[With Francis Louis Michel in Virginia as he writes to his brother in Bern.] Michel described Virginia at some length. In part, it was because the knowledge of Virginia was very poor in Bern. Also, Michel had made the trip because he was looking for a place to set down Swiss colonists, so he was writing home about what he found. To someone approaching Virginia from the sea, the Chesapeake Bay and the four rivers, the James, York, Rappahannock, and the Potomac are the most obvious feature. They formed the transportation system of the colony. Michel went into detail about the depths, lengths, tides, and fishing.
[Michel's observations were not always put down systematically.] "Religious services are held according to the principles of the reformation but there are differences in the English churches. The French at "Manigkintown", where the French dwell, have other differences. Going to church at some places may mean a trip of thirty miles, but it is not a great hardship because the people ride horses there. Horses, used for little more than riding, always run at a fast gallop. No person goes to church except on horseback. Most of the churches are built of wood."
"The clerical profession gets 16,000 pounds of tobacco per year as a salary. In addition, one must pay for marriages, baptisms, and funerals." [Michel erred in stating the Mr. Blair was the Bishop in the colony; there were no bishops in Virginia. Blair was the Commissary (agent) of the Bishop of London. He was also a prominent member of the Virginia government and on one occasion was the acting governor.]
Michel gives the structure of the government in Virginia and again he gets mixed up on some of the details. He does recognize the three parts, Governor, Council, and Assembly. In 1702, there were twelve counties. He observes that the late King William ordered the seat of government moved to Middle Plantation, which is now called Williamsburg in his honor. "There is a college, where the governor resides, and a capitol building is to be built. A church, some houses, some inns, and the magazine make up the rest of the town. Only the well-to-do parents can afford to send their sons to the college. About forty students are in attendance there. Previously, the wealthy parents sent their sons to England to school."
"Militarily, the governor is the general. Then each county has a colonel. These are conspicuous, rich men, who allow themselves to be used for police duties as well as military duties. When on active service, they get a salary, but the rest of the time they get no pay, except the use of their titles. There are no permanent soldiers and forts and the citizens must protect themselves. They are very inexperienced in military training. They hold two or three musters each year when the guns are examined."
[Michel then gives a description of how Virginia was discovered.]
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