furnishes any criterion of his qualifications for the task. Most of the foregoing objections apply to Girardin. He is more correct than Burke, but is also too fond of discoursing de rebus omnibus. He has written the histories of North and South Carolina and the other colonies nearly as much as of Virginia. Indeed, it would hardly be too much to say that the portions of the four volumes under review, that refer properly to this State, can, with the aid of a pair of scissors only, be reduced into one volume, The rest is an imperfect history of the separate, or united Colonies, with a dash of The reign of James I. is by no means a blank in French and Dutch affairs, and a sprinkling of phi- English history, and as the colony then began to aslosophy. In short, if we wished conclusively to sume more importance in the eyes of the Royal Goprove to any one that Virginia has no worthy his-vernment, we might expect to learn something contory, we would induce him to read Burk's which cerning it in the English historians. But this is not is the only one that pretends to such a character. the case: the greatest of them, Hume, has not a word But the scantiness of his materials and the great upon the subject. The only hope of supplying the obstacles which beset a pioneer in historical re-deficiencies of this period is from the documents in search should not be forgotten. power. The letters of the governor and council in Virginia to the privy council, are marked by a coldness, a jealousy, and distance, but ill calculated to supply by conjecture or analogy, the want of more genuine matter; and the members of the British council, in the true spirit of courtiers, haughty, insincere, and incommunicative, confirmed the disgust and jealousy of the colony, by their cold and stunted communications; so that the man who should endeavor to depict the state of art and manners, the military and civil events within the colony, by the help of this correspondence, will be infallibly disappointed." In the case before us, many of these obstacles were insuperable to the most patient and laborious search; and this will bring us to the breaches in our public records. the State paper office of England and from any contemporary letters or publications that may possibly be found across the Atlantic. The Colony of Virginia was not unmindful of her records; but a singular fatality seems to have attended them. NegDown to the year 1624, when the charter was lect, fire, and devastation, particularly during the taken from the London Company, the materials for revolution, made their combined ravages upon them, our history are quite complete even in this country. and destroyed many inestimable portions, which But doubtless a great deal additional of deep interest can be restored, if at all, only from the archives of might be procured in England. During this period, England. One signal instance will exhibit the the Colonists were in constant correspondence with neglect to which they were exposed. Speaking their friends and the company in England, and of Sir Edmund Andross, Governor of Virginia in many memoirs respecting the Colonies were written 1692, Burk says: and published in the mother country, to impart in"He was likewise a great lover of method, and formation of its prospects and condition, and to in- despatch in all sorts of business, which made him duce adventurers to embark their fortunes in it. find fault with the management of the Secretary's Many of these productions, besides the papers and office. And, indeed, with very good reason; for, documents transmitted to the Home Government, from the time of Bacon's rebellion, till then, there might be obtained by an active agent. Some of never was any office in the world more negligently kept. Several patents of land were entered blank them are extant in this country and are known to upon record; many original patents, records, and possess very great value to the Historian of Vir- deeds of land, with other matters of great conseginia. It will be remembered that the above re-quence, were thrown loose about the office, and sufmarks as to memoirs and letters, apply also to other periods of the Colony. But from the commencement of the Royal Government, darkness and obscurity begin to settle upon the history of the Colony. The royal prerogative then so overshadowed it, that now it is impossible for any lights here to dispel the gloom. We find Mr. Burk himself bewailing it. But fered to be dirtied, torn and eaten by the moths and other insects. But upon this gentleman's accession to the government, he immediately gave directions to reform all these irregularities; he caused the loose and torn records of value to be transcribed into new books; and ordered conveniences to be built within the office, for preserving the records from being lost and confounded as before. He prescribed methods to keep the papers dry and clean, and to reduce them into such order as that "But soon as the proprietary government sank beneath the arm of prerogative, the chain of facts is any thing might be turned to immediately. all these conveniences were burnt soon after they broken, and a black and melancholy chasm supplies were finished, in October, 1698, together with the the place of method and arrangement. During the office itself, and the whole state house. But his existence of the proprietary government, historians diligence was so great in that affair, that though could scarcely differ in the relation of facts: After his stay afterward in the country was very short, its dissolution, there was hardly any chance of their vet he caused all the records and papers which had agreement, or any means of reconciling or detect- been saved from the fire, to be sorted again and ing their inconsistencies. The well grounded ap-registered in order, and indeed in much better order prehensions excited among the colonists by the recall of their charter, and the character of the he left 'em, at his quitting the government." than ever