Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-02
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH
HON. WILLIAM WRIT HENRy's
LECTURE BEFORE THE A.P.v. A.
The story of jamestown Told i'm
Deeply Interesting and Instructive
style 10 a Large and Most Cuiti-
waited ssembInge.

The second OF the series OF lectures
under the auspices of the Association
for the Preservation of Virginia Antiqui-
ties was delivered in the Han OF the
House Of Delegates last night Both the
floor and the galleries of the han were
crowded. and many persons were turned
away from the doors. II being inpossloie
90 provide seats for them.
Bishop Newton introduced the lecturer
Hon. William Writ Henry, Ill. u, whose
subject was 'lsc6- lsi0-Captain John Smith
and the Story of Jamestown
Mr.. Henry has given especial attention
to the study of the character and career
OF Captain John Smith. and handled his
theme in a deeply interesting ana IN
structive manner. The audience was one
Of the. most cultivated ever assembled
After complimenting the association for
the progress they had made In preserving
the historic buildings ana places IN VII
yinis, the speaker referred 20 or WI" liz
Raleigh as the first to attempt an Eng
lish colony in North America. he a.
iuded to the fact that after RaleiGn
Imprisonment his charter rights W@re
Viyen to a London company. by whose
Efforts the English were painted IN VIZ VI
Vinia He described the scene on 'ne
wharf at London on the 18TH OF Decempei;
les. when the little feet, composer Ss,, %
and tn ..Discovs sailed with the
colony which was 10 plant the Engiihsn s
race In North America. In dolns TINS, AS
described the prominent men who CAM
to take leave OF the vOyagers. ana ths
mos, promin,nt men In the company UI
the io5 colonists. The voyage was o M
followed, In which the pioneers touched
at the Canaries and at the West indies.
and In April. l091. were driven o! d s'. ca
storm into ~ Chesapeake bay On 1ns
18th OF May y landed and comm !, ,nG r,a
txtxt.a
Wingfield was chosen the first president
and he and the council that was 10 gVn
err were sworn in. captain JEn1 Slnii tol
pher Newport, the admiral OF the meet;
took a party, which included smith ana a
went UP the river as FAR as the ia ~
where they erected cross anu hdin'u 'iiS
river James.
MEN OF EDUCATION.
The speaker then referred TO the fact
that among the coionists tn~re Wsie
many men OF education, who kept DIARIES
and Of these We have two coii CON pSs,nd Inv
the Rev Williams SymOnds, the otner
mad by the Rev. Samuel Purchas; Ines
two substantially agree. ana tne III
forms the staple Of Smiths History OF
Virginia. This is known as the OXFORD
tract. and being the account given py
Smiths companions OF occurrences durins
his stay in Virginia was used py Ml;
an account OF the trials and dii1cuitles
which beset the colony. and of the ser
vices rendered by Smith In preserving IL
and preventing its abandonment.
SMITHS ADMINISTRATION.
The wise administration Of Smith as
president-i60S-lGs-w described; also,
the fiourishing condition IN which he lett
the colony on the ith Of October. log.
when. because Of severe injury which he
received from an explosion OF a bag or
eunpowder ne was forced to return TO
England TO obtain medical assistance. The
sad condition TO which the colony was
reduced within six months thereafter was
pictured, its abandonment being pre-
vented BY the timely arrival OF LORD
Delaware with large reinforeementS ana
provisions.
The SPEAKER concluded with the splen-
ala tribute to Smith by George s. Hill
Hard. one OF his biographers: Wherever
upon this continent the English language
Is spoken his deeds should be recounted
and his memory hallowed. His services
should not be not only not forgotten, but
should be freshly remembered. His name
should not only be honored by the silent
canvas and cold marble, but his praises
should dwell living upon the lips OF men,
and should be handed down by fathers 10
their children. Poetry has imagined no.
thing more stirring and romantic than
his life and adventures, and history upon
her ample page has recorded few more
honorable and spotless names"
AZ the conclusion Of the lecture Rev.
DIR. Hoge arose and moved that the
Henry. ana the motion was adopted
unanimously.
The next lecture will be by Mr..
Thomas. OF Isle OF Wight.