d seventy-seven parishes, and on the pages of the
statute-book forty-four towns; but one-half of these had not more than
five houses, and the other half, for the most part, were inconsiderable
villages. The exports of tobacco were between fifty and sixty thousand
hogsheads, each weighing eight hundred or a thousand pounds. Their other
exports were, to the Madeiras and the West Indies, cider, pork, lumber,
and grain; to Great Britain, bar-iron, indigo, and a little ginseng. The
only domestic manufacture of any consequence was Virginia cloth, which
was commonly worn. There were between sixty and seventy clergymen, "men
in general of sober and exemplary lives." Burnaby describes the
Virginians as indolent, easy, good-natured, fond of society, and much
given to convivial pleasures. They were devoid of enterprise and
incapable of enduring fatigue. Their authority over their slaves
rendered them vain, imperious, and destitute of refinement. Negroes and
Indians they looked upon as scarcely of the human species; so that in
case of violence, or even murder committed upon them, it was almost
impossible to bring them to justice. Such was Burnaby's report on this
subject. During the reign of James the Second, John Page, in a religious
work composed by him, thought it necessary to combat, in an elaborate
argument, the opinion that a master had the power of life and death over
his slave.

Washington, after furnishing a detachment from his regiment as a
garrison for Fort Pitt, then considered as within the jurisdiction of
Virginia, marched back to Winchester. Thence he proceeded to
Williamsburg to take his seat in the assembly, having been elected by
the County of Frederick. He resigned his military commission in
December, after having been engaged in the service for more than five
years. His health had been impaired, and domestic affairs demanded his
attention. On the 6th day of January, 1759, he was married to Martha,
widow of John Parke Custis, and daughter of John Dandridge, a lady in
whom were united wealth, beauty, and an amiable temper.

By an order of the assembly, Speaker Robinson was directed to return
their thanks to Colonel Washington, on behalf of the colony, for the
distinguished military services which he had rendered to the country. As
soon as he took his seat in the house, the speaker performed this duty
in such glowing terms as quite overwhelmed him. Washington rose to
express his acknowledgments for the honor, but