Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/70

 40 INTRODUCTION, CHAP II — - work, but to dig gold, wash gold, refine gold> and load gold. And notwithstanding captain Smith's warm and judicious representations, how absurd it was to neglect other things of immediate use and necessity, to load such a drunken ship with gilded dust; yet was he over- ruled, and her returns were made in a parcel of glittering dirt, which is to be found in various parts of the country, and which they very sanguinely concluded to be gold dust." 1608. The two vessels returned, one in the spring, the other the second of June, laden, one with this dust, and the other with cedar. This is the first remittance ever made from America by an English colony. The effects of this fatal delusion were soon felt. The colony began to suffer the same distress from scarcity of food, which had be- fore brought it to the brink of ruin. expires the The researches of the English settlers had chesapeak. not y et ex tended beyond the countries adjacent to James' river. Smith had formed the bold design, of exploring the great bay of Ches- apeak, examining the mighty rivers which empty into it, opening an intercourse with the nations inhabiting their borders^ and acquiring a knowledge of the state of their cultivation and population. Accompanied by doctor Russell, he undertook this hardy enterprise in an open boat of about three tons burden, and with a crew of thirteen men. On the second of June,