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'THE . ' , ''

AMERICAN TRAVELLER:

OR,

OBSERVATIONS

ON THE

Present State, Culture and Commerce.

O F T H E

BRITISH COLONIES in AMERICA,
And the further I\fPROvEMENT« of which they are capable;

WITH

An Account of the Exports, Imports and Returns of
each Colony refpeAively,— and of the Numbers of British
Ships and Seamen, Merchants, Traders and Manufddlurers
employed by all collectively :

TO GETHER WITH

The Amount of the Revenue arifing to Great- Britain therefrom.

In a SERI^ES of LETTERS, written originally to the

Right Honourable the Earl of ****** * * *

By an Old and Experienced TRADER.

LONDON:

^Printed for E. and C. DI LX Y, in the Poultry, and J. AL M O N, Piccadilly.

MDCCLXIX.

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TO THE

SOVEREIGN OFTHE BRITISH EMPIRE,

THE FATHER OF HIS PEOPLE.

WHOM

HEAVEN HAS BLESSED WITH INCLINATION,

AND

■s».

TRUSTED WITH POWER,

To PROMOTE TifEiR GENERAL WEAL and HAPPINESS,

Thefe Labours of a private Individual, humbly directed
to that great End, are, with all -^

Deference and Duty,
Infcribed by

His Majesty's
Mqft faithful

SubjeSi and Servant^

The American Traveller.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

The prefent Situation of Affairs between Great-
Britain and her American Colonies, will juftify
this Publication. Mutual Advantage is the
moft folid Bafis, the ftrongeft Cement of Union,
in all Connexions, whether political or private.
To fhew fuch Advantage therefore, muft be
the moft effeilual Means of prefer ving that
Union, fo much and fo wifely wiihed for^ by
every Friend of his Country.

"f- i\

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CONTENTS.

Letter

I, & II. General IntroduBion^ &c. — —

III. Obfenyatiom on Hudfons Bay^ — —

IV. Continued — — —

V. Continued — — -r- —

VI. Continued — — —

VII. Objervatiom on Labrador ^ — —

VIII. on Newfoundland^ —

IX. on Canada^ — — —

X. on Nova Scotia^ — —

XI. ' on St, ydns and Cape Breton^

XII. on New England^ — —

XIII. — on ConneElicut^ Rhode Ijland and ?

New Hampfhire^ — 3

XIV. on New Torky — —

XV. on Pennfylvania^ — —

XVI. on Virginia and Maryland^ —

XVII. on North Carolina^ — —

XVIII. on South Carolina^ — - —

XIX. on Georgia^ — —

XX. on Eafi Florida^ — —

XXI. on Weft Ftoriday — —

XXII. Recapitulatory Remarks^ — —

XXIII. Total Amount of the American Trade ^ 6cc. &c.

Page

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OBSERVATIONS

O N T H E

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CULTURE and COMMERCE

*f\r'f'*'^*

O F T H E

BRITISH COLONIES, &c.

««•«••###*••••#««#««##«#«•##••••••#•*

LETTER I.

i:./ t;iiu

rK:

My Lord,

A i t

^^^ H E lall Time I had the Honour of converfing
rp ^ with your Lordfhip, you intimated a Defire, that

J fhould draw into one Point of View, the feveral
])0()aQO()0(jiil Hints, which J had at different Times, taken the
Liberty to fugged to your Lordfhip, on the prefent State of the
Britijh Colonies^ and the Improvements^poflible to be made in
the Culture, and Commerce of them, to their and the Mo-

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thcr Country's mutual Advantage, that you might be able
with the greater Eafe and Accuracy to form a Judgement
yourfelf, and convince others of the Reality of fuch Ad-
vantage, and the Feafibility of the Means propofed to
obtain it. r > « ; ; »^ ^

•»..i.

