THE KING AND THE COMPANY.

Professor John Fiske delivered the fourth of his series of lectures on the early history of the southern colonies last evening in Sanders Theatre. He traced the growing hostility of the king to the London Company resulting in the final overthrow of the charter of that corporation.

From the very first the Spanish had looked with jealous eyes on the colony, and at one time war between England and Spain seemed unavoidable. Spain's hostility was averted, however, by the betrothal of the young Charles to the Spanish Infanta. From this time King James came completely under the control of the Spanish ambassador, Gondomar, and it was by his advice that James let seven years pass without calling Parliament together. The popular discontent with the royal policy found constant embodiment in the discussions at the meetings of the Company.

With the election of Sandys as treasurer of the Company, the royal hostility grew apace. At the very next election, when he forbade Sandy's re-election, his interference was repaid by the election of the Earl of Southampton. The king's deadly jealousy now found ready allies in Sir Thomas Smith and his friends in the Company hostile to Sandy and Southampton. When in 1621 the king summoned Parliament, the members of the Company belonging to that body succeeded in defeating his cherished plans.

Mutual recriminations were exchanged between the court and the popular parties; until finally in 1623 a formal complaint, embodying charges of a serious nature, was laid before the Privy Council. A masterly reply, drawn up by Sandys, Cavendish and Ferrar, was made to these charges, but the Privy Council refused it consideration. In vain did the king try to bring evidence damaging to the Company. The settlers themselves were entirely satisfied. Bribes were tried, but unsuccessfully.

In July, 1623, the Attorney General made a report, in which he said that the king should assume the entire government of the colony. A writ of "quo warranto" was entered against the company in the Court of the King's Bench. A last appeal to Parliament was laid on the table by order of the king. The case of "quo warranto" was argued, and on June 16, 1624, the Chief Justice declared the Company's Charter null and void. Ferrar, before surrendering the records of the company had copies of them made, which are now in the possession of the Unsted States government. The originals were probably destroyed by the Privy Council.