rico, $100 00. ā An act concerning the superior court of Henrico, passed
29th March, 1823, fixes the compensation of the attorney and clerk of that
court, and makes them, in effect, salaried officers. The clerk is moreover
entitled to his fees for services rendered the commonwealth, which will pro-
bably average about $40 per annum.
Attorney General, $1000 00. ā The attorney general is entitled to fees
when recovered from defendants; but owing to the diminished number of
judgments against public debtors, his fees have not averaged more than $40
per annum for the last two years.
Treasurer, $2000 00. ā The treasurer is ex-ofhcio a director of the board
of public works, the James river company, the literary fund, and the north-
western turnpike company. He is moreover, by virtue of his office, a di-
rector of the Virginia bank, and treasurer of the Cincinnati fund, which is
in his possession. He has no perquisites of office.
First Clerk, $900 00. ā The first clerk of the treasurer has charge of the
books in which the accounts of the commonwealth are kept, distinguished
from those which relate to speciffic funds, the latter being confided to the
second clerk. Both, however, perform indiscriminately the current duties
of the office. The incidental expenses of the treasury office during the last
fiscal year, embracing fuel, stationery, SAveeper, &c. amounted to $152 38.
Auditor of Public Accounts, $2000 00. ā The auditor is ex-ofricio a di-
rector of the James river company, the board of public works, the literary
fund, and the northwestern turnpike company. He is also, in conjunction
with the governor, lieutenant-governor, and second auditor, one of the com-
missioners for transporting the free people of color. He has no perquisites
nor extra compensation, except a fee of 50 cents' for each redemption of de-
linquent land. .The late laws on that subject have reduced these fees to an
average of thirty or forty dollars per annum. His general duties are to
audit all claims against the commonwealth, and to collect and disburse the
public revenue.
Clerk of Accounts, $1400 00. ā The clerk of accounts has in his pecu-
liar charge the public books of account, prepares all the revenue statements
and the lists of balances, and performs a variety of duties connected with
his department.
First Clerk, $900 00.ā The first clerk represents the auditor in his ab-
sence, and during such time, is entitled to extra compensation at the rate of
$166 67 per annum. He has special charge of the vouchers upon which
warrants are issued, assists the auditor in the revenue settlements, and per-
forms various other duties. ,
Second Clerk, $750 00; Third Clerk, $600 00.ā The second clerk has
charge of the delinquent land lists, and in common with the third clerk,
10
74 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
performs a variety of duties appertaining to the current business, such as
examining and correcting commmissioners' books, insolvents in the revenue,
and militia fines, &c. &c. The auditor is also authorized to employ an ex-
tra clerk, in his discretion, at the rate of $50 per month, growing out of
the accumulated labors of the office from revolutionary claims, &c. The
incidental expenses of the office in the last fiscal year, including stationery,
fuel, and sweeper, and excluding postage, amounted to $280 75. The post-
age alone amounted to $1,050.
Second Auditor, $1800 00. ā The second auditor is an ex-officio director
of the James river company, board of public works, literary fund, and north-
western turnpike company, and audits all the accounts appertaining thereto.
He is moreover superintendent of the literary fund, and clerk to the board
of directors. He is also ex-officio secretary to the board of public works,
and one of the commissioners for removing free people of color. He is
entitled to no extra compensation.
First Clerk, $900 00; Second Clerk, $600 00.ā The first clerk repre-
sents the second auditor in his absence, and when necessary, acts as clerk
to the literary fund, and secretary to the board of public works; keeps the
books of the James river company and board of public works, and assists
the second auditor in the current business. The second clerk keeps the
books of the literary fund and northwestern turnpike company, and attends
to other duties. The incidental expenses of the office, and of the several
boards connected therewith, for the past fiscal year, embracing, fuel, statione-
ry, sweeper, pay of messengers, and clerks of boards, postage, printing, and
miscellaneous expenses, amounted to $1,172 64.