Every Intimation of your Lordfhip's Pleafure is a Law to

me ; becaufe I know from Experience, that it is founded in

Wifdora, and tends to the public Good. I fhall therefore enter

readily upon the Tafk you have prefcribed, without any often-

tatioiis Parade of diffidence in my own Abilities, (which would

be an Infuit to your Lordfliip's Judgement, rather than a

Proof of my Modefty) and in the plain Words of Truth,

and good Intention, lay before your Lordfhip thofe Ob-

fervations, which much Experience has enabled me to make on

this important Subjed, together with the FaiSts upon which fuch

Obfervations have been formed ; without ftudying any of thofe

Ornaments of Writing (a Study indeed, which my Life has been

too clofely enoployed in other Matters to fpare Time for)

that are ofteneft ufed to glofs over a bad Caufe, and miflead

rather than inform the Judgement, fully fenfible that your

Lordfhip, in Things of this Nature, confiders the Matter

more than the Manner ; and will never turn your Face away

from Reafon, for not being introduced in the moft faihionable

Drels. .. .'•:.,',. .L ;■■.''.:;•■ -' .';';•'..' - ' /'

. . ■' - ■ - : .. 1v^

In the Execution of this Attempt (for by no other Name
can the Labours of any one Man to inveftigate a Subjed of
fuch immenfe Extent be properly called) I have made Choice

, . . . . . ,, . ... of

r.\

1.3]

of this Method of conveying my Thoughts to your Lord-
lliip,''iii a Series of LeUers, for fcveral Reafons. ''' '''•'•'

' The firft, and moft applicable perfonally to myfelf, is, that
having been moftly, if not folely accuftomed to the epiftolary
Style, in a Life of Bufinefs, I can exprefs my Thoughts more
readily, and perhaps more clearly in that, than in any other.
Though were not this the Cafe, there are abundant other
Reafons to determine me to this Choice. . , . ,

By this Manner of writing, I have an Opportunity of di-
viding my Work, fo as to avoid the grievous Difad vantage
of having the Reader break off, perhaps in the middle of my
Argument, becaufe he does not fee a refting Place prepared
for him ; the moft indolent, or inattentive, feldom having fo
little Curioiity, or being fo foon tired, as to ftop before they
reach the End of a Letter of moderate Length.

Befide, in this Method, I may myfelf take the Liberty of
flopping a little while, or going a few Steps out of my Way,
now and then, to take Notice of any Thing that may illuftrate
my Subjed:, or enforce my own Sentiments, without Fear of
giving that OfFence, which might be taken at fuch Freedoms,
in a Work of a more regular Nature; and alfo of recapitu-
lating my Argument in proper Places, fo as to keep it always
in View, and upon Occafion colled its Force into one Point
to face any Oppofition. ' " • '

I mention thefe Particulars, my Lord, not as unknown to
your Lordfhip, but to obviate the Objedion of Vanity, which

B 2 may

• [ 4 ]

may probably be made to my ufing this Mode of Writing, as
if I intended to infinuate by it, a greater Intimacy with a
Perfon of your Lordfhip's high Rank, and higher Chara<5ler,
than I really am honoured with, or ought to difclofe, if I am.

In like Manner, it is my Duty to obferve, that in the
Courfe of thefe Letters, I fhall frequently have Occafion to
mention, and often to dwell upon the Proof of many Things,
which are already fufficiently known to your Lordfhip ; but
this, as I faid in the former Inflance, is not done with the
mofl diftant Infinuation of informing you; but folely to con-
vey that Information to others, who may not have had the
fame Opportunity of acquiring it ; to which Knowledge I
mufl alfo beg your Lordfhip's Pardon, and Indulgence for tak-
ing the Liberty of appealing upon many Occafions, where I
apprehend that the indifputable Authority of fUch a Voucher
may be neceflary to fupport my own Credit.

Having thus, my Lord, given the Reafons both for my pre-
fuming to addrefs my Thoughts on this Subjed: to your
Lordfhip particularly, and in this particular Manner, I fhall
in my next Letter give an Account of the Matter, which I
propofe to fubmit to your Judgement, and the Method in
which that Matter fhall be arranged ; and then proceed lo
obey your Lordfhip's Commands, without trefpafling upon
you with any farther Preface, or Apology.

