The Present State of Virginia Part 7

These are encouraged to make Wines, which by the Experience (particularly) of the late _Col. Robert Beverly_, who wrote the _History of Virginia_, was done easily and in large Quant.i.ties in those Parts; not only from the Cultivation of the wild Grapes, which grow plentifully and naturally in all the good Lands thereabouts, and in the other Parts of the Country; but also from the _Spanish_, _French_, _Italian_, and _German_ Vines, which have been found to thrive there to Admiration.

Besides this, these Uplands seem very good for _Hemp_ and _Flax_, if the Manufacture thereof was but encouraged and promoted thereabouts; which might prove of wonderful Advantage in our _Naval Stores_ and Linens.

Here may likewise be found as good _Clapboards_, and _Pipe-Staves_, _Deals_, _Masts_, _Yards_, _Planks_, &c. for Shipping, as we are supplied with from several other Countries, not in his Majesty's Dominions.

As for _Trees_, _Grain_, _Pults_, _Fruits_, _Herbs_, _Plants_, _Flowers_, and _Roots_, I know of none in _England_ either for Pleasure or Use, but what are very common there, and thrive as well or better in that Soil and Climate than this for the generality; for though they cannot brag of Gooseberries and Currants, yet they may of Cherries, Strawberries, _&c._ in which they excel: Besides they have the Advantage of several from other Parts of _America_, there being Heat and Cold sufficient for any; except such as require a continual Heat, as Lemons and Oranges, Pine-Apples, and the like, which however may be raised there with Art and Care.

The worst Thing in their Gardens, that I know, is the Artichoak; but this I attribute to Want of Skill and good Management.

Mulberry Trees and Silkworms thrive there to Admiration, and Experience has proved that the Silk Manufacture might be carried on to great Advantage.

There is Coal enough in the Country, but good Fire-Wood being so plentiful that it enc.u.mbers the Land, they have no Necessity for the Trouble and Expence of digging up the Bowels of the Earth, and conveying them afterwards to their several Habitations.

There grows Plenty of _Sumack_, so very useful in the Dying Trade.

The Land is taken up in Tracts, and is Freehold by Patent under the King, paying two Shillings as a yearly _Quit-Rent_ for every hundred Acres.

Most Land has been long since _taken up_ and _seated_, except it be high up in the Country.

For surveying of Land, when any is _taken up_, bought, exchanged, or the Right contested, there is appointed a _Surveyor_ in each County, nominated and examined by the _Governors of the College_, in whose Gift those Places are under the _Surveyor General_.

But of this I may be more particular upon another Occasion; only I shall here observe, that every five or seven Years all People are obliged to go a _Procession_ round their own Bounds, and renew their Landmarks by cutting fresh _Notches_ in the boundary Trees.

Sometimes whole Plantations are sold, and at other Times small Habitations and Lands are let; but this is not very common, most having Land of their own; and they that have not think to make more Profit by turning Overseers, or by some other better Ways, than by _Farming_.

Though now Land sells well there, in a few Years it will be more valued, since the Number of Inhabitants encreases so prodigiously; and the _Tracts_ being divided every Age among several Children (not unlike _Gavel Kind_ in _Kent_ and _Urchinfield_) into smaller Plantations; they at Length must be reduced to a Necessity of making the most of, and valuing a little, which is now almost set at Nought.

In general the Country of _Virginia_ is plentiful, pleasant and healthy; especially to such as are not too fond of the Customs and Way of living they have been used to elsewhere; and to such as will endeavour at first to bear with some small Matters, and wean themselves, and make every Change as agreeable as they can.

Without such Proceeding the best Country in the World would not please them; since wherever they go from Home they must certainly find many Things different from what they have been accustomed to.

As for Health, I think this Climate as good as any with Care, though some Const.i.tutions can be well in no Air, let them do what they will, and the stoutest cannot be always Proof against Sickness, be they in never so healthy a Country; and in all Places with Care People may enjoy a good Share of Health, if they have any tolerable good Const.i.tution; if they avoid Heats and Colds, Intemperance, and all Manner of Excesses.

In each Country is a great Number of disciplin'd and arm'd _Militia_, ready in Case of any sudden Irruption of _Indians_ or Insurrection of _Negroes_, from whom they are under but small Apprehension of Danger.

