Part 3 (1/2)

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.