he account of his death is too authentic to
admit of such a supposition, and the character of Sir William Berkeley,
already clouded with relentless cruelty, is happily freed from the foul
imputation, that to the prejudices and sternness of the avenging
loyalist he added the atrocity of a malignant fiend. We have the most
authentic testimony, that Nathaniel Bacon died of a dysentery,
contracted by his exposure in the trenches of Jamestown, at the house of
a Dr. Pate, in the county of Gloucester; and that the faithful Lawrence,
to screen his insensate clay from the rude vengeance of the Governor,
gave the young hero a grave in some unknown forest, where after life's
fitful fever he sleeps well.

The cause of freedom, having lost its head, fell a prey to discord and
defection. In the selection of a leader to succeed the gallant Bacon,
dissensions prevailed among the insurgents, and disgusted at last with
the trials to which they were exposed, and wearied with the continuance
of a civil war, the great mass of the people retired quietly to their
homes. Ingram and Walklate, who attempted to revive the smouldering
ashes of the rebellion, were the embodiments of frivolity and stupidity,
and were unable to retain that influence over the stern and high-toned
patriots which was essential to united action. Deprived of their
support, as may be easily conjectured, there was no longer any
difficulty in suppressing the ill-fated rebellion; and Walklate,
foreseeing the consequences of further resistance, resolved to make a
separate peace for himself and a few personal friends, and to leave his
more gallant comrades to their fate. The terms of treaty proposed by
Berkeley were dispatched by Captain Gardiner to the selfish leader, who,
with the broken remnant of the insurgents, was stationed at West Point.
He acceded to the terms with avidity, and thus put a final end to a
rebellion, which, even at that early day, was so near securing the
blessings of rational freedom to Virginia.

Meantime, the long expected aid from England had arrived, and Berkeley,
with an organized and reliable force at his command, prepared, with grim
satisfaction, to execute his terrible vengeance upon the proscribed and
fugitive insurgents. Major Beverley, at the head of a considerable
force, was dispatched in pursuit of such of the unhappy men as might
linger secreted in the woods and marshes near the river--and smaller
parties were detailed for the same object i