main
Difficulty would be at the _Falls_ or Cataracts, where the Water falls
over vast Rocks with an hideous Noise and great Force. Hither Sloops
can come, where the Goods might be landed with Cranes, and then put on
Board the Boats above the Falls; and by the like Methods might Goods be
sent down. But in Time it may be worth while to _turn_ Part of the
Rivers, and make _Locks_ one above another, whereby Sloops might easily
be let down or taken up, and so pass the Falls; like as the large Boats
of Pleasure and Burden are carried with Profit and Ease thro' Vallies
and over Hills quite a-cross _France_, in the wonderful Canal of
_Languedoc_, which was contrived by the late King, in order to make a
Communication from our Seas, to the _Mediterranean_ through the Heart
(almost) of his Kingdom; which Action has added to his Glory as well as
Profit, and brings in a great Income both to the Crown and to the
Undertaker of this most wonderful Work. If in _England_ we will not
follow this Example by making a Communication from the head Branches of
the _Thames_ into the _Severn_, which is very practicable, the Distance
being but a few Miles; yet I question not but in a few Years they will
be obliged to imitate the _Locks_ of _Languedoc_ at the _Falls_ in
_Virginia_.

In the Rocks up _James_ River, and in other Places is found a Stone
resembling a Diamond, much nearer than any Crystal or _Bristol-Stone_,
being very hard and ornamental.

There has been formerly discovered a Sand taken for Gold Dust; and
towards the Mountains are variety of Stones, some seeming to contain
several Kinds of Metals, and others are good for Building; among which
is the Appearance of Abundance of excellent Marble of several Sorts.
Upon the River Sides is cast up by the Tides abundance of black heavy
Sand resembling Smith's Filings; but the Nature and Vertue of this is
unknown as yet: I believe it is washed from some Veins of Mines at the
Bottoms of the Rivers, or is carried down by the Current, as Gold Dust
in _Africa_, from the upper Parts of the Rivers, and from the Rocks and
Mountains.

In several Places is Coal enough near the Surface of the Earth; and
undoubtedly in Time they will either have Occasion or Vent for it, to
supply other Places, if they will not use it themselves; but if Coal
Works were there carried on to Advantage, _Newcastle_ may witness, what
Numbers of Ships and People are employed in such Affairs, and what vast
Profit accrues from