pany of their charter, the work was little more than kept alive. And when, in November, 1624, the King's court rendered a verdict revoking the charter and making Virginia a royal colony, the whole enterprise went down never to be revived. It is impossible to contemplate the undeserved fate of the first projected American College without many regrets; yet the conditions were such as to make a better fate almost an impossibility. The increasing wealth of the Company and the growing spirit of democracy in the colony were not long to pass unheeded by an arbitrary and money-loving king like James I. The natural reaction had come, and the royal prerogative was again to predominate in Virginia's affairs. The liberal policy which had caused such universal satisfaction throughout the colony in 1619 was now bearing its logical fruit. From the Indian massacre the College would have recovered, but there was no withstanding the determined opposition of the King. The dissolution of the Virginia Company and the confiscation of the college property extinguished, in the minds of its many friends and promoters, the last lingering hope of reviving the cherished enterprise. With the failure of the Henrico University came to an end the first noble effort to civilize the Indians by means of education. When the subject of schools was taken up again, ten years later,21 provisions were made for the English only; the opportunity of the red man had gone by forever. 21 "In 1634 Benjamin Sym founded a Free School on the Pocoson river and endowed it with 200 acres of land and the increase of eight milk cows. This was the first educational institution in Virginia. I got home on Saturday Evening last & wou'd have wrote you before now, but thought it best to wait a Day or two that I might have some opportunity to collect sentiments respecting the Affairs you are engaged in, and it is with great pleasure I inform you that it seems to be the General Opinion to rest satisfied with the Determination of the Congress. A non-importation from Britain is looked upon to be a determined Affair since the notice published by the Congress on Thursday last, & will give no uneasiness in this City, and a non-Exportation to commence the middle of September next I am fully satisfied will be cheerfully acquiesced in. I sincerely wish the New York Delegates may agree with the Congress in every measure that shall be concluded on by them for a redress of their Grievances. It is absolutely necessary for the general Interest of America that it should be so. A Dissent from the other Colonies besides being fatal to the common cause, will give room for suggestions noways favorable to the People of this City, which I wish to God may be prevented, especially as there is advice from. 'Philip Livingston, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1715 and died in York, Pa., in 1778. He was a graduate of Yale College and afterwards engaged in the duties of an importing merchant in New York. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly for New York and also a member of the first Continental Congress. He was active in all movements for the benefit of his country and especially for New York. London that some principal People have given assurances to Government that the People of this City will take no Part with the People of Boston respecting the oppressive Acts of Parliament &c &c. Without Unity America is undone, let not the fault be laid at our Door. When I left you the Affair of Trade was under consideration. I think G. Britain has a right to regulate our Trade for the General Interest of the Empire, but not to impose Duties or Taxes to raise a revenue. It is a right she has always exercised & in which we have acquiesced, & without which we should be entirely independent of the Mother Country, which I think is an absurdity no man in his senses ✔ can gravely advance. To deny her that right would be to deny her existence as a great nation, which she undoubtedly will endeavour to maintain, if her right is denied, by her Power. Mr. Boerum was yesterday elected Delegate for Kings County. He is going down to-morrow morning to assist at the Congress. I wish you may receive great Light and assistance from this grave Senator. He says his County don't care what is done about Non-Importation, but Non-Exportation is what they are apprehensive of. Who can doubt this? He says however that if it shou'd not commence 'till next September the County will be easy for this reason, that possibly all the Differences between G. Britain & the Colonies may subside before any Inconvenience is felt. I remain, Dr. Sir your most obedt. Servt. Dear Sir LIVINGSTON TO JAMES DUANE. MANOR LIVINGSTON, Nov. 3, 1779. Since my return from the Northern Frontiers I have been so engaged in setling the accounts of my Regt that it has been out of my power to give you a brief, account untill now from the time that I took the command untill the 9 Oct. the chief of my time, was employ'd in pressing cattle from the disaffected to supply, the Garrisons, of Fort Ann, and Fort George. Fort Ann was Garrisoned by Capt Sherwood and Sixty Men, from my Regt on Monday night the 9th Oct. he sent me word, that his scouts, had discovered, the tracks of 150 Men, and from their course, he believed they would make an attack that night. I imedeately order all my men out of their beds, and hold my works, man'd during that night, and keep out small parties, to patrole the woods, & Roads round my Works-but discoverd nothing, on the 10th early in the Morning I sent out small parties on the road leading to Fort Ann but they discoverd nothing. at ten oclock of the same day, I saw the smoak arrise in the Quarter of Fort Ann and heard a firing. I then was convinced the Enemy was come and that they must be in force or they would not dare fire Houses, and keep up a firing in a settled country. I did imediately send off a Continental officer (who was acquainted with the country) to allarm the Militia. I then sent out, a good officer & twenty Men (which was one third of Men in my Garrison) to endeavor to make discoverys, and, at the same time to cut off any small parties of the inhabitants that might be going to join the Enemy, he had not march'd more than three Miles, before he fell in with about thirty Indians, and a body of tories, which made him retreat imediately but in good order, soon after that the whig inhabitants came to the fort for protection and by one of them, I learnt that the Enemy connsisted of 600 British, 200 tories, and 150 Indians, & that they had taken Fort Ann, without firing a shot.-I then, thought my situation very critical, I had only 60 Men Rank & file with 10 officers, I did not know what to do. if they came, I knew, that I must fall, and fight I must after one of the Forts had surrenderd without fighting. I do assure you I was much embarsed, and I wrote two letters, to the officer at Fort Ann informing him that if the Enemy shoud attack him I would support him, one of which letters fell into the hands of the Enemy. I have reason to believe, the British troops then March on, and encampt about 5 Miles from me, and sent down the tories & Indians to burn and destroy all round me, and I assure you they gave me a great deal of trouble during the night of the II. early in the Morning of the 12th they march to fort George, the commanding officer of that port had discovered by his scouts a party of 30 Indians, (which was their advance party) he sent out 50 Men to fight them, but to their great surprise they found themselves surrounded by the whole of the British; immediately on that they attempt to make a retreat but all in vain, they lost 13 Men kill'd, & 10 taken prisoner. They they march'd to the fort, which capitulated on very honorable terms. the Enemy then burnt the fort, and cross'd the lake, so that they was but two days in the country I am now order out with all the Militia, as the Enemy have made their appearance in lake George again, when I return you shall have the rest of my adventures in the Northern World Fort Edward was I am D'Sir with great esteem yours sincerely W. LIVINGSTON (To be Continued.) |