tion for the state, having declared it independent, passed an ordinance declaring that "The common law of England, all statutes or acts of Parliament made in aid thereof prior to the fourth year of the reign of King James the first, and which were of a general nature and not local to that kingdom, should be considered as in full force, until the same should be altered by the Legislature."

After this the Legislature re-enacted by special acts all of the statutes of the British Parliament which they thought applicable and necessary; and on the 27th December, 1792, declared that no statute or act of Parliament should have any force or authority within this commonwealth,-saving all judicial and remedial writs which might have been sued out before that act.

The common law, the constitution and statutes of Virginia, the constitution of the United States and the laws and treaties made in pursuance thereof, constitute the whole law of Virginia.

RELIGION.

Although the bill of rights, in 1776, declared that all men were equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience, yet the first constitution contained no express provision on the subject. The legislature, in 1785, passed an act for establishing religious freedom, and subsequently repealed all laws which recognized the Protestant Episcopal Church as the legal establishment. The glebe lands, and other church property, were vested in the overseers of the poor, for charitable uses, reserving only to the living incumbents an estate for life, and exempting the church buildings from confiscation. The new constitution of 1830 fully recognises absolute religious freedom as a part of the fundamental law. The Episcopal church, which, after the loss of its revenues, suffered almost total extinction in Virginia, has revived, in the last twenty years, by the voluntary support of its friends, and is now distinguished by numerous and wealthy members, and by a pious and intelligent clergy. In 1834 the number of ministers in the State, including two bishops, was 59, churches, 58, and 2840 communicants. In the same year, the Presbyterians numbered 117 churches, 100 ministers, 11,413 communicants; the Methodists, 168 ministers, communicants 34,316 whites, and 7,447 colored, total 41,763; the Baptists, 261 ministers, churches 450, and communicats 54,302, of whom it is conjectured that one-half are slaves. The precise distinction between the regular Baptists and the Reformers, called the disciples of Christ, not being in all cases drawn, there is no coming to any thing like certain knowledge, but it is supposed they do not exceed 10,000 in number, neither are they so systematically arrayed as to afford any accuracy in their statistics, either as to the number of teachers, congregations, meeting-houses, &c. Attempts are now being made for a better arrangement of their affairs. The increase of new members, for the last two or three years, has been so great that it has not been possible to keep pace with the demand for preachers, meeting-houses, &c. They have advanced in the U. States, within 10 years, from a few in number, to something like 150,000. The Catholics have 5 ministers, and 10 congregations; but the number of lay members is not ascertained. It will be perceived that the Baptists and Methodists are the most numerous sects in the state; and the estimate does not include a considerable number of separatists from both communions. Besides these, there are Friends, Lutherans, Dunkers, Unitarians, Jews, &c.

scattered through the state, whose numbers are not accurately known. The Presbyterians have a theological seminary in Prince Edward, and the Episcopalians one near Alexandria, both of which institutions have flourished by private liberality. The state, in its political capacity, has always manifested a strong jealousy of all ecclesiastical establishments; yet the Virginians are generous in private contributions towards objects of religion and benevolence. Sunday schools, and societies for promoting temperance, African colonization, &c., have been extensively patronized in late years.

EDUCATION.

LITERARY FUND.-This Fund was established by the Legislature in 1809, by devoting the proceeds of all escheats, fines, and forfeitures, to the encouragement of learning. In 1816 it was encreased by the liberal appropriation of the debt due from the United States to Virginia, on account of advances made by the State in the late war with Great Britain. The permanent capital of this fund amounted, in September, 1833, to $1,551,857 47 Of this there was invested in stocks, loans and debts, $1,551,803 34

Leaving in the treasury to the credit of the fund,
To which balance must be added the undrawn school

54 13

quotas, amounting to

$20,256 74

First deducting the amt. invested in bank stock, of 7,150 00

13,106 74

Which leaves a total balance to the credit of the fund of
The revenue arising from this fund amounted, in 1833, to $78,340 61
Of which there was expended

$13,160 87

62,927 18

Leaving a balance, to encrease the capital, of

$15,413 43

When the Legislature appropriated the United States debt to this fund, it at the same time gave $230,000, and an annuity of $15,000 from the fund, to the University of Virginia.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS.-The sum of $45,000 annually has been appropriated from the revenue of the Literary Fund, to the different counties, in proportion to their white population, for the sole purpose of instructing poor children in the elements of learning. This sum is placed under the management and control of School Commissioners, appointed by the Court of each county.

The primary school system has been modified from time to time since its establishment, and is now under the control of the Second Auditor, who renders an annual report to the Legislature, of the disbursement of the fund, founded on the returns of the county commissioners.-As the public bounty is confined to the offspring of indigent parents, a plan is now partially in operation, by which contributions may be received from individuals to establish schools free for all classes of pupils; and strong hope is entertained that the experiment will prove successful, notwithstanding the difficulties which arise from the mixed population of one portion of the state, and the scattered population and rugged surface of the other. Experience has already demonstrated the utility of even the existing system, and thousands who must have groped through life in the darkness of ignorance, have had the cheering light of knowledge shed upon them by means of the primary

COUNTIES

AND

TOWNS.

schools. We annex the Second Auditor's abstract of the number of poor children taught in each county, the expense, &c. for the year 1832-3:

ABSTRACT of School Commissioners' Reports for the year 1832, received between 30th September, 1832, and 1st October, 1833.

Albemarle,

49

600

181

13020

71 4 cts. $3 15

$570 74

15 34 530

9 29

10 65

17 200 117

6399

2.40

280 76

29 350 115

5968

2 12

244 57

Number of schools in 100 counties and towns, as per column 1,
Number of poor children in ditto, as per column 2,
Number of poor children sent to common schools in ditto, as per
column 3,

Number sent to district schools, as per statement A,

Total number of poor children educated,

2,833

32,804

16,669

412

17,081

42,033 06
963 21

$42,996 27

Amount expended for tuition at common schools, and all other expenses, for books, compensation to officers, &c. as per column 5,

Ditto, at district free schools, as per statement A,

Total expenditure for tuition, &c.

Average number of days actual attendance of each poor child at common schools,

Average amount paid for each

poor

child, including books and

writing materials, clerks' and treasurers' compensation, at common schools,

Ditto, at district free schools, per statement A,

Average rate paid for each day's actual attendance at common schools, including books, &c. and officers' compensation,

STATEMENT A.

65

$2.521 2 331

3 9-10

Abstract of School Commissioners' Reports, shewing the operations of the District Free Schools, in the Counties in which they have been established, during the year ending 30th

The actual payments made by school commissioners to teachers, being $963 21, the actual cost of each poor child, for the portions of the year for which such payments were made, will average $2 333.

COLLEGES.

WILLIAM AND MARY-This institution, which is at Williamsburg, formerly the capitol of Virginia, and next to Harvard College, the oldest in the United States, derives its name from William and Mary, sove