Up _James River_ is a Colony of _French_ Refugees, who at the _Mannacan Town_ live happily under our Government, enjoying their own Language and Customs.

The Gentlemen of the Country have no other distinguishing t.i.tles of Honour, but _Colonels_ and _Majors_ and _Captains_ of the _Militia_, except _the Honourable the Council_, and some commissioned in Posts by his Majesty or his Orders, who are nominated _Esquires_: but there is one _Baronet_'s Family there, _viz._ Sir _William Skipwith_'s.

The Taxes or _Levies_ are either publick, _County_, or _Parish_; which are levied by the _Justices_ or _Vestries_, apportioning an equal Share to be paid by all Persons in every Family above Sixteen; except the _white Women_, and some antiquated Persons, who are exempt.

The Payment is Tobacco, which is sold or applied in _Specie_ to the Use intended.

The publick Levy is for the Service of the Colony in General, the County Levy is for the Use of the County, collected by the _Sheriff's_ and their Offices and _Receivers_; and the Parish Levy is for its own particular Use, collected by the _Church-Wardens_ for Payment of the _Minister_, the _Church_, and _Poor_.

There are two _Burgesses_ elected by the _Free-holders_, and sent from every County; and one for _James Town_, and another for the _College_; these meet, choose a Speaker, _&c._ and proceed in most Respects as the _House of Commons_ in _England_, who with the _Upper House_, consisting of the _Governor and Council_, make Laws exactly as the _King_ and _Parliament_ do; the Laws being pa.s.sed there by the _Governor_, as by the _King_ here.

All the Laws and Statutes of _England_ before _Queen Elizabeth_ are there in Force, but none made since; except those that mention the Plantations, which are always specified in _English_ Laws, when Occasion requires.

The _General a.s.sembly_ has Power to make Laws, or repeal such others, as they shall think most proper for the Security and Good of the Country, provided they be not contradictory to the Laws of _England_, nor interfering with the Interest of _Great Britain_; these Laws are immediately in Force there, and are transmitted hither to the Lords of the Plantations and Trade for the _Royal a.s.sent_; after which they are as obligatory as any Laws can possibly be; but of late all Laws relating to Trade must be sent Home before they be of any Validity; which makes some occasional Laws upon certain Emergencies altogether useless; since the intended Opportunity may be pa.s.s'd, before they are returned back to _Virginia_; and so signify nothing to the Purpose.

All Laws that the _King_ dislikes upon the first Perusal, are immediately abrogated.

Thus in State Affairs Liberty is granted, and Care is taken to make such Laws from Time to Time, as are different from the Laws in _England_, whenever the Interest or Necessity of the Country, or the Nature of the Climate, and other Circ.u.mstances shall require it.

PART III.

_Of the State of the Church and Clergy of_ Virginia.

Though Provision is made, and proper Measures are taken to make Allowances and Alterations in Matters of _Government_, _State_ and _Trade_; yet in Matters of _Religion_, there has not been the Care and Provision that might be wished and expected.

For the Country requires particular Alterations and Allowances in some indifferent spiritual Concernments, as well as in temporal Affairs, which might be done without deviating in the least from the Principles and Practice of the _Establish'd Church of England_; and instead of encouraging Dissentions, or Heresy, or Schism, or Irreligion, would be a sure Means always to prevent them, were such small Alterations regularly established in some Things indifferent, as might best agree with the Conveniency and Nature of the Colony: for it is impossible for a _Clergyman_ to perform this Duty according to the literal Direction of the _Rubrick_; for were he too rigorous in these Respects by disobliging and quarrelling with his Parish, he would do more Mischief in Religion, than all his fine Preaching and exemplary Life could retrieve; A short Narrative of which Case of the Church I transmitted Home to the _late Bishop of London_, by Order and Appointment of a late _Convention_, in a _Representation_ of some _Ecclesiastical Affairs_; but the Nature of this may more fully appear by the following Account.

