ry could not be pleased in; wherefore that bill was dropt, and
so it lies at this day.

Sec. 150. This assembly also passed a new law for ports and towns,
grounding it only upon encouragements, according to her majesty's letter
to that purpose. But it seems this also could not please the Virginia
merchants in England, for they complained against it to the crown, and
so it was also suspended.

Sec. 151. This assembly also passed the law making slaves a real estate,
which made a great alteration in the nature of their estates, and
becomes a very good security for orphans whose parents happened to die
intestate.

Sec. 152. This assembly also voted a house to be built for the governor's
residence, and laid duties to raise the money for it. But his excellency
lived not to see much effected therein, being taken off by death in
August 1706. In the first year of his government the college was burnt
down to the ground.

Sec. 153. After this governor's death, their being no other nominated by
her majesty to succeed him, the government fell into the hands of Edmund
Jenings, Esq., the president, and the council, who held no assembly
during his time, neither did anything of note happen here. Only we heard
that Brigadier Robert Hunter received commission to be lieutenant-governor
under George, Earl of Orkney, the chief, and set out for Virginia, but was
taken prisoner into France.

Sec. 154. During Brigadier Hunter's confinement in France, a new commission
issued to Colonel Alexander Spotswood to be lieutenant-governor, who
arrived here in Anno 1710. He, to the extraordinary benefit of this
country, still continues governor, having improved it beyond
imagination. His conduct has produced wonders. But it would not become
me to affront his modesty by publishing those innumerable benefits of
his administration to his face; therefore I shall leave them to adorn
the brighter history of some abler penman.

BOOK II.

OF THE NATURAL PRODUCT AND CONVENIENCES OF VIRGINIA IN ITS UNIMPROVED
STATE, BEFORE THE ENGLISH WENT THITHER.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE BOUNDS AND COAST OF VIRGINIA.

Sec. 1. Virginia, as you have heard before, was a name at first given to
all the northern part of the continent of America; and when the original
grant was made, both to the first and second colonies, that is, to those
of Virginia and New England, they were both granted under the name of
Virginia. And afterwards, when grants for other new co