USA > Virginia > Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia, Vol. I > Part 20
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"Up to the commencement of the Revolution, the Church of England was the established religion, in which your mother had been educated with strictness, if not with bigotry. From the strength of parental ex- ample, her attendance on public worship was unremitted, except when insuperable obstacles occurred; the administration of the sacrament was never without a cause passed by ; in her closet, prayer was uniformly ad- dressed to the throne of mercy, and the questioning of the sacred truths she never permitted to herself or heard from others without abhorrence. When we were united, I was a deist, made so by my confidence in some whom I revered, and by the labours of two of my preceptors, who, though of the ministry, poisoned me with books of infidelity. I cannot answer for myself that I should ever have been brought to examine the genuine- ness of Holy Writ, if I had not observed the consoling influence which it wrought upon the life of my dearest Betsey. I recollect well that it was not long before I adopted a principle which I have never relinquished : -that woman, in the present state of society, is, without religion, a monster. While my opinions were unsettled, Mr. --- and Mr. - -- came to my house on Sunday evening to play with me at chess. She did not appear in the room; and her reproof, which from its mildness was like the manna of heaven, has operated perpetually as an injunction from above; for several years since I detected the vanity of sublunary things, and knew that the good of man consisted in Christianity alone. I have often hinted a wish that we had instituted a course of family prayer for the benefit of our children, on whose minds, when most pliant, the habit might be fixed. But I know not how the plan was not enforced, until during her last illness she and I frequently joined in prayer. She always thanked me after it was finished ; and it grieves me to think that she should suppose that this enlivening inducement was necessary in order to excite me to this duty."
It is sad to think that ministers of the Gospel should contribute to infidelity by recommending the examination of infidel works.
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Who they were I am unable to ascertain. I have other reasons for knowing that infidelity, under the specious garb of Universal- ism, was then finding its way into the pulpit. Governor Page, Colonel Nicholas, and Colonel Bland made complaints against some one preaching in or near Williamsburg about this time, for advocating the doctrine with its usual associates, and prevented his preferment. The Rev. Mr. Yancey, of Louisa, also pub- lished a sermon on universal salvation, which has been recently republished by some of that school. A Rev. Mr. Tally, of Glou- cester, taught the same, and afterward gave a fit comment on his doctrine by dying the death of the drunkard, as one informed me who closed his eyes. At such a time, when the writings of French philosophers-falsely so called-were corrupting the minds of the Virginia youth, the testimony of such men as Peyton Randolph, Mr. R. C. Nicholas, Colonel Bland, President Nelson, Governor Page, and the recovery of Edmund Randolph from the snare, has peculiar weight. In the worst of times, God never leaves himself without a witness.
There appears on the vestry-list the two names of George Nicholas and his son, Robert Carter Nicholas. The former came to this country a physician,-doubtless duly qualified. He married the widow of Mr. Burwell, of Gloucester, a descendant of the Carters. His son, Robert C. Nicholas, was distinguished at the bar in Wil- liamsburg, in the House of Burgesses, in the Council, as Treasurer of the State, and as a patriot in the Revolutionary War. But he had a higher praise than all these offices could give him ; for he was a sincere Christian, and a zealous defender of the Church of his fathers when he believed her rights were assailed. Mr. Hugh Blair Grigsby, in his eloquent description of the Burgesses of 1776, thus describes him :-
" He loved, indeed, a particular form of religion, but he loved more dearly religion itself. In peace or war, at the fireside, or on the floor of the House of Burgesses, a strong sense of moral responsibility was seen through all his actions. If a resolution appointing a day of fasting and prayer or acknowledging the providence of God in crowning our arms with victory, though drawn by worldly men with worldly views, was to be, it was from his hands it was to be presented to the House, and from his lips came the persuasive words which fell not in vain on the coldest ears. Indeed, such was the impression which his sincere piety-embel- lishing as it did the sterling virtues of his character-made upon his own generation, that its influence was felt upon that which succeeded it; and when his youngest son, near a quarter of a century after his death, became a candidate for the office of Attorney-General of the Common- wealth, a political opponent, who knew neither father nor son, gave him
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his support, declaring that no son of the old Treasurer could be unfaith- ful to his country. Nor was his piety less conspicuous in a private sphere. Visiting, on one occasion, Lord Botetourt, with whom he lived in the strictest friendship, he observed to that nobleman, 'My lord, I think you will be very unwilling to die;' and when asked what gave rise to that remark, 'Because,' said he, 'you are so social in your nature, and so much beloved, and have so many good things around you, that you must be loath to leave them." His lordship made no reply; but a short time after, being on his death-bed, he sent in haste for Colonel Nicholas, who lived near the palace, and who instantly repaired thither to receive the last sighs of his dying friend. On entering his chamber, he asked his commands. 'Nothing,' replied his lordship, 'but to let you see that I resign those good things, of which you formerly spoke, with as much composure as I enjoyed them.' After which he grasped his hand with warmth, and instantly expired."*
The children of R. C. Nicholas were blessed with a mother who was equally worthy. Let the following letter to her son, Wilson Cary Nicholas, on his entering public life, bear witness :-
"WILLIAMSBURG, 1784.
