Professor John Fiske delivered the third of his series of lectures on the early history of the southern colonies in Sanders Theatre last evening. Taking as his special topic "The Beginnings of a Commonwealth," he outlined in a graphic manner the early progress of the colony of Virginia.

When Lord Delaware, the newly appointed governor, arrived in 1610, he found affairs in a wretched condition, due to three causes: The lack of a strong government: the communistic system; and the general bad character of the people. Improvement began at once, although it was necessarily slow. To provide the much-needed food Somers went with Argall to Bermuda. Somers himself died and his crew, disobeying his orders to return to Virginia, set sail for England. Argall, however, procured food from the Indians on the Potomac. In March, 1611, Delaware sailed for England, leaving George Percy in charge of affairs.

His mild rule-in itself an injurious thing to the shiftless settlers-was replaced by the stern government of Sir Thomas Dale. Under his guidance real properity began. With statesmanlike insight he struck at the great evil-the communistic system, which had been fostering the lazy in idleness. Every colonist was now made a small independent landholder. New and desirable immigrants began to arrive and the colony extended its limits. A very harsh code of laws was put into force. To the upright, Dale was a friend and helper; toward the depraved he was merciless. An alliance with the Indians was cemented by the romantic union of the princess Pocahontas and the young Englishman, John Rolfe.

In 1616 George Yardly succeeded Dale as deputy governor, but he held office only a year, being succeeded by Argall in 1617. John Rolfe was appointed secretary. Argall, arrived in Virginia, found well under way the development of a new industry-tobacco-growing. As the great purchasing power of tobacco came to be known, people began to devote themselves more and more to its production, to the neglect of other industries. This brought to the colony people of business qualities and the character and fortunes of all began steadily to improve.

The third charter, granted to the London Company in 1612, provided for weekly meetings of the company and four courts of quarter-session every year, and in this way the company was made a democratic, self-governing body.

Dissensions soon arose in the company itself. Argall in 1618 was removed and Deleware was appointed in his place. On the way to Virginia, however, the latter died; and Argall, hearing of his prospective arrest, acted worse than ever, All the ills were charged to Sir Thomas Smith, the treasurer of the company, and in April, 1619, Sir Edwin Sandys was chosen in his stead. Affairs under him were administered with a statesmanship and fairness hitherto unknown. Yardley was made governor of Virginia.

But the greatest outcome of this strife against royalty in the Company was the introduction the same year of parliamentary government into Virginia. Yardly issued writs calling for elections, and the first general assembly met, each of the eleven boroughs sending two burgesses.