CHAP. 222.—-An ACT to create a commission to have painted and hung in the
Capitol at Richmond a large oil painting of the ships ‘Sarah Constant’, “Good-
speed”, and “Discovery”, and to appropriate funds to carry out the provisions
of this act. [SB 32]

Approved March 25, 1946

Whereas, on December twenty-six, sixteen hundred six, there sailed
rom Blackwall, below London, England, under the command of Admiral
Newport, the ships “Sarah Constant”, “Goodspeed” and ‘“Discovery’’,
vhich ships after a stormy passage across the Atlantic lasting more than
our months, sailed into Chesapeake Bay on April twenty-six, sixteen
undred seven, bringing one hundred and fifty pioneers who settled
amestown in Virginia, and thus established the first permanent English
ettlement in the Western Hemisphere; and

Whereas, it is meet and proper that the Commonwealth of Virginia,
ne State where these venturesome ships and their intrepid commander
rst touched land in the New World, should by appropriate action
ecoegnize the historical significance of such event which was the real be-
irining and founding of the United States of America; and
Whereas, it is peculiarly fitting that the General Assembly of Vir-
ginia, the oldest law-making body in America and the successor of the
House of Burgesses and the Governor’s Council which were established
at Jamestown in sixteen hundred seven, should take appropriate steps to
perpetuate the valor and courage of Admiral Newport and his brave men,
and to impress upon the citizens of Virginia and of the United States
a knowledge of the splendid achievement of the good ships “Sarah Con-
stant”, “Goodspeed” and “Discovery” ; and

Whereas, it is of the utmost importance that the school children of
America, and particularly those of the State of Virginia, be given an ac-
curate knowledge and a. full appreciation of the momentous events which
contributed to the founding of our nation, so many of which events oc-
curred within the boundaries of this Commonwealth; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

Section 1. There is hereby created a commission, to be known as
the Virginia’s First Settlers Commission, to consist of one member of
the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one member of the
House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates,
and one member appointed by the Governor from the State at large.
The commission shall elect one of its members as chairman.

Section 2. The commission shall engage the services of a competent
marine artist to paint, in such manner and of such size as it shall deem
suitable and appropriate, a large oil painting of the ships “Sarah Con-
stant”, “Goodspeed” and “‘Discovery’’. Upon the completion of the paint-
ing it shall, with the approval of the Art Commission, be hung in a
conspicuous place in the Capitol at Richmond, where it may be viewed by
all persons interested in the history of the Commonwealth and of the
nation. Copies of the painting, together with a brief account of the his-
toric voyage of these little ships, shall be made available for use in the
public schools of the State, and fer purchase by interested individuals
and organizations.

Section 3. In order to carry out the purposes of this act there is
hereby appropriated to the commission, out of the general fund in the
State treasury, a sui sufficient, not to exceed seven thousand five hun-
dred dollars. Payments out of this appropriation shall be made by the
Treasurer of Virginia on warrants of the Comptroller issued on vouchers
signed by the chairman of the commission or by such other person as
may be designated by the commission for the purpose.