The Present State of Virginia Part 5

The Oak, _&c._ is of quick Growth, consequently will not last so long as ours; though it has a good _Grain_, and is freer from Knots, and will last long enough for Shipping, and ordinary Uses.

When a _Tract of Land is seated_, they _clear_ it by felling the Trees about a Yard from the Ground, lest they should shoot again. What Wood they have Occasion for they carry off, and burn the rest, or let it lie and rot upon the Ground.

The Land between the Logs and Stumps they _how_ up, planting _Tobacco_ there in the Spring, inclosing it with a slight _Fence_ of cleft Rails.

This will last for _Tobacco_ some Years, if the Land be good; as it is where _fine Timber_, or _Grape Vines_ grow.

Land when tired is _forced_ to bear _Tobacco_ by penning their Cattle upon it; but _Cowpen Tobacco_ tastes strong, and that planted in wet marshy Land is called _Nonburning Tobacco_, which smoaks in the Pipe like Leather, unless it be of a good Age.

When Land is tired of _Tobacco_, it will bear _Indian Corn_ or _English Wheat_, or any other _European Grain_ or _Seed_, with wonderful Increase.

_Tobacco_ and _Indian Corn_ are planted in _Hills_ as Hops, and secured by _Wormfences_, which are made of Rails supporting one another very firmly in a particular Manner.

_Tobacco_ requires a great deal of Skill and Trouble in the right Management of it.

They raise the Plants in _Beds_, as we do Cabbage Plants; which they _transplant_ and _replant_ upon Occasion after a Shower of Rain, which they call a _Season_.

When it is grown up they _top_ it, or nip off the Head, _succour_ it, or cut off the Ground Leaves, _weed_ it, _hill_ it; and when ripe, they _cut_ it down about six or eight Leaves on a Stalk, which they carry into airy _Tobacco Houses_; after it is withered a little in the Sun, there it is hung to dry on _Sticks_, as Paper at the Paper-Mills; when it is in proper Case, (as they call it) and the Air neither too moist, nor too dry, they _strike_ it, or take it down, then cover it up in _Bulk_, or a great Heap, where it lies till they have Leisure or Occasion to _stem_ it (that is pull the Leaves from the Stalk) or _strip_ it (that is take out the great Fibres) and _tie_ it up in _Hands_, or _streight lay it_; and so by Degrees _prize_ or press it with proper Engines into great Hogsheads, containing from about six to eleven hundred Pounds; four of which Hogsheads make a _Tun_, by Dimension, not by Weight; then it is ready for Sale or Shipping.

There are two Sorts of _Tobacco_, viz. _Oroonoko_ the stronger, and _Sweetscented_ the milder; the first with a sharper Leaf like a Fox's Ear, and the other rounder and with finer Fibres: But each of these are varied into several Sorts, much as Apples and Pears are; and I have been informed by the _Indian Traders_, that the _Inland Indians_ have Sorts of _Tobacco_ much differing from any planted or used by the _Europeans_.

The _Indian Corn_ is planted in Hills, and weeded much as _Tobacco_.

This Grain is of great Increase and most general Use; for with this is made good _Bread_, _Cakes_, _Mush_, and _Hommony_ for the _Negroes_, which with good _Pork_ and _Potatoes_ (red and white, very nice and different from ours) with other _Roots_ and _Pulse_, are their general Food.

_Indian Corn_ is the best Food for _Cattle_, _Hogs_, _Sheep_ and _Horses_; and the _Blades_ and _Tops_ are excellent _Fodder_, when well cured, which is commonly used, though many raise good _Clover_ and _Oats_; and some have planted Sanfoin, _&c._

In the _Marshes_, and _Woods_, and _old Fields_ is good _Range_ for _Stock_ in the Spring, Summer, and Fall; and the _Hogs_ will run fat with certain Roots of Flags and _Reeds_, which abounding in the _Marshes_ they root up and eat.