I am with Attachment and Refpedt,

..,//t';,. .,.,,.._ r j^. ,^ • My Lord, '

Tour Lord/hip's mofl humhte^

and obedient Servants

[ 5 ]

f I t/'i

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LETTER II.

r .'> !,^ ■^U 1,1.:

My Lord,

IT is an old Remark, that the Value of a Friend is feldom
known, 'till he is loft. I moft fincercly wifh, tfiis may
not be the Cafe of Great-Britain with Regard to her American
Colonies, While we went on fmoothly together, we enjoyed
the Advantage of our Intercourfe, unequal as it was to what
it might have been rendered, without ever confidering the
Quarter it came from, or the Means of improving, or even
preferving the Continuance of it, as is too often the Cafe, in
Refpedl to the greateft Bleflings of Heaven.

I would not be underftood to limit this Remark to either
Side. It is unhappily too applicable to both. But as the iirft
Objed of every Man's Thoughts, who turns them to Matters
of public Concern, is, or at leaft fhould be, the immediate
Advantage of his native Country, I fhiall iirft confider how
far the Colonies are advantageous to Great-Britain; as alfe>
how that Advantage may be ftill farther improved, and
then the reciprocal Advantage received by the Colonies will
follow of Courfe, and prove the mutual Intercft of both
to preferve that good Agreement, and Unanimity, by
which alone fuch Advantage can be preferved \ in the Dif-

cuflion

[ 6 3

cufllon and Pioof of which Points, the Means neccHIiry to
obtain that great End, and accompHfli the many Improve-
ments of which that Advantage is capable, will naturally, and
obvioufly be included.

When I fay, that " the firft Objed of a Man s Thoughts
fLould be the Advantage of his native Country," I do not in
any Senfe mean that he fhould do, or devife any Thing un-
juft in itfelfj or injurious to the juft Intereft of any other
Country to procure that Advantage. All I intend, is, that
where the oppofite Interefls of his own and another Country
^re ballanced in the Scale of Juftice, he owes a Duty to the
former, which will neceflarily make it preponderate in his
Thoughts; a Duty of the fame Nature, and derived ulti-
mately from the fame Origin, with that fo ftrongly enforced
by Reafon, and Revelation, which we owe to our Parents,
the Place where^ as well as the Perfons through whom wc are
called into this Life, being appointed by the Divine Giver
of all Life, and confequently entitled to the fame filial Attach-
ment and AfFedlion, though in a lefier Degree, as the Force
of Filiation^ by being centered in one Point is preferved en-
tire, whereas that of Pattiotifm is dit^ided i>erhaps between
Millions, and thereby leflened on each Individuii ; not to inftft
upon the obvious Reafon of the moi'e immediate and intimate
Connexion in the former, than in the latter. And this
fhews the Error in the general Application of the antient
Philofopher's faying, that he was a Citizen of the Worlds
as if it implied, that all Countries ought to be equally
dear to a Man of Senfe, the true Meaning of it being only
to inculcate Phihmthropy^ or in the facred Style, Go^d-Wtll
towards all Manlund\ and not by any Means to deny, or

invalidate

^iik.

[ 7 ]

invalidate the natural, and indlfp iifible Attachment,
which every Man is bound to hi nati^'e Country.

How univerfal the Senfe of this At' chmen' has ever
been, and in what high Iiftimation ti^e Extrtion of it
held, is fufficiently proved by the Honours paid to thofe,
who have even facrificed to it the neareft Connedtions of
Nature, as in the Inftance of the Roman BrutuSy and the firft
Principle of human A6tion, Self-prefervation, in thofe of the De-
city with many others, both Romans and Athenians^ unneceflliry
to be enumerated here ; and this among the moft civilized
Nations; thofe more ignorant carr}^ing the Point ftill farther,
and in the enthufiaftic Ardour of their Gratitude, thinking
human Honours too little, and therefore conferring divine^
on fuch general Benefaftors of Mankind.

Your Lordfhip will pardon this little Digreflion in Eluci-
dation of a Point fo dear to you, as to be made the
evident Rule of your public Life, for the Neceility of it
to obviate the Imputation of Partiality, in thefe Refearches
into a Subjeft of fo delicate a Nature in itfelf, as the In-
tercourfe between a Mother Country, and her Colonic ; and
more particularly fo at this Time, and in this Inftance.

In Order to give due Weight to what I (hall fay on this im-
portant Subjeft, it is necellary that I fhould explain the Origin
and Extent of that Experience, which I hinted at in my firft
Letter, as the Reafon that induced your Lordfhip to prefcribe
this Attempt to me.

