INTRODUCTION THE Generall Historie of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles, compiled by Captain John Smith, was first printed at London in 1624, with an engraved title-page, profusely decorated. Smith had projected it as early as April 12, 1621, and attempted to interest the Virginia Company in the publication. In 1626, 1627, and 1632 what purported to be new editions were issued, but they had the same text with fresh title-pages only. In 1812 J. Pinkerton included the Generall Historie in his General Collection of Voyages. In 1819 it was reprinted at Richmond, Virginia, by Rev. John Holt Rice, along with the True Travels of 1630. In 1884 the Generall Historie was included in the complete Works of Captain John Smith, published at London by Edward Arber. In 1907 it was again reprinted, in Glasgow. It is divided into six books. The first book tells of the early voyages to, and attempts at, English settlement in America; the second is a reprint, with variations, of the first part of the Map of Virginia (1612); the third is a reprint, with variations, of the second part of the Map of Virginia; the fourth takes up the history of the Virginia colony from the departure for England of Captain Smith about October 4, 1609, to the dissolution of the Virginia Company in May, 1624; the fifth book gives the history of the Bermuda Islands from 1593 to 1624; and the sixth book gives a history of New England, which consists of a reprint of his A Description of New England (1616) and New England's Trials (1620), with some additional matter. Though Smith had proposed to the Virginia Company in 1621 the publication of such a work as the Generall Historie, it was never adopted or authorized by them. The fourth book may be described as a compilation of extracts from the narratives of other men interspersed with the comments of Smith. It cannot be called history in the true sense for two reasons: first, because the journals of the Virginia Company - the most important source of information during the last five years were never consulted; and second, because of the extreme partisan character of the writers. The "narratives" are written from the standpoint of that faction in the Virginia Company which was in favor of martial law, and Smith's comments are chiefly directed to his own glorification. Nevertheless, the errors that exist are to be found mainly in the coloring given to events and the prejudiced estimates placed upon men and conditions. Cautiously taken, therefore, the book is a valuable statement of events which occurred after Smith's departure from the colony. The fault is not so much that Smith misstates, as that he errs in his reasoning. A marked instance is his account of the "Starving Time." Thus, he claims credit for the condition of the colony at the time of his departure to England, in October, 1609, and enthusiastically tells of the great number of settlers and supplies which he left behind, contrasting this state of affairs with the desolation at the end of the "Starving Time." Now as a matter of fact, Smith's right to credit expired with the coming of the Third Supply in August, at which time the colony was reduced to a very low state, being billeted out in small companies among the savages. The numbers and supplies on hand in October were chiefly brought by the newcomers, whose presence was very objectionable to Smith. After all, the supplies were wholly insufficient for the support of such a multitude of men as were unloaded at Jamestown from the fleet of Sir Thomas Gates. |