the Indian attacks no more。 But the African is here to stay。
〃The Negroes live in small Cottages called Quarters 。 。 。 under the
direction of an Overseer or Bailiff； who takes care that they tend such
Land as the Owner allots and orders； upon which they raise Hogs and Cattle
and plant Indian Corn； and Tobacco for the Use of their Master 。。。。 The
Negroes are very numerous； Dome Gentlemen having Hundreds of them of all
Sorts； to whom they bring great Profitt； for the Sake of which they are
obliged to keep them well； and not over…work； starve or famish them；
besides other Inducements to favour them； which is done in a great Degree；
to such especially that are laborious； careful and honest； tho' indeed some
Masters； careless of their own Interest or deputation； are too cruel and
negligent。 The Negroes are not only encreased by fresh supplies from Africa
and the West India Islands； but also are very prolific among themselves；
and they that are born here talk good English and affect our Language；
Habits and Customs 。 。 。 。 Their work or Chimerical hard Slavery） is not
very laborious； their greatest Hardship consisting in that they and their
Posterity are not at their own Liberty or Disposal； but are the Property of
their Owners； and when they are free they know not how to provide so well
for themselves generally； neither did they live so plentifully nor （many of
them） so easily in their own Country where they are made Slaves to one
another； or taken Captive by their Ennemies。〃*
* It is an English clergyman； the Reverend Hugh Jones； who is writing （〃The
Present State of Virginia〃） in the year 1724。 He writes and never sees
that； though every amelioration be true； yet there is here old Inequity。
The white Virginians lived both after the fashion of England and after
fashions made by their New World environment。 They are said to have been in
general a handsome folk； tall； well…formed； and with a ready and courteous
manner。 They were great lovers of riding； and of all country life； and few
folk in the world might overpass them in hospitality。 They were genial；
they liked a good laugh； and they danced to good music。 They had by nature
an excellent understanding。 Yet； thinks at least the Reverend Hugh Jones；
they 〃are generally diverted by Business or Inclination from profound
Study； and prying into the Depth of Things 。 。 。 。They are more inclinable
to read Men by Business and Conversation； than to dive into Books 。 。 。
they are apt to learn； yet they are fond of and will follow their own Ways；
Humours and Notions； being not easily brought to new Projects and Schemes。〃
It was as Governor of these people that； in succession to Nicholson； Edward
Nott came to Virginia； the deputy of my Lord Orkney。 Nott died soon
afterward； and in 1710 Orkney sent to Virginia in his stead Alexander
Spotswood。 This man stands in Virginia history a manly； honorable； popular
figure。 Of Scotch parentage； born in Morocco； soldier under Marlborough；
wounded at Blenheim； he was yet in his thirties when he sailed across the
Atlantic to the river James。 Virginia liked him； and he liked Virginia。 A
man of energy and vision； he first made himself at home with all； and then
after his own impulses and upon his own lines went about to develop and to
better the colony。 He had his projects and his hobbies； mostly useful； and
many sounding with a strong modern tone。 Now and again he quarreled with
the Assembly； and he made it many a cutting speech。 But it； too； and all
Virginia and the world were growing modern。 Issues were disengaging
themselves and were becoming distinct。 In these early years of the
eighteenth century； Whig and Tory in England drew sharply over against each
other。 In Virginia； too； as in Maryland； the Carolinas； and all the rest of
England…in…America； parties were emerging。 The Virginian flair for
political life was thus early in evidence。 To the careless eye the colony
might seem overwhelmingly for King and Church。 〃If New England be called a
Receptacle of Dissenters； and an Amsterdam of Religion； Pennsylvania the
Nursery of Quakers； Maryland the Retirement of Roman Catholicks； North
Carolina the Refuge of Runaways and South Carolina the Delight of
Buccaneers and Pyrates； Virginia may be justly esteemed the happy Retreat
of true Britons and true Churchmen for the most Part。〃 This 〃for the most
part〃 paints the situation； for there existed an opposition； a minority；
which might grow to balance； and overbalance。 In the meantime the House of
Burgesses at Williamsburg provided a School for Discussion。
At the time when Parson Jones with his shrewd eyes was observing society in
the Old Dominion； Williamsburg was still a small village； even though it
was the capital。 Towns indeed； in any true sense； were nowhere to be found
in Virginia。 Yet Williamsburg had a certain distinction。 Within it there
arose； beneath and between old forest trees； the college； an admirable
churchBruton Churchthe capitol； the Governor's house or 〃palace；〃 and
many very tolerable dwelling…houses of frame and brick。 There were also
