the complete writings-3-第67章
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the disturbers in the colony in charge of affairs； and become his accusers。 Even at this distance we can read the account with little patience； and should have none at all if the account were not edited by Smith himself。 His revenge was in his good fortune in setting his own story afloat in the current of history。 The first narrative of these events； published by Smith in his Oxford tract of 1612； was considerably remodeled and changed in his 〃General Historie〃 of 1624。 As we have said before； he had a progressive memory； and his opponents ought to be thankful that the pungent Captain did not live to work the story over a third time。
It is no doubt true； however； that but for the accident to our hero； he would have continued to rule till the arrival of Gates and Somers with the new commissions； as he himself says； 〃but had that unhappy blast not happened； he would quickly have qualified the heat of those humors and factions； had the ships but once left them and us to our fortunes； and have made that provision from among the salvages； as we neither feared Spaniard； Salvage； nor famine： nor would have left Virginia nor our lawful authority； but at as dear a price as we had bought it； and paid for it。〃
He doubtless would have fought it out against all comers； and who shall say that he does not merit the glowing eulogy on himself which he inserts in his General History？ 〃What shall I say but this； we left him； that in all his proceedings made justice his first guide； and experience his second； ever hating baseness； sloth； pride； and indignity； more than any dangers； that upon no danger would send them where he would not lead them himself； that would never see us want what he either had or could by any means get us； that would rather want than borrow； or starve than not pay； that loved action more than words； and hated falsehood and covetousness worse than death； whose adventures were our lives； and whose loss our deaths。〃
A handsomer thing never was said of another man than Smith could say of himself； but he believed it； as also did many of his comrades； we must suppose。 He suffered detraction enough； but he suffered also abundant eulogy both in verse and prose。 Among his eulogists； of course； is not the factious Captain Ratcliffe。 In the English Colonial State papers； edited by Mr。 Noel Sainsbury； is a note； dated Jamestown； October 4； 1609； from Captain 〃John Radclyffe comenly called；〃 to the Earl of Salisbury； which contains this remark upon Smith's departure after the arrival of the last supply： 〃They heard that all the Council were dead but Capt。 ＇John＇ Smith； President； who reigned sole Governor； and is now sent home to answer some misdemeanor。〃
Captain Archer also regards this matter in a different light from that in which Smith represents it。 In a letter from Jamestown； written in August； he says：
〃In as much as the President ＇Smith＇； to strengthen his authority； accorded with the variances and gave not any due respect to many worthy gentlemen that were in our ships； wherefore they generally； with my consent； chose Master West； my Lord De La Ware's brother； their Governor or President de bene esse； in the absence of Sir Thomas Gates； or if he be miscarried by sea； then to continue till we heard news from our counsell in England。 This choice of him they made not to disturb the old President during his term； but as his authority expired； then to take upon him the sole government； with such assistants of the captains or discreet persons as the colony afforded。
〃Perhaps you shall have it blamed as a mutinie by such as retaine old malice； but Master West； Master Piercie； and all the respected gentlemen of worth in Virginia； can and will testify otherwise upon their oaths。 For the King's patent we ratified； but refused to be governed by the Presidentthat is； after his time was expired and only subjected ourselves to Master West； whom we labor to have next President。〃
It is clear from this statement that the attempt was made to supersede Smith even before his time expired； and without any authority （since the new commissions were still with Gates and Somers in Bermuda）； for the reason that Smith did not pay proper respect to the newly arrived 〃gentlemen。〃 Smith was no doubt dictatorial and offensive； and from his point of view he was the only man who understood Virginia； and knew how successfully to conduct the affairs of the colony。 If this assumption were true it would be none the less disagreeable to the new…comers。
At the time of Smith's deposition the colony was in prosperous condition。 The 〃General Historie 〃 says that he left them 〃with three ships； seven boats； commodities ready to trade； the harvest newly gathered； ten weeks' provision in store； four hundred ninety and odd persons； twenty…four pieces of ordnance； three hundred muskets； snaphances and fire…locks； shot； powder； and match sufficient； curats； pikes； swords； and morrios； more than men； the Salvages； their language and habitations well known to a hundred well…trained and expert soldiers； nets for fishing； tools of all kinds to work； apparel to supply our wants； six mules and a horse； five or six hundred swine； as many hens and chickens； some goats； some sheep； what was brought or bred there remained。〃 Jamestown was also strongly palisaded and contained some fifty or sixty houses； besides there were five or six other forts and plantations； 〃not so sumptuous as our succerers expected； they were better than they provided any for us。〃
These expectations might well be disappointed if they were founded upon the pictures of forts and fortifications in Virginia and in the Somers Islands； which appeared in De Bry and in the 〃General Historie；〃 where they appear as massive stone structures with all the finish and elegance of the European military science of the day。
Notwithstanding these ample provisions for the colony； Smith had small expectation that it would thrive without him。 〃They regarding nothing；〃 he says； 〃but from hand to mouth； did consume what we had； took care for nothing but to perfect some colorable complaint against Captain Smith。〃
Nor was the composition of the colony such as to beget high hopes of it。 There was but one carpenter； and three others that desired to learn； two blacksmiths； ten sailors； those called laborers were for the most part footmen； brought over to wait upon the adventurers； who did not know what a day's work wasall the real laborers were the Dutchmen and Poles and some dozen others。 〃For all the rest were poor gentlemen； tradesmen； serving men； libertines； and such like； ten times more fit to spoil a commonwealth than either begin one or help to maintain one。 For when neither the fear of God； nor the law； nor shame； nor displeasure of their friends could rule them here； there is small hope ever to bring one in twenty of them to be good there。〃 Some of them proved more industrious than was expected； 〃but ten good workmen would have done more substantial work in a day than ten of them in a week。〃
The disreputable character of the majority of these colonists is abundantly proved by other contemporary testimony。 In the letter of the Governor and Council of Virginia to the London Company； dated Jamestown； July 7； 1610； signed by Lord De La Ware； Thomas Gates； George Percy； Ferd。 Wenman； and William Strachey； and probably composed by Strachey； after speaking of the bountiful capacity of the country； the writer exclaims： 〃Only let me truly acknowledge there are not one hundred or two of deboisht hands； dropt forth by year after year； with penury and leysure； ill provided for before they come； and worse governed when they are here； men of such distempered bodies and infected minds； whom no examples daily before their eyes； either of goodness or punishment； can deterr from their habituall impieties； or terrifie from a shameful death； that must be the carpenters and workmen in this so glorious a building。〃
The chapter in the 〃General Historie〃 relating to Smith's last days in Virginia was transferred from the narrative in the appendix to Smith's 〃Map of Virginia；〃 Oxford； 1612； but much changed in the transfer。 In the 〃General Historie〃 Smith says very little about the nature of the charg
