Present State of Virginia

Hugh Jones

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pubOne.info present you this wonderfully illustrated edition. A particular and short Account of the Indian, English, and Negroe Inhabitants of that Colony.

Informations

• Publié par: Pub One Info
• Date de parution: 27 septembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9782819924517
• Langue: English

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THE
PRESENT STATE
OF
VIRGINIA.
BY
HUGH JONES, A. M.
NEW YORK:
REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SABIN.
1865.
Two Hundred Copies Printed.
No. 175 JS
ALVORD, PRINTER.
THE
PRESENT STATE
OF
VIRGINIA.
GIVING
A particular and short Account of the Indian , English , and Negroe Inhabitants of that Colony.
Shewing their Religion, Manners, Government, Trade,Way of Living, and c. with a Description of the Country.
From whence is inferred a short VIEW of
Maryland and North Carolina.
To which are added,
Schemes and Propositions for the better Promotion ofLearning, Religion, Inventions, Manufactures, and Trade in Virginia , and the other Plantations .
For the Information of the Curious , and forthe Service of such as are engaged in the Propagation of theGospel and Advancement of Learning , and for the Use ofall Persons concerned in the
Virginia Trade and Plantation .
Gen. ix. 27.
God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shalldwell in the Tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be hisServant .
By HUGH JONES , A. M.
Chaplain to the Honourable Assembly, and latelyMinister of James-Town , and c. in Virginia .
LONDON :
Printed for J. Clarke, at the Bible underthe Royal-Exchange . M DCC XXIV.
INTRODUCTION.


