injurious to the colonies, and excited indignation and opposition, especially in Virginia, where the extensive commerce and pre-eminent loyalty of the people rendered the pressure of the burden more severe, and the infliction of it more exasperating. 4. There was, however, some compensation for these severe restrictions. The colonies were allowed the exclusive privilege of supplying England with tobacco, the cultivation of which was forbidden in England, Ireland, Guernsey, and Jersey. But the compensation did not equal the burden, and the discontent was general. Virginia remonstrated and petitioned for relief, but in vain. The King enforced the act with rigor. 5. The discontents in Virginia were augmented by the grants of land made by the King to his favorites, which were in violation of former grants, and were inconsistent with the rights of Virginians. A war breaking out with the Susquehanna Indians, who ravaged the frontiers, added to the distress, and increased the discontent of the people. Sir William Berkeley, who had been Governor for many years, had generally been popular with all classes; but at last the discontents of the people began to affect his standing, and he was accused of "wanting honesty to resist the aggression of the mother-country, and courage to repel the Indians." These charges were urged chiefly by Nathaniel Bacon, a young lawyer, ardent and ambitious. 6. Bacon was educated in London, had emigrated to Virginia in 1673, and was appointed a member of the Council shortly after his arrival. He was well qualified to be a leader of the people. A man of engaging address, young, bold, and ambitious, he harangued them upon their grievances, inflamed their passions against their rulers, and declaimed especially against the languid manner in which 4. What compensation was there for these hardships? 5. How were the discontents augmented in Virginia? What was the effect on the popularity of Sir William Berkeley? 6. When did Bacon arrive in Virginia? Describe him. What is said of bla election! What did Governor Berkeley do? Without the war against the Indians was then carried on. warrant or authority of law, an assembled multitude of men elected him General. Whereupon he immediately applied to the Governor for a commission, and for his officia sanction of the popular election, offering to march at once against the Indians. Governor Berkeley refused, and issued a proclamation commanding, in the King's name, the multitude to disperse. The popular voice was loud in Bacon's favor. They demanded a bold leader. He was just such a one as they desired. The more their demand was insisted on the more firmly the Governor adhered to his proclamation. Bacon was threatened with outlawry as a traitor. 7. Bacon, was not intimidated or disconcerted; but feeling that he had gone too far to recede, instead of causing his followers to disperse, he marched at the head of six hundred armed men directly to Jamestown, surrounded the house where the Governor and Council were assembled, and repeated his demand. Berke ley refused with firmness, and, boldly presenting him self before the angry multitude, defied their malice; but the Council, less courageous, hastily prepared a commission, and, by their entreaties, prevailed on the Governor to sign it. Bacon and his men then began their march against the Indians; but no sooner were the Council relieved of their fears than they annulled the commission, denounced Bacon as a rebel, and commanded his followers to deliver him up. The Governor readily approved this act of the Assembly, as he had signed the commission only at their earnest entreaty. 8. Enraged at this treatment, Bacon with all his forces returned to Jamestown. The aged Governor, unsupported and almost abandoned, fled to Accomac, on the eastern 7. What steps du Bacon take next? By whose influence did he get his com mission? After his departure, what was done by the Council? 8. What was then done by Bacon? By Berkeley? What was done by Baco O give his authority a legal sanction! shore of the Chesapeake. Collecting those who were well affected towards his administration, he opposed the insurgents and several skirmishes were fought with various success. Some of his councillors accompanied him, some went home to their plantations, and the actual government of the colony was, for the time being, in the hands of Bacon He sought to give it a legal form, and for this purpose caused a convention to assemble, and prevailed upon the members to pledge themselves to support his authority. The convention published a declaration charging the origin of the troubles upon Sir William Berkeley, and requiring the people to support Bacon against all forces, until the King could be informed of the true state of the case. 9. The colony was now in a state of civil war. A party of Bacon's men burned Jamestown, laid waste that part of the country whose inhabitants adhered to the old administration, and confiscated the property of the loyalists, their opponents. The Governor retaliated, seized the estates of many of the insurgents, and executed several of the leaders. When intelligence of the troubles reached England, the King issued a proclamation declaring Bacon a traitor, and granting pardon to all who would forsake him. He also dispatched a fleet with some troops to the assistance of Governor Berkeley. 