they had been before. In this condition king, prevented them from immediately repairing the breaches made in their records by the hand of * Burk. Hist. Va., vol. II. 316-17. Beverly 90-91. In the above extract we see how conflagration When Georgia sent over her agent, the colonial came in to the aid of the former neglect and to the documents were thus divided in these two deposioverthrow of the order that had been so lately estab-tories, and hence she failed to procure materials lished. But this is by no means the only instance. for some years of her early history. But in a short The State House had been previously destroyed by fire in 1676, and was again burnt during the administration of Gooch, in 1746. If Burk be correct there must have been two fires before any of these, for he says that as early as 1667, At the instance of Secretary Ludwell, it was enacted that the existing titles of lands, the records of which were lost, or to which titles were annexed in records, should be considered valid, the defects having been found to have happened by the neglect of the clerks of those times, and the casualty of two several fires."* time the missing papers were discovered in the other office, only one having at first been examined. Since then all the colonial documents have been deposited and arranged in the State Office, whence copies are allowed to be made by the accredited agents of the States, down to the year 1775. For reasons of State all posterior to 1775 are positively interdicted. But with this limitation, the English Government are liberal in affording the States copies of whatever documents she may possess. From what Georgia and New York have obtained, we can readily infer what there is relating to Virginia. A letter from During the war of the Revolution, many barba- England to the Corresponding Secretary of the rous and unpardonable ravages were made upon Georgia Historical Society, says "Mr. Brodhead, our public documents. Even in this respect the of New York, has left England with a large chest Historian may justly inveigh as he does against full of transcripts. His collection will make a the "vandalic inroads" of the British. In the year sensation and will have the effect of stimulating 1781, when the archives of state were removed others to follow such an example." There is also from Richmond on account of the British invasion, another guide already adverted to. In 1827, the the proceedings of the Council were accidentally Governor of North Carolina, in pursuance of a exposed, taken and destroyed by the enemy. These resolution of her Legislature, wrote to the Hon. losses can never be repaired by any thing in Eng-Albert Gallatin, then our Minister at London, reland; and are the more deeply to be lamented. questing him to have merely a catalogue made of 3. There is no doubt, however, that many of the documents relating to her as a Colony and to the distressing chasms, which we have pointed out, transmit the said catalogue to him. Mr. Gallatin, can be completely filled by materials from Eng- always imbued with a love of letters, readily comland; and they are fully worth the trouble and ex-plied, and the list of the titles only of the docupense of procuring them. ments occupies 120 printed octavo pages. In glanThe intercourse between the colony and the cing over it, our eye was arrested by the title of mother country was always intimate, sometimes several relating to Virginia also. We sincerely submissive. Frequent returns of the state of the hope that the old North State will very soon avail Colony were required by law, and duplicates were herself of the valuable stores which she now so made of every document relating to it, whether clearly knows to be there laid up for her. We here or at home. These documents were all care-are afraid that she too will outstrip Virginia in this fully preserved in the State Paper Office and in laudable work; which may your honorable body that of the Board of Trade.† Burk. Hist. Va., vol. II. 141. "It is well known that the administration of the general affairs of the British colonies in America was originally entrusted to several Lords of the Privy council, who were constituted by Royal commission a "committee for trade and plantations." Some years subsequently, the committee was discontinued, and a new and distinct board was organized, and styled the Lords commissioners for trade and plantations.' prevent by your prompt, nay, your immediate action. The pecuniary value of the treasures which the archives of England contain can best be estimated by considering the expense now daily incurred in order to preserve and perpetuate records of public transactions and events. Reflect for a moment upon the expenditures of your honorable body for this purpose alone. Estimate the salaries of the multitude of public officers, the cost of public offices, the State Guard and of every other arrangement for the preparation and care of the public consist of the originals of the several documents from time to time received from America, by the proprietaries, the committee and the board. "The records of the proceedings of the committee of council, and subsequently, of the board of trade and plantations, are very full and voluminous, and include likewise the records of the proprietary governments which were transferred to their custody. All these records relating to the American colonies have lately been removed from the Board of Trade to the State Paper Office, where they are "In addition to these records, there is a large series of hereafter to remain as a part of the archives of the empire. volumes belonging to the State Paper Office, properly: "They consist principally of two general series, denomi- containing the correspondence of the Secretaries of State nated Entries and Papers. The Entries' are composed, with the Colonial and Provincial Governors, and others, chiefly, of the commissions and instructions to the Gover and comprising, also, a large mass of original papers renors, of despatches and letters to them, and their respec- ceived from America, among which are many duplicates tive answers; and also, of various other important papers, of documents in the Board of Trade records."