the complete writings-3-第53节
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Shortly after Captain Newport with a chosen company of one hundred and twenty men （leaving eighty with President Smith in the fort） and accompanied by Captain Waldo； Lieutenant Percy； Captain Winne； Mr。 West； and Mr。 Scrivener； who was eager for adventure； set off for the discovery of Monacan。 The expedition； as Smith predicted； was fruitless： the Indians deceived them and refused to trade； and the company got back to Jamestown； half of them sick； all grumbling； and worn out with toil； famine； and discontent。
Smith at once set the whole colony to work； some to make glass； tar； pitch； and soap…ashes； and others he conducted five miles down the river to learn to fell trees and make clapboards。 In this company were a couple of gallants； lately come over； Gabriel Beadle and John Russell； proper gentlemen； but unused to hardships； whom Smith has immortalized by his novel cure of their profanity。 They took gayly to the rough life； and entered into the attack on the forest so pleasantly that in a week they were masters of chopping： 〃making it their delight to hear the trees thunder as they fell； but the axes so often blistered their tender fingers that many times every third blow had a loud othe to drown the echo； for remedie of which sinne the President devised how to have every man's othes numbered； and at night for every othe to have a Canne of water powred downe his sleeve； with which every offender was so washed （himself and all）； that a man would scarce hear an othe in a weake。〃 In the clearing of our country since； this excellent plan has fallen into desuetude； for want of any pious Captain Smith in the logging camps。
These gentlemen； says Smith； did not spend their time in wood…logging like hirelings； but entered into it with such spirit that thirty of them would accomplish more than a hundred of the sort that had to be driven to work； yet； he sagaciously adds； 〃twenty good workmen had been better than them all。〃
Returning to the fort； Smith； as usual； found the time consumed and no provisions got； and Newport's ship lying idle at a great charge。 With Percy he set out on an expedition for corn to the Chickahominy； which the insolent Indians； knowing their want； would not supply。 Perceiving that it was Powhatan's policy to starve them （as if it was the business of the Indians to support all the European vagabonds and adventurers who came to dispossess them of their country）； Smith gave out that he came not so much for corn as to revenge his imprisonment and the death of his men murdered by the Indians； and proceeded to make war。 This high…handed treatment made the savages sue for peace； and furnish； although they complained of want themselves； owing to a bad harvest； a hundred bushels of corn。
This supply contented the company； who feared nothing so much as starving； and yet； says Smith； so envied him that they would rather hazard starving than have him get reputation by his vigorous conduct。 There is no contemporary account of that period except this which Smith indited。 He says that Newport and Ratcliffe conspired not only to depose him but to keep him out of the fort； since being President they could not control his movements； but that their horns were much too short to effect it。
At this time in the 〃old Taverne；〃 as Smith calls the fort； everybody who had money or goods made all he could by trade； soldiers； sailors； and savages were agreed to barter； and there was more care to maintain their damnable and private trade than to provide the things necessary for the colony。 In a few weeks the whites had bartered away nearly all the axes； chisels； hoes； and picks； and what powder； shot； and pikeheads they could steal； in exchange for furs； baskets； young beasts and such like commodities。 Though the supply of furs was scanty in Virginia； one master confessed he had got in one voyage by this private trade what he sold in England for thirty pounds。 〃These are the Saint…seeming Worthies of Virginia；〃 indignantly exclaims the President； 〃that have； notwithstanding all this； meate； drinke； and wages。〃 But now they began to get weary of the country； their trade being prevented。 〃The loss； scorn； and misery was the poor officers； gentlemen and careless governors； who were bought and sold。〃 The adventurers were cheated； and all their actions overthrown by false information and unwise directions。
Master Scrivener was sent with the barges and pinnace to Werowocomoco； where by the aid of Namontuck he procured a little corn； though the savages were more ready to fight than to trade。 At length Newport's ship was loaded with clapboards； pitch； tar； glass； frankincense （？） and soapashes； and despatched to England。 About two hundred men were left in the colony。 With Newport； Smith sent his famous letter to the Treasurer and Council in England。 It is so good a specimen of Smith's ability with the pen； reveals so well his sagacity and knowledge of what a colony needed； and exposes so clearly the ill…management of the London promoters； and the condition of the colony； that we copy it entire。 It appears by this letter that Smith's 〃 Map of Virginia；〃 and his description of the country and its people； which were not published till 1612； were sent by this opportunity。 Captain Newport sailed for England late in the autumn of 1608。 The letter reads：
RIGHT HONORABLE； ETC。：
I received your letter wherein you write that our minds are so set upon faction； and idle conceits in dividing the country without your consents； and that we feed you but with ifs and ands； hopes and some few proofes； as if we would keepe the mystery of the businesse to ourselves： and that we must expressly follow your instructions sent by Captain Newport： the charge of whose voyage amounts to neare two thousand pounds； the which if we cannot defray by the ships returne we are likely to remain as banished men。 To these particulars I humbly intreat your pardons if I offend you with my rude answer。
For our factions； unless you would have me run away and leave the country； I cannot prevent them； because I do make many stay that would else fly away whither。 For the Idle letter sent to my Lord of Salisbury； by the President and his confederates； for dividing the country； &c。； what it was I know not； for you saw no hand of mine to it； nor ever dream't I of any such matter。 That we feed you with hopes； &c。 Though I be no scholar； I am past a schoolboy； and I desire but to know what either you and these here doe know； but that I have learned to tell you by the continuall hazard of my life。 I have not concealed from you anything I know； but I feare some cause you to believe much more than is true。
Expressly to follow your directions by Captain Newport； though they be performed； I was directly against it； but according to our commission； I was content to be overouled by the major part of the Councill； I feare to the hazard of us all； which now is generally confessed when it is too late。 Onely Captaine Winne and Captaine Walclo I have sworne of the Councill； and crowned Powhattan according to your instructions。
For the charge of the voyage of two or three thousand pounds we have not received the value of one hundred pounds； and for the quartered boat to be borne by the souldiers over the falls。 Newport had 120 of the best men he could chuse。 If he had burnt her to ashes； one might have carried her in a bag； but as she is； five hundred cannot to a navigable place above the falls。 And for him at that time to find in the South Sea a mine of gold； or any of them sent by Sir Walter Raleigh； at our consultation I told them was as likely as the rest。 But during this great discovery of thirtie miles （which might as well have been done by one man； and much more； for the value of a pound of copper at a seasonable tyme）； they had the pinnace and all the boats with them but one that remained with me to serve the fort。 In their absence I followed the new begun works of Pitch and Tarre； Glasse； Sope…ashes； Clapboord； whereof some small quantities we have sent you。 But if you rightly consider what an infinite toyle it is in Russia and Swethland； where the woods are proper for naught els； and though there be the helpe both of man and beast in those ancient commonwealths； which many an hundred years have used it； yet thousands of those poor people can scarce get necessaries to live； but from hand to mouth； and though your factors there can buy as much in a week as will fraught you a ship； or as much as you please； you must not expect from us any such matter； which are but as many of ignorant； miserable soules； that are scarce able to get wherewith to live； and defend ourselves against the inconstant Salvages： finding but here and there a tree fit for the purpose； and want all things else the Russians have。 For the Coronation of Powhattan； by whose advice you sent him such presents； I know not； but this give me leave to tell you； I feare they will be the confusion of us all ere we heare from you again。 At your ships arrivall； the Salvages harvest was newly gathered； and we going to buy it； our owne not being halve sufficient for so great a number。 As for the two ships loading of corne Newport promised to provide us from Powhattan； he brought us but fourteen
