Williamsburg cannot be regarded as a true centre of either economic or intellectual activity. This lack of town life is pointed out by Commissary Blair, who informed the Bishop of London, "even when attempts have been made by the Assembly to erect towns they have been frustrated. Everyone wants the town near his own house, and the majority of the burgesses have never seen a town, and have no notion of any but a country life."[65] The lieutenant governors during the eighteenth century had not only to contend with the supineness of the settlers, but also with intercolonial discord. Thus Alexander Spotswood, in 1711, attempted to assist North Carolina against the Tuscarora Indians, but he received no support from either the Council or Assembly of Virginia. Five years later Spotswood was met with similar bickerings and squabbles when South Carolina was invaded by the Yamassees. In 1741 Oglethorpe begged assistance to protect the newly established Georgia; instead of sending their best we are told that his officer brought back "all the scum of Virginia."[66] The worst feature of Virginian life was the omnipresent and omnipotent slave system, but from the mere commercial aspect this was in favour of the colony at the time. The planters, however, were never ready to leave the colony for imperial purposes owing to the fear of a negro rising at home. This was one of the chief difficulties with which the Governor, Robert Dinwiddie, had to contend, during that trying period of French and Indian attack, which prepared the way for the Seven Years' war. With this period it is not proposed to deal now, but to leave it to a later chapter concerning the struggle between the French colonists in the north and west, and the English settlers upon the eastern seaboard during that period which is peculiarly connected with Britain's imperial story. FOOTNOTES: [31] Quoted by Professor Raleigh in Introduction to _Hakluyt's Voyages_ (ed. 1904), xii. p. 24. [32] _Hakluyt's Voyages_ (ed. 1904), vol. vii. p. 190. [33] _Hakluyt's Voyages_ (ed. 1904), vol. i. p. xviii. [34] Quoted by Doyle, _The English in America_, Virginia (1882), p. 145. [35] _American Historical Review_, vol. iv. No. 4, pp. 678-702. [36] Quoted by Doyle, _op. cit._, p. 147. [37] Doyle says 143 colonists; neither Percy nor Newport mention the exact number; Bradley, in his life of _Captain John Smith_, says 105. [38] _Cf._ footnote, Doyle, _op. cit._, p. 149. [39] Smith's Letter to the Virginia Company. [40] Quoted by Bradley, _Captain John Smith_ (1905), p. 144. [41] Force, _Tracts_ (1836-46), vol. i. [42] Gates, _A True Declaration of the Estate of the Colonie in Virginia_ (1610). [43] Force, _Tracts_ (1836-46), vol. iii. [44] Sir Thomas Dale was Governor 1611 and 1614 to 1616. Sir Thomas Gates as Governor organised the colony 1611 to 1614. See _Dictionary of National Biography_, xxi. p. 64. [45] Hamor, _A True Discourse of the Present Estate of Virginia_ (ed. 1860).