1639, succeeded by Sir William Berkeley, who was instructed again to allow the Virginians to elect representatives. Such was their gratitude to the king for this favour, that during the civil wars between him and his parliament, they were faithful to the royal cause, and continued faithful even after he was dethroned and his son driven into exile.

The parliament, irritated by this conduct of the Virginians, sent Sir George Ayscue, in 1652, with a powerful fleet, to reduce them to submission. Berkeley, with more spirit than prudence, opposed this force; but after making a gallant resistance, he was obliged to yield. He obtained the most favourable terms for the colony, but asked no stipulations in his own favour. Withdrawing to a retired situation, he lived beloved and respected by the people.

For nine years afterwards, the governors appointed by Cromwell continued to preside over the colony. But the predilection for royalty, which the inhabitants had displayed, was remembered, and they were less favoured than those of New England, who, like the predominant party in Great Britain, were republicans in politics, and puritans in religion. Arbitrary restrictions upon the commerce of Virginia checked its prosperity, and produced discontent. At length the sudden death of Governor Matthews afforded to the adherents of the royal cause a favourable opportunity, which they gladly seized, to proclaim Charles the Second, and to invite Berkeley to resume the authority of governor. He con

sented, requiring only their solemn promise to hazard their lives and fortunes in supporting the cause they had espoused.

At this period no intelligence had been received of the death of Cromwell. Fortunately for the colony, that event happened soon after; the king whom they had proclaimed was restored to the throne; and Virginia for a long time boasted that she was the last of the British dominions that submitted to Cromwell, and the first that returned to her allegiance.

Charles the Second confirmed Sir William Berkeley in the office of governor; but with characteristic ingratitude, he neglected the interests of the colony, and even imposed additional restrictions upon its commerce. He also granted to his favourites large tracts of land which belonged to the colony. These injuries, inflicted by a hand which ought to have bestowed favours, wounded the feelings of the Virginians, and produced murmurs and complaints. No relief being granted, an open and turbulent insurrection was the consequence.

At the head of the insurgents was Nathaniel Bacon. He was a lawyer, educated in London, and was appointed a member of the council, a short time after his emigration to Virginia. He was young, bold, ambitious; his person engaging, and his elocution commanding. He harangued the citizens upon their grievances; inflamed their resentment against their rulers; declaimed particularly against the languor with which the war, then existing with the Indians, had been con

ducted; and such was the effect of his representations, that he was elected general by the people.

He applied to the governor for a commission confirming this election, and offered instantly to march at the head of the citizens against the savages. Sir William indignantly refused, and issued a proclamation commanding the insurgents to disperse. Bacon had advanced too far to recede with honour or safety. He hastened, at the head of six hundred armed followers, to Jamestown, surrounded the house where the governor and council were assembled, and repeated his demand.

En

The council, intimidated by the threats of the enraged multitude, hastily prepared a commission, and, by their entreaties, prevailed on the governor to sign it. Bacon and his troops then began their march against the Indians. But the council, when relieved from their fears, declared the commission void, and proclaimed him a rebel. raged at this conduct, he instantly returned, with all his forces, to Jamestown. The governor fled, the council dispersed, and he found himself in possession of supreme power. To give it some show of legality, he called together the most considerable gentlemen in the colony, who bound themselves by oath to support his authority.

Some districts remained faithful to Berkeley, who collected forces, and made inroads into those sections where Bacon's authority was recognized. The latter retaliated, and for some months a civil war, with all its peculiar horrors, raged in Virginia. Jamestown was burned, and some of the finest and best cultivated districts were laid waste.

King Charles, informed of the situation of affairs, despatched a body of troops to the assistance of Berkeley. Bacon and his followers, unintimidated by their approach, determined to oppose them; but when prepared to take the field, this daring and successful leader, having exercised the supreme power for seven months, sickened and died; and no person being found among the insurgents qualified to supply his place, as the general of an army, or as a popular leader, they laid down their arms and dispersed.

Governor Berkeley again assumed the supreme authority, and finding the rebels in his power, pursued them with unsparing rigour. Many were tried by courts martial, and executed. The assembly interfered, praying him to stop the work of death, and enacted laws which gradually restored tranquillity. Soon after Sir William returned to England, and his authority devolved on Colonel Jeffreys, the lieutenant-governor. Under his administration, peace was concluded with the Indians; and notwithstanding the tyrannical regulations of the king, and the oppressive restrictions upon commerce, the colony increased in wealth and population. In the year 1688, the number of inhabitants exceeded 60,000.

Between this period and the commencement of the French war of 1756, an account of which will be found in a subsequent chapter, but few events occurred in the colony of sufficient importance to find a place in history. Its position, remote from the settlements of the French in Canada, and of the Spaniards in Florida, was favourable to its quiet. New England and New

York, on the one hand, Georgia and the Carolinas on the other, protected it from savage incursions. Its affairs were administered by governors appointed by the king, and representatives chosen by the people.

The laudable efforts of these representatives to arrest the progress of slavery in the colony, ought not to be passed over in silence. Convinced of its inhumanity, and foreseeing the dreadful evils which it must produce, they often passed laws prohibiting the importation of slaves; but those who were higher in authority, yielding to the wishes of merchants engaged in the abominable traffic, persisted with criminal obstinacy in withholding their assent. England, not America, is responsible for the wretchedness which her kings and her officers were often importuned, but refused, to avert.

CHAPTER II.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Of the two companies incorporated by King James, an account of the proceedings and dissolution of one, and a history of the colony it founded, have been given in the preceding chapter. To the other, or Plymouth company, was assigned a portion of the American continent lying farther to the north, and at that time called North Virginia.