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92.

The Soissonnois and Saintonge regiments as well as von Lauzon's Volunteer Corps stayed in York and Gloucester. The Bourbonnois and Royal Deux-Ponts Regiments had their winter quarters in Williamsburg and Jamestawn, 12 miles from York. Some of the gunners stayed in Williamsburg, the rest went to Westpoint, a few miles from Williamsburg. Concerning Jamestawn, it is a small burg, one of the oldest burgs in America[214]; before it was a beautiful trading town, now it is in complete ruin, but on the drawing one can see that it was formerly a major city[215]; it is located 6 miles from Williamsburg.

Das Regiment Soissonois und St Tonge nebst dem Frey- Kohr von Lauzun blieben in Yorck und Gloßester. Das Regiment Bourbonois und R[oy]al Deuxponts wurden in Wiliamsburg und Jamestaun einquartiert 12 Meilen von Yorck. Die Canoniers blieben im Theil zu Wiliamsburg, das ander theil nach West point etliche Meilen von Wiliamsburg : Was Jamestawnanbelangt ist ein kleines Ort, und eines der ältesten Örter in America und vor Zeiten ein schöne Handelsstadt gewessen, jetzt aber gantz rujeniert, doch zum Zeichen aber kan man nachsehen daß es vor Zeiten ein grose Stadt gewessen ist und liegt 6 Meilen von Wiliamsburg.

This town of Williamsburg is located on a plain, in a beautiful region, and it is rather large. It is also embellished with a few beautiful edifices, namely: the college with 2 beautiful annexes, as well as the Capitol, parallel to the college, on the other side of the town. Moreover, there is the residence of the viceroy who resided here at the time when the town was English, as well as the mental asylum[216], a great edifice, and a beautiful bell tower etc.

Diese Stadt Wiliamsburg liegt auf der Ebenen in einer schönen Gegend auch ist sie von einer zimmlichen Grösse. Auch ist sie mit einigen schönen Gebäute gezieret welche seynd : das Colegium mit 2 schönen Nebengebäute. Wiedrum ist das Capitalorium welches paralell gegen dem Colegium ander-seits der Stadt steht. Weiters ist das Gebäute des Vitzen- König welcher alda ressentirte da es noch engellisch ware wiedrum ist das Doll-Hauß sic = Zoll-Haus ?auch ein schönes groses Gebäute nebst auch einem schönen Kirchthurn etc.

Another curiosity can be found at the Capitol; it is the life-size statue, in marble white as snow, of the former viceroy. At the base of the statue is written, in gold letters on black marble, a name in English and Latin. It is also there, in that building, that he is buried. All these buildings can be seen on the same page, just like the region around Jamestawn.

Auch ist sehr merckwürdig der alte Vitzen-König in dem Capitlorium in Lebensgrösse zu sehen welcher in Marmor- Stein ausgehauen so weiß als der Schnee anzusehen ist. Unten an ihm ist ein Namen zu lessen mit goldnen Buchstaben geschrieben auf schwartzen Marmorstein in engellischer und lateinischer Sprache. Er liegt auch alda begraben in nemlichen Gebäute. Welche Gebäute auf dem nemlichen Blatt zu sehen seynd, wie auch die Gegend von Jamestawn.

https://gallica.bnf.fr/iiif/ark:/12148/btv1b10110846m/f67/pct:0,0,50,100/,700/0/native.jpg

Strasbourg, Médiathèque André Malraux, ms f 15, p. 132.

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 Notes

214. Jamestown is not only one of the oldest “burgs” in America, but in particular the first one successfully established by England (the previous attempts, notably in 1585, having failed). Founded on May 14, 1607, “James Fort” was thus named in honor of the King of England James I. The colony of Jamestown had a difficult beginning due to logistic difficulties and worsening relations with the Powhatan Indians. But the colony survived, supported by relatively regular convoys from England. It was the capital of the colony of Virginia until 1699, when it was moved farther inland (about 20 km) to Williamsburg. The town deteriorated after this event.
215. The drawing in question represents a small village of about ten dwellings, surrounded by waterways. More scattered dwellings take up the rest of the drawing, decorated with trees and small warthogs moving about. What are the elements indicating its past as a “beautiful trading city”? The sparse housing perhaps suggests the remains of a great town that was abandoned. As for the presence of wild animals, it indicates that this abandoned site has been reclaimed by wildlife. This drawing is, on the other hand, very uncluttered when compared with the others made by Flohr to accompany his text.
216.Doll-Haus in the original German text. Toll means crazy in German. Unless it is an error in the transcription and it should be Zoll-Haus: customs. Doll could also be from the English. Could it then be a doll factory? In the text the word clearly reads Doll.