THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN

LITERARY MESSENGER AND REVIEW.

JANUARY, 1847.

THE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.

THE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, from its Discovery and Settlement to the Present Time. By R. R. Vol. 1. Containing the History of the Colony to the Peace of Paris, 1763. 8 vo., pp.

sense

to the immense charge and irreparable Damage of ever dwelt in human forms, stung with the " these very generous and public-spirited Gentle- of insufferable wrong," have made their most sucmen." As this was the state of things so long be-cessful struggle. And here we may see the infore the burthen was laid upon the shoulders of domitable spirit of the Anglo-Saxon race, wrestour countrymen, this very pleasing theory must be ling with the prejudices of a thousand years, and given up. the resources of an old and powerful government, growing stronger with its falls, and at length fulfilling its destiny in the establishment of American democracy.

treats.

There is but one probable cause which we can discover for the want of interest in this subject, and the downright stupid ignorance of the facts of their history manifested by educated Virginians. This A history, whose themes are such as these, could is the absence of any well-written narrative of any not fail to engage the attention. But even were readable book, which might serve as an Introduction the incidents less stirring, and of less interest than to the Chronicles of the Colony. The work of they are, their importance to the history of the rise Messrs. Burk, Jones and Girardin never has been, and progress of the United States, demand that and from its nature, never can be a popular book. they should be carefully studied. The Colony and Mr. Campbell's little volume is too meagre and brief the State of Virginia form the key-stone of that to excite curiosity, or to guide the public to the history. Its settlement was the first experiment of sources. But in the book now before us, we have England on this continent; and on its success deat last the thing. Whatever may be its defects, it | pended their future efforts. Had it failed, the esis undeniably interesting and entertaining. The tablishment of European people would have been narrative is sufficiently unincumbered to be read long delayed; it would have been effected in differwith ease by the reader whose mind is a blank to ent times, and perhaps by a different nation; it the subject, and sufficiently detailed to leave in it a would have advanced in different ages, and perhaps clear outline of the course of events on which it the consequences at this day would have been wholly And we hope that it may be greatly instru- different from what they now are. It was ever mental in exciting a taste for Colonial History, and regarded as the most important and remarkable porin rendering the study of its facts more common tion of the Christian dominions in America, and it than it is. was ever the front ground of the most important But whatever may have been the causes of this affairs transacted in them. The treatment Virginia long apathy of the Virginian public to Virginian received from the British throne, serves as an index history, one thing is certain, that it could never have to its character and to its treatment of the other been produced by a want of interest and impor- provinces; and the stand of the assembly in oppotance in the events of which it is composed. In sition, or its submission to the measures of that earth's strange, eventful history, there is no richer throne, is always the thing of most importance in chapter. It has none which tells of more precari- the behavior of them all. In the struggle which ous undertakings, of more unlooked for and won-separated the politics of the old world from the new, derful vicissitudes, or of such a strange and splen- Virginia was the chief actor; it began and ended did accomplishment. It has none which tells of here; and it was effected by her Generals and more remarkable displays of human passions, or of Statesmen. And last, and most important of all, such desperate and long-continued struggles with it was the representative government of which Viran unaccustomed and mysterious foe. It has none ginia has been possessed almost from the first, which tells of actions in which the stubborn energy which moulded the form, stamped the character, and truth of the most remarkable race of the world and must guide the destinies of this country, so are so signally brought into play. And although it is long as it holds a place among the nations. The true, that during the most interesting portion of her facts which compose the history of this State, career, Virginia was nominally a province of Great therefore, deserve to be carefully studied, not only Britain, and directly under the rule of the crown, for their interest, but because it has been the living it is also true, that the chief agent was always the heart of America, and has made the Union what it colonial assembly, and that the true government is. As Mr. Howison remarks, "the virtues and was always democratical. The elective legislature the faults, the glory and the shame of the 'Old Doand the distance from the central power of the minion' have never been without influence upon the realm of which she formed a part, gave her a sep-whole Republic." She is always the leader, the arate existence, and a civil theatre of her own, on head, the most prominent figure among the Colowhich many a brave man has played his part, and on nies, and which many a bold deed has been done. A drama in which there is many a glorious, and many a dark and bloody scene has been enacted upon it. Selfish, vindictive passions and love of power have done their work here as fully as any where else; and here some of the noblest and the strongest spirits that' this State has always occupied, is owing to some-^

"above the rest,

In shape and gesture proudly eminent,
Stands like a tower."