I hav

[ 8 ]

. I have had the Honour to inform your Lordfhip of the
Difcoveries I made in the Year 1 744 ; as alfo that fince that
Time I have travcrfed tlie whole Coaft of America^ from
Lat, 68 Nortbi to Cape Florida \ and penetrated fome thou-
fands of Miles wcftward, into the Wildernefs, many Parts
of which, were never before trodden by European Foot.

*' »

The Accounts therefore, which I fhall give of thefe, I
had almoft faid boundlefs Regions, are not taken upon Truft,
on the Relation of others. They are the Refult of real
Experience, on the Tellimony of my Senfes; as the Obfer-
vations I fhall offer on them are founded on the unerring
Evidence of Fads.

The fame Foundation of Experience alfo fupports what I
fhall offer in Refpedl to the Commerce of the Wefl-Indian
Iflands, as well as of the Colonies on the Continent. -

.:.,ff

f I I t » :

.f;c;, /

•t :.-..» ()'

•►/

.'!•

I \\ i'k

' In the Courfe of more than thirty Years, which I have
been clofely and conflantly engaged in mercantile Bufinefs, in
all its various Extent, I have had Intercourfe in dealing with
the Colonies of Hudjons Bay, Newfoundland^ Quebec, New
England, Penfylvania, Vrrginia, North and South Carolina,

and Georgia With Barbadoes, Grenada, St. Vincents, Do-

minica, Antigua, Montferrat, Nevis, St, Chriflophers, and

famaica. The Commerce therefore of thefe- Places cannot

reafonably be fuppofed to be unknown to me, or my Remarks
upon it, only the chimerical Dreams of groundlefs Specula-
tion, as has mofl fliamefully been the Cafe with too many
of thofe who have written on this important Subjed:.

: ] A clear

•»_..' JT.'-f:

■ [ 9 ]

A clear but concifc Account of what particularly Ariick niv
Obfcrvatioii in the different Parts of America^ with wl^itli
I propofe to begin, will be the beft Introdudtion to llic.fj
Hints of Improvement, which I would humbly fu^gcft X')
your Lordfhip, in the Culture and Commerce of our Co-
lonies there, and the moft folid Bads, upon which io fcvin.l
the Expedience, and Pradlicability of them; and at the f.ir.ic
Time afford the moft convincing Proof of the iacftiniulk*
Value of thofe Colonies to the Mother Country ; and the in-
difpenfible Neceflity in every Senfe of political Prudence, of
healing thofe unhappy Differences, wjiich fcem. fo alarm-
ingly to threaten an Interruption at leaft, if not a total Lcfs
of Intercourfe with them, at this moft critical Period.

* It muft not be expected though, that this Account iliall
include Dcfcriptions of the Appearances of thofe Countries,
or of the Perfons, Manners, Cuftoms, he. of the Inha-
bitants. Thefe Points have long been fufficiently fct fortli ;
or if any Curioftty concerning tlkm ftill remains, it may foon
and eafily be gratified, by Recourfe to the many Accounts
extant of every Particular of this Kind in them. Tlic-
Nature of the Soil, and its Aptitude by Climate and Situ-
ation for Agriculture and Commerce, in the Producii(-4i of
the Neceflaries and Conveniencies of Life, both for tbj im-
mediate Support and Ufe of the Inhabitants, and Commu-u-
cation and reciprocal Interchange with other Countries; and
for the Tranfportation of them for fuch Interchange, and re-
ceiving the Returns of it, were the Objects ol tiiofc C-bicr-
vations, which I here propofe to fubmit to your Lorclihip's aiul
the public Consideration ; and from the Difcuflion of wlrch,
as I have faid before, the Improvements that may be raadi. in
them, will naturally follow.

1 11

]

No more would 1 be underftood to intend entering into
the Difputes agitated at prefenf between the Mother Country,
and her Colonies, as a Partisan of either. I am too confcious
of my own Infignificancy to obtrude my Sentiments on a
Subjeft fo much above my Sphere. Such Offitioufnefs mtlcfe
oftener prejudices, than lefves a Caufe; the Pride of the hu-
man Heart turning a Way with Difdain from the Advice of an
Inferior, however juft and wife in itfelf, becaufe the very Aft
of giving Advice implies a Superiority in that Inftance.

