[112] Voyages dans l'Amérique Septentrionale, Tome II, p. 128. [113] Va. Maga. of Hist. and Biog., Vol. VI, p. 347. [114] Meade, Vol. II, p. 331. [115] Va. Maga. of Hist. and Biog., Vol. IX, p. 82. [116] Fithian, Journal and Letters, p. 251. [117] Va. Maga. of Hist. and Biog., Vol. VI, p. 350. [118] Fithian, Journal and Letters, p. 148. [119] Wm. & Mary Quar., Vol. I, p. 123; Vol. II, p. 121. [120] Jones' Virginia. [121] Va. Maga. of Hist. and Biog. Vol. VIII, p. 334. [122] Fithian, Journals and Letters, p. 58. [123] Ibid., p. 75. [124] Bruce, Soc. Life in Va., p. 164. [125] Fithian, Journal and Letters, p. 113. [126] Va. Maga. of Hist. and Biog. Vol. VIII. [127] Wm. & Mary Quar. Vol. II, p. 247, 248. [128] Wm. & Mary Quar. Vol. II, p. 172. [129] Bruce, Econ. Hist. of Va. Vol. II, p. 175; Soc. Life of Va. p. 164. [130] Bruce, Soc. Life of Va., pp. 181-185. [131] Jones' Va. [132] Fithian, Journal and Letters, p. 63. [133] Ibid., pp. 94-97. [134] Fithian, Journal and Letters, pp. 59 and 83. [135] Ibid., p. 77. [136] Ibid., pp. 83 and 90. [137] Bassett, Writings of Wm. Byrd., Intro. XXV. [138] Anbury, Vol. II, p. 329. PART TWO THE MIDDLE CLASS Like the aristocracy the middle class in Virginia developed within the colony. It originated from free families of immigrants of humble means and origin, and from servants that had served their term of indenture, and its character was the result of climatic, economic, social and political conditions. There is no more interesting chapter in the history of Virginia than the development of an intelligent and vigorous middle class out of the host of lowly immigrants that came to the colony in the 17th century. Splendid natural opportunities, the law of the survival of the fittest, and a government in which a representative legislature took an important part coöperated to elevate them. For many years after the founding of Jamestown the middle class was so small and was so lacking in intelligence that it could exercise but little influence in governmental affairs, and the governors and the large planters ruled the colony almost at will. During the last years of the 17th century it had grown in numbers, had acquired something of culture and had been drilled so effectively in political affairs that it could no longer be disregarded by governors and aristocracy.