The superior and commanding position which

thing more than to accident and position. It is the influence of the masses began to be felt. What direct result of the character of the State itself; the merchant, the mechanic, and the clod-hopper which, in its turn, was produced by the age and the would think about a proposed measure, began to be men who gave it being, and the sort of emigration a question to be considered, as well as what the which built it up. Or rather the emigration which knight, the earl, my lord and his lady would have from time to time entered the Colony, prevented it to say to it. In short, "old things have passed from ever becoming stagnant water, and preserved away; behold, all things are become new." The the strong tone of the public mind. The Revolu- modern day was dawning on “a new heaven and a tion of England infused into its veins the best blood new earth," where we could before only trace a of the land, and this is one cause of Virginian pre- dim, strange landscape by the light of the starred eminence. But the auspices under which a na- firmament of the middle watch. tion begins its career, the age in which a people These changes were not made in an hour. This become one by themselves, in most cases give the transition state endured for several ages. Many impulse and influence the spirit which guide its strange things were brought to light by the remocourse forever after. This would be peculiarly the val of old rubbish, and the unlooked-for sights thus case with a race so remarkable for consistency of displayed before the eyes of men, kindled the imagcharacter as that which settled Virginia. We think ination and roused the public mind to unwonted the age in which the germ of this State was plant- effort. The most remarkable portion of this period ed, the age in which the people first branched off from the great current of the English family, has impressed characteristics upon its nature which have never left it. The birthday of Virginia was the age of Elizabeth.

in England is what we call by the general name of the age of Elizabeth. This was indeed a memorable time. In it, the heroic and martial spirit of the past was mingled with the patience, the art, and the toilsome thought of the new era, in the degree best fitted for the accomplishment of great actions,

This was a most notable period. All Europe, and England especially, was then in a situation re-and the production of rare and wonderful meu. In sembling what the geologists call a transition state. it, the genius of Britain seems to have arisen in The middle ages had departed; but their spirit still her fullest strength, to take her stand among the brooded over the new era. Their sun was setting; greatest of the world. It produced the greatest but it cast the long shadow of the old castle across men that have ever lived on the earth; men, whose the prospect. They had not entirely gone. The names are ever on the world's broad tongue, and rugged, half civilized strength, the wild imagina-whom fame has "eternized in her long and lasting tion, the taste for adventure and "deeds of der-scroll;" a race of giants, of whom Shakspeare was ring-do," and the absorbing love of combat which only the tallest, the comeliest and the strongest. characterized them, still remained. In the new It was an age of life and movement; the heart and order of things, this spirit was out of place at home. the intellect of the English people were thoroughly There were no great wars going on in which it might stirred up. And there were very many causes to find a vent, and consequently, it turned men's eyes give a mighty impulse to thought and mental activ"over the broad ocean, to these going's down of ity.

the sun," whence came tales of unknown lands, It was the era of the Reformation. An immense brave kingdoms, and strange people in the new-system of frauds, and slavishness, and full grown, found world.

fully ripened abuses had been toppled down by the But new elements had begun to predominate. concussion. What Germany half commenced, EngThe age of Iron had given place to that of Gold. land more perfectly finished. The popular mind War was no longer regarded as the most noble and had long heaved under the mass of hypocrisy, desfit occupation of men ; "COMMERCE WAS KING." potic bigotry, stupid ignorance, and time-worn preThe world had clearly sown its wild oats and be- judices, which had rested on it for centuries, and gun to think. Money has always been known to the earthquake came at last. The long insulted be power: and so soon as mankind had so far ad-strength and sense of mankind, with the power of vanced as to place it out of the reach of lawless, wind and waters pent up, overturned them all; and vagabond strength, high birth, powerful connexions, the public mind rose with a rebound when the presand physical courage ceased to be the most desira-sure was removed. New things were coming up ble things under the sun. Knowledge, thought and and new events occurring every day, which roused keen sense, steady industry and persevering toil up all that was in men. The roads were broken became the levers which moved the world. Now, up and the waters were out. Things which had too, the People began to come forward as an actor been received with implicit faith and which had on the stage. The time was passed when they been laid up beyond the world's reach, were taken were as much the goods and chattels of a great down, examined in the daylight and by all, and baron, as a flock of sheep; and when some stout found to be falsehoods and corruptions. Men's fellow, cased in steel plates, could trample the Mil-brains were busy and their tongues were loosed. lion under his horse's hoofs when he pleased. The There was a war and a clashing of opinions. Re

ligious controversy, which most of all things of confidence in themselves, and a stand among the strengthens, elevates and sharpens the understand-greatest of the world. ing, pervaded all ranks and classes.

