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.