against the voice of the proprietors, and subversive of the rights, of both proprietors and people.

About this time Gov. Stevens died, and - Cartwright succeeded for a short time; but being called to England,

Eastchurch was appointed governor, and entered upon the administration of a colony then consisting of about fourteen hundred taxable inhabitants, one third of whom were slaves. The produce of the colony was then about eighty hogsheads of tobacco, yearly. This was said to be of little value to the planters, for the New-England traders engrossed about the whole, with their whisky and other ardent spirits; together with a few trifles, which they transported into the country. The proprietors strove to check this ruinous trade, but without effect; the people in Carolina would have spirits then, as well as the NewEngland people now-thus both were blind to their own interest, and bent on their own ruin. At this time a jealousy began to spring up between the north and south colonies, and although it was the wish of the proprietors to extend the trade of Albemarle to the south of the bay, or sound, the governor and people opposed, from motives of private interest, that they might engross the Indian trade. Gov. Eastchurch sailed for England to promote the interest of the colony; but Miller had arrived before him, laid his grievances before the lords proprietors, and obtained by way of redress, the appointment of secretary to the government, as deputy to one of the proprietors, (eight of these deputies composed the governor's council.) The governor and Miller, his secretary, both sailed together; but the governor was detained in the West-Indies, and Miller proceeded, and took charge of the administration until the governor arrived. It was the duty of Miller to collect the revenue, which was made payable in cash or tobacco ; he felt his power, and remembering his enemies, he used it with such rigour that in four months, he collected three hundred and twenty-seven thousand weight of tobacco, and about two hundred and forty pounds sterling. Miller attempted to suppress the New-England trade; but both wind and tide were against him; as they ever will be against those who by direct means attempts to correct public morals, at the expence of private interest. The traders scattered sparks of discord amongst the whisky-boys, and stories of the basest faleshood were magnified into truths of serious importance, and discord and sedition stalked

abroad.

**In the midst of these scenes, one Culpepper, (who had been surveyor in South-Carolina,) fled from justice, and took refuge in North-Carolina. Culpepper soon became a noisy demagogue, and fanned the fire. In the midst of this scene of noise and disturbance, about the rights of whisky and rum, arrived one Gillman from New-England, with his winter's supply. Miller caused him to be arrested, and bound over to take his trial in the penal sum of one thousand pound sterling, upon a charge of a breach of the revenue laws. The people rose in arms, seized the president (Miller) and six of his council, and put them into close confinement. The insurgents then assumed the government, seized on the treasury, (which contained three thousand pound sterling,) and held the administration about two years. Culpepper became collector of the customs. The next year Gov. Eastchurch arrived, but the government had been wrested from him, and he was received as a private citizen; he applied to the governor of Virginia for troops to recover the government; but he was removed by death before the arrival of the troops. At this time Miller and Culpepper both repaired to London, to make their defence to the lords proprietors, and to demand redress: Culpepper was arrested and tried for

high-treason; but was acquitted, upon the ground that the affray could not amount to any thing more than a riot.

Thus we have seen the influence that ardent spirits may be made to have over the lives, and properties, as well as the passions of men, and how great a flame a little fire kindleth, 1675. We will now take up, and carry forward the affairs of Virginia.

CHAPTER VI.

VIRGINIA CONTINUED.-RISE AND PROGRESS OF VIRGINIA, FROM THE YEAR 1675, TO THE CLOSE OF BACON'S RE

BELLION.

In our last chapter on Virginia, we noticed the vote of the assembly, expressing their attachment to a kingly government. We have also witnessed in our last chapter, the new constitution of Carolina, together with some of the evils that arose out of such a government. We will now carry forward the colony of Virginia, and unfold a few of those evils, which she experienced from her attachment to a royal government. The colony was split into sections, by proprietary grants, from the crown, in direct violation of their charter, and the grantees entered upon their estates about the time the famous English navigation act began to go into operation. Virginia remonstrated in vain; and in the midst of her distresses she found herself involved in an Indian war. In the midst of this war a faction sprang up which threatened the peace and safety of the government. A bold adventurer, by the name of Bacon, who had been bred a lawyer in London, and come out to Virginia, like thousands of others, to seek his fortune, took advantage of his popular talents, volunteered his services against the Indians, assembled a company of volunteers, and demanded of the governor, (Berkeley) a commission. The governor refused his demand, and in his turn, demanded that Bacon should disband his men, and come down in person, on pain of being treated as a rebel. Bacon determined to prosecute his purposes, assured his men that he would never lay down his arms, until he had avenged their cause, and punished the Indians. Bacon however, upon reflection, embarked in a sloop, and went down to Jamestown. The governor

received him coolly; Bacon grew warm, and became indecorous; the governor suspended him from the council; Bacon took leave in a rage, and embarked again on board his sloop, on his return to his quarters; the governor pursued, and caused him to be arrested, and brought back to Jamestown, where he received him kindly, and restored him to the council, because he had dismissed him without proper authority.

Col. Bacon again renewed his demands for a general's commission, to revenge the wrongs of the people upon the savages; the governor declined, and remonstrated against the measure; but Bacon was fixed; and fresh murders from the savages confirmed him in his purpose; and in the support of the people. Bacon made his escape, joined his party, then consisting of about six hundred men in arms, and marched down to Jamestown; drew up his men before the house of assembly, who were then in session, and demanded his commission, which the assembly granted, and the governor executed, (though with reluctance,) and general Bacon marched off in triumph. Gov. Berkeley, immediately, by the advice of assembly, issued a proclamation, denouncing Bacon, as a rebel, and ordering his followers to disperse ; and at the same time ordered out the militia to suppress the rebellion. Such was the popularity of Bacon, that these measures served only to confirm his command, and unite the people in his defence. They kept their arms, and followed their leader, who led them back to Jamestown, and the governor fled over to Accomack; but even here he was met by clamours against his administration, and demands of redress of their grievances; and thus was constrained to yield to popular clamour. In the mean time, Gen. Bacon called a convention; next he convoked an assembly, by writs of his own signing, and assumed the reigns of government, whilst the governor was collecting a military force to check his proce dure.