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less we had a particular register office, for the denoting of all that died, I cannot give a particular answer to this query, only this I can say, that there is not often unseasoned hands (as we term them) that die now, whereas heretofore not one of five escaped the first year.

18. What number of ships do trade yearly to and from your plantation, and of what burthen are they?

Answer. English ships, near eighty come out of England and Ireland every year for tobacco; few New England ketches; but of our own, we never yet had more than two at one time, and those not more than twenty tuns burthen. 19. What obstructions do you find to the improvement of the trade and navigation of the plantations within your government?

Answer. Mighty and destructive, by that severe act of parliament which excludes us the having any commerce with any nation in Europe but our own, so that we cannot add to our plantation any commodity that grows out of it, as olive trees, cotton or vines. Besides this, we cannot procure any skilfull men for one now hopefull commodity, silk; for it is not lawful for us to carry a pipe stave, or a barrel of corn to any place in Europe out of the king's dominions. If this were for his majesty's service or the good of his subjects, we should not repine, whatever our sufferings are for it; but on my soul, it is the contrary for both. And this is the cause why no small or great vessells are built here; for we are most obedient to all laws, whilst the New England men break through, and men trade to any place that their interest lead them.

20. What advantages or improvements do you observe that may be gained to your trade and navigation?

Answer. None, unless we had liberty to transport our pipe staves, timber and corn to other places besides the king's dominions.

21. What rates and duties are charged and payable upon any goods exported out of your plantation, whither of your own growth or manufactnre, or otherwise, as also upon goods imported?

Answer. No goods, either exported or imported, pay any the least duties here, only two shillings the hogshead on tobacco exported, which is to defray all public charges; and this year we could not get an account of more than fifteen thousand hogsheads, out of which the king allows me a thousand yearly, with which I must maintain the port of my place, and one hundred intervening charges that cannot be put to public account. And I can knowingly affirm, that there is no government of ten years settlement, but has thrice as much allowed him. But I am supported by my hopes, that his gracious majesty will one day consider me.

22. What revenues doe or may arise to his majesty within your government, and of what nature is it; by whom is the same collected, and how answered and accounted to his majesty?

Answer. There is no revenue arising to his majesty but out of the quit-rents; and this he hath given away to a deserving servant, Col. Henry Norwood.

23. What course is taken about the instructing the people, within your government in the christian religion; and what provision is there made for the paying of your ministry?

Answer. The same course that is taken in England out of towns; every man according to his ability instructing his children. We have fforty eight parishes, and our ministers are well paid, and by my consent should be better if they would pray oftener and preach less. But of all other

* He Means £1000 sterling money; which was the stated salary of the governor.

commodities, so of this, the worst are sent us, and we had few that we could boast of, since the persicution in Cromwell's tiranny drove divers worthy men hither. But, I thank God, there are no free schools nor printing, and I hope we shall not have these hundred years; for learning has brought disobedience, and heresy, and sects into the world, and printing has divulged them, and libels against the best govGod keep us from both!*

ernment.

* Mr. Hening adds a note to his copy of this paper which we shall also append to ours as follows: "Nothing can display in stronger colors the execrable policy of the British government, in relation to the colonies, than the sentiments uttered by Sir William Berkeley, in his answer to the last interrogatory. These were, doubtless, his genuine sentiments, which recommended him so highly to the favor of the crown, that he was continued governor of Virginia from 1641 to 1677, a period of thirty-six years, if we except the short interval of the commonwealth, and a few occasional times of absence from his government, on visits to England. The more profoundly ignorant the colonists could be kept, the better subjects they were for slavery. None but tyrants dread the diffusion of knowledge and the liberty of the press.

The same hostility to the introduction of printing which was manifested by Sir William Berkeley, was shewn by Lord Culpeper, who was governor of Virginia in 1682, only eleven years after these principles were avowed by Sir William Berkeley. It will be seen by the following extract, which is from a MS. of unquestionable authority, that at the last mentioned date, a printer had actually commenced his business in Virginia, but was prohibited by the governor and council from printing any thing, till the king's pleasure should be known, which, it may be presumed was very tardily communicated, as the first evidence of printing thereafter in Virginia was on the revised laws contained in the edition of 1733..

"February 21st, 1682, John Buckner called before the Lord "Culpeper and his council for printing the laws of 1680, with"out his excellency's licence, and he and the printer ordered to "enter into bond in £100 not to print any thing thereafter, un"til his majesty's pleasure should be known." (Bland Ms. pa. 498.)

AUGUSTA COUNTY.

SCRAPS FROM THE RECORDS.

Whatever serves to illustrate the character and customs of the people of a past generation is interesting, and especially so, to their descendants, or successors. The early records of Augusta County furnish many passages of this description, some of which we propose to publish. Some of them are interesting as items of history, derived from a source which entitles them to entire credit, and not founded on vague tradition; and others are curious as exhibiting the simplicity of the times the sternness with which laws, apparently the most severe, were executed-and the great changes which have taken place in our County in the course of a century.

The first Court was held in this County on the 9th day of December, 1745. The Magistrates were John Lewis, Hugh Thompson, Robert Cunningham, James Kerr and Adam Dickenson. John Patton was the first Sheriff. John Madison, father of the late Bishop Madison of the Episcopal Church, was appointed Clerk by commission under the hand and seal of Thomas Nelson, Secretary of Virgi nia. William Russell, James Porteus, Gabriel Jones, John Quinn and Thomas Chew, qualified as Attorneys. On the second day of the Court, a commission, under the hand of William Dawson, President of William and Mary College, was read, appointing Thomas Lewis surveyor. "James Patton, Sheriff, moved the Court to be informed how he was to secure his prisoners, as well debtors as criminals, there being no prison: Whereupon, the Court ordered the Sheriff to summon a sufficient guard, and to pay them out

of the next County levy; and also, that he provide shackles, bolts, handcuffs, &c." A committee was appointed "to agree with workmen to repair the court-house, build a prison, and erect stocks." Thus all the "means and appliances" being provided for the administration of justice and the punishment of offenders, the Court set to work to do their duty; and they did it sometimes with, what would now be called, a vengeance.

Feb. 10, 1746.-It was "ordered that the Sheriff take William Linwell into custody, and that he be fined five shillings for being drunk." Feb. 11th." The Court being informed that James McClune hath spoke treasonable words, it is ordered that the Sheriff bring him before the Court to answer the same."

The following order throws some light upon the habits of the lawyers of that day. We presume it has never been rescinded: Feb. 12th.-" Ordered that any attorney interrupting another at the bar, or speaking when he is not employed, forfeit five shillings." "Ordered that William Smith pay five shillings for being drunk,' -That seems to have been the regular charge for the privilege.

Feb. 19th.-The claims of fourteen persons for losses sustained by the Indians were proved in Court, and ordered to be certified to the General Assembly for allowance. These losses were, no doubt, sustained the previous year, when the Shawnees made an inroad upon the settlers. A battle was fought between them and a company of men under Capt. McDowell, in which the whites were worsted -the Captain and a number of his men being killed.

March 10th.-The following rate for ordinaries was adopted, viz: A hot diet well dressed, 9d; a cold, ditto, 6d; lodging, with clean sheets, 3d, (how much with unclean is not stated;) stabling and fodder a night, 6d; rum, the gallon, 9s; whiskey, the gallon, 6s; claret, the quart, 5s.

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