Register of the Land Office, $1500 00. ā The register's duties are prin-
cipally defined in the general revised land law of 1st March, 1819. He
has no perquisites, his fees of office being required to be paid into the trea-
sury.
First Clerk of the Land Office, $900 00. ā The first clerk receives and
examines surveys, &c. and issues grants, &c.
Second Clerk, $600. ā The second clerk is engaged principally in record-
ing. The incidental expenses of the land office the past fiscal year, including
fuel, stationery, parchment for grants, and sweeper, amounted to $625 29.
Public Printer, $2600 00. ā $1,000 of the public printer's salary is paid
quarterly. The residue annually, after the completion of the sessions acts.
The salary is exclusive of extra printing. The amount paid during the
last fiscal year for printing legislative documents, extra copies of the acts
and journals of the library, &c. &c. amounted to $1,836 64, which is pro*
bably about a fair annual average.
Superintendent of the Penitentiary, $2000 00 ; First and Second Assist-
ant Keepers $700 each; Third, Fourth, Firth, Sixth, and Seventh Assist-
ant Keepers, $600 each. ā Neither the keeper nor assistant keepers receive
any extra compensation, The auditor is not informed as to the particular
distribution of duties among the assistants. The 6th and 7th assistants
were for the first time so denominated in the act of 8th March, 1833. They
were previously called turnkey and delivery clerk.
Clerk, $600 00. ā The clerk keeps the accounts of the institution, an 1
acts, as clerk to the board of directors. He has no perquisites.
Five Directors, at $150 each. ā The directors are paid annually, at the
rate of $3 per day, for each day's attendance; not to exceed $150*
Burgeon to the Penitentiary and Public Guard, $900 00.ā Attends the
OF VIRGINIA. 75
sick convicts at the penitentiary and soldiers of the public guard, and is en-
titled to no perquisites of office.
General Agent or Store-Keeper to the Penitentiary. ā The agent for sel-
ling penitentiary manufactures is allowed a commission of seven per cen-
tum Upon sales, in lieu of salaries to himself and clerks.
Adjutant General, $500 00. ā For the various laws respecting the adju-
tant general, see 1 Rev. Code, pages 94. 95, 96 and 98, and Supplement,
pages 60, 64, 81 and 84.
Vaccine Agent, $500 00.ā The allowance is paid semi-annually, on the
order of the executive. The auditor is informed by the agent that there are
numerous applications for vaccine matter. No perquisites of office.
Superintendant of the Westham Magazine, $150 00. ā It is understood
that no duties are now required of this officer, the magazine not being used.
Keeper of the Rolls and Clerk of the House of Delegates, $200 00. ā
The clerk of the house of delegates is ex-officio keeper of the rolls, and it
is in the latter character, that he is entitled to the stated salary of $200 per
annum. As clerk, his allowance was fixed at $150 per week, by the act of
16th February, 1822. Out of this weekly allowance, the clerk of the
house of delegates employs an assistant in the office during the sessions of
the legislature, and defrays the expense of enrolling and engrossing the acts.
Besides his official duties during the session, he is required after the ad-
journment of the legislature, to arrange and cause to be published, with
marginal notes and indexes, the laws of that body. His perquisites consist
in fees for certified copies of the acts of assembly; but it is understood that
they amount to a very inconsiderable sum. The incidental expenses of the
office of the clerk during the last fiscal year, including fuel, stationery for
the house of delegates, binding journals, parchment, &c. amounted to
$333 48.ā Total amount of Civil List, $74,553 33.
Though not strictly within the terms of the resolution of the house
of delegates, it is perhaps required bv its spirit, that the allowances to the
officers of the general assembly, so far as^ they have been fixed by law,
should be added.
The speaker of the senate is entitled, under the act of 16th February,
1822, to $6 per day, mileage and ferriages. The speaker of the house of
delegates, to $8 per day, mileage and ferriages. The clerk of the senate,
to $75 per week. The sergeant at arms to the senate, to $30 per week.
