CHAP. II. vernor seems to have been the sole legislator. 1617. His edicts mark the severity of his rule, but

some of them evince an attention to the public safety. He ordered, that merchandises should be sold at an advance of twenty-five per centum, and tobacco taken in payment at the rate of three shillings per pound, under the penalty of three years servitude to the company; that no person should traffic privately with the Indians, or teach them the use of fire arms under pain of death; that no person should hunt deer or hogs without the governor's leave; that no man should shoot unless in his own necessary defence, until a new supply of ammunition arrived, on pain of a year's personal service; that none should go on board the ships at Jamestown, without the governor's leave; that every person should go to church on sundays and holidays, under the penalty of slavery during the following week for the first offence, during a month for the second, and during a year and a day for the third. The rigour of this administration necessarily excited much discontent, and the complaints of the Virginians at length made their way to the company. Mr. Yeardly. Lord Delawar being now dead, mr. Yeardly was appointed captain general, with instructions to examine with attention the wrongs of the colonists and to redress them.

The new governor arrived in April 1619, and soon after, to the inexpressible joy of the

inhabitants, declared his determination to con- CHAP. II. voke a colonial assembly.

This is an important era in the history of Virginia. Heretofore all legislative authority had been exercised either by the corporation in England, or by their officers in this country. The people, either personally or by their representatives, had no voice in the government of themselves; and their most important concerns were decided on by persons often unacquainted with their situation, and always possessing interests different from theirs. They now felicitated themselves on having really the privileges of Englishmen, and on possessing substantially the benefits of the English constitution.

1619.

assembly.

This first assembly met at Jamestown on First colonial the 19th of June. The colony was not then divided into counties, and the members were elected by the different boroughs amounting at that time to seven. From this circumstance the popular branch of the assembly received the appellation of the house of burgesses, which it retained until all connection with England was dissolved.

The assembly, composed of the governor, the council and burgesses, met together in one apartment, and there debated all matters thought conducive to the general welfare. The laws then enacted, which it is believed are no longer extant, were transmitted to Eng

CHAP. II. land for the approbation of the treasurer and 1619. company, and were said to have been " judiciously formed.”

of females

in the colony.

The immigrations from England continued to be very considerable, and were made at great expense to the company, but as yet few females had crossed the Atlantic. Men without wives could not contemplate Virginia as a place of permanent residence, and proposed, after amassing some wealth, to return to their native land. To put an end to a mode of thinking, in its effects so ruinous to the colony, it was proposed to send out one hundred maids, as wives First arrival for the colonists. Ninety girls, young and uncorrupt, were transported in the beginning of the year 1620, and sixty more in the subsequent year. They were immediately disposed of to the young planters. The price of a wife was estimated first at one hundred, and afterwards at one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco, then selling at three shillings per pound, and a debt so contracted was made of greater dignity than any other. The education of children was likewise attended to, and several steps were taken towards founding the college, afterwards completely established by William and Mary. About the same time the company received orders from the king to transport to And of Virginia a hundred idle and dissolute persons, then in custody of the knight marshal. These men, dispersed through the colony, became a

convicts.

useful and acceptable addition of labourers, and CHAP. II. were the first convicts transported to America. 1621.

Heretofore the commerce of Virginia had been engrossed by the corporation alone. In the year 1620 this monopoly which, while it depressed the colony, had afforded but little real advantage to the company, was given up, and the trade was opened to all. While the free competition, to which this regulation gave birth, was undoubtedly of essential benefit to the colony, it was the immediate cause of introducing a species of population, which has had vast influence on their past situation, and may affect their future destinies in a manner which human wisdom can neither foresee nor control. A Dutch vessel availing itself of First the commercial liberty which now prevailed, of African brought into James' river twenty Africans, who were immediately purchased as slaves.

In July, the company passed an ordinance establishing the constitution of the colony. This provided that thenceforth there should be two supreme councils in Virginia; the one to be called the council of state, to be appointed and displaced by the treasurer and company, and to assist the governor with advice on executive subjects; the other to be denominated the general assembly, and to consist of the governor, the councils and two burgesses to be chosen for the present by the inhabitants every town, hundred, or settlement in the

of

importation

slaves.

Two councils established.

CHAP. II. Colony. The assembly was empowered to 1621. consult and determine on matters respecting

1622.

Prosperity of the colony.

the public weal, by the majority of voices present, and to enact general laws for the government of the colony, reserving to the governor a negative. It was declared that no acts passed by the assembly should be in force until confirmed by the general court in England, and the ratification returned under its seal; and that, on the other hand, no order of the general court should bind the colony until assented to by the assembly.

The controversy which had for some time existed between the crown and the company, concerning the importation of tobacco, was at length adjusted by amicable agreement.

The king had demanded high duties on that article, while he admitted its importation from the dominions of Spain, and had also restrained the company from transporting it directly from Virginia, to their warehouses in Holland, to which expedient, his exactions had driven them. It was now agreed that they should enjoy the sole right of importing that commodity into the kingdom, for which they should pay a duty of nine pence per pound, in lieu of all charges, and that the whole productions of the colony should be brought to England.

The industry, number, and produce of the colony had now greatly increased. At peace with the Indians, and unapprehensive of dan