Besides, at the _Plantations_ are standard _Peach-Trees_, and _Apple-Trees_, planted out in _Orchards_, on Purpose almost for the _Hogs_.

The _Peaches_ abound, and are of a delicious Taste, and _Apple-Trees_ are raised from the _Seeds_ very soon, which kind of Kernel Fruit needs no grafting, and is diversify'd into numberless Sorts, and makes, with good Management, an excellent _Cyder_, not much inferior to that of _Herefordshire_, when kept to a good Age; which is rarely done, the _Planters_ being good _Companions_ and _Guests_ whilst the _Cyder_ lasts. Here _Cherries_ thrive much better (I think) than in _England_; tho' the _Fruit-Trees_ soon decay, yet they are soon raised to great Perfection.

As for _Wool_, I have had near as good as any near _Leominster_; and it might be much improved if the _Sheep_ were housed every Night, and foddered and littered as in _Urchinfield_, where they have by such Means the finest _Wool_; but to do this, would be of little Use, since it is contrary to the Interest of _Great Britain_ to allow them Exportation of their Woollen Manufactures; and what little Woollen is there made might be nearly had as cheap, and better from _England_.

As for _Provision_, there is Variety of excellent _Fish_ in great Plenty easily taken; especially _Oysters_, _Sheepsheads_, _Rocks_, _large Trouts_, _Crabs_, _Drums_, _Sturgeons_, &c.

They have the same tame Fowl as in _England_, only they propagate better; but they exceed in _wild Geese_ and _Ducks_, _Cohoncks_, _Blew-Wings_, _Teal_, _Blew-Wings_, _Teal_, _Swans_, and _Mallard_.

Their _Beef_ and _Veal_ is small, sweet, and fat enough; their _Pork_ is famous, whole _Virginia Shoots_ being frequently _barbacued_ in _England_; their _Bacon_ is excellent, the _Hams_ being scarce to be distinguished from those of _Westphalia_; but their _Mutton_ and _Lamb_ some Folks don't like, though others extol it. Their _b.u.t.ter_ is good and plentiful enough. Their _Venison_ in the lower Parts of the Country is not so plentiful as it has been, tho' there be enough and tolerably good; but in the _Frontier Counties_ they abound with _Venison_, _wild Turkies_, &c. where the common People sometimes dress _Bears_, whose Flesh, they say, is not to be well distinguished from good _Pork_ or _Bacon_.

They pull the _Down_ of their living _Geese_ and wild and tame _Ducks_, wherewith they make the softest and sweetest _Beds_.

The _Houses_ stand sometimes two or three together; and in other Places a Quarter, half a Mile, or a Mile, or two, asunder, much as in the _Country_ in _England_.

CHAP. V.

_Of the_ Habits, Customs, Parts, Imployments, Trade, _&c. of the_ Virginians; _and of the Weather, Coin, Sickness, Liquors, Servants, Poor, Pitch, Tar, Oar_, &c.

The _Habits_, _Life_, _Customs_, _Computations_, &c. of the _Virginians_ are much the same as about _London_, which they esteem their _Home_; and for the most Part have contemptible Notions of _England_, and wrong Sentiments of _Bristol_, and the other _Out-Ports_, which they entertain from seeing and hearing the common Dealers, Sailors, and Servants that come from those Towns, and the Country Places in _England_ and _Scotland_, whose Language and Manners are strange to them; for the _Planters_, and even the _Native Negroes_ generally talk good _English_ without _Idiom_ or _Tone_, and can discourse handsomly upon _most_ common Subjects; and conversing with Persons belonging to Trade and Navigation from _London_, for the most Part they are much civilized, and wear the best of Cloaths according to their Station; nay, sometimes too good for their Circ.u.mstances, being for the Generality comely handsom Persons, of good Features and fine Complexions (if they take Care) of good Manners and Address. The Climate makes them bright, and of excellent Sense, and sharp in Trade, an Ideot, or deformed Native being almost a Miracle.

