The Circumstances of the Parishes here, I shall endeavor to explain to you, as well as the little knowledge I have acquir'd will enable me.

In the first place, there isan Act of Assembly for the Payment of 16000 Weight of Tohacco to the Rector of each Parish, reckon'd equal to £200 Virginia Currency, which approaches the nearest to Sterling, I believe, of any Money on the Continent. The Sherriffs collect this tithable Commodity for them, or receive in

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Lieu thereof Cash, if agreeable to the Parson ; so that no Trouble or Inconvenience arises from this Mode of levying their Salaries regularly. And as there is an exact Equality in this Taxation, the only Advantages one Incumbent has above another proceeds entirely from the Prices of Tobacco in the respective Parishes, from the different Value of the Glebe Lands & Parsonage ees, & from their Situation in Point of Health.

When a Vacancy happens the Power of Presentation is in the Vestry for twelve Months after, & then it elapses to the Governor, who seldom inducts, (unless in new-form'd Parishes,) as there are a number continually waiting for Provision. The Impossibility of effecting the Removal of an Incumbent, & the ill Conduct of some Ministers, has made the Vestry, who are the Voice of the Congregation, somewhat more cautious than they formerly were in presenting ; therefore the general Practice which at present prevails, is taking Strangers upon Trial, till their moral Conduct, Abilities, & Character from whence they came, are discovered.