The Present State of Virginia Part 3

After that the Plantations of _Virginia_ were formed into a Government, managed first by three, and afterwards by one _Governor_, to whose a.s.sistance in a small Time they added _Counsellors_; and in 1620, they called an _a.s.sembly of Burgesses_, who being elected by the People, met the _Governor_ and _Council_ at _James Town_, and debated Matters for the Improvement and good Government of the Country.

About this Time the _Dutch_ brought over some _Negroes_ for Sale, who are now wonderfully encreased; besides the constant Supplies of them imported yearly.

At this Time, they made new Settlements, laid out and apportioned Lands, some to the _Governor_, some for a _College_ and _Indian School_, some to the _Church_ and _Glebes_, and some to particular Persons; and carried on _Salt Works_ and _Iron Works_, besides _Tobacco_.

This Prosperity of the Colony so encouraged its Increase, that one thousand three hundred People have gone over in one Year to settle there; upon which they made _County Courts_ for the Tryal of some Causes and Criminals under the _General Court_ and _a.s.sembly_; but private Interest and Quarrels bya.s.sing the Governors and other Persons concerned, often introduced ill Success, Faction, and _Indian_ Wars.

The fatal Consequences of this _Male-Administration_ cry'd so loud, that _King Charles_ I. coming to the Crown of _England_, had a tender Concern for the poor People, that had been betrayed thither and almost lost: Upon which he dissolved the Company in 1626, reducing the Country and Government into his own immediate Direction, appointing the _Governor_ and _Council_ himself, and ordering all _Patents_ and _Processes_ to issue in his own Name, reserving to himself a _Quit-Rent_ of two s.h.i.+llings for every hundred Acres of Land.

In this happy Const.i.tution, the Colony of _Virginia_ has prosperously encreased gradually and wonderfully, to its present most flouris.h.i.+ng Condition.

Indeed _Bacon_'s Rebellion against the _Governor_ occasioned a great deal of Bloodshed and Disturbance; but that after his Death soon ceased.

The a.s.sured good Report of this vast Tract of Land and happy Climate encouraged several Gentlemen of Condition and good Descent, to transport themselves and Families, and settle in this new Paradise; some for the Sake of Wealth, some for Religion, and others because they could not well live elsewhere; and others because they dared not, or cared not to stay at Home.

But one particular Occasion that sent several Families of good Birth and Fortune to settle there, was the Civil Wars in _England_; for Sir _William Barkley_ the Governor being strong for the _King_, held out the last of all the _King's Dominions_ against the _Usurper_; and likewise proclaimed _King Charles_ II. before the _Restoration_.

This safe Receptacle enticed over several _Cavalier_ Families, where they made many Laws against _Puritans_, tho' they were free from them; which had this good Success, that to this Day, the People are as it were quite free from them, being all of the _Church of England_, without the odious distinguis.h.i.+ng Characters of _High_ or _Low_ among themselves.

Indeed, there are a few _Quakers_ in some of the worst Counties, where _Clergymen_ are unwilling to settle, such as the lower Parts of _Nansemond_ County; but these might easily be brought over to the _Church_; and I am fully persuaded that the Growth of their Doctrine might be easily nipped in the Bud, by very plain Methods.

Among other Persons of Distinction that went over to settle in _Virginia_, was the n.o.ble _Caecilius Calvert Lord Baltimore_, a _Roman Catholick_, who with his Family, Friends and Attendants, was willing to retire thither for the free Exercise of his Religion.

He obtained a Patent for all that vast Part of _Virginia_, which lies to the Northward of the great River _Potowmack_; which was confirmed to his Son and his Heirs in the Year 1633.

This Province was named _Maryland_ from the _Royal Consort of King Charles_ I. and remains still the Propriety of the present _Lord Baltimore_ and his Heirs, with the Restriction of their being _Protestants_; and is perhaps the largest Estate in the World belonging to any one Person, that is not a Prince.

Though the _Church of England_ be establish'd in _Maryland_; yet it is a Sanctuary for _Papists_, who are pretty numerous there, and enjoy the Freedom of their _Priests_ and _Ma.s.s_ in a great Measure, without Molestation.

CHAP. II.

_Of the Metropolis_ Williamsburgh, _and the College, Capitol, and Governor's House, and the Church_, &c.

