The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-04
COL AICABE.S LAST PAPER
I'M REPLY TO DIR. DOYLE

The following is the last instalment
nj col w. Gordon McCabe's article
on Or. Doyle. printed in the Saturday
Review OF July 18th:
HISTORY AND CONVENTION.
in Three Parts
Ill.
THE Colonies Under the House Of Han.
over, BY j. A. Doyle. London:
Longnans Green. 1907. las. net.
Mr.. Doyle's chapter on the "I1conon1i-
cni Progress" of the colonies Is, in the
main. we'll done, but again the histori-
Gu! student has to complain of the per-
functory manner in which he has
treated Virginia's part in securing a
foothold In the vest The persistent
efforts of the Virginia colonists to ex-
tend their western frontier, plant new
settlements in that region. and thereby
secure an outlet for trade in that direc-
ton. is, of course, n matter of prime
Importance in the history of the colony,
yet such first-hand authorities as the
EARLY Westward Movement of Vir-
Einia" (1722-17S4). as shown by the
Proceedings of the Colonial Council
edited and annotated by Charles ID.
kemper), The Moravian Diaries Of
Travels Through Virginia" G747-175S)
edited by Hincke and ISemper), and
THE Proceedings of the Virginia Com
mittee of Correspondence" G759-176O,
all seem to have been ignored by our
author, though easily accessible in the
pages Of the Virginia Magazine of
History and Biography" Vols. ri, Xii,
Nil. and xiv.).
one or two minor points as to his
Nirginian geography: he tells us (p.
203) that 1.-THE difficulty of commune
cation in Virginia is illustrated by the
vnrious excuses given by sheriffs' Off
GERS for failing to serve writs NO
road excess of weather. because the
attendants horse was faster than
mine because the defendant got into
deep water out of my reach are among
the difficulties alleged.
The reference he gives for this state
ment is THE Magazine of American
History" (title incorrectly given by
hind, xii. 54S. If he had carefully OBJ
served the reference given there he
would have seen that these excuses
are taken from Peyton's History OF
Augusta County," and he ought to
know that at that time Augusta
County was on the frontier and one Of
the widest and most thinly settled
parts Of the colony. Again Up. 40S). IN
l714 Spotswood established n settle-
1nent of German miners in the Tuscn-
rora county," There was never "Tus-
county" be misprint for country
Gas may possibly be the case, for tho
book is pitted with misprints), he is
still in error. The Tuscarora country,
as his "Spotswood's Letters" will tell
him e. 1879, was within the bounds of
Carolina" and though, at Spotswoods
instance, the Tuscaroras moved up TEN.
porarily to tho borders Of Virginia,
which they had agreed by treaty to
guard against the ncursions of other
tribes, they broke faith with him and
speedily returned to their old haunts.
Mr.. Doyle justly admires Spotswood,
and IN his narrative very wisely makes
abundant use Of his letters, yet he
makes an odd mistake about him. On
ps52, In describing the visit Of Colonel
William Byrd of Westover to the
whilom Governor at '.Germanna," he
says, 'Spotswood had been Governor OF
Jamaica, and his account OF the rela-
tons between Spain and England in
the West Indies Is of real historical
value" Now. Spotswood had never
been Governor Of Jamaica, and no one
should know this better than Mr.. Doyle
who. some years ago, wrote capita
sketch Of Spotswood for the "Diction
airy of National Biography" in which
he makes no mention of this supposed
fact. now stated with assurance. TIL
explanation seemingly is that Mr.. Doyle
upon THE Writings of Colonel William
Byrd of MISSIONER In Virginia, Esquire
edited by j.. S. Bassett, in superl
furrnat), a book which, we infer from
Rfoot-note in our authors first volume
Though we may be mistaken) III
knew, until recently, only at second
hand. through Professor Colt Tyler
History Of American Literature Dur
Ing the Colonial Tiine,'' though Byrd
Writings" were first published in 1S4
and again in 1866.
iIf MIR. Doyle will turn again tt
Byrd's "a Progress to the Mines
(Which he has evidently read with keel
enjoyment) he will find that he has. OF
this point, misread his author Wha
Spotswood told Byrd was that 'som
OF the Ministry, being tired out wit
the Clamours of the Merchants. de
cared their Opinion for War. and Will
they entertained those sentiments the
pitch'd upon him, Colo Spotswood. t
be Governor. of Jamaica. But the Cour
age Of these 1, werthy Patriots 500 500
drop't. his Government Of Jamaica wa
Grop't at the same time"-i. c., whc
the temper of the Ministry changed, tn
conditional offer fell through. Byrd
meaning is perfectly plain and in &C
cordance with the known facts.
The author gives us a very graph
1t by his persistent ring at the Viz
sinian planter There is another sid
to Byrds character" he says, "withou
which he could hardly have been typ
of his class. With all his high mentf
training and value for outward grace
and refinement, there is in him Gel
tain touch OF boisterous indecency
Angels and ministers Of grace defen
us. Colonel William Byrd Of West
over in Virginia, ESQUIRE" the accom-
plished courtier and scholar, yet kee
man of affairs, trimming over with d.
licate wit and arch humor, courtly !
manners and irresistibly attractive i
reason of his shrewd practical sens
and unfailing galety of dispositions
why, one never thinks Of 'boisterou
ness" or 'indecency" in connection wit
him! OF course, there Is here and thel
the note of coarseness in his letters ar
Ia his narrative but that is the note
his time in England as In Virginia--tl
note of Fielding and Smollett and D.