The sero-eant of the house of delegates, to $28 per week, and fees for ar-
rests. The clerks of each of the committees to the house of delegates, to
$35 per week. The d^or keepers to both houses, each to $28 per week.
The printer to the s-nate, to $600 for the session. The only clerks of com-
mittees of the house of delegates, whose allowances were fixed by the act
of 16th F-bruary, 1822, were those of propositions and grievances, elections
and claims, courts of justice, and roads and navigation. Other clerks of
coxnmittees have been occasionally appointed, and their wages paid by a
special clause in the annual appropriation law.
It may also be proper to add, that pursuant to the resolution of the gene-
ral assembly of 21st February, 1833, the executive has employed an agent
to examine certain revolutionary documents, with a salary of $1,200 per
annum.
LAWS.
On the third of July, 1776, the convention which met to adopt a constitu-
7S GENERAL DESCRIPTION
tion for the state, having declared it independent, passed an ordinance de-
claring that "The common law of England, all statutes or acts of Parlia-
ment 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, ā 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 constitu-
tion 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 con-
science, yet the first constitution contained no express provision on the sub-
ject. The legislature, in 1785, passed an act for establishing religious free-
dom, 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 exempt-
ing 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. La the same year, the Presbyterians num-
bered 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 'sWves. The precise distinction be-
tween the regular Baptists and the Reformers, called the disciples of Christ,
not being in all cases drawn, there is no coming io 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 statis-
tics, either as to the number of teachers, congregations, meeimo - houses,
&c. Attempts are now being made for a better arrangement of tV?ir af-
fairs. 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,
withm 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 Me-
thodists are the most numerous sects in the state; and the estimate does not
include a considerable number of separatists from both communions. Be-
sides these, there are Friends, Lutherans, Dunkers, Unitarians, Jews, &c.
OF VIRGINIA. 77
scattered through the state, whose numbers are not accurately known. The
Presbyterians have a theological seminary in Prince Edward, and the Epis-
copalians one near Alexandria, both of which institutions have flourished
by private liberality. The state, in its political capacity, has always mani-
fested a strong jealousy of all ecclesiastical establishments; yet the Virgi-
nians are generous in private contributions towards objects of religion and
benevolence. Sunday schools, and societies for promoting temperance, Af-
rican colonization, &c, have been extensively patronized in late years.'
EDUCATION.
Literary Fund. ā 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 appro-
priation 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 per-
manent 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, - 54 13
To which balance must be added the undrawn school
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 $13,160 87
The revenue arising from this fund amounted, in 1833, to $78,340 61
Of which there was expended - - - 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. ā The sum of $45,000 annually has been appropri-
ated from the revenue of the Literary Fund, to the different counties, in pro-
portion to their white population, for the sole purpose of instructing poor
children in the elements of learning. This sum is placed under the manage-
ment 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 es-
tablishment, ā 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. ā As the public boun-
ty is confined to the offspring of indigent parents, a plan is now partially in
operation, by which contributions may be received from individuals to es-
tablish 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 al-
ready 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
78
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
schools. We annex the Second Auditor's ahstract 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, receiv-
ed between 30th September, 1832, and 1st October, 1833.
ā -
Ā«
u
C
J, -a
.^
U C3
* .
a
Ā£Ā«
S
C3
02
>- c
COUNTIES
AND
TO WNS.
en
S
s .
H
o ā
EG 73
%- r3
O 0<
1|
73 .3
m u
s o
c o
s ft
c ^
" - 2
a
o
73
o
a*
C 3
w
e
S
75
ā¢-*
o
a -
o
e 2
c O
o
>- a.