The first _Metropolis_, _James Town_, was built in the most convenient Place for Trade and Security against the _Indians_, but often received much Damage, being twice burnt down; after which it never recovered its Perfection, consisting at present of nothing but Abundance of Brick Rubbish, and three or four good inhabited Houses, tho' the Parish is of pretty large Extent, but less than others. When the _State House_ and _Prison_ were burnt down, _Governor Nicholson_ removed the Residence of the Governor, with the Meeting of _General Courts_ and _General a.s.semblies to Middle Plantation_, seven Miles from _James Town_, in a healthier and more convenient Place, and freer from the Annoyance of _Muskettoes_.

Here he laid out the _City of Williamsburgh_ (in the Form of a Cypher, made of _W._ and _M._) on a Ridge at the Head Springs of two great _Creeks_, one running into _James_, and the other into _York River_, which are each navigable for Sloops, within a Mile of the Town; at the Head of which _Creeks_ are good _Landings_, and _Lots_ laid out, and Dwelling Houses and Ware Houses built; so that this Town is most conveniently situated, in the Middle of the lower Part of _Virginia_, commanding two n.o.ble Rivers, not above four Miles from either, and is much more commodious and healthful, than if built upon a River.

Publick Buildings here of Note, are the College, the Capitol, the Governor's House, and the Church. The Lat.i.tude of the _College_ at _Williamsburgh_, to the best of my Observation, is 37. 21'. _North_.

The Front which looks due _East_ is double, and is 136 Foot long. It is a lofty Pile of Brick Building adorn'd with a _Cupola_. At the _North_ End runs back a large Wing, which is a handsome _Hall_, answerable to which the _Chapel_ is to be built; and there is a s.p.a.cious _Piazza_ on the _West_ Side, from one Wing to the other. It is approached by a good Walk, and a grand Entrance by Steps, with good Courts and Gardens about it, with a good House and Apartments for the _Indian Master_ and his Scholars, and Out-Houses; and a large Pasture enclosed like a Park with about 150 Acres of Land adjoining, for occasional Uses.

The Building is beautiful and commodious, being first modelled by Sir _Christopher Wren_, adapted to the Nature of the Country by the _Gentlemen_ there; and since it was burnt down, it has been rebuilt, and nicely contrived, altered and adorned by the ingenious Direction of _Governor Spotswood_; and is not altogether unlike _Chelsea Hospital_.

This _Royal Foundation_ was granted and establish'd by _Charter_, _by King William and Queen Mary_, and endowed by them, with some thousand Acres of Land, with Duties upon Furs and Skins, and a Penny a Pound for all Tobacco transported from _Virginia_ and _Maryland_, to the other Plantations; to which have been made several additional Benefactions, as that handsom Establishment of Mr. _Boyle_, for the Education of _Indians_, with the many Contributions of the Country, especially a late one of 1000 _l._ to buy _Negroes_ for the College Use and Service.

The Society is a Corporation establish'd for a _President_, _six Masters_ or _Professors_, with a hundred _Scholars_, more or less.

For some Causes that I can't account for, the Revenue is not improved as much as might be wished; neither is the College brought to that Method of Education and Advantage, as it might be; tho' 'tis hoped, that in a few Years it will, like the Palm Tree, grow to the greater Perfection, under the weighty Obstacles that load it.

The Salary of the President Mr. _James Blair_, has been lately ordered to be reduced from 150 to 100 _l. per Ann._

The Salary of the Fellows (one of which I have been several Years) is 80 _l. per Ann._ each, with 20 _s._ Entrance, and 20 _s._ a Year for Pupilage for each Scholar: The Payments are sometimes made in Current _Spanish Money_, and sometimes in _Sterling_ Bills.

The Nature of the Country scarce yet admits of a Possibility of reducing the _Collegians_ to the nice Methods of Life and Study observed in _Oxford_ and _Cambridge_; tho' by Degrees they may copy from thence many useful Customs and Const.i.tutions.

When the _College_ shall be compleatly finished, and Scholars.h.i.+ps founded, then is the Trust to be transferred from the _Trustees_ to the _President and Masters_; but at present it is managed by a certain Number of _Governors_ or _Visitors_, (one of which is chosen yearly _Rector_) appointed first by the _Trustees_, elected out of the princ.i.p.al and worthiest Inhabitants.

These appoint a Person, to whom they grant several Privileges and Allowances to board and lodge the Masters and Scholars at an extraordinary cheap Rate.

This Office is at present performed in the neatest and most regular and plentiful Manner, by _Mrs. Mary St.i.th_, a Gentlewoman of great Worth and Discretion, in good Favour with the Gentry, and great Esteem and Respect with the common People.