Thus they have good natural Notions, and will soon learn Arts and Sciences; but are generally diverted by Business or Inclination from profound Study, and prying into the Depth of Things; being ripe for Management of their Affairs, before they have laid so good a Foundation of Learning, and had such Instructions, and acquired such Accomplishments, as might be instilled into such good natural Capacities. Nevertheless thro' their quick Apprehension, they have a Sufficiency of Knowledge, and Fluency of Tongue, tho' their Learning for the most Part be but superficial.

They are more inclinable to read Men by Business and Conversation, than to dive into Books, and are for the most Part only desirous of learning what is absolutely necessary, in the shortest and best Method.

Having this Knowledge of their Capacities and Inclination from sufficient Experience, I have composed on Purpose some short Treatises adapted with my best Judgment to a Course of Education for the Gentlemen of the Plantations; consisting in a short _English Grammar_; an _Accidence to Christianity_; an _Accidence to the Mathematicks_, especially to _Arithmetick_ in all its Parts and Applications, _Algebra_, _Geometry_, _Surveying of Land_, and _Navigation_.

These are the most useful Branches of Learning for _them_, and such as they willingly and readily master, if taught in a plain and short Method, truly applicable to their _Genius_; which I have endeavoured to do, for the Use of _them_, and _all others_ of their Temper and Parts.

They are not very easily persuaded to the Improvement of useful Inventions (except a few, such as Sawing Mills) neither are they great Encouragers of Manufactures, because of the Trouble and certain Expence in Attempts of this kind, with uncertain Prospect of Gain; whereas by their staple Commodity, Tobacco, they are in hopes to get a plentiful Provision; nay, often very great Estates.

Upon this Account they think it Folly to take off their _Hands_ (or Negroes) and employ their Care and Time about any thing, that may make them lessen their Crop of Tobacco.

So that though they are apt to learn, yet they are fond of, and will follow their own Ways. Humours, and Notions, being not easily brought to new Projects and Schemes; so that I question, if they would have been imposed upon by the _Missisippi_ or _South-Sea_ or any other such monstrous Bubbles.

In their Computations of Time, Weights and Measures both of Length, Superficies, and Solidity, they strictly adhere to what is legal; not running into precarious Customs, as they do in _England_. Thus their Quart is the true _Winchester_, their Hundred is 100, not 112, and they survey Land by Statute Measure.

Indeed, what _English_ Coin is there, is advanced in Value; so that a Shilling pa.s.ses for 14 _d._ and a Guinea goes by Tale for 26 _s._ but the Current Money is the _Spanish_ which in Reality is about 15 _l. per Cent._ inferior to our _English_ Coin, as settled by Law; but frequently the Value of this varies in Respect of Sterling Bills according to the Circ.u.mstances of Trade; Currency and Sterling being sometimes at a _Par_; but for the Generality 10 _per Cent._ Discount is allowed for Sterling Bills.

As for Education several are sent to _England_ for it; though the _Virginians_ being naturally of good Parts, (as I have already hinted) neither require nor admire as much Learning, as we do in _Britain_: yet more would be sent over, were they not afraid of the Small-Pox, which most commonly proves fatal to them.

But indeed when they come to _England_ they are generally put to learn to Persons that know little of their Temper, who keep them drudging on in what is of least Use to them, in pedantick Methods, too tedious for their volatile Genius.

For _Grammar_ Learning taught after the common round-about Way is not much beneficial nor delightful to them; so that they are noted to be more apt to spoil their School-Fellows than improve themselves; because they are imprisoned and enslaved to what they hate, and think useless, and have not peculiar Management proper for their Humour and Occasion.

A civil Treatment with some Liberty, if permitted with Discretion is most proper for them, and they have most Need of, and readily take polite and mathematical Learning; and in _English_ may be conveyed to them (without going directly to _Rome_ and _Athens_) all the Arts, Sciences, and learned Accomplishments of the Ancients and Moderns, without the Fatigue and Expence of another Language, for which most of them have little Use or Necessity, since (without another) they may understand their own Speech; and all other Things requisite to be learn'd by them sooner and better.

