The History and Present State of Virginia: A New Edition with an Introduction by Susan Scott Parrish

The History and Present State of Virginia

THE HISTORY AND Present State OF VIRGINIA mc> 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 THE HISTORY AND Present STATE OF VIRGINIA, In Four PARTS. I. The HISTORY of the First Settlement of Virginia, and the Government thereof, to the present Time. II. The Natural Productions and Conveniencies of the Country, suited to Trade and Improvement. III. The Native Indians, their Religion, Laws, and Customs, in War and Peace. IV. The present State of the Country, as to the Polity of the Government, and the Improvements of the Land. By a Native and Inhabitant of the PLACE. LONDON: Printed for R. Parker, at the Unicorn, under the Piazza’s of the Royal-Exchange. MDCCV. This page intentionally left blank [ 5 ] TO THE Right HONOURABLE, ROBERT HARLEY, Esq;1 Speaker of the H. of Commons, AND One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State. @ Flatter my self, that I am not without Reason, for imploring Your Protection of the following Discourse. It is an honest Account of the ancientest, as well as most profitable Colony, depending on the Crown of England; and therefore ought naturally to address it self to the Patron of the Plantations. No Body is better instructed in the true Interest of England, than Your Self; No Body is more convinced, how much the Plantations advance that Interest; and consequently, no Body knows how to set a juster Value upon them. While some People, upon very mistaken Principles of Policy, are for loading those Countries with heavy Impositions, and oppressing them with Rapacious, and Arbitrary Governours; You, Sir, who are a better Judge of their Importance, are for milder Methods, and for extending the Blessings of Justice, and Property, to all the English Dominions. How happy therefore ought we of the Plantations to think our selves, in the Favour of a Gentleman, whose Thoughts are directed by unbiass’d Reason, and the real Advantages of England? Those are the Measures we wish to be govern’d by; and ask no other Treatment, than what is due to a loyal People, whose Lives are devoted to the Benefit of their MotherCountry . And sure we can never despair of this Common Justice, in the Reign of a Gracious Queen, who wishes the Happiness of all Her Subjects .2 England is infinitely to be envy’d, for lying under the immediate Influences of Her Goodness: While the Plantations, which are farther rei 6 Epistle Dedicatory. mov’d from Her Royal Presence, have those kindly Beams more weakly reflected on them.Their Distance makes ’em liable to be ill used by Men, that over-act Her Sacred Authority, and under-act Her Vertues. But we please our selves with the Hopes, that these Misfortunes will be made lighter to us, by the Justice of the present Administration. I must not presume to celebrate Your bright Qualities, because, next to having a great deal of Merit, the hardest Thing in the World, is to give it a just Commendation. You have by Your Publick Services, taken Care to convince Mankind of Your Worth. You alone have Abilities not only to fill, but to adorn, at the same time,Two of the most important Posts of the Nation. You, Sir, have reconcil’d the long Difference there has been betwixt the Patriot and the Publick Minister. And ’tis a plain Demonstration , that the QUEEN has no other View, than the Happiness of Her People, when Her Majesty is pleased to employ such Persons in Her Service , as have all along signaliz’d a constant Love to their Country. I am, SIR, Your most Faithful Servant. [ 7 ] THE PREFACE. @ IS agreed, that Travellers are of all Men, the most suspected of Insincerity. This does not only hold, in their private Conversations ; but likewise in the Grand Tours, and Travels, with which they pester the Publick, and break the Bookseller. There are no Books, (the Legends of Saints always excepted,) so stuff’d with Poetical Stories, as Voyages...