or
any other Part of _Europe_ can afford us better Pines for Masts and
Yards (especially for Merchants Use) than what grow in _Virginia_ in
several Places in very great Plenty; so that many Ships might be built
there, which would employ Numbers of Shipwrights from _Great Britain_,
and would stand the Merchants in a great deal less Expence, than if they
were built at Home: Nay, we might even build Ships for several other
Nations, and make them turn to a very good Account, without any Risk of
doing Damage to our publick Safety or Interest.

As for Wine, in all Parts of the Country Grapes grow wild and thrive
extreamly, but at present they are almost only Food for the Birds; few
Attempts having been made for the Cultivation of them and making Wines,
except that of Colonel _Robert Beverley_, which was thus: He having
read, seen, studied, and enquired much concerning the Nature of
Vintages, reduced his Knowledge to Practice for his better Experience
and Certainty, in planting a small Vineyard; and having great Prospect
that this would answer his Purpose, he bragged much of it in Publick;
but being bantered by several Gentlemen, he proposed to give each of
them a Guinea down, if they would give him Ten, if he made a certain
Number of Gallons of pure Wine that Vintage; they accepted the
Proposals, and he distributed (I think) one hundred Guineas, made the
Wine according to the Terms agreed upon, and won his Wager; which Money
he afterwards employed in planting more and greater Vineyards, from
which he made good Quantities of Wine, and would have brought it to very
high Perfection, had he lived some Years longer.

His whole Family, even his _Negroes_ drank scarce any thing but the
small Wines, and the Strong is of a good Body and Flavour; the Red that
I have often drank to me seems to have the Taste of _Claret_ and the
Strength of _Red Port_. Not only red Grapes, but also white ones of all
Sorts from _Europe_ produce and grow there to Admiration; an Instance of
which may be seen at Colonel _William Robinson_'s upon _Rappahannock_
River, who has planted out Abundance; and I don't question but he and
other Gentlemen there will follow Mr. _Beverley_'s Pattern; which if
brought to Perfection might tend to an extraordinary good Account, and
not only prove profitable to the Planter, but also advantageous to
_Britain_, even if we could but make small Quantities of Wine there; but
much more beneficial would it be if there could be ma