Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/78

 48 INTRODUCTION. CHAP - IL mischiefs and extravagancies. They assumed 1609. ^0 themselves the power of disposing of the government, and conferred it sometimes on one and sometimes on another. To day the old commission must rule, to-morrow the new, and next day neither. So that all was anarchy and distraction." The judgment of Smith was not long sus- pended. He soon determined that his own authority was not legally revoked until the arrival of the new commission, and therefore resolved to continue its exercise. Incapable of holding the reins of government but with a firm and steady hand, he exhibited, on this emergency, that vigour and good sense, which he always displayed most eminently, when he most needed them. He boldly imprisoned the chief promoters of the sedition, and thereby restored, for a time, regularity and obedience. Having effected this, he, for the double pur- pose of extending the settlements of the colony, and of preventing the mischiefs to be appre- hended from so many turbulent spirits collected in Jamestown, detached one hundred persons to the falls of James' river, under the conduct of West, and the same number to Nansemond, under the command of Martin. These persons conducted the settlements which they made with so little judgment, that they soon con- verted all the neighbouring Indians into ene- mies ; had several parties cut off; and found