Chapter VI: Part IV

_Of Authors concerning_ Virginia, _and its publick Officers, Guard-Ships, and the State of_ Maryland _and_ North Carolina. _The Conclusion._

In the _Miscellanea Curiosa_ is publish'd Mr. _Clayton_'s fine _Description of Virginia_, and _Col. Robert Beverley_ has wrote a good _History_ of it; but neither is so particular as this, as to its present Condition; so that as they are Supplements to _Captain Smith's History_, this may be an _Abridgment and Appendix_ to them _all_.

True Accounts of this Country are difficult to be had; for they that have lived there any Time in any Repute and Business, seldom come to settle in _England_; and the Sailors for the greatest Part can give no more true Relations of the Nature of the Country, than a _Country Carrier_ can write a Description of _London_, and relate the _Politicks of Court_, and _Proceedings of Parliament_; for they see and know but little of the Matter, and that the very worst.

Others, by Reason of their short Stay, or for want either of Opportunity, Learning, or Capacity, can neither make right Remarks and correct Observations, nor describe Things in their proper Colours and true Lustre; and moreover some are prevailed upon through Interest, Prejudice, Spite, or Fancy, to conceal or misrepresent Things: Besides, they that have been there formerly know little, but the very worst of the _present State_ of the Country.

The Laws of that Plantation are collected into a Body and published; and whatever (of any Moment and worth Notice) is not mentioned in this Treatise, or in the Books aforementioned, must be supposed to correspond exactly with the Customs and Things in _Great Britain_, particularly in and about _London_; from all which any one that is either obliged or inclin'd may have sufficient Accounts of the large, increasing, flourishing, and _happy Colony of Virginia_.

The present Governor is the Right Honourable the Earl of _Orkney_, whose Lieutenant Governor is _Hugh Drysdale_, Esq;

The Council are these Twelve.

_Edmund Jennings_, Esq; President.
The Rev. Mr. _James Blair_.
_Robert Carter_, }
_William Bird_, }
_Philip Ludwell_, }
_John Lewis_, }
_John Harrison_, }
_Mann Page_, } Esquires.
_Cole Digges_, }
_Peter Beverley_, }
_John Robinson_, }
_John Carter_, }

The Secretary is _John Carter_, }
The Attorney-General is _John Clayton_, } Esquires.
The Receiver General is _John Graham_, }
The Auditor is _John Harrison_, }

_The best List that I can collect or form of the Officers of the Customs, is this._

_l._

{ Mr. _John Banister_, Collector, } 40
{ Upper { supplied by Col. _William_ }
{ District. { _Randolph_
_James { { Col. _Francis Lightfoot_, Surveyor } --
River._ {
{ Lower { Mr. _Thomas Mitchel_, Collector } 100
{ District. {
{ { Mr. ---- _Irvin_, Surveyor } --

_Elizabeth River_ ________ Surveyor ________ 45

_York { Mr. _John Ambler_, Collector 40
River._ { Mr. _William Robertson_, Surveyor --

_Rappahannock { Sir _William Johnson_, or Mr. } 80
River._ { _Richard Chichister_, Collector }
{ Mr. _Christopher Robinson_, Surveyor --

_South Potowmack_ ________ Collector ________ 80

_Cape Charles._ Mr. _Griffith Bowen_, Surveyor 100

_Accomack_ and { Mr. _Henry Scarburgh_, } 50
_Northampton_ { Collector }
Counties.

These have some considerable Perquisites besides their Salaries; for which they give Attendance and perform their Duty after the same Manner as the Officers in the Rivers and Ports do in _Great Britain_.

To guard the Coasts from the Ravages of Pyrates, Men of War are frequently stationed there; but they are not at all under the Direction of the Governor upon Emergencies, tho' he be titular Admiral of those Seas; but had he some Command over Men of War, 'tis thought it might be of great Service to the Country, and Security and Advantage to the Merchants and others.

_Maryland_ in most Respects in an inferior Degree agrees with _Virginia_, only their Laws and some Customs are particular; and tho' the _Church of England_ be the established Church there, and handsom Provision be made for the Clergy, yet they have many _Papists_, and several Dissenters; which last may be supposed to be encouraged thro' _Jesuitical_ Views to distract and subvert the _Church of England_.

As for _North Carolina_ it is vastly inferior, its Trade is smaller, and its Inhabitants thinner, and for the most Part poorer than _Virginia_; neither is their Government extraordinary, tho' they have some good Laws, and there is some good Living in this large Country, in which is Plenty of good Provision.

As for Churches there are but very few; and I knew of but one Minister in the whole Government, and he (for what Reasons I know not) had no great Faculty of influencing the People, and is lately removed thence; so that much Religion cannot be expected among a Collection of such People as fly thither from other Places for Safety and Livelihood, left to their own Liberty without Restraint or Instruction.

Many there have I (with Sorrow) seen ten or fifteen Years old, who have never had the Opportunity of Baptism, which they joyfully receive.

_Col. Frederick Jones_, one of the _Council_, and in a good Post, and of a good Estate in _North Carolina_, before his Death applied to me, desiring me to communicate the deplorable State of their Church to the _late Bishop of London_; assuring me that if the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts would contribute and direct them, the Government there would join in establishing by Law such Maintenance as might be sufficient for some Clergymen to settle among them.

I acted according to his Request, but never heard of the Event of this Application.

For Want of Clergy the Justices of the Peace _marry_, and other Laymen perform the _Office of Burial_.

The common _nominal Christians_ live there not much better than _Heathens_; the pious Endeavours of the Society having been frequently disappointed either by their not having full Knowledge of the Country and People (and so pursue not the most proper Methods) or else because they have had the Misfortune sometimes to pitch upon Persons, that have not answered the End of their Calling and Mission.

By these Means the State of the Church in _North Carolina_ is very miserable; which is of greatest Moment, and requires the most charitable Direction and Christian Assistance; not only for the Conversion of the _Indians_ and _Baptism of Negroes_ there, but for the Christening and Recovery to the Practical Profession of the Gospel great Numbers of _English_, that have but the _bare Name_ of God and Christ; and that too frequently in nothing but vain Swearing, Cursing, and Imprecations.

May all these vast Countries grow in Grace, and encrease in spiritual Blessings, and temporal Prosperity.

May all the _Ends of the World_ see and pursue rightly the _Salvation of God_, and know and believe that there is _none other Name given under Heaven, by and thro' whom they may be saved, but only the Name of Jesus Christ_.

May God's Kingdom be established in the true Church _in America_, as well as _England_; and may it be truly said, _blessed be the Lord God of_ Shem; for his is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever. _Amen._