Part 8 (2/2)

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 establis.h.i.+ng 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.

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