I do not by this, my Lord, preclude myfelf abfolutely from
f ither of thefe Topicks, when in the Courfe of my prefent
Undertaking, they fhall fall naturally in my Way. Whei?ever
the Manners and Cuftoms of the prefent Inhabitants, Native
or European, appear to me to infhience the Intereft of the
Colony, either to its Advantage or Prejudice, I fhall hold it
my Duty to point out fuch Influence, and to fuggefl: any Al-
teration of Manners or Cufloms, which I fhall conceive likely
to remove that Prejudice, or extend the Advantage.

The fame Liberty I fhall think myfelf entitled to, with
Refpeft to the Syflems of Policy adopted in the Admini-
flratioii of our Colonies both here, and on the Spot. Wherever
they fhall obvioufly appear to promote or clafh with the
Interefts and Advantage of both iti any Inflance, for fepe-
rated they cannot be^ I fhall not hefitate to fhew that Inflance,
and the Manner in which it is fo afFefted, nor to fuggefl with
proper Deference and SubmifHon to better Information and
fuperiour Power, what Means I think mofl efficacious to im-
prove the former, and to remedy the latter.

/ have the honour to he^ 6cc. &c.

'■'%■■ ■ ^

C " ]

V!Xi(lllCSiXm)00^^

LETTER III.

My Lord,

IS H A L L begin this Review with one of the leaft no-
ticed, but far from the leaft important in itfelf, of our
Settlements, were the Advantages, obvioufly, and moft eafily
to be made of it, properly attended to, which is that of
Hudfon s-Bay^

The Time, Manner, and Occafion of the Difcovery of
this vaft Sea, and the Regions bordering on it, fo far as
they are yet difcovered, are fo well known, that it is un-
neceflary to recount them here.

Though the Defign, whioh firft led our daring Coun-
trymen into the dark Recefles of the North, failed in its firft
Objeft, the Difcovery of a Paflage that Way to China, the
Attempt failed not of producing other Confequences which
well repaid to their Country, if not immediately to themfelves,
the Fatigue, Danger, and Expence of it to the bold Ad-
venturers, by laying them under a Neceflity of ftopping,
when the Severity of the Climate made the Seas no longer
navigable, to explore their inhofpitable Shores, for the Sup-
port of Life, 'till the Return of the Seafon proper for pur-

C 2 fuing

^:l

[

]

filing their Projeft, whereby they opened with the Inhabitants
an Intercourfe of Commerce, imthought of before, and which
but for this Caufe, would never have been fought for through
fo manv and fuch difcouraging Difficukies.

The Sechifion of thefe Inhabitants from the niore informed
Part of Mankind by their Situation ; and the Sterihty of their
Country, which confined their Cares within the narrow Cir-
cle of the indifpenfible NecefTaries of Life, without f uppiy-
ing a fingle Article, that could fuggeft, much kfs gratify a
Thought of any Thing farther, neceflarily brought Com-
merce with them back to its original, of immediate Barter,
or Exchange of one Commodity for another, without the In-
tervention of Money, the artificial Medium made ufe of in
Countries of more extended Intercourfe, and Produce, to
fupply the Defeds, and remedy the Inconveniencies of fuch
Barter.

.1 ( .. <

1 ! !f

't-<:y\i:}/

The Advantages of fuch a Commerce to a Country able to
avail itfelf of them are fufficiently obvious. It takes off fuch
of its Produce and Manufadures as are moft plenty, and cheap,
at their real Value to thofe who want, and not being able to
procure them elfewhere, beat not down their Price on Ac-
count of that Plenty, nor require fuch Accuracy and Orna-
ment in the manufa£luring of them, as make them come
. dearer to the Vender without being of greater Ufe to the Pur-
chafer; and for any Deficiency in which they would be re-
. jefted by other Purchafers ; and brings in Return the Produce
of the Country of the Barterers, at the low Rate fet upon
..it by thofe who do not want it, who have no other Vent for
, it, and confequently are glad to exchange it at any Rate for

what

C M 3

what they do want, and cannol; obtiin otherwire; noc to dwell
upon the great national Adv:iatap;e of kt being vinrruinufadu-
red, and thereby affording Kmployment to the various Arti-
ficers, who prepare it for Ufe.

