VIRGINIA CARTOGRAPHY. 21 



In June, 1608, Captain Francis Nelson, commanding the 

 Phoenix, left Virginia to return to England, and arrived there 

 early in July of the same year. This voyage is memorable for 

 the precious cargo on board the ship of Capt. Smith's first 

 account of the doings in Virginia. 



The Relation was entered at Stationer's Hall, London, August 

 13, 1608, under the following title, which differs from the printed 

 one, as it mentions Nelson's name: 



" A true relation of such occurrences and accidents of note 

 as have happened in Virginia synce the first planting of that 

 Colonye which is nowe resident in the south parte of Virginia 

 till master Nelson's comminge away froin them, etc." 



The title of the printed book reads in this way: 



" A Trve relation of such occurrences and accidents of noate 

 as hath hapned in Virginia since the first planting of that Col- 

 lony, which is now resident in the South part thereof till the last 

 returne from thence. 40 pp. 4°. London, 1608." 



The printed title conveys no idea to the ordinary reader as to 

 when this Relation was sent from Virginia, but the title as entered 

 at Stationer's Hall fixes the time without doubt. 



This relation narrates the history of the colony from the 

 arrival at Chesapeake Bay, April 21, 1607, to June 2, 1608. 



We find no information in it regarding the map, and therefore 

 infer th.at it was made after the sailing of Nelson in June, 1608, 

 during Smith's three months' exploration of the Chesapeake. 



Smith wrote a letter " To the Treasurer and Councell of Vir- 

 ginia," and in it he says: " I have sent you this mappe of the Bay 

 and Rivers, with an annexed Relation of the Countries and 

 Nations that inhabit them, as you may see at large." This 

 letter was not published until sixteen years after, in his " The 

 Generall Historic of Virginia, New England, etc. 3d book, 

 1624." 



Li this letter Smith mentions the appointment of Winne and 

 Waldo to the Council, the coronation of Powhatan, the arrival 

 of Newport, and other matters occurring at that time; so it must 

 have been written on his return to Jamestown after his explora- 

 tion of the Chesapeake, September 7, 1608, and a short while 

 after being confirmed as President by the Council, September 

 10, 1608. 