This, with all the other Plantations, is under the Care of the _Bishop of London_, who supplies them with what Clergymen he can get from _England_, _Scotland_, _Ireland_, and _France_. The late Bishop appointed the Reverend Mr. _James Blair_ to be his Commissary, who is likewise _President of the College_, and one of the _Council_. He by the _Bishop_'s Order summoned the Clergy to _Conventions_, where he sate as _Chairman_; but the Power of _Conventions_ is very little, as is that of the _Commissary_ at present. _Visitations_ have been in vain attempted; for the corrupt Abuses and Rigour of Ecclesiastical Courts have so terrified the People, that they hate almost the very Name, and seem more inclinable to be ruled by any other Method, rather than the present spiritual Courts. Differences and great Disputes frequently arise between the Governor and the People, concerning the Presentation, Collation, Inst.i.tution, and Induction to Livings; and it is scarce yet decided distinctly who have the Right of giving Parishes to Ministers, whether the Governors or the Vestries, though the best of _Council_ have been applied to for their Opinion; for their Sentiments are not obligatory.

The _Vestries_ consist of the Minister, and twelve of the most substantial and intelligent Persons in each Parish. These at first were elected by the Parish by Pole, and upon Vacancies are supplied by Vote of the Vestry; out of them a new Church-Warden is annually chosen, under (as it were) the Instruction of the old one chosen the Year before. By the Vestry are all parochial Affairs managed, such as the Church, Poor, and the Minister's Salary.

The _Clerk_ in Case of the Minister's Death or Absence has great Business, and is a kind of _Curate_, performing frequently all the Offices of the _Church_, except the two _Sacraments_ and _Matrimony_; but 'tis Pity but his Practices were better regulated, and Sets of Sermons also appointed for his Purpose; for in several Places the _Clerks_ are so ingenious or malicious, that they contrive to be liked as well or better than the Minister, which creates Ill-Will and Disturbance, besides other Harm. In some Places they read the Lessons, publish Banns, _&c._ when the Minister is present, for his Ease; which first may not be improper in very hot Weather, or if the Minister be sick or infirm, if the _Clerk_ can read tolerably well. Likewise might they be allowed to bury when a Minister cannot possibly be had before the _Corpse_ would corrupt in hot Weather; but little more should be granted them, since some Places long accustomed to hear only their Clerk read Prayers and Sermons at Church, have no right Notions of the Office, Respect, and Dignity of a _Clergyman_. For registering Births and Burials, there is a small Allowance which is generally given to the Clerk, who takes that Trouble off the Minister's Hands. The Use of this is to know the Number of Tythables, for laying of Levies, and for other Occasions, and Lists of these Registers are delivered into the Hands of proper Officers. The Parishes being of great Extent (some sixty Miles long and upwards) many dead _Corpses_ cannot be conveyed to the Church to be buried: So that it is customary to bury in Gardens or Orchards, where whole Families lye interred together, in a Spot generally handsomly enclosed, planted with Evergreens, and the Graves kept decently: Hence likewise arises the Occasion of preaching _Funeral Sermons_ in Houses, where at Funerals are a.s.sembled a great Congregation of Neighbours and Friends; and if you insist upon having the Sermon and Ceremony at Church, they'll say they will be without it, unless performed after their usual Custom. In Houses also there is Occasion, from Humour, Custom sometimes, from Necessity most frequently, to _baptize_ Children and _church Women_, otherwise some would go without it. In Houses also they most commonly _marry_, without Regard to the Time of the Day or Season of the Year. Though the Churches be not _consecrated_ by Bishops, yet might there be some solemn _Dedication_ prescribed for setting them apart for sacred Uses; which would make People behave themselves with greater Reverence than they usually do, and have a greater Value for the House of G.o.d and holy Things.

Their _Churches_ were formerly built of Timber, but now they build them of Brick, very strong and handsome, and neatly adorned; and when any Church is gone to Decay, or removed to a more convenient Place, they enclose the old one with a Ditch.

Though Persons are admitted to the Lord's Supper there, that never were confirmed by the _Bishop_, yet might there be certain Examinations as preparatory Qualifications, which would lay the Sureties and Parents of Children baptized, under a Necessity of taking Care of them, as to a pious Education, and would make them be obliged to know more of their Duty than they generally do.

