The Virginia Gazette

Northumberland, December, 1737.

Mister Park,

SIR,

I am about Fornication and Banns three Times in the Year as a Clerk of a Church, and am to read the Laws in the Church; which Laws are in written Hand, which I can't read, without some Gentle folks laugh at my Blunders. I have in your Gazette, and can read in it as well as in the Bible, or it is written in printing Hand; and desire you will send the Laws in that Hand by next Post, or give me an Order upon the next Justice to tear it out of his Book for the Use of the Church, or pay my Fine, or print this as one as it comes to Hand; and you will oblige

Your unknown Friend,

Nicholas Whitlock.

I can't find out the Design of the above Letter: unless it be to expose the Ignorance of a Parish-Clerk; or to shew the Necessity of the Vestries being furnish'd with the Printed Body of Laws, there being many Laws in Force, which the Minister or Clerk are enjoyn'd to read in the Churches, under Severe Penalties, on Failure.

I can't oblige my new Correspondent with an Order on any Justice of Peace, to tear his Book; but if he can prevail on his Vestry to be at the Expence of purchasing a Complete Body of the Laws of this Colony, I will undertake to Supply Them, (or any other Vestry) with such a Book, for Thirty Two Shillings, in so good a Print that he may read it as well as the Bible.

And considering the Charge is So Small, especially when collected from a whole Parish, it's admirable (if I may be allow'd to say so, without Suspicion of Self Interest) that any Vestries are without them.