This gentleman figures, in the early history of our country, as the most
strenuous promoter of colonization, the most wise founder, and the most
active governor, of colonies. In New England he acted as discoverer
and settler; in Virginia he sustained both these characters, as well
as that of the most efficient and able governor of the first permanent
colony. When he landed upon the soil, he was a private citizen; but the
misgovernment of others soon made it necessary to call him to the office
of governor.
Under his directions James-Town was fortified by such defences as were
sufficient to repel the attacks of the savages; and, by dint of great
labour, which he was always the foremost to share, the colonists were
provided with dwellings that afforded shelter from the weather, and
contributed to restore and preserve their health. Finding the supplies
of the savages discontinued, he put himself at the head of a detachment
of his people, and penetrated into the country; and by courtesy and
liberality to the tribes whom he found well disposed, and vigorously
repelling the hostilities of such as were otherwise minded, he obtained
for the colony the most abundant supplies.
In the midst of his successes he was surprised on an expedition, by a
hostile body of savages, who, having succeeded in making him prisoner,
after a gallant and nearly successful defence, prepared to inflict on him
the usual fate of their captives. His eminent faculties did not desert
him on this trying occasion. He desired to speak with the sachem or
chief, and, presenting him with a mariner’s compass, expatiated on the
wonderful discoveries to which it had led, described the shape of the
earth, the vastness of its lands and oceans, the course of the sun, the
varieties of nations, and the singularity of their relative positions,
which made some of them antipodes to the others.
With equal prudence and magnanimity he refrained from all solicitations
for his life, which would only have weakened the impressions which he
hoped to produce. The savages listened with amazement and admiration.
They had handled the compass, and viewing with surprise the play of the
needle, which they plainly saw, but found it impossible to touch, from
the intervention of the glass, this marvellous object prepared their
minds for the reception of those vast impressions by which their captive
endeavoured to gain ascendency over them.
For an hour after he had finished his harangue, they seem to have
remained undecided; till their habitual sentiments reviving, they resumed
their suspended purpose, and, having bound him to a tree, prepared to
dispatch him with their arrows. But a stronger impression had been made
on their chief; and his soul, enlarged for a season by the admission
of knowledge, or subdued by the influence of wonder, revolted from the
dominion of habitual ferocity. This chief was named Opechancanough, and
destined at a future period to invest his barbarous name with terror and
celebrity. Holding up the compass in his hand, he gave the signal of
reprieve, and Smith, though still guarded as a prisoner, was conducted to
a dwelling where he was kindly treated, and plentifully entertained. But
the strongest impressions pass away, while the influence of habit remains.
After vainly endeavouring to prevail on their captive to betray the
English colony into their hands, they referred his fate to Powhatan,
the king or principal sachem of the country, to whose presence they
conducted him in triumphal procession. The king received him with much
ceremony, ordered a plentiful repast to be set before him, and then
adjudged him to suffer death by having his head laid on a stone and
beat to pieces with clubs. At the place appointed for this barbarous
execution, he was again rescued from impending fate by the interposition
of Pocahontas, the favourite daughter of the king, who, finding her
first entreaties disregarded, threw her arms around the prisoner, and
declared her determination to save him or die with him. Her generous
affection prevailed over the cruelty of her tribe, and the king not only
gave Smith his life, but soon after sent him back to James-Town, where
the beneficence of Pocahontas continued to follow him with supplies of
provisions that delivered the colony from famine.