e, the nation began to second the pacific intentions of its
monarch, and to seek a surer, though slower expedient, for acquiring
riches and glory. In 1606, Newport carried over a colony, and began a
settlement; which the company, erected by patent for that purpose
in London and Bristol, took care to supply with yearly recruits of
provisions, utensils, and new inhabitants. About 1609, Argal discovered
a more direct and shorter passage to Virginia, and left the track of the
ancient navigators, who had first directed their course southwards to
the tropic, sailed westward by means of the trade winds, and then turned
northward, till they reached the English settlements. The same year,
five hundred persons, under Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers, were
embarked for Virginia. Somers's ship, meeting with a tempest, was driven
into the Bermudas, and laid the foundation of a settlement in those
islands. Lord Delawar afterwards undertook the government of the English
colonies: but, notwithstanding all his care, seconded by supplies from
James and by money raised from the first lottery ever known in the
kingdom, such difficulties attended the settlement of these countries,
that, in 1614, there were not alive more than four hundred men, of all
that had been sent thither. After supplying themselves with provisions
more immediately necessary for the support of life, the new planters
began the cultivating of tobacco; and James, notwithstanding his
antipathy to that drug, which he affirmed to be pernicious to men's
morals, as well as their health,[*] gave them permission to enter it
in England; and he inhibited by proclamation all importation of it from
Spain.[**] By degrees, new colonies were established in that continent,
and gave new names to the places where they settled, leaving that of
Virginia to the province first planted. The Island of Barbadoes was also
planted in this reign.

* Rymer, tom. xvii. p. 621.

** Rymer, tom. xvii. p. 621, 633.

Speculative reasoners, during that age, raised many objections to the
planting of those remote colonies; and foretold that, after draining
their mother country of inhabitants, they would soon shake off her yoke,
and erect an independent government in America: but time has shown,
that the views entertained by those who encouraged such generous
undertakings, were more just and solid. A mild government and great
naval force have preserved, and may still preserve during some tim