uires_: but there is
one _Baronet_'s Family there, _viz._ Sir _William Skipwith_'s.

The Taxes or _Levies_ are either publick, _County_, or _Parish_; which
are levied by the _Justices_ or _Vestries_, apportioning an equal Share
to be paid by all Persons in every Family above Sixteen; except the
_white Women_, and some antiquated Persons, who are exempt.

The Payment is Tobacco, which is sold or applied in _Specie_ to the Use
intended.

The publick Levy is for the Service of the Colony in General, the County
Levy is for the Use of the County, collected by the _Sheriff's_ and
their Offices and _Receivers_; and the Parish Levy is for its own
particular Use, collected by the _Church-Wardens_ for Payment of the
_Minister_, the _Church_, and _Poor_.

There are two _Burgesses_ elected by the _Free-holders_, and sent from
every County; and one for _James Town_, and another for the _College_;
these meet, choose a Speaker, _&c._ and proceed in most Respects as the
_House of Commons_ in _England_, who with the _Upper House_, consisting
of the _Governor and Council_, make Laws exactly as the _King_ and
_Parliament_ do; the Laws being passed there by the _Governor_, as by
the _King_ here.

All the Laws and Statutes of _England_ before _Queen Elizabeth_ are
there in Force, but none made since; except those that mention the
Plantations, which are always specified in _English_ Laws, when Occasion
requires.

The _General Assembly_ has Power to make Laws, or repeal such others, as
they shall think most proper for the Security and Good of the Country,
provided they be not contradictory to the Laws of _England_, nor
interfering with the Interest of _Great Britain_; these Laws are
immediately in Force there, and are transmitted hither to the Lords of
the Plantations and Trade for the _Royal Assent_; after which they are
as obligatory as any Laws can possibly be; but of late all Laws relating
to Trade must be sent Home before they be of any Validity; which makes
some occasional Laws upon certain Emergencies altogether useless; since
the intended Opportunity may be pass'd, before they are returned back to
_Virginia_; and so signify nothing to the Purpose.

All Laws that the _King_ dislikes upon the first Perusal, are
immediately abrogated.

Thus in State Affairs Liberty is granted, and Care is taken to make such
Laws from Time to Time, as are different from the Laws in _England_,
whenever the Interest or Necessity of the Country, or