"DEAR WILSON :- I congratulate you on the honour your county has done you in choosing you their representative with so large a vote. I hope you are come into the Assembly without those trammels which some people submit to wear for a seat in the House, -I mean, unbound by promises to perform this or that job which the many-headed monster may think proper to chalk out for you; especially that you have not engaged to lend a last hand to pulling down the church, which, by some imperti- nent questions in the last paper, I suspect will be attempted. Never, my dear Wilson, let me hear that by that sacrilegious act you have furnished yourself with materials to erect a scaffold by which you may climb to the summit of popularity; rather remain in the lowest obscurity : though, I think, from long observation, I can venture to assert that the man of integrity, who observes one equal tenor in his conduct,-who deviates neither to the one side or the other from the proper line,-has more of the confidence of the people than the very compliant time-server, who calls himself the servant-and, indeed, is the slave-of the people. I flatter myself, too, you will act on a more liberal plan than some members have done in matters in which the honour and interest of this State are con-
* Colonel Nicholas died at his seat in Hanover, leaving five sons,-George, who moved to Kentucky; Lewis, who lived in Albemarle; John, who moved to New York; Wilson Cary, who was member of the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the United States and Governor of Virginia ; Philip Norborne, called after Norborne, Lord Botetourt, his father's friend, and who, besides other offices, held that of Judge of the General Court. One of the daughters of Colonel Nicho- las married Mr. Edmund Randolph; another Mr. John H. Norton, of Winchester. She was the mother of the Rev. Mr. Norton, a venerable minister of the Episcopal Church of New York, who has two sons in our ministry,-one in Virginia, the other in Kentucky.
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cerned ; that you will not, to save a few pence to your constituents, dis- courage the progress of arts and sciences, nor pay with so scanty a hand persons who are eminent in either. This parsimonious plan, of late adopted, will throw us behind the other States in all valuable improve- ments, and chill, like a frost, the spring of learning and spirit of enter- prise. I have insensibly extended what I had to say beyond my first design, but will not quit the subject without giving you a hint, from a very good friend of yours, that your weight in the House will be much greater if you do not take up the attention of the Assembly on trifling matters nor too often demand a hearing. To this I must add a hint of my own, that temper and decorum is of infinite advantage to a public speaker, and a modest diffidence to a young man just entering the stage of life : the neglect of the former throws him off his guard, breaks his chain of reasoning, and has often produced in England duels that have terminated fatally. The natural effect of the latter will ever be pro- curing a favourable and patient hearing, and all those advantages that a prepossession in favour of the speaker produces.
"You see, my son, that I take the privilege of a mother in advising you, and, be assured, you have no friend so solicitous for your welfare, temporal and eternal, as your ever-affectionate mother,
" ANNE NICHOLAS."