Thus the Youth might as well be instructed there as here by proper Methods, without the Expence and Danger of coming hither; especially if they make Use of the great Advantage of the _College_ at _Williamsburgh_, where they may (and many do) imbibe the Principles of all human and divine Literature, both in _English_ and in the learned Languages.

By the happy Opportunity of this College may they be advanced to religious and learned Education, according to the Discipline and Doctrine of the established _Church of England_; in which Respect this College may prove of singular Service, and be an advantageous and laudable Nursery and strong Bulwark against the contagious dissentions in _Virginia_; which is the most ancient and loyal, the most plentiful and flourishing, the most extensive and beneficial Colony belonging to the Crown of _Great Britain_, upon which it is most directly dependant; wherein is establish'd the _Church of England_ free from Faction and Sects, being ruled by the Laws, Customs, and Const.i.tutions of _Great Britain_, which it strictly observes, only where the Circ.u.mstances and Occasion of the Country by an absolute Necessity require some small Alterations; which nevertheless must not be contrary (though different from and subservient) to the Laws of _England_.

Though the Violence of neither _Whig_ nor _Tory_ reigns there, yet have they Parties; for the very best Administration must expect to meet with some Opposition in all Places; especially where there is a Mixture of People of different Countries concerned, whose Education and Interest may propose to them Notions and Views different from each other.

Most other Plantations, especially they that are granted away to Proprietors, are inferior to _Virginia_: where the seeming Interest and Humour of the Owners often divert them from Pursuit of the most proper Methods; besides, they cannot have such a right Claim to the Favour of the Crown, nor demand its best Protection, since they may often interfere with its Interest: whereas _Virginia_ is esteemed one of the most valuable Gems in the Crown of _Great Britain_.

Thus _Virginia_ having to itself (with _Maryland_) the staple Commodity of Tobacco, has a great Advantage of all other Plantations on the Continent for the Encouragement of the Crown; whereas others belonging to Gentlemen, or having no peculiar Trade, cannot expect such Power to advance and promote their Interest.

To this add, that _Virginia_ equals, if not exceeds, all others in Goodness of Climate, Soil, Health, Rivers, Plenty, and all Necessaries, and Conveniencies of Life: Besides she has, among others, these particular Advantages of her younger Sister _Maryland_, viz. Freedom from Popery, and the Direction of Proprietors; not but that Part of _Virginia_, which is between the Rivers _Potowmack_ and _Rappahannock_ belongs to Proprietors, as to the Quit-Rent; yet the Government of these Counties (called the _Northern Neck_) is under the same Regulation with the other Parts of the Country.

If _New England_ be called a Receptacle of Dissenters, and an _Amsterdam_ of Religion, _Pensylvania_ the Nursery of Quakers, _Maryland_ the Retirement of _Roman_ Catholicks, _North Carolina_ the Refuge of Run-aways, and _South Carolina_ the Delight of Buccaneers and Pyrates, _Virginia_ may be justly esteemed the happy Retreat of _true Britons_ and _true Churchmen_ for the most Part; neither soaring too high nor drooping too low, consequently should merit the greater Esteem and Encouragement.

The common Planters leading easy Lives don't much admire Labour, or any manly Exercise, except Horse-Racing, nor Diversion, except c.o.c.k-Fighting, in which some greatly delight. This easy Way of Living, and the Heat of the Summer makes some very lazy, who are then said to be Climate-struck.

The Saddle-Horses, though not very large, are hardy, strong, and fleet; and will pace naturally and pleasantly at a prodigious Rate.

They are such Lovers of Riding, that almost every ordinary Person keeps a Horse; and I have known some spend the Morning in ranging several Miles in the Woods to find and catch their Horses only to ride two or three Miles to Church, to the Court-House, or to a Horse-Race, where they generally appoint to meet upon Business; and are more certain of finding those that they want to speak or deal with, than at their Home.