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i P 8 A M E <B^I C A. Chap. II. 



of very low value, by reafon of the vaft quantities planted of it) they 

 might in time provide themfelves all NeceiTaries of Livelyhood, ami, 

 produce richer and more Staple-Commodities for their Advantage. 



Their ufual way of Trafique in buying and felling is by exchange of 

 one Commodity for another; and Tobacco is the general Standardly 

 which all other Commodities receive their value; but they have fom.e, 

 Ewlifh an d foreign Coyns, which ferve them upon man yuKcafions. 



The Government is by a Governor and Council, Appointed and 

 Authorized from time to time by immediate Commiffion from the 

 King of (jreatHrittain : And Laws are made by the Governor, with 

 the content of a General AtTembly, which coniifts of two Houfes, an 

 Upper and a Lower • the firft confifts of the Council, and the latter of 

 theBurgdTeschofen by the Freemen of theCountrey 5 and Laws fo 

 made are in Force till His Majeily thinks fit to alter them. 



.The chief Court of Judicature is call'd The QuarterXourt, becanfe 

 it is held every quarter of a Year, where all Caufes Criminal and Ci- 

 vil are heard and determind, and the judges of this Court are the Go^ 

 vernor and Council: The prcfent Governor in this Year \6y\. is Sir 

 Militant Berkley, who was made Governor by King Charles the Firft,6f 

 Great'Brittain, &c. in the Year 164 o. And thofe of the Council are 

 Sir Henry Ckichefly, who is one of the greateft andmoft confiderable 

 Planters there, and Mr. kdypardDiggs before-mentiond,. Mr. 'Thomas 

 huhpel Secretary, Major-General TZ^bert Smith, and divers other wor- 

 thy Gentlemen. 



That Part of the Country where the Engli/b are Planted, is divided 

 into nineteen Counties, vifc J^onbampton^Ccunty in Acomacl^, on the 

 Eaftern fhore ; and on the Weftern fhore, Corotucl^ Lower-^^orfol^ 

 3\(jtnfemundjfle oflVtght^SurryJVarmcl^Henerico, fames, Charles, ¥or/^ 

 Cs^to'Kjmt, (jlocejler, \Jiddltfex,Lancajier y S^wthumberlandJVeftmore* 

 land, Tiappabanoc^y and Harford-iounties. 



In every one of thefe Counties there are inferior County-Courts 

 kept every Month- thefe take no Cognizance of Caufes relating to 

 Life or Member, or exceeding a certain limited Value,fuch being re- 

 fer'd to the Quarter-Courts only, to which like-wife there lie Appeals 

 from their Inferior Courts. 



There are Sheriffs, Juftices of the Peace, and other Officers in every 

 refpedive County, appointed by the Governor, for the Adminiftrati- 

 on of Juftice, who fit there according to his Order, and whereof thefe 

 County-Courts are chiefly compos'd. 



There are few Towns as yet eredled in this Colony; the Principal 

 Seat of the £wg///7:> thefe, is at a Place call'd JamesXtty , in Honor of 

 King James of Great ^rtttain, &c. This isfituated in a Teninfula, on 

 the North-fide of JamesT^jver, and has in it many fair Brick and o- 

 ther good Houfes : In this place arc held theQuarter-Courts,General 

 Affemblies, the Secretaries Office, and all other Affairs and greateft 

 Concerns of the Colony are here difpatch'd. On the fame fide, nearer 

 the Mouth ofthisRiver,ftands Elizabeth-City , containing alfo feveral 

 good Houfes of Brick and Timber. 



Sir 



