Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-06
BACON'S REBELLION.
MIR. TYLER's LECTURE BEFORE
THE Va. ANTIQUITIES ASSN.
The Causes of the Outbreak-Berke-
Icy's Agaravating COurse-signs
Conditions of Disorder.

Perhaps the largest and most brilliant
audience OF the season assembled last
night In the hall OF the House of Dele
gates to hear President Lyon G. Tyler 3
address on "Bacon's Rebellion" which
was the fifth In the series OF lectures de-
livercd under the auspices of the Asso-
citation for the Preservation OF Virginia
Antiquities. Mr.. Tyler was introduced
by Mr. +. r. Crump in a few well-chosen
and appropriate words.
The speaker commenced with an appro-
pirate eulogy upon the Association for the
Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and
the good work done under its influence,
not only In preserving our antiquities,
but In promoting historical study.
The subject OF Bacon's rebellion was.
he said, wide one, for 1t was one OF the
four great chapters OF Virginia history,
which might be designated ny the names
OF four great rebels" claiborne, Bacon,
Washington, and Lee AS these. however.
only expressed the will Of their moth r,
Virginia, none Of them was Il rebel in
the proper sense.
The principal authorities for the history
Of his subject were the famous tracts pub
ished by Force, and now known to have
been written by Thomas Mathew, OF
Stafford county. and Ann Cotton. OF
York county; the copies from the English
public records In the State Library, and
other spurces. printed and manuscript.
Mr.. Tyler reviewed briefly the state OF
affairs between lGi2 and 1900 and the
| f1gpffpn If I,rketeV al the restoration.
At this time the old Loya,ists were APP
| pointed to the principal offices.
| Sir william Berkeley was born at Bruton.
| SOmersetshire, England, OF a distinguished
| family and was "A Master OF Arts or
| Merton College, oxford. He had dis
| tinguished himself 10y defeating the In
| dams. maintaining a strict orthodoxy, ana
| keeping Virginia long TO her allegiance
| to IN. King Berkeley came back 10
| irginia after his visit to England in
| 1851. having imbbed the worst features
| Of the Court of Charles III. His council
rescmbled him, and the House of Bur
| gesses was so suitable TO him that he
| continued 1t by successive prorogations
| for many years. The first measures OF
mis- new administration seem TO have been
| wise. and the Governor eSerted himself
| with zeal to promote projects which were
| deemed useful to the Colony.
IMPRACTICABLE SCHEMES.
Many Of the schemes, such as building
| towns. raising Of slk-worms. etc, were.
| however, impracticable, and failed. Vast
| expense was entailed in endeavoring 10
| carry out these plans The act for building
| thirty brick houses at jamestown allowed
| the Governor to impress wOrkmen, ana
| the consequence was that many mechanics
| hed TO Maryland. Heavy taxes were laid.
| and the Gov lnors perquisites dees for
| licenses, etc) were rgidly exacted. Berke-
| ley's salary and perquisites amounted to
| about $1,000 per annum. The councillors
| were equally well provided for. While
| they received no pay. they and their ser
wants were exempted from taxation. The
| Burgesses voted themselves pay Of
| 80 shillings day-equal TO about ~.
| AS the years went on extravaganza spread
| through every branch Of the administra-
ton. The leyies, or taXs were laid BY
| the Justices of each county court ana
these were suspected OF using the money
| for their own purposes. The sheriffs and
| county clerks also charg eXorbitant
| fees. The only class OF society, besides
| the Office holders, who fourished were
| the avern-keepers The business Of
| t1Ycrn-kceping was always lucrative.
and frequently influential m n en-
gagged in H. one OF the lights in which
| TO view Bacon's rebellion is that IT was
| the first prohibition contest in Virginia
a fight against the taverns. These evils
| bore harder on the people In different
years, and 1851 was an especially hard
year. England went to war with the
Dutch and the danger on the seas rem
dered the price Of tobacco in Virginia
very low.
MANY MISFORTUNES.
Then followed a continual course OF
misfortune. as Thomas Ludwen writes
There was a. very severe and destructive
hail-storm. Next four Dutch men-of-war
entered James river and destroyed an
English man-of-war and twenty-five mer-
chant ships. More damage would have
been done but for the resolute conduct
Of General Richard Bennett Then IT
raned for forty days. and this was fol
lowed by the famous gust OF August
r. 1901 The merchants blamed Berkeley
for the loss of the ships, and he was in
great distress. The Legislature OF Viz
ginia found it necessary as measure OF
defence to build forts on the four rivers.
and the taxes fell heavily on the people.
Contemporary writers speak OF the great
poverty ind distress of the time.
Difficulties again arising between Eng
land and Holland. in 1873 another
Dutch fleet entered Hampton Roads and
DESTROYED several vessels. Berkeley was
very quarrcsOme Richard Lawrence
brilliant oxford scholar, who lived at
Jamestown. IS said to have been badly
treated by the Governor in lawsuit.
Giles Bland went TO the house of Thomas
Ludwen. quarrel ensue1. and a chal-
lenge for a duel. On Ludwel's not ap-
pearing on the field. Bland nailed his
glove to the door of the Capitol, and
wrote "A denunciatory statement beneath
IT, The Assembly, violently enraged,
passed censure on Bland, and directed him
70 make an apology. which he did. but In
a way not satisfactory. Bland was then,
10y the Council. at the request of Berke-
ley, put in Jail. and suspended from his
place az Collector Of the Customs. but
Bland said he would pay no attention TO
the suspension.
In 1914 a meeting had been held In
Surry county to protest against the excess
sive taxes laid by the justices for their
own accommodation. The participants
were fined. but the Governor RENTED the
fine and the Assembly passed stringent
laws against similar taxes by the jus
tees Charles IL. had granted the
Northern Neck TO a few favortes. and
the people Of Virginia were greatly eX-
asperated. The King. however. paid no
attention TO their protests, but instead
granted the whole dominion Of the Colony
to Culpoper and his associates for thirty
three years Ii was. therefore. necessary
TO send agents TO England to protest
against this measure.
SIGNS AND WONDERS
To the other subjects of discomfort SUI
perstition was added. prodigies appeared
a comet great flight of pigeons
and swarms Of lOcusts. Things were rife
for commOtion. Through the trade with
the Indians. licensed by the Governor
the Indians became armed with guns and
were dangerous neighbors king Phi
lips" Indian war in New Eng
land in 1915 spread rapidly southwark,
and murders were committed on the up
per Potomac and Rappahannock. In an
expedition against the Indians then in
fort at the present site Of Washington,
Major Freeman, commanding tho Mary
land allies OF the Nirginians, murdered
several chiefs. The Indians, goaded 10
desperation, performed prodigies OF valor,
and retreated In safety over the head Of
the Potomac and swept over the plan
tations on the RappahannOck, with ter
rible results. Many lives were lost, and
the Colony became filled with fear ard
indignation. Berkeley first ordered Sir
Henry Chickeey to march force aga -
the Indians, but soon recalled him, IAN