10. But a new and unexpected turn was given to the course of events by the sudden death of Bacon. So com pletely had he been the soul of the movement, that imme diately after his death the hopes of his followers sunk, his party dissolved; and without any attempt at re-organization, without any choice of a new leader, they entered into negotiation with Sir William Berkeley, and laid down their arms, on obtaining a promise of general pardon. Such was the termination of a civil war which, at one time, seemed 9. Relate the proceedings of the different parties. What was done by the King of England? 10. What event put a sudden stop to the affair and restored Berkeley o power to threaten the destruction of the colony. Many valuable lives were lost, and much property was destroyed, by a civil war which seems to have effected no good, and to have accomplished none of the purposes for which it was begun. Whether the outbreak may properly be termed a rebellion or not, and Bacon a usurper, after his death his followers, being left without a head, gladly submitted to the authority of Sir William Berkeley, on condition of receiving a general pardon. 11. Berkeley returned to England about 1678, and was succeeded by Culpepper, who was appointed Governor for life; he was, however, removed in 1683 or 1684, and Effingham appointed his successor. In 1685 occurred in England the rebellion of James, Duke of Monmouth. When it was suppressed, many of those persons implicated in it were sent to Virginia and Maryland, to be sold to the colonists. as slaves for ten years. The Virginia House of Burgesses declared them free. Meanwhile, the restrictions on the commerce of the colonies continued through the subsequent portion of the reign of Charles II., and through that of James II., until the revolution of 1688, which placed William and Mary on the throne-an event beneficial to Great Britain and her colonies. 12. During the reign of William and Mary a college was established in Virginia, to which the sovereigns gave their patronage and their names. The King gave to the college outstanding quit-rents to the value of two thousand pounds, and also other grants. From this period Virginia enjoyed almost uninterrupted peace, and continued to increase in wealth and population until the breaking out of the old French war in 1754, considerably over half a century. Its central situation, removed alike from the French in Canada and the Spaniards in Florida, saved it from their hostile 11. Who succeeded Berkeley in 1678? What event occurred in England in 1685? What revolution occurred in 1688 ? 12. What college was founded in Virginia in the reign of William and Mary' How did the central situation of Virginia affect its tranquillity? Religious in incursions, and insured comparative repose. tolerance disappeared; and though Episcopacy continued to be the established religion, and the laws against dissenters were unrepealed, yet they were a dead letter, and men of all names and sects could worship as they pleased, and the "Old Dominion" became the worthy Mother of States and Statesmen. CHAPTER XVIII. NEW YORK, RESUMED. Sir Edmund Andros-French and Indian Wars. 1. IMMEDIATELY after its subjugation, as we have seen, New Amsterdam and the whole of the conquered province received the name of New York. Considerable numbers of the Dutch inhabitants left the country, and sought new homes elsewhere. The Governor, Stuyvesant, himself acquiesced in the change, and passed the remainder of his days as a British subject. Nichols, the first governor after the conquest, retained many of the Dutch forms of government; but a change to English customs was gradually brought about; trial by jury was introduced, and on the 12th of June, 1665, New York was incorporated, under a Mayor, five Aldermen, and a Sheriff. In 1666, war with Holland having broken out. apprehensions were entertained that efforts might be made to recover the province; but no attack was made, and at the treaty of peace New York was regularly ceded t England in exchange for Surinam, by a general stipulation that each one of the belligerents should retain what it arms had acquired after the commencement of the war. 2. In 1667 Nichols resigned his appointment, and was CHAPTER XVIII.-1. Who was first governor of New York after its conquest ! 2. Who succeeded Nichols ? What took place towards the close of his admin istration ! When was New York restored to the English? |