Ja _:
s 2
C 2^
C s
cr -r cs
tJ) C rf
S23
ā¢a o
ā 2
o "*
>- 73
a; a
<a d
ā *S
= =h
Ā« - 3
ti; -
^- ā CO
'ā 3
ai
a.
c ā¢
c >>
.ā Ā«->
a
o ā
Ā«2.5
C
4r 2 S*
āi ii
= 6
ā o
Vi ā
Si "3
= -^
. _^
ā¢ 0J
. O
. 73
tt*-^
u c
3 d
Ā© c *<
c2
c ,5
c *Ā»
o Ā«
c *
tt S t3
> Ā« ~
Ā« Ā»
> =-Ā»
x Ā«-ā
fe
a
2
P5
<
<- Ā«
Ā«
<
Ā«
Albemarle,
15
49
600
181
13020
71
4 cts.
83 15
8570 74
Amelia,
8
13
120
49
6147
125
4
5 57
273 08
Amherst,
15
25
250
85
5383
63
4
2 87
243 74
Alleghany,
8
10
80
42
2016
48
4
2 08
87 29
Accomac,
12
30
750
256
14S95
54
31
2 31
592 22
Augusta,
15
65
600
437
21003
48
4
2 02
883 59
Bath,
10
17
100
99
3901
39
3!
1 44
142 53
Bedford,
15
29
450
333
19656
58
4
2 55
861 65
Berkeley,
15
34
530
349
24518
70
3i
2 45
854 14
Botetourt,
12
45
325
300
22843
76
4
3 28
982 58
Brooke,
9
29
410
26S
19383
72
2i
1 98
530 13
Buckingham,
10
65
250
135
11488
84
4
3 67
498 90
Brunswick,
Cabell,
7
17
200
117
6399
55
4
2 40
280 76
Campbell,
8
29
350
115
5968
52
4
2 12
244 57
Caroline,
8
29
450
157
11577
74
4
3 31
519 88
Charles City,
-
_
Charlotte,
8
23
300
95
8072
85
4
3 79
360 16
Chesterfield,
11
30
500
178
14042
79
4
3 38
601 65
Culpeper,
15
49
500
330
22927
69
4
3 07
1012 93
C umberland,
9
20
100
91
8647
95
4
4 14
376 73
Dinwiddie,
12
20
120
61
9658
158
4
6 77
412 94
Essex,
7
12
300
56
4420
79
4
3 26
183 92
Elizabeth Chy,
7
2
50
21
776
37
4
2 16
45 39
Fairfax,
9
23
500
183
10650
58
4
2 38
435 50
Fauquier,
-
ā
ā c
_
Franklin,
9
24
500
285
14093
49
3*
1 82
518 50
Fayette,
-
-
Frederick,
9
100
650
428
31500
74
4
2 77
1186 85
Floyd,
6
6
150
33
1444
44
4
3 20
105 52
Fluvanna,
8
18
100
43
3711
86
4
3 88
166 83
Grayson,
7
41
350
307
13010
42
4
1 77
544 15
Greenbrier,
10
20
500
239
12106
50
4
2 25
537 90
Greensville,
ā
ā
Giles,
6
19
225
128
7342
57
34
2 20
281 66
Gloucester,
14
15
160
36
2645
73
4
3 48
125 42
Goochland,
11
25
250
57
6030
106
4
4 60
262 57
Halifax,
12
60
1000
242
16541
69
4
2 91
704 21
Hampshire,
14
48
800
545
22048
40
4
1 67
912 14
Hanover,
12
50
350
36
3486
97
4
4 59
165 20
Hardy,
15
21
250
100
7646
76
4
3 32
332 23
Harrison,
15
86
900
754
36200
48
2*
1 29
976 13
Henry,
5
10
90
65
4312
66
3|
2 30
149 52
Henrico,
Isle of Wight,
10
29
350
198
9902
50
4
2 24
442 98
James City,
OF VIRGINIA.
