The next great River is _Rappahannock_, and the fourth is _Potowmack_,
which divides _Virginia_ from the _Province_ of _Maryland_.

These are supplied by several lesser Rivers, such as _Chickahommony_ and
others, _navigable_ for Vessels of great Burthen.

Into these Rivers run abundance of great _Creeks_ or short Rivers,
navigable for _Sloops_, _Shallops_, _Long-Boats_, _Flats_, _Canoes_ and
_Periaguas_.

These _Creeks_ are supplied with the _Tide_, (which indeed does not rise
so high as in _Europe_, so prevents their making good _Docks_) and also
with fresh-Water-runs, replenished with _Branches_ issuing from the
_Springs_, and soaking through the _Swamps_; so that no Country is
better watered, for the Conveniency of which most Houses are built near
some Landing-Place; so that any Thing may be delivered to a Gentleman
there from _London_, _Bristol_, &c. with less Trouble and Cost, than to
one living five Miles in the _Country in England_; for you pay no
Freight for Goods from _London_, and but little from _Bristol_; only the
Party to whom the Goods belong, is in Gratitude engaged to freight
_Tobacco_ upon the Ship consigned to her Owners in _England_.

Because of this Convenience, and for the Goodness of the Land, and for
the sake of Fish, Fowl, _&c._ Gentlemen and Planters love to build near
the Water; though it be not altogether so healthy as the _Uplands_ and
_Barrens_, which serve for _Ranges for Stock_.

In the _Uplands_ near the Ridge generally run the _main Roads_, in a
pleasant, dry, sandy Soil, free from Stones and Dirt, and shaded and
sheltered chiefly by Trees; in some Places being not unlike the Walks in
_Greenwich Park_.

Thus neither the Interest nor Inclinations of the _Virginians_ induce
them to cohabit in Towns; so that they are not forward in contributing
their Assistance towards the making of particular Places, every
Plantation affording the Owner the Provision of a little Market;
wherefore they most commonly build upon some convenient Spot or Neck of
Land in their own Plantation, though Towns are laid out and establish'd
in each County; the best of which (next _Williamsburgh_) are _York_,
_Glocester_, _Hampton_, _Elizabeth Town_, and _Urbanna_.

The Colony now is encreased to _twenty nine Counties_, naturally bounded
(near as much as may be) one with another about as big as _Kent_; but
the frontier Counties are of vast Extent, though not thick seated as
yet.

The whole Country is a perfect