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HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH.
urging the importance to England and the world of colonizing the country
called Virginia after the Virgin Queen, and embracing the region lying
between the 34th and 45th degrees of north latitude, with an undefined western boundary. Some attention was given to Gosnold's representations and
urgent appeals; but the prospect of success was gloomy, until a man, the
report of whose heroic daring and wild adventures in other lands had
preceded him, made his appearance in London, and united with Gosnold in
urging the enterprise. This man was Captain
John Smith, an adventurer in whom the romantic
and the practical were strangely blended; who,
to a courage which no danger could appal, and a
resolution which no difficulties could subdue,
joined a shrewd policy, wise forethought, and
an extraordinary faculty of extricating himself
from situations of no common peril. These
qualities marked him out as one specially fitted
to direct an expedition of the kind proposed;
and his wide and varied experience, combined
with a peculiar romantic enthusiasm, gave his
representations great force and persuasiveness.
Others soon united with Gosnold and Smith in urging the enterprise, which
was recommended to the pious by the prospect of an unlimited field for the
spread of Christianity; to the covetous by the allurements of certain and
enormous profit; to the daring and restless by the vision of wild adventures and glorious exploits; and to the patriot by the glory of extending
the English name and dominion over rich and boundless regions.
These arguments had the desired effect. A company was soon organized,
at the head of which was placed Sir Thomas Smith (or Smyth), an eminent
London merchant, who had been chief of Sir Walter Raleigh's assignees, was
the first Governor of the East India Company chartered by Elizabeth, and
had been ambassador to Russia.
A petition was presented to James I. for his sanction of the new company,
and the support of the royal authority. Well pleased to resume a favorite
speculation, and willing to encourage a scheme that opened a safe and peaceful
career to the active genius of his new subjects, he listened readily to the
application; and highly commending the plan, acceded to the wishes of its
projectors. Letters patent were issued April 10, 1606, to Sir Thomas Gates,
Sir George Somers, Richard Hakluyt, and their associates, granting to them
those territories in America lying on the seacoast between the thirty-fourth
and forty-fifth parallels of north latitude, together with all islands situated
within a hundred miles of their shore. The design of the patentees was
declared to be, " to make habitation and plantation, and to deduce a colony of
sundry of our people into that part of America commonly called Virginia."
The patentees were required to divide themselves into two distinct companies;
| Title | History of Maryland - 1 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000025 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | HISTORY OF MARYLAND. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. urging the importance to England and the world of colonizing the country called Virginia after the Virgin Queen, and embracing the region lying between the 34th and 45th degrees of north latitude, with an undefined western boundary. Some attention was given to Gosnold's representations and urgent appeals; but the prospect of success was gloomy, until a man, the report of whose heroic daring and wild adventures in other lands had preceded him, made his appearance in London, and united with Gosnold in urging the enterprise. This man was Captain John Smith, an adventurer in whom the romantic and the practical were strangely blended; who, to a courage which no danger could appal, and a resolution which no difficulties could subdue, joined a shrewd policy, wise forethought, and an extraordinary faculty of extricating himself from situations of no common peril. These qualities marked him out as one specially fitted to direct an expedition of the kind proposed; and his wide and varied experience, combined with a peculiar romantic enthusiasm, gave his representations great force and persuasiveness. Others soon united with Gosnold and Smith in urging the enterprise, which was recommended to the pious by the prospect of an unlimited field for the spread of Christianity; to the covetous by the allurements of certain and enormous profit; to the daring and restless by the vision of wild adventures and glorious exploits; and to the patriot by the glory of extending the English name and dominion over rich and boundless regions. These arguments had the desired effect. A company was soon organized, at the head of which was placed Sir Thomas Smith (or Smyth), an eminent London merchant, who had been chief of Sir Walter Raleigh's assignees, was the first Governor of the East India Company chartered by Elizabeth, and had been ambassador to Russia. A petition was presented to James I. for his sanction of the new company, and the support of the royal authority. Well pleased to resume a favorite speculation, and willing to encourage a scheme that opened a safe and peaceful career to the active genius of his new subjects, he listened readily to the application; and highly commending the plan, acceded to the wishes of its projectors. Letters patent were issued April 10, 1606, to Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Richard Hakluyt, and their associates, granting to them those territories in America lying on the seacoast between the thirty-fourth and forty-fifth parallels of north latitude, together with all islands situated within a hundred miles of their shore. The design of the patentees was declared to be, " to make habitation and plantation, and to deduce a colony of sundry of our people into that part of America commonly called Virginia." The patentees were required to divide themselves into two distinct companies; |
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