The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-02

of historic interest, and is so
adopted for conventions as is
the city Of Richmond. Situated in the /
very heart OF the most historic portion
OF the United States. within a short I
distance OF all OF the ancient towns
OF the colony, fifty miles from James |
town, the first English settlement in |
America. the ancient centre of art, lit |
erature and learning of the early days, /
and the very heart of the struggle be- |
tween the states. there is perhaps no
city that appeals SO strongly to the /
people of America and to visitors from
abroad as does the capital OF the Con- !
federacy for four long years. and in a.
united country the capital of Virginia
to-day. Richmond is almost as old a
settlement as is the historic island OF
Jamestown, on James River. for but
two years after Captain John Smith /
and his band OF adventurous gentlemen
landed on American soil in 1907, an
exploration under Wise was sent out
from JAY astown to find the source of
the rive which had been named in
honor n the King. Sailing up theI
stream. N s band reached the head of
navigation. and were forced to come to
anchor on account Of the immense
boulders that spread across the river
They landed in 1909 at point where
Richmond now stands. This may bel
called the first settlement OF the city,
although 1t was not until the following
year that 100 men came from James
town and went into camp at the falls
OF James River. From Powhatan. the
Indian king, whose daughter, Poca-
hontas, played so important part
in the history Of the colony, and who
later married John Rolfc, went abroad
and died there, was purchased strip
OF territory where Richmond now
stands, upon which a fortiiicatlon was
erected. In 1e1l Sir Thomas Drake
took possession of the place, and, in
honor of Prince Henry, named the VII
lage Henrico, which is to-day the name
of the county, and from which the city
of Richmond may fairly be said to have
sprung. So it will be seen that Rich
mond is almost as old as the first set
tlament itself, founded by the same
people and fostered under the same
laws.
stormy Days.
~ These early days We're ones of adj
venture and of sudden death for the
men who manned the small fort and
SO dangerous did 1t finally become that
William Byrd, who is known to his
tory as this founder of Richmond, was
granted all the territory around Hen
rico, on condition that he would keep
at the village fifty strong and stalwart
men to protect the settlers and over
power the warlike and unfriendly 91n-
dams. 5ss 1 III
1t was in Richmond that Nathaniel
Bacon lived. and to-day u stone OH
the lawn of a small villa on Grove
Road marks the place of his residence
here The town slowly grew apace,
but 1t was not until 1742, when George
II. reigned, that the town was incor-
porated under the name Of Richmond,
In honor of the aristocra tic resort made
famous by white bait on the banks OF
the Thames. E'4
William Byrd himself owned an es-
tate near Richmond: In fact, the prop
erty was in the very heart OF what Is
known as Richmond day, and the
street called Belvidere, which runs
through the most fashionable part ot
the city. was named after his resi-
denCe, Which occupied a commanding
position on the hills that overlook the
falls, and which In the literature of the
day was described as magnificent ant
lordly. Richmond grew but slowly, fol
williamsburg, which had become the
Of Jamestown was the great soc!a
centre Of the State, and the rich plant
ers and their wives and daughter.
gathered there to take part in tn,
social affairs that surro unded the Gov
ernor's court, to visit the play ant
witness the horse races and sport
which there ahounded. In 177e, how
ever, during the Revolutionary War
on account Of the threatened invasion
by the British, the capital was move
from Williamsburg to Richmond, whicl
thereafter became the social centre O
the Old Dominion. In 1889 9Richmon,
was incorporated as a city, and iron
that time on the growth has been yer,
steady and well abreast with the time;
Points OF Interest.
A spot of interest around Richmon
IN point of antiquity as we'll as /
point OF historical value is st. John
Church. which building, standing on
hill which takes its name from ths
edifce, Is perfaps the most famor
church In the whole of America. Til
Parish Of st. Johns dates back to q
early a period as 1892. when a churc
OF some sort was erected, hut not III
til l74o was the present church quill