The Present State of Virginia Part 8

The Salary of the Minister is yearly 16000, and in some Parishes 20000 _l._ of Tobacco; out of which there is a Deduction for _Cask_, _prizing_, _collecting_, &c. about which Allowance there are sometimes Disputes, as are also Differences often about the Place, Time, and Manner of delivering it; but all these Things might easily be regulated.

Tobacco is more commonly at 20 _s. per Cent._ than at 10; so that certainly, (_communibus annis_) it will bring 12 _s._ 8 _d. a hundred_, which will make 16000 (the least Salary) amount to 100 _l. per Ann._ which it must certainly clear, allowing for all petty Charges, out of the Lowness of the Price stated, which is less than the _Medium_ between ten and twenty Shillings; whereas it might be stated above the Medium, since it is oftener at twenty than ten Shillings.

Besides the Glebe and Salary, there is 20 _s._ for every _Wedding_ by _License_, and 5 _s._ for every Wedding by _Banns_, with 40 _s._ for a _Funeral Sermon_, which most of the _middling People_ will have.

This one would think should be sufficient Encouragement for _Clergymen_ of good Lives and Learning (that are not better provided for elsewhere) to go over and settle there; if they considered rightly the little Danger and Fatigue they may expose themselves to, the great Good they may do, and what Advantages they may reap with good Conduct and right Management of their Fortunes and Conversations.

The Parishes are large, but then the Inhabitants are but thin; and there are _Chapels of Ease_ in large Parishes, at which there is divine Service in _Turns_ with the Churches; and frequently upon a _Vacancy_ some neighbouring Clergyman does the Duty of _another Parish_ besides his own, on some _Week-Day_, for which he has the Salary, till it can be better supplied.

Many Disputes and Differences arise between some of the Clergy and People; but this generally proceeds from the uncertain and precarious Footing of Livings, and some Disputes about the Nature and Manner of the Payment of the established Salary; which though it may be esteemed sufficient, yet is not so well regulated, as might be wished and expected in such a _great Colony_ of so long a _standing_, and free from the Molestation of Church Faction, and Dissenters.

Besides the Payment of the Salary, the _Surplice Fees_ want a better Regulation in the Payment; for though the Allowance be sufficient, yet Differences often and Ill-Will arise about these Fees, whether they are to be paid in Money or Tobacco, and when; whereas by a small Alteration and Addition of a few Laws in these and the like Respects, the Clergy might live more happy, peaceable, and better beloved; and the People would be more easy, and pay never the more Dues.

The Establishment is indeed Tobacco, but some Parts of the Country make but mean and poor, so that Clergymen don't care to live in such Parishes; but there the Payment might be made in Money, or in the Produce of those Places, which might be equivalent to the Tobacco Payments; better for the Minister, and as pleasing to the People.

Some Clergymen are indeed unskilful in, and others are not studious of, reconciling their own Interest and Duty with the Humour and Advantage of the People, especially at their first coming, when many Things seem very odd to them; being different to what they have been heretofore accustomed to.

These Things often occasion Uneasiness to the Ministers themselves, and the People; but for the Generality they that have a Mind to do their Duty, and live happily (with some Caution and Care) may live with as much Satisfaction, Respect, Comfort, and Love, as most _Clergymen_ in _England_.

'Tis to be hoped and wished, that as the _Government_ of _England_ have of late taken it into their Consideration to encourage more Clergymen to go over; so they may give Instructions and Directions for the Advantage and Happiness of both the Clergy and Laity, by rectifying and settling some Affairs belonging to the _Church of Virginia_; and providing such Laws as are wanting or requisite to be altered in Respect of the Clergy; a full and true Account of whom I have here given (as much as the Scope of this Treatise would admit of) to the best of my Knowledge.

This I have committed to Paper, for the better Information of such as may in any Respect be concerned in Affairs relating to _Virginia_, especially its Government, Religion, and Trade: For without exact Notions of the Temper, Lives, and Manners of the People, and the Nature and Produce of the Country, none can frame a correct Judgment of what is most proper to be added, altered, or continued, nor know what Steps are to be taken for the Advancement of either the publick or private Good of that Colony, in Respect either of Church, State, or Trade.

Another Inducement for my writing this, was for the Encouragement and Intelligence of such good Clergymen and others, as are inclinable to go and settle there; and for the Information of all that are desirous of knowing how People live in other Countries, as well as their own; together with an Intent to vindicate this Country from the unjust Reflections which are vulgarly cast on it; and to wean the World from the unworthy despicable Notions, which many entertain concerning his _Majesty_'s Dominions in _North America_; where is Room and Imployment enough for all that want Business or a Maintenance at Home, of all Occupations; and where, if they be not their own Enemies, they might live much better than ever they did in _England_; which blessed Opportunity of favourable Providence may give great Comfort to any good Folks that are in poor unfortunate Circ.u.mstances.

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 l.u.s.tre; 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 t.i.tular 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_; a.s.suring 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 a.s.sistance; 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 G.o.d 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.