to do the same Work, to which if
they were compelled by mild Methods, it would ease the Publick of a
great deal of Charge, Trouble, and Loss, and would highly tend to the
Advancement of the temporal and spiritual Happiness of our _Poor_, and
be very instrumental in the Suppression of Theft and Villany, and for
the Reformation of the most Profligate. Thousands of poor, honest,
unfortunate People of all Trades and Occupations might be there imployed
for the Support of themselves and Interest of Trade, that can find
neither Work nor Maintenance for themselves and Families at Home; and
such as had rather stroll or steal here, might be confined by mild Force
to moderate Labour there, sufficient to support themselves, and benefit
their Imployers.

The _British_ Trade may easily vend their Effects and Manufactures; and
_Virginia_, with the neighbouring Plantations, is capacious enough for
their Reception, plentiful for their Maintenance, and abound with most
Conveniences and Materials for most Kinds of Imployments; where several
Things, upon Account of the Goodness of the Climate, and Fertility of
the Country, may be produced with less Labour and more Plenty than in
_Great Britain_; and innumerable Commodities might there be made by our
own People, that are now imported at extravagant Prices, and excessive
Toil and Danger from other Nations: Nay, we might supply other Nations
with most of those Things which we now fetch from Abroad; so that though
our _Imports_ might decrease a little, yet would our Exports be
abundantly augmented, which undoubtedly would tend much more to the
Advantage of our Country: Even our own _home_ Consumption in most
Respects might be raised much cheaper and better in the Plantations than
here; especially such Things as are with great Toil and Cost forc'd (as
it were) unnaturally out of barren Ground, improper Soil, or a
disagreeable Climate; and the Land and People in such Places might be
occupied in more proper Business, and for more useful Purposes.

But the common People here have such a vain Fondness for their own
Country, and such despicable Notions of _Virginia_, &c. and are under
such dreadful Apprehensions of the imaginary Slavery of the Plantations,
that they choose for the most Part rather to steal, beg, or starve, than
go _Abroad_ to work; and in the mean Time the Magistrates and our Laws
are so mild to them, that like as _Pharaoh_'s lean Kine devoured the fat
ones, they grievously oppress