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.