Advantage
(instead of Detriment) to have fine Wool enough of our own to work up,
without being beholden to _Spain_ for it; especially if we consider that
it might either be sent Home to be wrought in _Britain_, or else we
might send over Numbers of our superfluous Cloth-workers to make it up
there into the same Sorts of Goods, as they make in _England_, which
would be much the cheapest way; and then these Goods should be imported
to the Clothiers _here_, who undoubtedly would have _Call_ enough for
what they can make in _Virginia_ and at Home; for if they see Occasion
they need not encrease the Quantity, but only make Use of Plantation
Wool raised by _Britons_, instead of _Spanish Wool_; and the Decrease of
our Exports to _Spain_ might sufficiently be balanced (if not upon
Account of employing Numbers of our own People, yet) by many other Ways.
Neither can I see any Harm in it, if the carrying on Woollen
Manufactures in _Virginia_ by _English_ People that want Employment, the
Quantity of Woollen Goods were thereby encreased; especially such as are
for Home Consumption, and the Use of the Plantations; for then Rich and
Poor would have their Cloths much cheaper; and if the Draper gained less
by his Countrymen, it might be contrived that he should gain more by
Strangers abroad in other Parts of the World.

More might be said as to the Manufactures of Hemp and Flax, than what I
have mentioned of Wool, because we are in a great Measure obliged for
these to foreign Nations, who in Case of War might pinch us prodigiously
more than they do; more particularly to the great Expence and
Inconveniency of our Shipping, the Glory and Bulwark of the _British_
Nations. Here we have enough of good Land lying waste; and at Home we
have People lying idle sufficient to supply us from _Virginia_, with
Ropes, Cables, and Canvas for our Ships of War and Merchandize, with
Linens for wearing and for houshold Use, were Projects set on Foot, and
rightly carried on for so useful and advantageous Undertakings.

Besides this, there is Pitch and Tar enough, which with careful
Management might be made as good, and afforded as cheap, or cheaper,
than any from other Places.

Then as for Oak no Country has finer nor more Plenty; which though it
will not last long enough for Houses, yet it will for Shipping: Witness
the _New England_ Ships built of the same Sort of Wood; and as for Deal
Planks here may be as good as any; and I question if _Gottenburgh_,