VIRGINIA: THE OLD DOMINION As seen from its Colonial waterway, the Historic River James, whose every succeeding turn reveals country replete with monuments and scenes recalling the march of history and its figures from the days of Captain John Smith to the present time. By FRANK AND CORTELLE HUTCHINS With a map, and fifty-four plates, of which six are in full color, from photographs by the authors. 1910 [Illustration: The Portico of Brandon, from the Garden. (See page 119)] TO THE HONOURABLE FRANCIS E. HUTCHINS, THE FATHER OF ONE AUTHOR, THE MORE THAN FATHER-IN-LAW OF THE OTHER, AND THE EVER-STAUNCH FRIEND OF GADABOUT, THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. This volume was formerly published under the title, "Houseboating on a Colonial Waterway"; but its appropriateness for inclusion in the "See America First Series" to represent the State of Virginia is so obvious that the publishers have, in this new edition, changed the title to "Virginia: The Old Dominion," and reissued the book in a new dress, generally uniform with the other volumes in the series. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. ALL ABOUT GADABOUT II. OUR FIRST RUN AND A COZY HARBOUR III. LAND, HO! OUR COUNTRY'S BIRTHPLACE IV. A RUN AROUND JAMESTOWN ISLAND V. FANCIES AFLOAT AND RUINS ASHORE VI. IN THE OLD CHURCHYARD VII. SEEING WHERE THINGS HAPPENED VIII. PIONEER VILLAGE LIFE IX. GOOD-BYE TO OLD JAMES TOWNE X. A SHORT SAIL AND AN OLD ROMANCE XI. AT THE PIER MARKED "BRANDON" XII. HARBOUR DAYS AND A FOGGY NIGHT XIII. OLD SILVER, OLD PAPERS, AND AN OLD COURT GOWN XIV. A ONE-ENGINE RUN AND A FOREST TOMB XV. NAVIGATING AN UNNAVIGABLE STREAM XVI. IN WHICH WE GET TO WEYANOKE XVII. ACROSS RIVER TO FLEUR DE HUNDRED XVIII. GADABOUT GOES TO CHURCH XIX. WESTOVER, THE HOME OF A COLONIAL BELLE XX. AN OLD COURTYARD AND A SUN-DIAL XXI. AN UNDERGROUND MYSTERY AND A DUCKING-STOOL XXII. A BAD START AND A VIEW OF BERKELEY XXIII. THE RIGHT WAY TO GO TO SHIRLEY XXIV. FROM CREEK HARBOUR TO COLONIAL RECEPTION XXV. AN INCONGRUOUS BIT OF HOUSEBOATING. XXVI. THE END OF THE VOYAGE INDEX LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THE PORTICO OF BRANDON, FROM THE GARDEN (In full color) (See page 119) Frontispiece MAP OF THE JAMES RIVER FROM RICHMOND TO ITS MOUTH THE HOUSEBOAT GADABOUT IN THE FORWARD CABIN.--LOOKING AFT FROM THE FORWARD CABIN ALONG THE SHORE OF CHUCKATUCK CREEK (In full color) "JUST THE WILD BEAUTY OF THE SHORES, THE NOBLE EXPANSE OF THE STREAM, ... AND GADABOUT" JAMESTOWN ISLAND FROM THE RIVER (In full color) IN BACK RIVER.--THE BEACH AT JAMESTOWN ISLAND WHARF SIGN AT JAMESTOWN ISLAND.--THE "LONE CYPRESS" THE BRIDGE ACROSS BACK RIVER.--THE ROAD ACROSS THE ISLAND THE RUINED TOWER OF THE OLD VILLAGE CHURCH A CORNER IN THE OLD GRAVEYARD (In full color) VIEW FROM THE CONFEDERATE FORT.--LOOKING TOWARD THE FIRST LANDING-PLACE LOCATING WHAT IS LEFT OF THE SITE OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT