr.. Edward Arher I'M his admirable
edition of Smiths works. printed IN 1884,
gives extracts from the register of Wlll0ughbY
by Afford IN Lincolnshire Up. KID. 10y which
il appears that John the son Of George
Smyth was baptized the iXth daii Of Januarye
(l579 or according 20 modern reckoning
l5Nl " and that "George Smith II WiiOughbi
was buried yo IN day Of April l596.'
Artcr also gives AK XX) the will Of George
Smith. dated 30th March, 1896, which pro-
Nldes for Alice his wife, and describes John a
his oldest SON This George Smith is be
leved TO have been the father of Captain
John Smith and 10y this record It would APP
pear lie was sixteen years old when his father
died The passage IN Smiths True Travels
is not accurately quoted by Mr. Brown. II Is
as follows His parents diving when he was
about Thlrteene yeeres Of age etc. The
word parents NAV AS well be the possessiye
case 81 parents the plural, for Smith in his
writings makes no distinction between the two.
not using the modern sign OF the posse,slye
case %. IL may refer. therefore. solely 10
his fathers dying II this George Smith was
the father of Captain John. 1t would follow
that the about Thirtecne yeeres of age was
really sixteen and that the writer. IN recalling
his youth IN his htueth year. had not very
accurate recollection of his age when his
father died. Nh Brown can make the most of
this. u.s. Mr.. Neil has done before him IN Viz
Unia Netusta' but TO the ordinary reader II
VII hardly tend 20 dlscredlt Smith In ms mar
ration Of the events Of his life. Very few
people con remember the dates Of their early
experiences with accuracy. ! doubt whether
either Mr.. Nell or Mr.. Brown can recall,
without reference 10 register, the date of
Dos fathers death.
Il tle word parents was used in the plural,
no mistake can be considered as proved as t.
smith mother, until Mr.. Brown has adduccd
evidence that the Alice Smith named IN the
VII as wife Of George Smith. WAS the mother
and not the stcpmother of John. or that, If
TIE mother, she survived her husband con-
siderable time As % the other misstate-
inents charged upon Smith by Dir. Brown. the
evidence adduced is inc0nclusive, and one IS
len IN wonder that any one should have been
condemned upon il.
SMITH AS A SOLDIER.
Smith states that after the death Of his
father he attended Mr.. Perccrine Berthe into
France where he joined his brother Robert
then at Orleans, now Earle Of Linsey. and
Lord Great Chamherlaine of England that
by them he was sent back % his friends with
IN a month or SIX weeks. but instead of Te-
turning 70 England hc went 10 HavTe de
Grace. where he first began 20 learn the life
Of "a soldier that atterward he won't with
Captain DuXbury TO the Low countries, where
he served three OF four year, and then return
al TO England by way Of Scotland. from
whence after "a short stay he returned 10 the
Low COuutrcyes" After good deal OF ad-
venturous travel. he states that he entered the
Austrian service iu the regiment commanded
by The Earl of Neldutch. Under ham he first
distinguished himself AT the siege of Olum-
pagh bv the Turks. which town me relieved
b. communicating with tho Austrian COM
raudrr by signals made with torches, upon a
plan taught by him 20 the commander before
t. siege Mr. Brown fixes the siege OF Oum-
paeh after October 1900. and states that Pere-
guue BERTHE left England 90 travel abroad
after June 2G. 1899 Thus Ice concludes that
smith has crowded within less than eighteen
months the events Of az least five years.
rEREGRISE BEETLE.
II Smith left England soon after his fathers
death in April 1895 a. his narrative indicates, |
there was ample time before November. 1000. !
Tor the events he relates Mr. Brown has not |
gwen references 70 authorities for ms state
uonts. but the departure of PcTcgrine Berthe !
fNUHHNN NH