Others, by Reason of their short Stay, or for want either of Opportunity, Learning, or Capacity, can neither make right Remarks and correct Observations, nor describe Things in their proper Colours and true Lustre; and moreover some are prevailed upon through Interest, Prejudice, Spite, or Fancy, to conceal or misrepresent Things: Besides, they that have been there formerly know little, but the very worst of the present State of the Country.
The Laws of that Plantation are collected into a Body and published; and whatever (of any Moment and worth Notice) is not mentioned in this Treatise, or in the Books aforementioned, must be supposed to correspond exactly with the Customs and Things in Great Britain, particularly in and about London; from all which any one that is either obliged or inclin'd may have sufficient Accounts of the large, increasing, flourishing, and happy Colony of Virginia.
The present Governor is the Right Honourable the Earl of Orkney, whose Lieutenant Governor is Hugh Drysdale, Esq;
The Council are these Twelve.
| Edmund Jennings, Esq; President. |
| The Rev. Mr. James Blair. |
| Robert Carter, | | Esquires. |
| William Bird, |
| Philip Ludwell, |
| John Lewis, |
| John Harrison, |
| Mann Page, |
| Cole Digges, |
| Peter Beverley, |
| John Robinson, |
| John Carter, |
| The Secretary is John Carter, | | Esquires. |
| The Attorney-General is John Clayton, |
| The Receiver General is John Graham, |
| The Auditor is John Harrison, |
The best List that I can collect or form of the Officers of the Customs, is this.
| l. | | James River. | | Upper District. | | Mr. John Banister, Collector,
supplied by
Col. William Randolph | | 40 | | Col. Francis Lightfoot, Surveyor | — | | | | Lower District. | | Mr. Thomas Mitchel, Collector | 100 | | Mr. —— Irvin, Surveyor | — |
|
| |
| Elizabeth River | ________ Surveyor ________ | 45 |
|
| |
| York River. | | Mr. John Ambler, Collector | 40 | | Mr. William Robertson, Surveyor | — |
|
| |
| Rappahannock River. | | Sir William Johnson, or
Mr. Richard Chichister, Collector | | 80 | | Mr. Christopher Robinson, Surveyor | — |
|
| |
| South Potowmack | ________ Collector ________ | 80 |
|
| |
| Cape Charles. | Mr. Griffith Bowen, Surveyor | 100 |
|
| |
Accomack and
Northampton Counties. | | Mr. Henry Scarburgh, Collector | | 50 |
|
These have some considerable Perquisites besides their Salaries; for which they give Attendance and perform their Duty after the same Manner as the Officers in the Rivers and Ports do in Great Britain.