-[ Letter of copied into these books for preservation. The Papers' Mr. Brodhead, Hist. agt, to Governor Seward of New York. · records, and you will have some idea of the ines- | procuring copies is enjoyed. This courtesy may timable value of the documents which England is be wearied and exhausted by repeated applications, now willing to restore to us. They are equivalent and some of the late comers may be denied what to the labors of a number of public functionaries they will then find to have been above price. for a century and a half, and can probably all be The impartiality of history, too, requires that these procured for the small sum of a few thousand dol- foreign materials should be sought. Not only should lars. What would these be to such a State as England's archives be consulted, but her voice heard Virginia for such a noble purpose; for an object and represented in the history of the Colonies. identified with the honor and more enlarged inter-On this head we adopt the following observations ests of the Commonwealth? What though no from the Southern Quarterly Review. mode may be pointed out by which she could convert them into money! What though they cannot minister to her immediate pecuniary interest! Would she traffic in the memorials of her Council Chamber? Would she sell the papers in the custody of the keeper of the rolls? Would she make profit of any of her archives? Does she value them according to their actual cost in money? Are they prepared and preserved with any view to pecuniary gain? It is the general utility to which she looks and to her honor and fame: to your regard for these, we appeal in behalf of the defective and mutilated annals of your State. men. ment of this country, embracing the provincial and "The accounts we now have of the first settlecolonial era, are partial, one-sided, imperfect, and full of exaggeration. They have come to us from the hands of friends alone,-from the hands of warm, enthusiastic and ambitious friends and citizens of the New World, who sincerely loved their disposed, from motives of interest, as well as pacountry, but who, at the time they wrote, were triotism, to magnify both the advantages they enjoyed in their new Utopia, as well as the evils mastered by the courage and prowess of their countryThe Old World, as well as the New, has a voice to utter in this matter, and the archives of those European nations whose history is connected If, then, every independent State should have with our own, during the colonial and revolutionary the materials in her possession for her full and eras, must be searched and examined, before the complete history, and the histories of our state now whole truth can be ascertained, or the historian be extant are so meagre and defective, and there are prepared, from a knowledge of opposing stateno sources here whence to draw information indis-ments, and a fair consideration of the motives which influenced both parties, to pronounce an impensable to the historian, how surely must the con- partial judgment. Each of the old States should clusion follow, that it is the duty of your honora- make liberal appropriations to accomplish so noble, ble body promptly to apply to those fruitful sources patriotic and indispensable a design, that is to which are known to exist? The known effects of say, each State that has a name encircled with the time in obliterating and destroying records of the fame of worthy deeds, and wishes to transmit a faithful record of its acts to after times. We wish, past should stimulate you to diligence. When especially, that South-Carolina might move, and Mr. Henning was engaged in preparing his "Sta-move effectually in this matter. The appropriatutes at large," Mr. Jefferson, who had tendered tion of a few thousand dollars to such an object, him the use of his collection of laws, thus wrote, would be honorable to the State, and would be "Those in MS. were not sent, because not sup- money well expended. We want light especially posed to have been within your view, and because ries that have been written, injustice has been done on the Revolutionary era. some of them will not bear removal, being so rot- to the Southern States generally, and to Southten that, on turning over a leaf, it sometimes falls Carolina in particular, respecting the part they into powder. These I preserve by wrapping and took, the labors they performed, and the credit to sewing them up in oiled cloth, so that neither air which they are entitled, in the great struggles for nor moisture can have access to them." And our liberties. It is time that this injustice should be remedied. We want some person possessed of again, "But the unprinted laws are dispersed the competent learning, genius, industry, spirit and through many MS. volumes, several of them so perseverance,-not a mere pretender,-to underdecayed, that the leaf can never be opened but once without falling into powder." The documents in England may not be in such a decayed state, but this will give some idea of the importance of speedily securing them. It is important that Virginia should not suffer herself to be anticipated by any other States. Being the oldest, she should have been the first to move in the matter; and having lost more of her records, she has the most to expect from it. In Georgia "the last has been first ;" let not "the first be the last!" In most of the histo take the task, and perform it in a manner worthy of the age and the merits of those who acted well during the most eventful period of the world's history,-in a manner, too, honorable to our literature. We want such a work to be undertaken speedily, before those memorable men, who were themselves actors in the great drama, and who have much valuable information still to impart to the