s wrote a good
_History_ of it; but neither is so particular as this, as to its present
Condition; so that as they are Supplements to _Captain Smith's History_,
this may be an _Abridgment and Appendix_ to them _all_.

True Accounts of this Country are difficult to be had; for they that
have lived there any Time in any Repute and Business, seldom come to
settle in _England_; and the Sailors for the greatest Part can give no
more true Relations of the Nature of the Country, than a _Country
Carrier_ can write a Description of _London_, and relate the _Politicks
of Court_, and _Proceedings of Parliament_; for they see and know but
little of the Matter, and that the very worst.

Others, by Reason of their short Stay, or for want either of
Opportunity, Learning, or Capacity, can neither make right Remarks and
correct Observations, nor describe Things in their proper Colours and
true Lustre; and moreover some are prevailed upon through Interest,
Prejudice, Spite, or Fancy, to conceal or misrepresent Things: Besides,
they that have been there formerly know little, but the very worst of
the _present State_ of the Country.

The Laws of that Plantation are collected into a Body and published; and
whatever (of any Moment and worth Notice) is not mentioned in this
Treatise, or in the Books aforementioned, must be supposed to correspond
exactly with the Customs and Things in _Great Britain_, particularly in
and about _London_; from all which any one that is either obliged or
inclin'd may have sufficient Accounts of the large, increasing,
flourishing, and _happy Colony of Virginia_.

The present Governor is the Right Honourable the Earl of _Orkney_, whose
Lieutenant Governor is _Hugh Drysdale_, Esq;

The Council are these Twelve.

_Edmund Jennings_, Esq; President.
The Rev. Mr. _James Blair_.
_Robert Carter_, }
_William Bird_, }
_Philip Ludwell_, }
_John Lewis_, }
_John Harrison_, }
_Mann Page_, } Esquires.
_Cole Digges_, }
_Peter Beverley_, }
_John Robinson_, }
_John Carter_, }

The Secretary is _John Carter_, }
The Attorney-General is _John Clayton_, } Esquires.
The Receiver General is _John Graham_, }
The Auditor is _John Harrison_, }

_The best List that I can collect or form of the Officers of the
Customs, is this._