The author of the above letter was the daughter of Colonel Wilson Cary, of Hampton, a descendant of one of the first families who settled in the lower part of Virginia. Tradition says that Mrs. Nicholas, after the death of her husband, R. C. Nicho- las, at his seat in Hanover, was visited by some British officers, and received them with great dignity. Her daughter-in-law, wife of her son George, and sister of Governor Samuel Smith, of Balti- more, being recognised by one of the officers as an old acquaint- ance in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, secured polite treatment for the family ; but the officers, on discovering that there were some jewels and other valuables in the house, seized upon them and carried them off.
Although I have not continued the list of vestrymen beyond the period of the Revolution, there are two who must have been added to it soon after that event, of whom I wish to take a pass- ing notice. The first of these is Mr. Burwell Bassett. His name may be seen on one or more of the earlier journals of the Church of Virginia, when it was first organized on the American platform. He is also to be seen, for a long time, as the representative of the Williamsburg district in the American Congress, and very often as filling the Speaker's chair in the absence of that officer. I knew him from my very boyhood as my father's friend and visitor. The name of Bassett is an ancient and honourable one on the page of Virginia history, and Mr. Burwell Bassett did not dishonour it.
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He was loved and esteemed for his integrity and friendly qualities. An anecdote was related to me, more than forty years ago, by that worthy man, Mr. Stanford, member of Congress from North Carolina, which showed his generosity of character. On a certain occasion, a poor old soldier of the Revolution presented himself in Washington and asked an alms of the members of Congress. Mr. Stanford, seeing something really touching and worthy in the case, undertook a collection for him in the hall of Congress. He was mortified at the refusal of some, and at the small and re- luctant contribution of others, but when he came to Mr. Bassett the scene was changed. He was just receiving of some one a number of bank-notes, and, on the mention of the subject, imme- diately opened both his hands, in which he held the bank-notes, and said, "Certainly," bidding him take whatever he wanted. His hospitality was proverbial. You could do him no greater favour than to go to his house and take as many others with you as you pleased. He was, however, though a very ultra republican in theory, pertinacious in having his own way in some things. An instance of this was once displayed in the Board of Visitors of William and Mary College, with which he had been connected for a long time, and where his will had generally governed. On a cer- tain occasion, when, after much debate, he failed to carry his point against the younger members, he left the room, shaking his coat- tail, instead of the dust of his feet, against them. The Board could not think of thus parting with their old friend, and, at the suggestion of one of their number, contrived that evening to let him know that they wished to dine with him next day. This was enough. A hospitable feast was given, and nothing more heard of the difference. The democratic principle of Mr. Bassett, united with this pertinacity of character, was also evident in his opposition to the canon of the Virginia Convention excluding from that body all non-communicants. He held that the vestries had a right to send whom they pleased, and that it was interfering with their rights to impose any conditions. He came to the Conven- tion in Fredericksburg, at which the question was finally settled, and spoke nearly one whole day against it. Being old and infirm, when he was tired of standing he asked leave to sit, which was freely granted. From a seat in the middle aisle, near the chancel where the bishops sat, he still talked until toward the close of the day. As I had read a written (and afterward pub- lished) argument in its favour in the morning, his address was chiefly to myself, and in a very plain style; but we allowed him
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all liberties, and, at the close, passed the canon by a majority of two-thirds or more. His vestry, sympathizing with him or unwill- ing to differ, resolved to send no more delegates or contributions while this canon continued, and were encouraged in their course by the strictures upon our canon in two of our Northern Epis- copal papers. Bishop Moore and myself did not change our re- lation to the parish, but continued to visit the congregation as usual, and said not a word to persuade the vestry to change their course. At the death of Mr. Bassett, not many years after, of its own accord a delegate was sent to the Convention, and all the back dues honourably sent with him. The kindness of Mr. Bassett to myself was increased during this period. He not only was most attentive to me when in Williamsburg, but, as I always came to it through New Kent, he would meet me in his carriage, more than twenty miles off, at old Colonel Macon's, and carry me thence to his hospitable home in Williamsburg, and, when my services there were ended, insist on sending me to the next point. From him I learned much of the character of the old church and its ministers.