And another cause which added to their vigor and force of character in this age, was the late disAnother thing which lent an impetus to this age, was the publication of the great writers of Greece covery of America by this very power which they The fame of a new and Rome, which now became general. Consider now stamped under their feet. what would be the effect on this age, if its new found world of inconceivable wealth, where they literature, the "new books," consisted of the death- dreamed of nothing but the wide waste of waters; of less works of the ancient authors and of medieval boundless continents in a state resembling what they Italy. This was just the state of England in the imagined Eden to have been; of savage countries, age of Elizabeth. The art of printing was now with great cities and innumerable inexhaustible fully established; and the stores which had been mines; of adventurers going forth with a lance and a accumulating since the days of Homer, were pour-sword, and returning with incalculable riches and a ed out through the press. The world was all at long train of slaves, vassals and captive kings, kinonce flooded with the greatest books. The divine dled their imaginations and inflamed their hearts with songs of the Greek and Latin and Italtan Poets, of a desire to "go and do likewise." All the wild fanthe "Blind Old Man of Scio's Rocky Isle," of ciful creations of all times seemed here to find their schylus and Euripides, of Maro and Horace, of realization. After this, nothing seemed too bold Pulci and of Dante; the orations of Livy, Sallust, to think or attempt. The Atlantis and the Happy Tacitus, Cicero; the musings of Plato; the high Islands at last found their types in nature. "Forphilosophy of Epictetus and his associates, then tunate fields, and groves, and vales, thrice happy first fell upon the ear. Their works became sud-isles, like those Hesperian gardens famed of old," In the relations denly accessible, and were read with all the charm rose up all at once from the sea. of novelty. They became not only accessible to of the men who visited these coasts, there was the learned, but to the common man. Chapman every thing to excite to its utmost pitch the curitranslated Homer and Hesiod; Fairfax, Tasso; osity of all, the avarice of some, the religious zeal Harrington, Ariosto; and Sir Thomas North trans- of others, and the most daring conceptions and lated Plutarch; besides which, there were transla- speculations in the minds of the higher order. And tions of Virgil, Ovid, Tully, and nearly all the chief Italian authors. Besides this, the Bible was now translated, sought for with avidity, and diffused with wonderful rapidity among high and low. The These are some of the causes, working on the English people were now newly made acquainted with those most strange and intense compositions. natural character of the English people, which renThey could then, for the first time, read those calm dered that period the brilliant era which it was: and awful narrations of God's dealings with the An era in which the human mind seems to have world, in ages before antiquity appears to have be-bounded instead of stept forward: An era most gun, dwell with the grand old Hebrew Prophets, brilliant both for its great achievements and its great listen to the Orphic Hymns of David," and fol-men-statesmen, poets, and philosophers. low the steps of the Master. Such a profusion of new and noble ideas could not be infused into the mind of the nation, without giving it a powerful impulse. It had arrived at its full size and strength; and the sudden diffusion of such literature brought

to it the Promethean fire.

It was in this era, that Britain sustained and triumphed over what was apparently the greatest and most terrible attack ever made upon her. Spain was then the richest, the most famous, and perhaps the most powerful of the chief kingdoms of the earth; and the Armada was the most ambitious of

thus this great event, acting upon the adventurous spirit of chivalry still remaining, greatly contributed to the mental power and activity of the age of Elizabeth.

We are

accustomed to regard one of these men as standing alone, without compeer, like a tall marble column among the common brick and mortar of a city. But, as has been well said, he overlooks posterity from the table land of the age in which he lived. He was but one of a family in which were Beaumont, Fletcher, Webster, Marlowe, Ben Jonson and Decker-but the "first of those fair clouds that on the bosom of bright honor sailed in long procession, beautiful and calm." Faust, who reasons of divine astrology, was cotemporary with Macbeth; and the Duchess of Malfy with Desdemona. In this age Spenser trimmed the bright sails of his "shallow ship" and floated away over the golden sands of his enchanted seas. It was the age of Bacon, the Lord and the God of modern science—

warlike demonstrations since the time of Xerxes. The noise of it filled all Europe. It was a foe to overpower a weak and cowardly people with helpless disorganizing terror; but one to rouse a brave and strong-minded nation to its full strength. This was its effect upon England. To meet it she drew herself up to her utmost height, and the annihilaIt was this age which produced the lofty reveries tion of the Armada gave the people an accession and reasonings of Sir Thomas Browne and the

"The first of those who KNOW."