79
Jackson,
Jefferson,
Kanawha,
King & Queen,
King George,
King William,
Lancaster,
Lee,
Lewis,
Logan,
Loudon,
Louisa,
Lunenburg,
Madison,
Mason,
Matthews,
Mecklenburg,
Middlesex,
Monongalia,
Monroe,
Montgomery,
Morgan,
Nansemond,
Nelson,
New Kent,
Nicholas,
Norfolk County,
Norfolk Borough,
Northampton,
Northumberland,
Nottoway,
Orange,
Ohio,
Patrick,
Page,
Pendleton,
Preston,
Petersburg,
Prince Edward,
Prince George,
Prince William,
Princess Anne,
Pittsylvania,
Powhatan,
Pocahontas,
Randolph,
Richmond County,
Richmond'City,
Rockbridge,
Rockingham,
Russell,
Stafford,
Shenandoah,
Scott,
Smyth,
Southampton,
Spottsylvania,
Surry
Sussex,
Tazewell,
Tyler,
Washington,
Warwick,
Westmoreland,
Williamsburg,
14
14
9
6
7
9
10
9
15
12
11
9
9
6
10
9
9
11
8
6
11
7
9
7
8
6
9
9
8
11
10
12
6
15
7
12
10
11
8
8
15
6
5
9
9
12
13
8
9
13
7
11
12
5
11
31
24
25
8
22
8
21
34
75
27
15
15
19
13
80
10
9
9
20
18
9
18
33
30
16
17
10
40
40
19
20
36
23
18
15
12
18
14
350
450
200
150
200
150
500
500
217
298
117
56
67
45
163
235
17105
19217
7129
5/Oo
5418
2506
9726
11654
78 4
64 4
61 4
103 4
81 4
56 4
60 f
50 2i
3 25
2 73
2 73
4 46
3 52
2 84
2 48
1 30
45
44
85
17
15
82
23
26
30
9
25
11 20
900
250
300
200
175
90
300
150
80 1000
25 450
300
150
150
247
150
150
300
100
130
190
150
240
500
150
250
400
220
200
150
120
400
200
51 1100
20 80
17 120
22 350
400
460
700
300
250
800
475
250
200
130
200
420
123
83
78
127
62
151
133
637
192
68
66
66
57
28
99
154
80
99
89
40
90
282
135
109
356
190
30
38
26
178
50
368
23
100
197
70
320
351
187
152
522
143
212
120
80
95
29383
12260
6256
5984
6697
6975
14282
11359
32311
10454
4745
3783
5373
3689
2037
5214
11423
22136
6835
5331
5390
7715
23032
8786
5469
11298
9374
6900
3008
3028
11655
6124
19752
2596
6018
7947
70
100
75
76
53
112
94
85
51
54
70
57
81
65
73
52
74
280
69
58
135
86
81
65
50
40
49
230
79
116
65
124
54
113
60
40
4
4
4
4
3!
3
4
4
2i
?
4
4
4
3
4
li
4
4
4
4
21-12
3
4
3i
3
3
4
4
4
4
Ā°> 3
Ā°i
4
3
3i
2 96
4 10
3 40
3 18
23
55
14
06
39
05
05
2 46
3
o
AS
3
1
o
o
4
3
2
6
3
1
2
2
1
1 61
7 62
3 33
5 30
2 81
2 36
2 26
4 64
2 11
1 37
60
96
65
82
13
28
00
73
19
70
84
09
17
45
15750
21692
22510
11608
8299
35G75
m
225 3 1
67 3|
64 3*
62 3
54 3|
68 4
39 4
8 42
2 73
2 54
2 24
2 00
2 89
1 69
12203
8961
8449
7919
57 4
75 4
105 4
83 4
2 43
3 35
4 67
3 57
450
37
20
216
5
4
1095S
198
239
51 2
1 20
40 4
60 4
4 08
3 14
705 26
814 72
320 22
249 92
236 10
117 91
404 34
301 99
18
1o
1230
505
282 41
248 10
283 41
220 29
625 62
539 91
889 15
395 40
207 44
162 75
238 51
169 06
102 22
179 80
482 36
342 55
297 65
242 89
247 70
333 78
520 06
281 92
237 25
515 43
306 14
228 57
126 45
137 80
500 18
267 94
830 62
106 84
211 29
280 64
497 70