There are three fine public buildings in this countrywhich are said to be the most magnificent of any in theEnglish America: one of which is the college before spokenof, another the capitol of state house, as it was formerlycalled; that is, the house for convention of the generalassembly, for the sitting of the general court, for themeeting of the council, and for keeping of their severaloffices, belonging to them.
Not far from this, is also built the public prison of the country for criminals, which is a large and convenient structure,with partitions for the different sexes, and distinctrooms for petty offenders. To this is also annexed a convenientyard to air the criminals in, for the preservation oftheir life and health, till the time of their trial; and at theend of that another prison for debtors.
The third is a house for the governor, not the largest, butby far the most beautiful of all the others. It was grantedby the assembly in Governor Nott's time, begun in President Jenning's time, but received its beauty and coveniencyfor the many alterations and decorations, of the presentgovernor, Colonel Spotswood; who, to the lasting honorand happiness of the country, arrived there, while this housewas carrying up.
In his time was also built a new brick church, and brickmagazine for arms and ammunition, and the streets of the town altered from the fanciful forms of Ws and Ms tomuch more conveniences.
These are all erected at Middle plantation, now namedWilliamsburg, where land is laid out for a town. Theyall are built of brick, and covered with shingle, except thedebtors' prison which is flat roofed anew; a very usefulinvention of the present governor also.
The private buildings are also in his time verymuch improved, several gentlemen there, having built themselveslarge brick houses of many rooms on a floor; butthey don't covet to make them lofty, having extent enoughof ground to build upon; and now and then they arevisited by high winds, which would incommode a toweringfabric. They love to have large rooms, that they may be cool in summer. Of late they have made theirstories much higher than formerly, and their windows larger,and sashed with crystal glass; adorning their apartmentswith rich furniture.
All their drudgeries of cookery, washing, daries, &c.,are performed in offices apart from the dwelling houses,which by this means are kept more cool and sweet.
Their tobacco houses are all built of wood, as open andairy as is consistent with keeping out the rain; which sort of building is most convenient for the curing of theirtobacco.
Their common covering for dwelling houses is shingle,which is an oblong square of cypress or pine wood; butthey cover their tobacco houses with thin clap board; andthough they have slate enough in some particular parts of thecountry, and as strong clay as can be desired for makingof tile, yet they have very few tiled houses; neither hasany one yet thought it worth his while to dig up the slate,which will hardly be made use of, till the carriage therebecomes cheaper, and more common; the slate laying far up the frontiers above water carriage.