For this End I have composed (as I before hinted) an _Accidence to Christianity_, being a short Introduction to the Principles and Practices of Christians, collected out of the _Church Catechism_, the thirty nine _Articles_, _Hammond's Practical Catechism_, _Grotius of the Truth of the Christian Religion_, and _the whole Duty of Man_.

Out of which may be extracted a brief _Examination for Communicants_ before their first Admittance; which may be done by the _Minister_, if he had Orders and Directions for it. By this Means the People would attain to better Notions of Religion (and many more would be Communicants, who now abstain totally through Fear or Ignorance) were the first true Principles timely instilled into them in a brief Method; for any Thing tedious soon tires them, and will not obtain the desired Effect. In several Respects the Clergy are obliged to omit or alter some minute Parts of the _Liturgy_, and deviate from the strict _Discipline and Ceremonies_ of the _Church_; to avoid giving Offence, through Custom, or else to prevent Absurdities and Inconsistencies. Thus _Surplices_, disused there for a long Time in most Churches, by bad Examples, Carelesness and Indulgence, are now beginning to be brought in Fashion, not without Difficulty; and in some Parishes where the People have been used to receive the Communion in their Seats (a Custom introduced for Opportunity for such as are inclined to _Presbytery_ to receive the _Sacrament_ sitting) it is not an easy Matter to bring them to the _Lord's Table_ decently upon their Knees.

The last Injunction in the Form of _Publick Baptism_ is most properly omitted there, wherein the _G.o.dfathers_ and _G.o.dmothers_ are ordered to take Care that the Child be brought to the _Bishop_ to be _confirmed_, which for the most Part would prove impracticable.

It would be improper for the _Chaplain of the Honourable the a.s.sembly_ and others, to use the Prayers for the High Court of Parliament _verbatim_, for they cannot know whether the Parliament sits in _England_ then; and their Intent is to pray for the _a.s.sembly_ and the King's Dominions; so that the Prayer must be altered in several Respects.

'Tis Pity but the Prayer was altered, and allowed for the _a.s.sembly, Governor and Council_; of which we have an Instance in _Irish Common Prayer Books_.

Every Minister is a kind of _Independent_ in his own Parish, in Respect of some little particular Circ.u.mstances and Customs, to which they are often occasionally obliged; but this Liberty without Restraint may prove of bad Consequence hereafter; when the bad Tenets and Discipline of any _heterodox_, _libertine_, or _fantastical_ Persons may plead _Prescription_ for their Establishment, and be difficult to be eradicated.

In most Parishes are _Schools_ (little Houses being built on Purpose) where are taught _English_ and _Writing_; but to prevent the sowing the Seeds of Dissention and Faction, it is to be wished that the _Masters_ or _Mistresses_ should be such as are approved or licensed by the Minister, and Vestry of the Parish, or Justices of the County; the Clerks of the Parishes being generally most proper for this Purpose; or (in Case of their Incapacity or Refusal) such others as can best be procured.

As for _baptizing Indians and Negroes_, several of the People disapprove of it; because they say it often makes them proud, and not so good Servants: But these, and such Objections, are easily refuted, if the Persons be sensible, good, and understand _English_, and have been taught (or are willing to learn) the _Principles of Christianity_, and if they be kept to the Observance of it afterwards; for _Christianity_ encourages and orders them to become more humble and better Servants, and not worse, than when they were _Heathens_.

But as for _baptizing wild Indians and new Negroes_, who have not the least Knowledge nor Inclination to know and mind our Religion, Language and Customs, but will obstinately persist in their own _barbarous Ways_; I question whether Baptism of such (till they be a little weaned of their savage Barbarity) be not a _Prost.i.tution_ of a Thing so _sacred_.

But as for the _Children of Negroes_ and _Indians_, that are to live among _Christians_, undoubtedly they ought all to be baptized; since it is not out of the Power of their Masters to take Care that they have a Christian Education, learn their Prayers and Catechism, and go to Church, and not accustom themselves to lie, swear and steal, tho' such (as the poorer Sort in _England_) be not taught to read and write; which as yet has been found to be dangerous upon several political Accounts, especially Self-Preservation.

In every Parish there is allotted for the Minister a convenient _Dwelling-House and a Glebe_ of about two hundred and fifty Acres of Land, with a small Stock of Cattle ready in some Places, as _James Town_.