As for Health, I think this Climate as good as any with Care, though some Constitutions can be well in no Air, let them do what they will, and the stoutest cannot be always Proof against Sickness, be they in never so healthy a Country; and in all Places with Care People may enjoy a good Share of Health, if they have any tolerable good Constitution; if they avoid Heats and Colds, Intemperance, and all Manner of Excesses.
In each Country is a great Number of disciplin'd and arm'd Militia, ready in Case of any sudden Irruption of Indians or Insurrection of Negroes, from whom they are under but small Apprehension of Danger.
Up James River is a Colony of French Refugees, who at the Mannacan Town live happily under our Government, enjoying their own Language and Customs.
The Gentlemen of the Country have no other distinguishing Titles of Honour, but Colonels and Majors and Captains of the Militia, except the Honourable the Council, and some commissioned in Posts by his Majesty or his Orders, who are nominated Esquires: but there is one Baronet's Family there, viz. Sir William Skipwith's.
The Taxes or Levies are either publick, County, or Parish; which are levied by the Justices or Vestries, apportioning an equal Share to be paid by all Persons in every Family above Sixteen; except the white Women, and some antiquated Persons, who are exempt.
The Payment is Tobacco, which is sold or applied in Specie to the Use intended.
The publick Levy is for the Service of the Colony in General, the County Levy is for the Use of the County, collected by the Sheriff's and their Offices and Receivers; and the Parish Levy is for its own particular Use, collected by the Church-Wardens for Payment of the Minister, the Church, and Poor.
There are two Burgesses elected by the Free-holders, and sent from every County; and one for James Town, and another for the College; these meet, choose a Speaker, &c. and proceed in most Respects as the House of Commons in England, who with the Upper House, consisting of the Governor and Council, make Laws exactly as the King and Parliament do; the Laws being passed there by the Governor, as by the King here.
All the Laws and Statutes of England before Queen Elizabeth are there in Force, but none made since; except those that mention the Plantations, which are always specified in English Laws, when Occasion requires.
The General Assembly has Power to make Laws, or repeal such others, as they shall think most proper for the Security and Good of the Country, provided they be not contradictory to the Laws of England, nor interfering with the Interest of Great Britain; these Laws are immediately in Force there, and are transmitted hither to the Lords of the Plantations and Trade for the Royal Assent; after which they are as obligatory as any Laws can possibly be; but of late all Laws relating to Trade must be sent Home before they be of any Validity; which makes some occasional Laws upon certain Emergencies altogether useless; since the intended Opportunity may be pass'd, before they are returned back to Virginia; and so signify nothing to the Purpose.