Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-02-10

souvenir of the jamestown Exposi-
ton by reproducing, in facsimile. the
earliest publication relating to the
Virginia colony, the first permanent
English settlement in North America
1t is one Of the rarest and most yalu-
able books in the English language
aud the genesis Of the history of the
United Statcs-a little, black-lctter
volume. with an illustrated title page.
The spelling follows the quaint forms
OF Chaucer aud other writer's of that
period. II was written by Capt. John
Smith, the master spirit of the col
ony, In the first person. and records
the events and incidents which took
place under his own observation for
period Of little more than year
from the time of the arrival of the
fleet at Cape Henry. April &c, 1907.
to the return voyage of Capt Nelson
in the Phoenix June ., 1908.
IT is the first news which the Eng
lish public received of the colony in
Virginia. but probably was not in
tended for publication. The manu-
script was taken to England by Capt.
Nelson, but we have no means of
knowing to whom 1t was addressed
II appears to have been circulated in
manuscript for some time among per-
sons financially Interested in the col
ony. and was then printed for general
Information. BY singular mistake
the first edition bore the name of
Thomas Watson. Gent. One Of Said
Colony" as the author. but the error
appears TO have been Immediately
discovered, and second edition.
within the name of Capt. Smith upon
the title page. was issued, with an
apology from the publisher.
II is a rather singular evidence of
both modesty and manliness that
Capt. Smiths name does not appear
anywhere in the narrative He omits
everything relating to his own per-
sonal experience. the stirring adven-
lures through which he passed, the
indtgnities that were heaped upon
him and the treachery of some of his
companions. He was suspected of n
mutiny at sea and was placed under
arrest: on the arrival of the colonists
at Cape Henry. when the sealed box
containing the orders for govern
ment' was opened, and he was found
to have been named as n member of
the colonial council. he was not al
lowed to take his place in that body,
but he ultimately triumphed over the
envy and jealousy OF his companions
and has ever since been recognized
rs the true leader of the little hand
that established the first permanent
settlement in what Is now the United
States.
Romantic story Omitted.
The omission of all reference to the
romantic story of his rescue by Poca-
hontas is not so strange although he
tells 1t in his General Historic" pub.
lished four years later. He refers sew
cral times to Poachontas, however.
The first is as follows
"Powhatan. understanding we de-
tanned certainc Saluages, setn his
Daughter. a child of tenne yeares old,
which not only for feature, countc-
nance. & proportion. much eXceedcth
any of the reft of his people. but for
Wit and fpirit, the only Nonpareil Of
his Country: This hce fcnt by his
mott truf9e meffenger. called Raw
hunt. as much exceeding in deformi-
tic Of perfon. but of a rubtill wit. and
crafty understanding, he with long
circumstance told NEE. how well
Powhatan loued and refpected nee.
and in that I should not doubt any
way of his kindncffc, he had fent his
child. which he mott efteemed. to fec
a
prafent: defiring me that the hoy
might come again. which he loued
exceedingly. his little Daughter hee
had taight this leffon alto: not taking
notice at all of the Indcans that had
becne prifnnnrs three daies. till that
morning that fine faw their fathers
and friends come quietly. and in good
tearmes to entreate their libertie. In
the afternoons they being gone, we
guarded them as before to the
Church. and after PRAYER. gaue them
to Pocahuntas. the Kings Daughter
in regard to her fathers liindncffe In
Tending her: after hauing well fed
them, as all the time of their imprif-
onment. we gaue them their bowcs
arrowes, or what elfo they had. and
with much contents fent them pack
ing: Pocahuntas, alto we requited
with fnch trifles as contented her. to
tel that we had vfed We Paspaheyans
very kindly in 70 releafing them"
II the age of Pacohontas is here
given correctly. she was only fifteen
years old when she married John
Rolfe. I'm April, 1914. In his Gen
oral Historic" however Captain
Smith refers to her as thirteen years
old. which would have made her nine.
teen at the time OF her marriage
William Strachey. the secretary OF
the COLONY. writing in 1910, refers to
her as follows:
"Pocahuntas. well.fcatured. but
wanton. yong gre Powhatan's
daughter. fometymes reforting to our
fort. of the age then Of eleven or
twelve yearcs. wet the boyes forth
with her into the MARKET place. and
make them whcele. falling on their
hands, turning up their hccles up
wardcs. whome fine would followec