Norwich bulletin., 1921-05-17

mission but this promise was never ufl- filled. Fearing treachery, Bacon with drew to Williamsburg, then called the Middle Plantation, where he assembled five hundred men and marched 10 James, town, to demand his commission from the governor, It was reluctaantly grant ed and Berkely and the assembly over awed, attested the bravery and loyalty of Bacon, and on July 4, 1876, just one hundred years before our independence, a more liberal and enlightened legislation commenced in Vigrinia
 The eighteenth century in Virginia was thus the child of the seventeenth and Bacon's rebellion. with the correspond ing scenes in Maryland, Carolina and New England, was the earlier harbinger of American Independence and Ameri- can nationality.
 The moment Bacon left Jamestown to confront the invading Indians, Berke- ley treacherously and rashIy published | proclamation reversing all the proceed | ings of the burgesses, agaln declaring l Bacon traitor. and calling upon the loyal aristocracy to join him. The in dignation of Bacon was f1ercely kindled, and, marching back to the capital he | lighted up civil war. The property of Berkeley's adherents was confsca ted, 1 their wives were seized as hostag ges, and | DldnIdIlOn of the Royalists ensued.
 1 Berkeley and his followers were driv- en from Jamestown and sought shelter on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Ba- i con became supreme ruler, and, hav- 1 ing proclaimed the abdicatioa of Berke- l ley, he summoned the assembly in his l own name and prepared to cast off all 1 alIegience to the English Gown. When | troops came from England to support l Berkeley. Bacon and his followers re- solved to oppose them.
 This was the first time that English
 troops were sent to America to suppress republicanism. The same determined | spirit prevailed, which, century later | made all the Anglo-American colonies life the arm of defiance against the
 armies and naTies of Great Britain, wher
 sent here t5 burn our towns, ravage oul
 coasts. and eat out the substance of tn,
 people"
 A rumor reached the capital that z strong party of the Roya!ists x h thu imperial troops, were approaching ant in a council of war Bacon ana his fol lowers resolved to burn Jamestown. Tn torch was applied just as the nigh shadows came over the village, and tn
 sun rose the next morning upon tn
 smoking ruins of the first Eng...sh tow built in America.
 Nausht remaining standing f.ut a fey
 chimneys and the church .ower tha solitary monument which now attract . the eye and heart of the |, avelle1 2 Leaving the smoking ruins. 5accn pushe
 forward with his little army tt driv s the Royalists from Virginia, but tn F malaria from the lowlands infused it f poison into his veins, and oa inc mort
 bank of the York river that brave patric , died.
 Bacon's death was a blow of unut
 terable evil to his followers, fo1 TO otf CT man could wear the mantle of hi c influence. Berkeley wreaked vergeanC V upon his followers, hanging twenty 2 them when the assembly impIornd ths . he would spill no more b.ood." H : was soon recalled and went to Finglan # but died before he obtained ar audienc a with the king.
 d (Tomorrow-First Naval Engagement
 Revolution)