historian-information that will be soon lost to the world-shall all have passed off the stage of life." You perceive our earnestness in pressing this subject upon the attention of your honorable body. As the honored legislators of your State, you must Besides, it is only through the liberal courtesy feel a desire to become acquainted with her history. of the British Government, that the privilege of History is the teacher of political wisdom. But to what sources will you go? To the public ar- | proposed to write a history of Virginia, are lasting chives, defective as they are? You would then have memorials of his interest and solicitude in relation no time for the duties devolved upon you. Hence to this subject. Can it be any disparagement to your honorable body to suppose that it were now composed altogether of such characters as this illustrious triumvirate? Think, if such a constellation were possible, of its splendor! And what would be their view of the present application? The elegant and accomplished Byrd, if his own unbounded munifi The history of Virginia is adorned with three cence had not already supplied the deficiency, illustrious names, that stand forth conspicuously would be intent upon procuring MSS. from Engin this connection. First in the order of time was land. That voice once so eloquent in calling for Col. William Byrd of Westover, a Virginia gen-"Liberty or death" would be calling for the chertleman and a scholar, of whom Burk says, "about ished history and antiquities of his native State. the same time, (1743,) died William Byrd of the Instead of our own feeble pen, that which drew Council, one of the most distinguished characters the Declaration of Independence would be wielded which had shone out for a long time in Virginia. in this cause. As you could not withstand their Extensive knowledge attained by study, united appeal, (“though dead they yet speak,") do improved by observation and refined by a familiar not disregard this humble effort. Prove yourselves acquaintance with the illustrious characters of his worthy to be their successors as guardians of the time, were the qualities universally ascribed to him State, and imbued with the same patriotic and eleby the prints of the day. It is the duty of vated spirit. History to pronounce one part of his eulogy, which, A few words as to the course to be pursued. as it is justly earned, will become him better than The plan that best comports with the dignity and a thousand wreaths of false and fantastic adulation. importance of the subject and the character of a He felt a laudable and rational pride in preserving sovereign State, is to send an agent, with a very the antiquities of his country nor can we believe respectful application to her Majesty's government, that this proceeded merely from the cold spirit of with full power and ample means to procure matean antiquarian. The antiquities he preserved con- rials for the history of the State, both MS. and tained materials for an history of his country." printed. He could also pursue some collateral inThe other two were cotemporaries, leaders of the vestigations, and might find in the families of those Assembly and the first Governors of the State; early connected with the colony valuable letters and one spoken of as her Dictator, "in times that tried other papers. The appointment of such person men's souls;" the other subsequently the leader of might be confided to the Executive and council, the whole Union. Of Patrick Henry it is express- who should have the discretionary power to send ly recorded, his favorite studies were the history him over immediately, or first to procure, through and antiquities of his native State; and so strong the kindness of Mr. Everett, a catalogue of the was the determination of his mind to objects at Documents relating to Virginia. This, however, this time little known or attended to, that at an we think useless and would of itself be quite exearly age he was minutely acquainted with the va-pensive. It would be utterly impossible to order rious grants and charters, which compose the foun- copies by the titles only, and it is known certainly dation and edifice of the rights and pretensions of that there are abundant materials in the State office Virginia. relating to Virginia. "Owing to the security arising from long and un- It is proper to state that copies may be obtained, interrupted possession, and the apprehensions ex- as mentioned in the subjoined letter of Mr. Teft, cited by foreign hostility, these rights were but im- without the expense of sending over a special perfectly understood, and to his superior knowledge agent. But then every thing would have to be coin topics gradually becoming more interesting, pied, or an agent appointed here to inform the should be ascribed in a great measure the high and agent resident there what materials our own ardeserved reputation he afterwards acquired." chives still afford. The services of a very able What shall be said of "the philosophic ardor of and honorable gentleman in London might be proJefferson, smitten with the elegances of Literature cured, but his investigations could not extend beand fired with the passion of making his country yond the State office and there could not be the the rival of civilized Europe." His "Notes on same confidence and freedom of communication, as Virginia," his correspondence, his large historical in the case of an agent specially delegated, whose collections of books and MSS.; his aid to Hen-zeal, interest and devotion would all incite him to ning and to the late Edmund Randolph, when he the task. An agent in London could only superin• Burk's Hist. Va., vol. III., 114, 115. ↑ 1b., p. 300. ↑ Ib., p. 390. tend the copying of what was ordered; but how can specific knowledge be obtained of what should be ordered? From having once sent out a special illy corresponds with his high and elevated chaagent, Georgia has facilities in giving orders for racter and acknowledged abilities. I