e about those Things should be
put to better Uses and Purposes, more suitable and more beneficial both
for the publick and private Interest. These Measures would create no
Alteration in the present Trade and Methods, but would only augment and
add new Advantages and Improvements to our Merchandize and Manufactures:
Instead of being a Hindrance to the present Customs and Methods, it
would promote the Interest and Trade both of _Great Britain_ and
_Virginia_, and the other Plantations. Would it not be for the Good of
Thousands of unfortunate People, besides for the Benefit of _Virginia_,
if Farmers were there well settled, and Husbandry carried on regularly,
and all Sorts of Grain and Grass brought to Perfection; if greater
Quantities of good Cyder and fine Spirits were made there, not only for
their own Use, but for Transportation to the _West-Indies_; nay, and
thro' _England_ to the _Turkish_ Dominions where Wine is prohibited? How
cheap might Ships be there victualled with the best Provision, and what
Quantities of barrelled Pork and Beef might be exported from
_Virginia_, with _Indian_ Corn, Wheat, Rye, _&c._ and be sent to several
Parts of the World, where such Things turn to very good Account for the
Merchant and Farmer? Many indeed have been baulked in _planting and
husbandry_ there; but such have been chiefly _Londoners_, who are
Strangers to Country Business. Any Person may conceive the great Profit
and Use to Trade in general, by having the Marshes turned into Meadows,
the Rivers confined to deep Channels, by Passages being contrived at the
_Falls_, and the upper Parts of the Rivers being made navigable.
_England_ is the Mart and Store-House, whither the Manufactures and
vendible Goods of _Virginia_ for the most Part should be sent; and after
the _English_ have culled what they like and have Occasion for, surely
they are so skilful in Merchandize, that they could vend to other
Countries the Overplus of these Commodities, and reap sufficient Profit
for their Pains. Thus suppose we should have more of the following
Things than our own Use requires, certainly they might easily and
profitably be disposed of to others; such as the leathern and woollen
Manufactures, hempen and flaxen Goods, Pitch, Tar, Timber for Ship and
House-Carpenters, and Cabinet-Makers, Joyners, _&c._ such as Oak, Deal,
Walnut, Hickory, Cedar, Cypress, Locust, and the like, with Masts,
Yards, Ships, and all Sorts of naval Stores, with Planks, Clap