Dedications and Prefaces, which are prefix'd to mostBooks, being regarded by few Readers, I think it best for mypresent Purpose briefly to mention in an Introduction, what I wouldhave known concerning the Occasion, Nature, and Use of thisTreatise, before I enter upon the main Work it self.
When I considered the great Benefit that arises tothe Publick, from the large Colony of Virginia , I observed,that tho' it be thus advantageous, yet it is capable of greatImprovements still, and requires several Alterations, both withRegard to its own Welfare, and the Interest of GreatBritain . Observing moreover, that few People in England (even many concerned in publick Affairs of this kind) have correctNotions of the true State of the Plantations; and having beeneagerly applied to frequently, by Persons of the greatest Figure, [Pg ii] Experience, and Judgment in political andnational Concerns, for Information concerning all the Circumstancesof Virginia , I was requested to digest methodically, andpublish, what I knew and thought of these Matters; and being in agreat Measure injoined to it by a noble Patron , I have herecomplied with his Commands, with the best of my Knowledge andJudgment.
For want of better Information, many that are mostwilling, capable, or obliged to promote Religion, Learning, Artsand Trade in Virginia , are either at a Loss how to set aboutit rightly, or else having engaged themselves therein, have in agreat Measure miscarried in their Attempts, because true andparticular Accounts of it are very difficult to be obtained; andthis Country is altered wonderfully, and far more advanced andimproved in all Respects of late Years, since the beginning ofColonel Spotswood's Lieutenancy, than in the whole Centurybefore his Government, which he may be esteemed to have dischargedwith a commendable, just, and prudent Administration; a prosperousAdministration, glorious for himself, and advantageous both for theCrown and the Plantation; whilst he was Lieutenant Governor of thatColony; whilst that Colony was honoured with such an excellentGovernor; whilst that Governor was happy in such a flourishing,large, and fertile Colony. [Pg iii]
And as this Country has made such a considerableProgress, under the Management of the late Governor Spotswood ; so have we all imaginable Prospect that it willin the same regular course proceed towards its greatest Perfection,under the Care and Conduct of the present Governor Colonel Drysdale .
The Scales of Justice are now fix'd there upon theirtrue Balance, and the Course of Trade is nearly confined to itsright Channel.
Arts, Sciences, Trades, and useful Inventions arenow planted there in some Measure, and with due Cultivation maythrive wonderfully.
Providence has furnish'd this Province with allNecessaries of Life, and Industry may supply it with allConveniences and Advantages, for Profit, Ease, and Pleasure.
The best Measures have been concerted and proposed,and Schemes have been nicely drawn for the Encouragement of usefulDiscoveries and laudable Undertakings, both for the Security andBenefit of the Publick.
And as in Blessings temporal, so in spiritualConcernments, might the Virginians abound, [Pgiv] were the Attempts that have been, or may be, made forthe due Regulation of the Church, as well as State, brought toMaturity: Were the Laws more plain and particular in Relation toLivings; so that the Labours of the Clergy might be rewarded withless Trouble and Ill-Will in their Preferment to Parishes, andcollecting their Dues and Salaries; and were the Principles andPractice of Religion more firmly establish'd, which might easily bedone without interfering with the Interest of the People, orConstitution of the Government; with but few Corrections andAlterations, and but little additional Expence.
More especially at this eminent Juncture of his Majesty 's most Christian Goodness, in converting his Palaceat Whitehall into a College of Preachers; and founding inthe Universities Courts of Statesmen perfectly instructed in modernLanguages and History.
For if at Home he has in this Respect, aswell as others, excelled his Royal Predecessors, why may we nothope that his charitable Benefactions may likewise be extended Abroad to the Church and College of the most antient andloyal Colony of Virginia ? Through the Means of such greatand good Governors in Church, as his Grace the Archbishop ofCanterbury , and his Lordship the [Pg v] Bishopof London ; the first of which eminent Patrons of Religion andLearning is Chancellor of the College of William and Mary at Williamsburgh in Virginia ; and to the other belongsthe weighty Care and Charge of the Church and Clergy of all thatand the other English Plantations.
Why may we not hope that the College founded andendowed there by King William and Queen Mary of everblessed Memory, may partake of the royal Favours of ourpresent most gracious Sovereign ? Why may we not hope thatthe Church confirmed there in each Reign since Queen Elizabeth's , may be duly regulated by the pious Directionsof his present Majesty ?
These are Actions suitable to the Genius of our mighty Monarch : These are Undertakingsworthy of the Negotiation of such pious and learned Bishops; towhose Consideration the following Sheets are in the most submissiveManner offered, humbly requesting their Lordship's Excuse for thispresumptive Freedom; occasioned by the zealous Affection which Ihave for the Colony, which principally induced me to this Work, inorder to vindicate the Place and People from undeserved Calumny, tomake publick true Informations of them, to proclaim to the Worldtheir just Praises, and to prove as instrumental [Pgvi] as possible in the Service of Religion, Learning, Arts,advantageous Undertakings, and the Trade of that Plantation; to dowhich, I think my self strictly obliged by Gratitude andConscience.
There are several Books upon this Subject, but nonedescends to the present State and Circumstances of this Colony, norproposes what Methods may seem most conducive to the Promotion ofits best Interest in all Respects; but without particular Knowledgeof these Things no useful Designs can be carried to the bestAdvantage, neither by the Government, Societies, Companies, nor byprivate Persons.
Wherefore I composed this as a Supplement to thoseother Books; treating herein for the most Part of such Heads, asare altogether omitted, or but slightly accounted for, or describedby others.
For though some may have perfect Information andtrue Notions of these Things; yet the generality of Mankind areutter Strangers to what I here specify, and entertain commonly veryerroneous and monstrous Thoughts concerning the Country, Lives,Religion and Government of the Virginians ; so that thereseemed a great Necessity for a Book of this kind; which I have madeas plain and intelligible [Pg vii] as I possiblycould, and composed in the best Method that I could devise for theService of the Plantations, more particularly Virginia , Maryland , and North Carolina , where I have been.
I have industriously avoided the ornamental Dress ofRhetorical Flourishes, esteeming them unfit for the naked Truth ofhistorical Relations, and improper for the Purpose of generalPropositions.
Besides its Truth and my real Design of publickService, this mean Piece has little to recommend it to theApprobation of Mankind, and to introduce it to a candid Receptionin the World. Nevertheless I venture to present it with thegreatest Submission to the Candour of the Reader, with Hopes thatit may meet with a kind Acceptance; humbly requesting the followingFavours of the Readers, viz.
That they would be pleased to excuse and correct theErrors of the Press.
That if any material Alterations have happened to bemade that I know not of, since I left Virginia (which isabove two Years) they will give favourable Allowances for myAccounts of such Things, and not censure me as if I endeavoured toimpose Falshoods upon [Pg viii] the World; and I hopethe same will be granted for any trivial Mistakes which I may havemade through Forgetfulness, or for want of Opportunity ofConsultation and Advice in any small circumstantial Point, or inany proper Name .
And lastly, since Improvement might be made for thejoint Advantage of Virginia and Great Britain in somany particular Respects; therefore I hope what I have instanced inthe following State and Schemes will be look'd uponas sufficient for my Purpose, without making Mention of severalother beneficial Things of the Nature and Use of which I have butlittle Knowledge; such as Cotton, Pepper, with the large thickHusks of Acorns for the Diers Use, with the like.
THE
STATE
OF
VIRGINIA.
PART I.


Chap. I.
Of the Original of the Indians,Europeans, and