MR. ROBERT SAUNDERS.
The other person to whom I alluded was the elder Mr. Robert Saunders, and father to the one of the same name now living in Williamsburg. Whether he was descended from either of the two ministers of that name on the list of the Virginia clergy, (one of early date,) or related to them, I know not. Mr. Saunders was a lawyer of distinction in Williamsburg, and highly esteemed by Dr. Wilmer and Dr. Empie for his religious character. He furnished Dr. Hawks a lengthy statement about the Church in Virginia, and especially about the parish of Bruton. The following is his opinion of the conduct of the Virginia Legislature in relation to the sale of the glebes :-
"It was not, I am persuaded, the result either of covetousness, infi- delity, or sectarianism, but proceeded from the same spirit which gave rise to the bill of rights and the Constitution bottomed upon them. I remark, further, that it is manifest, from the history of the day and the journal of the Legislative proceedings, that a great majority of both Houses were, at the time of passing these statutes, Episcopalians, and they clung to the Episcopal clergy as long as they could properly do so under the pressure of public opinion. As an individual I was opposed to the sale of the glebes, because I wished the Episcopal Church to be predominant ; and, as no direct injury was done to the Dissenters by keep-
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ing the glebes as appendages to the Church, I thought it was prudent to preserve this property in the channel in which it had passed for so many years, as an encouragement to the clergy of the Episcopal Church, to whom the people had been mainly attached by habit and education. But I cannot admit that the Legislature illegally seized and violated the rights of the Episcopal Church. The property belonged to the parish, and not to the clergy; and it is certainly now known that in very many, if not the larger number, of parishes in Virginia, the Episcopalians were not the majority, but a small minority at the time when this law was enacted."-Letter to Dr. Hawks.
I entirely concur with Mr. Saunders, that covetousness did not promote this law; for, as I shall show hereafter, the glebes were not worth contending for. Infidelity and sectarianism, I think, must have had their share in the work. I shall have occasion to consider this question at a future time.
CONCLUSION.
Some thoughts on the formation of the Virginia character, as displayed in the American Revolution and previously, may with propriety follow after the history of the Church and College at Williamsburg, and the foregoing list of vestrymen. As London and the Universities were in one sense England, Paris and its Uni- versity France, so Williamsburg, while it was the seat of Govern- ment, and the College of William and Mary, were, to a great extent, Virginia. Here her Governor and chief officers resided; here her Council often repaired and her Burgesses annually met. What was their character ? Whence did their ancestors come, and who were they ? Happily for the Colony, they were not Lords, or their eldest sons, and therefore heirs of lordship. With one or two ex- ceptions, none such ever settled in Virginia. Neither were they in any great numbers the ultra devotees of kings,-the rich, gay, mili- tary, Cavalier adherents of Charles I.,-or the non-juring believers in the divine right of kings, in the days of Charles II. and of James II. Some of all these there were in the Colony, doubtless. Some dainty idlers, with a little high blood, came over with Captain Smith at first, and more of the rich and high-minded Cavaliers after the execution of Charles I .; but Virginia did not suit them well enough to attract and retain great numbers. There was too much hard work to be done, and too much independence, even from the first, for those who held the doctrine of non-resistance and passive obedience to kings and others in authority, to make Virginia a
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comfortable place for them and their posterity .* And yet we must not suppose that the opposite class-the paupers, the ignorant, the servile-formed the basis of the larger and better class of the Vir- ginia population, when it began to develop its character at the Re- volution, and, indeed, long before. These did not spring up into great men in a day or a night, on touching the Virginia soil. Some of the best families of England, Ireland, Scotland, and France, formed at an early period a large part of that basis. Noblemen and their elder sons did not come over; but we must remember how many of the younger sons of noblemen were educated for the bar, for the medical profession, and the pulpit, and turned adrift on the world to seek their own living, without any patrimony. Some of those, and many more of their enterprising descendants, came to the New World, especially to Virginia, in search of fortune and honour, and found them here. Numbers of Virginia families, who are almost ashamed or afraid in this republican age to own it, have their genealogical trees, or traditionary records, by which they can trace their line to some of the most ancient families in England, Scotland, Ireland, and to the Huguenots of France. Where this is not the case, still they can derive their origin from