have always further copies that we can not have. Nor could a believed, that taking advantage of the then concomplete catalogue assist us much, since it is im-vulsed state of England, produced by the struggles between the Commonwealth-men and the Royalists, possible to read the contents of a long article by a Bacon had at that early day, (1775-6,) formed the short title. Take the index of a large volume, and design of giving permanent independence to Virhow often will you fail to find what you desire and ginia, which had in fact refused to acknowledge know to be there, even under its most appropriate the Commonwealth, and had regarded the bond of head! We speak from experience. her allegiance as severed by the overthrow and final execution of Charles I. Certain it is that One other brief view of the subject and the sub- Bacon acted in all things in the absence of authorjoined letters will close this article. It seems ity from England-changed the Seat of Governhighly appropriate that Congress should at once ment from James Town to the middle plantations, obtain all that England possesses in relation to the (Williamsburg,)-convoked the House of BurHistory of the Colonies. There can hardly be a gesses,-passed laws, and maintained an indepenState that would not rejoice at it; and the State dent sway for nearly two years, when falling a victim to disease, the former authorities, for the want Legislatures might address Congress in reference of a suitable leader to conduct the Revolution sucto it. It would cost no more probably than was cessfully, were restored, and the whole fell to the paid for the Madison Papers; and less than is now ground. When we take into consideration the disspoken of for the purchase of Morse's Magnetic tracted state of the times, the comparatively limitTelegraph; and it seems to come as legitimately within the scope of their authority as either of the foregoing measures, or the purchase of a library, statuary and paintings. But your honorable body may take a different view of Congressional powers; and the States who have already expended their money, together with the new States who have no immediate interest in the subject, might withhold their consent to the action of Congress. The State of Virginia ought to possess copies of these foreign records, and should not wait for Congress to perform a work so valuable and honorable, and so necessary for herself. Washington, Oct. 2, 1844. ed extent of the British Navy at that early daythe difficulty of transporting large bodies of troops across so broad an Ocean as the Atlantic,-the difficulty of supporting them after their transportation was accomplished, we can well imagine that an ardent and enthusiastic mind like that of Nathaniel Bacon, might have dared to think that Virginia should be and was " of right a free, sovethe motives of the actors in those stirring scenes reign and independent State." But, my dear Sir, are as obscure as the last resting places of their mortal remains, and much that they did has been lost to the cause of truth and justice. If a competent person could be found, with zeal and sufficient energy to clear away the rubbish and to explore the dark places in our history, it would be gratifying and instructive to the present and all future generations. Who shall thread the labyrinth, or head the Argonautic expedition, it is not for me to say. I can only wish you every success in your contributions to this great task, and with my cordial salutations I tender you my best wishes for your health and happiness. JOHN TYLER. Savannah, 11th Sept., 1844. MY DEAR SIR,-I am in receipt of your letter of the 23rd of September, and fully concur with you in the importance you attach to a more thorough and accurate history of Virginia than any heretofore written; and doubt not that the Archives of England would furnish important and valuable material, for such a work. Much, very much of our early history remains in doubt and obscurity; and yet nothing could be more interesting than to be MY DEAR MINOR,-You ask we what investigaable to trace with accuracy the struggles of the tion our Historical Society are prosecuting abroad. first settlers to meet and overcome the difficulties You are aware no doubt, that by an act of our Legthat surrounded them-to keep up, without falter-islature in 1837, an agent was appointed to proing, the march of events, and to mark with preci- ceed to Europe in search of material for a history sion the advances annually made in the occupation of Georgia. The Rev. C. W. Howard was apof the country. The account of the bloody battle pointed that agent. He went to London in the fought within a few miles only of the City of Rich- summer of 1838, and in October of that year, mond by the settlers under the lead of Nathaniel three months after his arrival, he obtained permisBacon, and the Indian Tribes, is more indistinct sion through Lord Palmerston to inspect and make than could be desired, considering the consequences extracts from the records and papers in the State which flowed from it. It led the way to the com- Paper Office, relating to the State of Georgia from plete mastery of the white race over the red, and the years 1735 to 1775 inclusive, but no later. assisted in no small degree to swell the mighty tor-The result of Mr. Howard's labors you will find rent of civilization which has overflowed this con- referred to in a report of a Committee of our Sotinent. The history of that remarkable man is ciety, a copy of which I sent you by the mail of and must be greatly defective. He is made to yesterday. figure on the page of history, as governed chiefly in what he did by enmity to Sir William Berkely, the then Governor, and actuated solely by the desire to expel him the colony. And yet this but VOL. X-88 In consequence of the expense to which, in years past, the State of Georgia has been put in the quest after the documents in Europe, exceeding I think $,6000, any further application to the Legislature |