truth
of what hath been now advanced.

A general intercourse and correspondence with all the English colonies,
both on the islands and the continent, and with other parts of America,
hath been before laid down, as a necessary circumstance, the reason
whereof is very evident. But this circumstance is hardly to be found.
For on the continent, where there are neither inns, nor carriages, nor
bridges over the rivers, there is no travelling by land between distant
places. And the English settlements are reputed to extend along the
sea-coast for the space of fifteen hundred miles. It is therefore
plain, there can be no convenient communication between them, otherwise
than by sea; no advantage therefore, in this point, can be gained by
settling on the continent.

There is another consideration, which equally regards the continent and
islands, that the general course of trade and correspondence lies from
all those colonies to Great Britain alone: Whereas, for our present
purpose, it would be necessary to pitch upon a place, if such could be
found, which maintains a constant intercourse with all the other
colonies, and whose commerce lies chiefly or altogether (not in Europe,
but) in America.

There is but one spot that I can find, to which this circumstance
agrees: and that is the isles of Bermuda, otherwise called the Summer
Islands. These having no rich commodity or manufacture, such as sugar,
tobacco, or the like, wherewithal to trade to England, are obliged to
become carriers for America, as the Dutch are for Europe. The Bermudans
are excellent shipwrights and sailors, and have a great number of very
good sloops, which are always passing and repassing from all parts of
America. They drive a constant trade to the islands of Jamaica,
Barbadoes, Antego, &c. with butter, onions, cabbages, and other roots
and vegetables, which they have in great plenty and perfection. They
have also some small manufactures of joyner's work and matting, which
they export to the plantations on the continent. Hence Bermudan sloops
are oftener seen in the ports of America, than any other. And indeed,
by the best information I could get, it appears they are the only
people of all the British plantations, who hold a general
correspondence with the rest.

And, as the commerce of Bermuda renders it a very fit place, wherein to
erect a seminary, so likewise doth its situation, it being placed
between our plantations on the continent, and those in th