* It may very properly be called a mixed basis of Cavaliers, of the followers of Cromwell and of the Pretender, and of the Huguenots, when persecuted and forced to fly for refuge to other lands; and also of many respectable persons at other times. The Test-Act, or subscriptions required of the vestrymen and other officers, shows that no encouragement was held out, either to the followers of Cromwell or of the Pretender, to expect honours and offices in Virginia. They always required allegiance to the established Government, except during the temporary usurpation of Cromwell. After the establishment of the House of Hanover, the Stuart Pre- tenders and their followers were denounced in these test-oaths. Some specimens of these subscriptions, or oaths, are presented in our sketches. So that, probably, not many of either extreme came to Virginia, where they were thus stigmatized and excluded from office unless on condition of abjuring their principles. Dr. Hawks, in his History of the Church in Virginia, says that its population before the pro- tectorate of Cromwell was twenty thousand; after the restoration of monarchy, thirty thousand. There were only ten thousand added in ten or twelve years. If we consider how many of this number were from natural increase in a new country, how many not of the Cavalier class had come over, and how many of that class returned on the accession of Charles II., it will not leave a large number to make an impression on the Virginia character. Most of those Cavaliers who, by their birth and talents, were most likely to make that impression, had gone to Surinam, Barbadoes, Antigua, and the Leeward Islands. These "were to be men of the first rate, who wanted not money or credit." (See Dr. Hawks's History, page 284.) After the restoration of monarchy, some of the followers of Cromwell came over to Virginia, but most probably in much smaller numbers than the Cavaliers had done, as they would not find so welcome a home, for the loyalty of Virginia at that time cannot be questioned.
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men of education, either "in law, physic, or divinity, which things were too costly in the old countries to be gotten by the poorer classes, except in some few instances where charity was afforded. Ministers could not generally be ordained without degrees from Cambridge, Oxford, Dublin, or Edinburgh. Lawyers studied at the Temple Bar in London ; physicians at Edinburgh. For a long time Virginia was dependent for all these professional characters on English education. Those who came over to this country poor, and ignorant, and dependent, had few opportunities of elevating themselves; as has been happily the case since our independence, by reason of the multiplication of schools and colleges, and of all the means of wealth which are now open to us. Sir William Berkeley in his day rejoiced that there was not a free school or printing-press in Virginia, and hoped it might be so for a hundred years to come; and perhaps it was not much otherwise as to schools. In the year 1723, the Bishop of London addressed a circular to the clergy of Virginia, then somewhat over forty in number, making various inquiries as to the condition of things in the parishes. One of the questions was, "Are there any schools . in your parish ?" The answer, with two or three exceptions, (and those in favour of charity-schools,) was, none. Private schools at rich gentlemen's houses, kept perhaps by an unmarried clergyman or candidate for Orders, were all the means of education in the Colony, and to such the poor had no access. Another question was, "Is there any parish library ?" The answer invariably was, none; except in one case, where the minister replied, "We have the Book of Homilies, the Whole Duty of Man, and the Singing Psalms." Such were the answers from thirty clergymen, whose responses I have before me .* If "knowledge be power," Virginia was, up to that time, so far as the poor were concerned, but a bar- ren nursery of mighty men. Would that it had been otherwise, both for Church and State! Education was confined to the sons of those who, being educated themselves, and appreciating the value of it, and having the means, employed private teachers in their families, or sent their sons to the schools in England and paid
* Even the little establishment of Huguenots at Manakintown, whose compact settlement so favoured education, and whose parentage made its members to desire it, was so destitute, that about this time one of their leading men, a Mr. Sallie, on hearing that the King was about to establish a colony in Ireland for the Huguenots, addressed him a letter begging permission to be united to it, saying that there was no school among them where their children could be educated.
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