; it is evident that the greatest number of inhabitants
during the year ending February 16, 1623--not including those murdered
in the massacre--amounted to 1648; and in 1634, eleven years afterwards,
they amounted to 5,119, being an increase of 3,471, or an average of
about 315 per annum, by birth and immigration. Accustomed as we are to
the rapid growth of new countries this seems but a small increase, but
when it is remembered that they made the voyage in sailing vessels only,
and that it then not unfrequently lasted three or four months, we have
little cause for wonder.

The next paper is a copy of a letter from His Majesty Charles II., to
the Governor, Sir Wm. Berkeley, returning his thanks for a present of
silk grown in Virginia. The first settlers were very anxious for success
in this department of industry, and the House of Burgesses in 1657-'8
passed a law offering a premium of 5,000 pounds of tobacco to any one
who made "100 pounds of wound silke in any one year," and in the next
session, 1658-'9, the premium was made 10,000 pounds of tobacco for 50
pounds of "wound silke." We have frequently heard repeated a tradition
to the effect that Charles II. wore a robe made of Virginia silk at his
coronation. The circumstance of which this document is evidence, is
probably the nearest approach to any thing of the sort that ever
occurred, and hereafter this with the foolish and groundless story of
one of the Lees going to see him when an exile at Breda, to offer him a
crown and a refuge in Virginia, must be consigned to that oblivion which
is likely, soon, we hope, to receive many of the mythical legends which
have heretofore passed current for the history of Virginia.

The third is a list of the parishes and their ministers in 1680, the
number of the latter showing that the people were poorly provided for in
this respect, and that some of the parishes had no ministers. This
deficiency was, however, in a measure provided for by the appointment of
"readers" under the operation of acts passed February 1632-'3, by which
if a minister's cure "is so large that he cannot be present on the
Saboth and other holy days. _It is thought fit_ That they appoint
deacons for the readinge of common prayer in their absence;" and
further, in March, 1661-'2, it was enacted "That every parish not
haveing a minister to officiate every Sunday doe make choice of a grave
and sober person to read divine service at the Parish church."--Hen.
Vol.