asion; only I shall
here observe, that every five or seven Years all People are obliged to
go a _Procession_ round their own Bounds, and renew their Landmarks by
cutting fresh _Notches_ in the boundary Trees.

Sometimes whole Plantations are sold, and at other Times small
Habitations and Lands are let; but this is not very common, most having
Land of their own; and they that have not think to make more Profit by
turning Overseers, or by some other better Ways, than by _Farming_.

Though now Land sells well there, in a few Years it will be more valued,
since the Number of Inhabitants encreases so prodigiously; and the
_Tracts_ being divided every Age among several Children (not unlike
_Gavel Kind_ in _Kent_ and _Urchinfield_) into smaller Plantations; they
at Length must be reduced to a Necessity of making the most of, and
valuing a little, which is now almost set at Nought.

In general the Country of _Virginia_ is plentiful, pleasant and healthy;
especially to such as are not too fond of the Customs and Way of living
they have been used to elsewhere; and to such as will endeavour at first
to bear with some small Matters, and wean themselves, and make every
Change as agreeable as they can.

Without such Proceeding the best Country in the World would not please
them; since wherever they go from Home they must certainly find many
Things different from what they have been accustomed to.

As for Health, I think this Climate as good as any with Care, though
some Constitutions can be well in no Air, let them do what they will,
and the stoutest cannot be always Proof against Sickness, be they in
never so healthy a Country; and in all Places with Care People may enjoy
a good Share of Health, if they have any tolerable good Constitution; if
they avoid Heats and Colds, Intemperance, and all Manner of Excesses.

In each Country is a great Number of disciplin'd and arm'd _Militia_,
ready in Case of any sudden Irruption of _Indians_ or Insurrection of
_Negroes_, from whom they are under but small Apprehension of Danger.

Up _James River_ is a Colony of _French_ Refugees, who at the _Mannacan
Town_ live happily under our Government, enjoying their own Language and
Customs.

The Gentlemen of the Country have no other distinguishing Titles of
Honour, but _Colonels_ and _Majors_ and _Captains_ of the _Militia_,
except _the Honourable the Council_, and some commissioned in Posts by
his Majesty or his Orders, who are nominated _Esq