labor
of a dozen negroes does but answer this salary, and seldom yields a
greater crop of sweet scented tobacco than is allowed to each of their
ministers.

Sec. 38. Probates of wills and administrations are, according to their law,
petitioned for in the county courts; and by them security taken and
certified to the governor, which, if he approves the commission, is then
signed by them without fee. Marriage licenses are issued by the clerks
of those courts, and signed by the justice in commission, or by any
other person deputed by the governor, for which a fee of twenty
shillings must be paid to the governor. The power of induction, upon
presentation of ministers, is also in the governor.

In the year 1642, when the sectaries began to spread themselves so much
in England, the assembly made a law against them, to prevent their
preaching and propagating their doctrines in that colony. They admitted
none to preach in their churches but ministers ordained by some reverend
bishop of the church of England, and the governor, for the time being,
as the most suitable public person among them, was left sole judge of
the certificates of such ordination, and so he has continued ever
since.

Sec. 39. The only thing I have heard the clergy complain of there, is what
they call precariousness in their livings; that is, that they have not
inductions generally, and therefore are not entitled to a freehold; but
are liable, without trial or crime alledged, to be put out by the
vestry. And though some have prevailed with their vestries, to present
them for induction, yet the greater number of the ministers have no
induction, but are entertained by agreement with their vestries, yet are
they very rarely turned out without some great provocation, and then, if
they have not been abominably scandalous, they immediately get other
parishes, for there is no benefice whatsoever in that country that
remains without a minister if they can get one, and no qualified
minister ever yet returned from that country for want of preferment.
They have now several vacant parishes.

CHAPTER VIII.

CONCERNING THE COLLEGE.

Sec. 40. The college, as has been hinted, was founded by their late
majesties, King William and Queen Mary, of happy memory, in the year
1692. Towards the founding of which, they gave one thousand nine hundred
and eighty-five pounds, fourteen shillings and ten pence. They gave
moreover, towards the endowment of it, twenty thousa