6.  Compare the Virginia parish in its earlier government with the
   English parish from which it was naturally copied.

7.  Show how the vestry became a close corporation.

8.  Who were usually chosen as vestrymen, and what were their powers?

9.  Compare Virginia’s unit of representation in the colonial legislature with that of Massachusetts, and give the reason for the difference.

10.  Describe the county court, showing in particular how it became a close corporation.

11.  Bring out some of the history wrapped up in the names of county seats.

12.  What were the chief powers of the county court?

13.  Describe the assessment of the various taxes.

14.  What were the sheriff’s duties?

15.  Describe the organization and command of the militia in each county.

16.  Sum up the differences between local government in Virginia and that in New England (1) as to the management of local affairs and (2) as to the choice of local officers.

17.  What did Jefferson think of the principle of township government?

18.  What was the equivalent in Virginia of the New England town-meeting?

19.  What was the value of this frequent assembling?

20.  What schooling in political liberty before the Revolution did Virginia and Massachusetts alike have?

21.  What was an impressive feature of the New England system?

22.  What was an impressive feature of the Virginia system?

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS.

1.  How many counties are there in your state?

2.  Name and place them if the number is small.

3.  In what county do you live?

4.  Give its dimensions.  Are they satisfactory?  Why?

5.  Give its boundaries.

6.  Is there anything interesting in the meaning or origin of its name?

7.  How many towns and cities does it contain?

8.  What is the county seat?  Is it conveniently situated?  Reasons for thinking so?

9.  If convenient, visit any county building, note the uses to which it is put, and report such facts as may be thus found out.

10.  Obtain a deed, no matter how old, and answer these questions about it:—­

  a.  Is it recorded?  If so, where?
  b.  Would it be easy for you to find
     the record?
  c.  Why should such a record be kept?
  d.  What officer
     has charge of such records?
  e.  What sort of work must he and his
     assistants do?
  f.  The place of such records is called what?
  g.  What sort of facilities for the public should such a place have?  What
     safety precautions should be observed there?
  h.  Why should the county
     keep such records rather than the city or the town?
  i.  Is there a record of the deed by which the preceding owner came into
    possession of the property?
  j.  What sort of title did the first owner have?  Is
     there any record of it?  Was the first owner Indian or European?