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BOOK II: Os the Natural Product and Conveniencies of Virginia
- The University of North Carolina Press
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1222222222222222222223 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 7888888888888888888889 BOOK II. Of the NATURAL Product and Conveniencies OF V I RG I N I A; IN ITS Unimprov’d STATE, before the English went thither.1 This page intentionally left blank [44.200.101.170] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 15:59 GMT) [ 89 ] CHAP. I. Of the Bounds and Coast of Virginia.§.1. IRGINIA, as you have heard before, was a Name at first given, to all the Northern Part of the Continent of America; and when the Original Grant was made, both to the First and Second Colonies, that is, to those of Virginia, and New-England, they were both granted under the Name of Virginia. And afterwards, when Grants for other new Colonies were made, by particular Names, those Names for a long time served only to distinguish them, as so many Parts of Virginia: And until the Plantations became more familiar to England, it was so continued. But in Process of Time, the Name of Virginia was lost to all, except to that Tract of Land lying along the Bay of Chesapeak, and a little to the Southward, in which are included Virginia and Maryland ; both which, in common Discourse, are still very often meant by the Name of Virginia. The least Extent of Bounds in any of the Grants made to Virginia, since it was settled, and which we find upon Record there, is Two Hundred Miles North from Point Comfort, and Two Hundred Miles South; binding upon the Sea-Coast to the Eastward, and including all the Land West and North-West, from Sea to Sea; with the Islands on both Seas, within an Hundred Miles of the Main. But the Bounds of that Country being now under the Consideration of the General Assembly there, I shall not presume to offer any thing farther about them.§.2. The Entrance intoVirginia for Shipping, is by the Mouth of Chesapeak Bay, which is indeed more like a River, than a Bay: For it runs up into the Land about Two Hundred Miles, being every where near as wide, as it is at the Mouth, and in many Places much wider. The Mouth thereof is about Seven Leagues over, through which all Ships must pass to go to Maryland.2 The Coast is a bold and even Coast, with regular Soundings, and is open all the Year round: So that having the Latitude, which also can hardly be wanted, upon a Coast where so much clear Weather is, any Ship may go in by Soundings alone, by Day or Night, in Summer or in v 90 BOOK II. Winter; and need not fear any Disaster, if the Mariners understand any thing; for, let the Wind blow how it will, and chop about as suddenly as it pleases, any Master, tho’ his Ship be never so dull, has Opportunity (by the Evenness of the Coast) either of standing off, and clearing the Shore; or else of running into safe Harbour within the Capes. A bolder and safer Coast is not known in the Universe; to which Conveniencies, there’s the Addition of good Anchorage all along upon it, without the Capes.§.3. Virginia, in the most restrain’d Sense, distinct from Maryland, is the Spot to which I shall altogether confine this Description; tho’ you may consider at the same time, that there cannot be much Difference between this, and Maryland, they being contiguous one to the other, lying in the same Bay, producing the same sort of Commodities, and being fallen into the same unhappy Form of Settlements, altogether upon Country Seats, without Towns. Virginia thus consider’d, is bounded on the South by North Carolina; on the North by Patowmeck River, which divides it from Maryland; on the East by the main Ocean, called the Virginia Seas; and on the West and North-West by the Californian Sea, whenever the Settlements shall be extended so far. This Part of Virginia now inhabited, if we consider the Improvements in the Hands of the English, it cannot upon that Score be commended; but if we consider its natural Aptitude to be improv’d, it may with Justice be accounted...