The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-17
Brucc's Economic aistory OF vir-
stuia.
Norfolk, Va, June 49, 1896

NOr1Oik, Va, June IL, 1886.
Editor Norfolk Virginian:
SIR: The Economic History of Vir-
ginia in the Seventeenth Century," by
Philip Alexander Bruce. is the most i'm
portant contribution. to the history of
America or any portion of America which
has yet appeared. The work Is In two
volumes. OF more than 600 pages each,
and Is divided into twenty-one chap
tiers. which appear under the headings OF
fourteen subjects. The first chapter
gives the reasons for the colonization of
Virginia; the second and third its ply
seal character and Indian economy;
fourth. fifth, sixth and seventh. agri-
cultural development; eighth. acqulsi-
ton OF title to land-the patent; ninth
and tenth, system of labor the slave;
twelfth and thirteenth, domestic econ
omy of the planter; fourteenth. relative
value of estates; fifteenth and sixteenth,
manufactured supplies. foreign; seven
tesnth and eighteenth, manufactured
supplies, domestic: nineteenth. money!;
twentieth. the town; twenty-hrst, con-
cluSion. The reasons for the colonial
ron OF Virginia were many. One was
TO raise barrier against Spanish DOW
er, put they were mostly purely OF a
commercial nature. To enlarge the trade
OF England. Increase the number of ships
and mariners, create a field in the control
OF England where naval stores could be
acquired, furnish q new market for the
disposal of English clothing, and In re-
turn supply the English with wine and
fruit. silk. flax and hemp and soap ashes
and enrich the nation by the discovery
and development OF mines and other
natural sources of wealth, and furnish
the surplus population with homes. AL
though the soil of Virginia has long
been known to be highly suitable to the
production of tobacco. It was only In
l6l2, fve years after the settlement of
the colony. that the English commenced
It's cultivation. The settlers at first OBJ
tanned their supplies of the wesl from
the Indians, but John Rore. famous as
the husband of the Ipdan Princess Po-
cahontas. was smoker. and finding
that supply was precar:ous in conse-
quence or constant wars between the
Indians and the settlers cultivated
enough for his own use. While the!e
were several ways by which the settler
could obtain patents for land. the head
right was the one mostly resorted to.
IL was I'm operation in 161s," and grew
more and more important each success
sive year, until 1t became the principal
basis for title. Every shareholder who
transported an immigrant. whether free
or bond. to the colony, acquired thereby
claim to fifty acres If the person re-
manned In Virginia for period Of three
years. or even If he had died after he
was taken on board ship on the outward
voyage There were in Virginia in 1649
about $4,000 white people and 800 slaves,
10000 head of cattle. 5000 head of sheep.
about 5000 goats, and a much larger
NUMBER OF hogs, burt only 200 horses and
mares. The term servant. now only ap-
Piled to men.als, was i'm the seventeenth
century applied not only to those who
had contracted to work as agricultural
lahorers or as artisans and mechanics.
put also to those who wene seeking to
obtain under articles of apprenticeship
knowledge of one of the learned pro-
iesstons. In 1925 there were about AGA
Whne servants in Virginia and in 1871
about 5000. In 1926 Richard Townsend,
IN SUIT OF law against Dr.. John Pott.
on the ground that DR.. Pott had not
instructed him in the apothecary's art
according TO the conditions of his in
denture. described himself as the SER
want of that physician" In making his
Will in 1916, Sir Robert Peake a we'll
known citizen of London, devised $500
sterling 10 George Lyddall, his cousin.
at that time in Virginia, to whom he
a!iuues as his sometime servant The
hrst negro slaves 20 I'm number. were
brought 10 Virginia In 1919. in a Dutch
privateer. In 1863 there weI-- about 500
ana i'll 1910 1000 in the colony. The
value of the slaves increased as their
'''N'NtAsEu- MINE auu1l Slaves
sold for G2,700 in 1910. when there were
only about $50 all told in the colony.
The statement frequently made by par-
SONS VINO derive their informa lion from
secondhand authorities that Virginia
was largely settled by convicts and
Other und stable elements is shown Ia
De incorrect. Convicts. it is true. were
Sent to Virginia. but they were mostly
political prisoners, the victims of on
preston. and not Wolators of tho civil
law They were mostly Irish and Scotch
Roya!!sts, followers Of the Stuarts
ana then Englshmen and Scotchmen
VINO had resisted the arbitrary methods
OF Charles The Second and James the Seq.
ond. The early history of Virginia ha 4
long awaited the torch OF reason and
com mon sense 10 illumine its dark places
ana dissipate the misty fables and fan
cies IN which !: had been enshrouded.
me material, both published and un-
published, was plentiful. but no laborer
possessing both discriminating iudp-
ment and untiring patsence arose IA
perform the task until the accomplIshe)
author Of the Economic History did for
ms native State that which las been
done Tor no other country which exists
or ever did exist.
GEORGE ASHALI.