taverns； a marketplace； a bowling…green； an arsenal； and presently a
playhouse。 The capitol at Williamsburg was a commodious one； able to house
most of the machinery of state。 Here were the Council Chamber； 〃where the
Governor and Council sit in very great state； in imitation of the King and
Council； or the Lord Chancellor and House of Lords； 〃 and the great room of
the House of Burgesses； 〃not unlike the House of Commons。〃 Here； at the
capitol 。 met the General Courts in April and October； the Governor and
Council acting as judges。 There were also Oyer and Terminer and Admiralty
Courts。 There were offices and committee rooms； and on the cupola a great
clock； and near the capitol was 〃a strong； sweet Prison for Criminals； and
on the other side of an open Court another for Debtors 。 。 。 but such
Prisoners are very rare； the Creditors being generally very merciful 。 。 。
。 At the Capitol； at publick Times； may be seen a great Number of handsome；
well…dressed； compleat Gentlemen。 And at the Governor's House upon
Birth…Nights； and at Balls and Assemblies； I have seen as fine an
Appearance； as good Diversion； and as splendid Entertainments； in Governor
Spotswood's Time； as I have seen anywhere else。〃
It is a far cry from the Susan Constant； the Goodspeed； and the Discovery；
from those first booths at Jamestown； from the Starving Time； from
Christopher Newport and Edward…Maria Wingfield and Captain John Smith to
these days of Governor Spotswood。 And yet； considering the changes still to
come； a century seems but a little time and the far cry not so very far。
Though the Virginians were in the mass country folk； yet villages or
hamlets arose； clusters of houses pressing about the Court House of each
county。 There were now in the colony over a score of settled counties。 The
westernmost of these； the frontier counties； were so huge that they ran at
least to the mountains； and； for all one knew to the contrary； presumably
beyond。 But 〃beyond〃 was a mysterious word of unknown content； for no
Virginian of that day had gone beyond。 All the way from Canada into South
Carolina and the Florida of that time stretched the mighty system。 of the
Appalachians； fifteen hundred miles in length and three hundred in breadth。
Here was a barrier long and thick； with ridge after ridge of lifted and
forested earth； with knife…blade vales between； and only here and there a
break away and an encompassed treasure of broad and fertile valley。 The
Appalachians made a true Chinese Wall； shutting all England…in…America； in
those early days； out from the vast inland plateau of the continent；
keeping upon the seaboard all England…in…America； from the north to the
south。 To Virginia these were the mysterious mountains just beyond which；
at first； were held to be the South Sea and Cathay。 Now； men's knowledge
being larger by a hundred years； it was known that the South Sea could not
be so near。 The French from Canada； going by way of the St。 Lawrence and
the Great Lakes； had penetrated very far beyond and had found not the South
Sea but a mighty river flowing into the Gulf of Mexico。 What was the real
nature of this world which had been found to lie over the mountains？ More
and more Virginians were inclined to find out； foreseeing that they would
need room for their growing population。 Continuously came in folk from the
Old Country； and continuously Virginians were born。 Maryland dwelt to the
north； Carolina to the south。 Virginia； seeking space； must begin to grow
westward。
There were settlements from the sea to the Falls of the James； and upon the
York； the Rappahannock； and the Potomac。 Beyond these； in the wilderness；
might be found a few lonely cabins； a scattered handful of pioneer folk；
small blockhouses； and small companies of rangers charged with protecting
all from Indian foray。 All this country was rolling and hilly； but beyond
it stood the mountains； a wall of enchantment； against the west。
Alexander Spotswood； hardy Scot； endowed with a good temperamental blend of
the imaginative and the active； was just the man； the time being ripe； to
encounter and surmount that wall。 Fortunately； too； the Virginians were
horsemen； man and horse one piece almost； New World centaurs。 They would
follow the bridle…tracks that pierced to the hilly country； and beyond that
they might yet make way through the primeval forest。 They would encounter
dangers； but hardly the old perils of seacoast and foothills。 Different；
indeed； is this adventure of the Governor of Virginia and his chosen band
from the old push afoot into frowning hostile woods by the men of a hundred
and odd years before！
Spotswood rode westward with a company drawn largely from the colonial
gentry； men young in body or in spirit； gay and adventurous。 The whole
expedition was conceived and executed in a key both humorous and knightly。
These 〃Knights〃* set face toward the mountains in August； 1716。 They had
guides who knew the upcountry； a certain number of rangers used to Indian
ways； and servants with food and much wine in their charge。 So out of
settled Virginia they rode； and up the long； gradual