1625:]

DEATH OF KING JAMES.

251

find a reign less illustrious, yet more unspotted and unblemished;" but candour will accord little credit even to the negative innocence of a sovereign whose avarice had no restraint but his impotence, whose bigotry was scarcely neutralized by his personal vices, and whose love of dominion was only controlled by his contemptible cowardice!

a Hume's Eng., iv. 309, chap. xlix. With much reluctance, we are here compelled to bid adieu to Stith as our guide. His history does not extend beyond 1624. He is often harsh and inelegant in style, and he has crowded his pages with a mass

of unimportant matter; but he is rigidly accurate, and his love of freedom entitles him to our sincere respect. Beverley, p. 44, ascribes the dissolution of the London Company to King Charles, in 1626! and, as usual, he is echoed by Keith, p. 141.

PART II.

CHAPTER V.

Character of Charles I.-His proclamation concerning the colony-The representative government still exists-Indian war— r-Death of Sir George Yeardley-Proposals of the King-Rejected by the Assembly-George Calvert, Lord Baltimore-He refuses to take the oath of supremacy in Virginia-Sir John Hervey-Good and evil of his administration-Settlement of Maryland-William Claiborne-Hervey deposed—Restored by the King-Tobacco laws-Sir William Berkeley governor-His character-Prosperous state of the colony-The Established Church-Intolerant laws-Indian hostilities-Capture of Opecancanough-His death -Increase of population-Shipping-Rebellion in England-Execution of Charles I.-Ordinance of the Long Parliament-Virginia remains loyal-Fleet sent to subdue her-Resistance-Honourable surrender— Independence under the Protectorate-Samuel Matthews governor-His death-Election of Sir William Berkeley by the Assembly-Restoration of Charles II.

At the age of twenty-five, Charles ascended the throne left vacant by the death of his father. The life of this unhappy prince seems to embrace every thing necessary to warn both monarchs and sub. jects: monarchs, against the exercise of oppressive powers bequeathed by their ancestors;-subjects, against the rash use of their sacred right of revolution. Had he been born in an humble condition, and had he lived amid the refined enjoyments of private life, his dignity of manner, his affectionate temper, his social virtues, would all have combined to render him useful, beloved, and happy. But he was born a king,-and for this he lived in tumult