George Bancroft, History of the Colonization of the United States, Vol. 1, 17th edition.

[135] tney demanded a lump of gold, or a certain passage to

Chap IV.}

the South Sea, or, a feigned humanity added, one of the lost company, sent by Sir Walter Raleigh.¹ The charge of the voyage was two thousand pounds; unless the ships should return full freighted with commodities, corresponding in value to the costs of the adventure, the colonists were threatened, that ‘they should be left in Virginia as banished men.’² Neither had experience taught the company to engage suitable persons for Virginia. ‘When you send again,’ Smith was obliged to write, ‘I entreat you rather send but thirty carpenters, husbandmen, gardeners, fishermen, black smiths, masons, and diggers up of trees' roots, well provided, than a thousand of such as we have.’

After the departure of the ships, Smith employed

1609

his authority to enforce industry. Six hours in the day were spent in work; the rest might be given to pastime. The gentlemen had been taught the use of the axe, and had become accomplished woodcutters. ‘He who would not work, might not eat;’ and Jamestown assumed the appearance of a regular place of abode. Yet so little land had been cultivated—not more than thirty or forty acres in all—that it was still necessary for Englishmen to solicit food from the indolent Indians; and Europeans, to preserve themselves from starving, were billeted among the sons of the forest. Thus the season passed away; of two hundred in the colony, not more than seven died.³

The golden anticipations of the London company had not been realized. But the cause of failure appeared in the policy, which had grasped at sudden