CHAP. II. Works were abandoned, the college institution 1622. was deserted, the settlements were reduced

Dissension and dissolution of the company.

from eighty to eight, and famine superadded to the accumulated distresses of the colony, its afflicting scourge.

As soon as intelligence of these calamitous events reached England, a contribution of the adventurers for the relief of the sufferers was ordered; arms from the tower were delivered to the treasurer and company; and several vessels were immediately dispatched with those articles which might best alleviate such complicated distress.

But the dissolution of the company now, rapidly approached. In that body were many men of the first rank and talents in the nation. In their assemblies they were in habits of discussing, with the accustomed freedom of a popular body, the measures of the crown, many of which materially affected them. Two violent factions, which assumed the regular appearance of court and country parties, divided the company, and struggled for the ascendancy. James endeavoured to give the preponderance to the court party, but his endeavours were unsuccessful; and this failure disposed him to listen to complaints against a corporation, whose deliberations he found himself unable to control. To their mismanagement was ascribed the slow progress made by the colony, and the very heavy losses which had been sustained.

1623.

They, as well as their accusers, were heard CHAP. II. before the privy council in April, and it was then determined to issue a commission, appointing persons, to be named by the crown, to inquire into the affairs of Virginia from the earliest settlement of the province, and report thereon to the government. This commission of inquiry, in the execution of its powers, seized the charters, books and papers of the company; and all letters and packets brought from the colony were ordered to be laid unopened before the privy council. Their report attributed to the corporation in England the misfortunes of the colony, and James, who was at no time a friend to popular assemblies, soon communicated to them his resolution to revoke the old charter, and grant a new one, which while it respected private property, should place the powers of government in fewer hands. Their assent to this proposition and a surren- Colony taken der of their charters were required, and they hands of the were at the same time informed that the king. was determined, in default of submission, to proceed for recalling them, as might be just.. The company, however, resolutely determined to defend its rights, whereupon a writ of quo. warranto was instituted in the court of king's bench, which was decided in June, in a manner 1624. entirely consonant to the wishes of the king. The company was now dissolved, and all its powers re-vested in the crown.

into the

king.

CHAP. II.

Above one hundred and fifty thousand pounds 1624. had been expended in planting the colony, and more than nine thousand persons had been sent from England to people it. Yet, at the dissolution of the company, the annual imports from Virginia did not exceed twenty thousand pounds in value, and the population of the country was reduced to about eighteen hundred persons.

While these things were transacting in England, the war against the Indians was prosecuted with vigour and success. Mingling artifice with force, the neighbouring hostile tribes were nearly exterminated, and driven entirely from the rivers, so that the settlements extended themselves in safety.

In February, was once more convened the general assembly, who enacted into laws the several orders which had been previously made by the governor and council; and these are the oldest legislative rules of action now remaining of record. Various regulations were made respecting the church of England: and, at this session, it was solemnly declared, "that the governor should not impose any taxes on the colony, otherwise than by the authority of the general assembly; and that he should not withdraw the inhabitants from their private labour to any service of his own." At this session too the burgesses, as well as the counsellors, were freed from ar

rest during the session of the assembly. A CHAP. IL variety of measures tending to correct abuses, 1624. of which they had felt the mischievous operation, were adopted; and the laws of that session are said to be marked with that good sense and patriotism, which are to be expected from men perfectly understanding their situation, and legislating for themselves.

From this assembly the royal commissioners endeavoured, in vain, to procure an address to the king, professing "their willingness to submit themselves to his princely pleasure in revoking the ancient patents;" but a petition was agreed to and transmitted, acknowledging their satisfaction at his having taken the plantation into his more especial care, beseeching him to continue the then form of government, to confirm to Virginia and the Somer isles, the sole importation of tobacco, and soliciting that, if the promised aid of soldiers should be granted them, the governor and assembly might have a voice in directing their operations. A representation of nearly the same import was, at the same time, transmitted to the privy council by a special agent, who was empowered to solicit the affairs of the colony.

Virginia having thus become a royal go vernment, the king issued a special commission, appointing a governor and twelve counsellors, to whom was committed the entire direction: of the affairs of the colony. No assembly was

CHAP. II. mentioned, nor was it intended to permit the 1624. continuance of that body; for to the popular

Arbitrary measures of the crown.

shape of the late system, James attributed its disasters. With this subversion of all political liberty, was mingled, however, some attention to their individual interest. Yielding to the petition of the English parliament, and of the colonists, he, in September, issued a proclamation, prohibiting the growth of tobacco in the kingdom, and the importation of that commodity into England or Ireland, but from Virginia or the Somer isles, and in vessels belonging to his subjects. His death, which happened soon afterwards, prevented the completion of a legislative code for the colony, which he had set about, and which, from the complacency with which he viewed his talents as a legislator, he flattered himself would remedy all the ills which had been experienced.

Charles I. adopted in its full extent, the colonial system of his father. On sir George Yeardly, whom he appointed governor of Virginia, and on his council, he devolved the whole legislative and executive powers of the colony, with instructions to conform strictly to orders which should be received from him. They were empowered, without the intervention of the representatives of the people, to make laws and to execute them; to impose taxes and to enforce the payment of them; to seize the property of the late company, and,