Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/62

38 vessels, and were fortunate enough, May 24th, to reach Virginia in safety. They were horror-struck at the appearance of the few surviving colonists, and, finding that their stores would last but for sixteen days longer, they resolved to abandon Virginia, the scene of so many and prolonged miseries, and even to consume the town on their departure; an act of insane folly which was happily prevented by Gates. On the 7th of June, at noon, they embarked in four pinnaces, and fell down the river with the tide. Next morning, before they had reached the sea, they were startled with the sudden appearance of the long boat of Lord Delaware, who had just arrived at the mouth of the river with ships and reinforcements. By persuasion and authority he prevailed upon the melancholy band to return. The first act of Lord Delaware was, on the 10th of June, to publish his commission, and to consecrate his functions by the solemnities of prayer and supplication to God. The hearts of the colonists were full; the arrival of the governor seemed to them like a special deliverance of Divine Providence. They took courage to grapple with the difficulties of their situation, and ere long found them to yield to determined energy. The mingled firmness and gentleness of the new governor restrained the factious, and won over the dissolute and refractory. A regular system of daily labor was established, and every one submitted to his appointed work, which was regularly preceded by public worship. The colony now began to put forth some promise of permanent establishment; but scarcely had Lord Delaware brought about this gratifying result, when his health failed, and he was compelled to return to England, leaving George Percy as his deputy. During his short stay, he had not only reduced the colonists, now numbering about two hundred, to some degree of order, but had repressed the encroachments of the Indians, by the erection of new forts, and by attacking some of their villages. Sir George Somers was dispatched for provisions to the Bermudas, but he did not live to return. Captain Samuel Argall, who accompanied him in another vessel, succeeded at last in obtaining supplies of corn on the shores of the Potomac.

In May, soon after the departure of Lord Delaware, Sir Thomas Dale arrived in Virginia with three ships, three hundred emigrants, and a supply of cattle, provisions, and other articles needful for the colony. He was empowered to administer summary justice upon any and all classes of offenders. In the latter part of August, Sir Thomas Gates also arrived with six ships, two hundred and eighty men, and twenty women, a considerable quantity of cattle and hogs, military stores, and other necessaries; and assumed the government amid the thanksgivings of the colony, and with daily prayers for England, their much loved native land. The colony now began to extend itself up James River, where several new settlements were effected, and a town built, enclosed with a palisade, which, in honor of prince Henry, was called Henrico. Yet the rights of the Indians were not sufficiently