LORD CULPEPER'S LETTERS.

[We submit here the copies of Two Letters from Thomas, Lord Culpeper, sometime Governor of Virginia, written from this country to his sister in England, in the year 1680, which we mentioned in our last number as having been communicated by the Hon. Charles Wykeham Martin, of Leeds Castle, M. P to Conway Robinson, Esq., the Chairinan of the Executive Committee of our Virginia Historical Society, who has obligingly handed them over to us for publication in our work. We are sure our readers will peruse them with some interest--especially from their association with the history of our State. It is true they are dated from Boston; to which place, it seems, the writer had repaired (rather strangely for the time,) on his way from Jamestown to London; and relate mainly to matters and things thereabouts, and the perils of his recent voyage which had like to have cost him his life; but they refer also-or the first of them does-to his late residence and administration in Virginia, and the last pays a compliment to our country, at that early period, in comparison with Old England, which we can all readily appropriate and enjoy.]

Copy of a Letter from Lord Culpepper to his Sister.

BOSTON IN NEW ENGLAND, 20th September, 1680.

"Dear Sister-I suppose it will not be unacceptable to you to heare from me and therefore I write this note only to let you know that I am here But that both myself and all with me are perfectly well, And that on the 10th day of August that I left Virginia every Individuall person that came over with me in the Oxford (Soldiers as well as Servants) were so too, except only Mr. Jones, who had been very sick of the Seasoning (though occasioned first by drinking) but was on the mending hand alsoe. Those with me are John Polyn, the Cooke, the Page, the great

Footman and the little one that embroiders. I was received here with all the militia, viz: (Twelve companies) in armes and have been highly treated beyond my expectation or Desert. I am lodged to my wish, and find no difference between this place and Old England but onely want of company. I have not been sick one day since I saw you (which was more than I could say last Summer) nor once taken any kind of physick, but for prevention of Acute diseases have been twice Let Blood, and now and then fasted at night. The Last time of my bleeding was here on the 10th instant which I shall remember a good while, for goeing out some time after though I was very well let blood, yet my arme being ill tyed, the orifice burst out bleeding afresh which I did not soe soone perceive but that I lost at least 7 or 8 ounces of blood before I could have help to remedy it, but I verily believe It will prove to be better for me. Besides this small Accident, I have had nothing memorable during my whole voyage but the great danger I escaped on the 22nd of August (being Sunday) about 2 in the morning in coming hither that our Shippe ran aground in unknown shoales with a fresh gust of wind, and lay beating two or three houres in a night as Darke as pitch five miles from any land, and every minute or rather knock, expecting our last Doome, and that shee would bulge and break in pieces, but wee being on the Tayle of the sand and Deepe water to the Leeward of us, the strength of the wind made us beat it over, and when wee absolutely dispaired of any helpe but our long boat which could hardly have lived with six persons in that rough sea, when we were foure and Twenty, we found ourselves aflote again miraculously I think verily. The owner of the shippe was Mr. Jarvis (that married our Cousin Nat Bacon the Rebel's widow) and the name the Betty, being her Xtian name. He and John Polien were almost out of their wits, and I

conclude my Direction under God Almighty, was our preservation. I was resolved to stay noe longer abord but made myselfe bee set ashore next morning (though on an unknown shore and not without some danger of drowning alsoe) with J. Polyn and the Cooke, each of us with a gun, which prooved to be 130 or 140 miles from hence. That day we walked in the woods amongst wild Beasts and more Savage Indians at least 20 miles when expecting to lye in the woods or worse, wee met an Englishman who brought us to his cottage, and the next morning shewed us the way to Sandwich (a small English village in this country) where wee were furnished with Horses and a Guide that with much adoe through uncouth places brought us hither at last, but our shippe (in which was all my plate, goods and Furniture to a considerable value for which I would then have taken £10) did not arrive here till 10 dayes after us.

I am now to informe you that notwithstanding my going lagge of all after my Lord Carlisle and all other Governors have failed, I have successfully performed all the King commanded and expected and that alsoe to the entire satisfaction of the country (a thing very rare now a dayes) as I doubt not ere this you have heard from other hands which I had much rather you should on this subject than from mine. This is the cause that I cannot for the present give you soe good an account of my own private concerns, which always gave place to the publick and yet I doubt not but I shall far exceed all that I ever told you, If I can get home safe from stormes and Argerines this yeare, And next yeare if I live, it will I doubt not double upon mee, notwithstanding all wishes and Indeavours to the contrary. In relation to Relacons I am of the same mind I alwayes was of from the very first and Just as when you left me in the Downes to a Tittle. I know not how things have hap

ened during my absence by the Ill management of others, but at my return you shall find that I will forever knock downe the unjust pretences of those that love to fish in troubled waters, and settle every thing to my mind, and if in the meantime the thing hath fallen, I shall be very glad of it. My designe is to returne this winter to England and that in soe few dayes after the vessel whose master brings thither this, that I may very probably be at home before this comes to your hands. But if you doe not heare of mee by the 20th November, you may conclude something extraordinary has befallen mee."

The remainder relates to family and pecuniary matters. Lord C. subscribes himself thus "And in all things you shall alwayes find me to be your affectionate brother and assured Friend, T. C."

"I have not had a line or word from any body since I left England, but from Whitehall I have given Mr. Kempe a good office on my Lady Brookes account who I hope is still living. I think to set sayle in the James on Mich's Day."

From the Same to the Same.

BOSTON, OCTOBER 5TH, 1680.

Since I writte the last I have seen the Master of a vessell that came from Ireland the 6th August in whose shippe came a passenger that saw Mrs. Hamilton and Mr. Philippe at London: derry and Mount Capell some few days before who was uppon her Returne for England again. You will receive this by the good shippe the Edward and Anne of this towne of Boston, one Walley, Master who sets out with me on the 7th. God send us a good voyage for the winds and seas will rage, and yet the Argerines are

as dangerons to the Full. I have taken all the care that man can doe, but 'tis God Almighty that only can give a blessing and Successe to my Indeavours: If I returne in safety, I doubt not of giving a good account both as to the Publick, as well as private, but especially the first. I am exceeding well in health never better in my Life, but this Rough season and Rougher Argerines doe almost frighten me. If a six clerckes place be not fallen by this time, I shall think they are bewitched. I hear the Parl't sits in November, and I very much desire to be at it. I intend to returne shortly into these parts again, for I think in my conscience the country and climate is better than old England.

My Lady Berkely is married to Mr. Ludwell and thinkes noe more of our world. I shall now marry Cate* as soone as I can, and then shall reckon myselfe to be a Freeman without clogge or charge. Once more adiew. God send us a good meeting. I am unalterably

Yours,

T. CLP'R.

* Afterwards Catherine Lady Fairfax.

DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

Oh, Man! thou image of thy Maker's good,

What canst thou fear, when breath'd into thy blood;
His Spirit is that built thee? What dull sense
Makes thee suspect, in need, that Providence

Who made the morning, and who placed the light,
Guide to thy labors; who called up the night,

And bid her fall upon thee like sweet showers

In hollow murmurs to lock up thy powers.-Fletcher.