Great Pity it is, but the n.o.ble Design of this College met with more Friends to encourage, and Benefactors to advance, its flouris.h.i.+ng State.

One Happiness is, that it has always a _Chancellor_ in _England_, chosen by the _Governors_ or _Feoffees_; to whose Patronage and Direction it may have Recourse upon emergent Occasions.

The last _Chancellor_ was the late _Bishop of London_; and the present is his _Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury_.

The _Chancellor_ continues in that Office but seven Years; so that it may happen as soon as he has obtained a perfect Knowledge and Acquaintance with the Persons and Affairs belonging to the _College_, his Term is expired: Besides their Business in other momentous Affairs at Home may divert them, and the Distance of the Country may prevent them from obtaining true Notions, and exact Accounts of the Nature of the _Colony_ and the _College_; so that for these Reasons, they can't do for it the Good, which they otherwise might: For their better Information, and for Direction of all, in promoting Religion and Learning in this _Plantation_, I have made Publick this Account of _it_, and _its_ Inhabitants.

Fronting the _College_ at near its whole Breadth, is extended a n.o.ble Street mathematically streight (for the first Design of the Town's Form is changed to a much better) just three Quarters of a Mile in Length: At the other End of which stands the _Capitol_, a n.o.ble, beautiful, and commodious Pile as any of its Kind, built at the Cost of the _late Queen_, and by the Direction of the _Governor_.

In this is the _Secretary's Office_ with all the Courts of _Justice_ and _Law_, held in the same Form, and near the same Manner, as in _England_; except the _Ecclesiastical Courts_.

Here the _Governor_ and _twelve Counsellors_ sit as _Judges_, at the _General Courts_ in _April_ and _October_, whither Trials and Causes are removed from Courts, held at the Court-Houses Monthly in every County by a Bench of _Justices_ and a _County Clerk_.

Here are also held the _Oyer and Terminer Courts_, one in Summer, and the other in Winter, added by the Charity of the _late Queen_, for the Prevention of Prisoners lying in Gaol above a Quarter of a Year before their Trial.

Here are also held _Courts Martial_, by Judges appointed on Purpose, for the _Trial_ of _Pyrates_; likewise _Courts of Admiralty_, for the Trial of _s.h.i.+ps_ for illegal Trade.

The Building is in the Form of an =H= nearly; the _Secretary's Office_, and the _General Court_ taking up one Side below Stairs; the Middle being an handsom _Portico_ leading to the Clerk of the _a.s.sembly's_ Office, and _the House of Burgesses_ on the other Side; which last is not unlike the _House of Commons_.

In each Wing is a good Stair Case, one leading to the _Council Chamber_, where the _Governor_ and _Council_ sit in very great State, in Imitation of the _King and Council_, or the _Lord Chancellor_ and _House of Lords_.

Over the _Portico_ is a large Room where _Conferences_ are held, and _Prayers_ are read by the Chaplain to the General a.s.sembly; which Office I have had the Honour for some Years to perform. At one End of this is a Lobby, and near it is the _Clerk of the Council's Office_; and at the other End are several Chambers for the _Committees_ of _Claims_, _Privileges_, and _Elections_; and over all these are several good Offices for the _Receiver General_, for the _Auditor_, _Treasurer_, &c.

and upon the Middle is raised a lofty _Cupola_ with a large Clock.

The whole is surrounded with a neat _Area_, encompa.s.sed with a good Wall, and near it is a strong sweet _Prison_ for _Criminals_; and on the other Side of an open Court another for _Debtors_, when any are removed thither from other Prisons in each County; but such Prisoners are very rare, the Creditors being there generally very merciful, and the Laws so favourable for Debtors, that some esteem them too indulgent.

The Cause of my being so particular in describing the _Capitol_ is, because it is the best and most commodious Pile of its Kind that I have seen or heard of.

Because the _State House_, _James Town_, and the _College_ have been burnt down, therefore is prohibited in the _Capitol_ the Use of Fire, Candles, and Tobacco.

Parallel to the main Street mentioned is a Street on each Side of it, but neither quite so long nor broad; and at proper Distances are small cross Streets, for the Convenience of Communication.

Near the Middle stands the _Church_, which is a large strong Piece of Brickwork in the Form of a Cross, nicely regular and convenient, and adorned as the best Churches in _London_. This from the Parish is called _Bruton Church_, where I had the Favour of being Lecturer.