Thefe Circumflances were too ftrikinp* not to be immedi-
ately perceived -, but ihcir Effeft was circumfcribed in fuch a
Manner by the very Means injudicioufly taken to improve and
extend it, that what wouid jiave been a mofl: important Ad-
vantage to the whole Nation, was, by the Grant of a^ exclu-
Jive Charter^ confined to a few Individuals, who actuated by
the moft felfifii, fordid, and fhort-fightv:;d Policy, or rather
Cunning, retrained, inllcad of extending that Commerce, for
Fear of its becoming an Objedl of publick Confideration, and
the Monopofy of it taken from them, fhould the (comparatively
ij7iinenle) Profits which it might produce, be known ; and
thereby with the grofTefl: Diilionefty defeated intentionally,
the exprefs End for which fuch Charter had been originally
granted, on the moft plaufible Pretences, and ftrongeft Aflii-
rance to the contrary, and was ftill from Inattention, or
Mifreprefentation, fuffered to remain with them.

This will be beft explained, and proved by the following
Lift, and Eftimate of the feveral Articles exported from Eng-
land to, and imported into England from this Settlement,
which are drawn with the utmoft Exa(5lnefs, and from the
beft Authority.

■i M "I

it lU

I it I'j \

- i J / V > i

Com MO-

[ »♦ ]

!.. , .r

<j,->,i

•1

,. I • ,.'

Commodities exported from England to

HudsonVBay,

Coarfe Woollen Cloths — Chech — Cottons "

Briti/b Linens — Fowling-Pieces — Birding Guns
— Gun-Flints — Gunpffwder— Shot — Cutlajfes —
Wrought- Leather — Salt — Wheaten Meal — Oat-
en-Meal — Barley — Peas — Beans — Malt—^Bacon
— Beef—Pork — Butter — Cheefe — Bifcuit — Mo-

lajfes-^Wrought-Steel — Iron — Brafs Copper

^-^ Pewter Pipes Tobacco Hojiery — >

fiats -^—^ Tallow-Candles — - Ship-Chandlery

Stationary Wares Bugles Groceries — -Oil

"-—^Britijb Spirits Wines All which coft

at an Average of three Years - - -

\M-

► ^ 16,000

The firft View of thefe Lifts, and Eftimates will moft
probably be thought to contradi6l what has been advanced
before of the Importance of this Settlement ; but when it
is confidered that in the above Lift of Exports is included
all that ilxe Company fends for the Support and Maintenance
of their Settlements, and for which confequently there can
be no Return, as it is immediately confumed by their Peo-
ple When it is proved that the Commerce of it is kept

thus low by Defign, and the Means taken to accomplifli that

Defign

[ »5 ]

• n

Commodities imported into England from

Hudson VBay.

Thirty-four thoufand Bearer Skins-^
Marten 2000 Otter iioo Cat

• 16,060
• 3000

r. i

. I

Fox 5000 tFolf 7000 Wolverine 650

black Bear 40 white Bear 500 Fijher .

250 Mink-^^ooo Mujquajh — 30cwt. to 50cwt.

Bed-Feathers locmt. to 30cwt. Whale-bone \ £ 29,340

A few Tons of Oil 150,000 Goofe-quills j

.20001^ Cut Beaver looo Elk 2000 I

Deer Skins 2501b. Cafloreum Worth, as

bought at the firji Hand at Quebec,
Average of three Years

Yorth, as I
at a Hke I

a wfl i mmttmtmmmm^tJtttmm»mm»l^

mm^U^m^mm

Defign are fhewn, the Truth of my Pofition will appear in
its full Force. But this muft be the Subjed of another Letter.

•!. •'/

' I have the iforour to bey &c.

P. S. Your Lordfliip will obferv^, that in eftimating the
Imports from iL^a/ons- Bay, I ftrike the Price of them by that
paid for the lame Articles at ^ebec.

Tjhe

[ x6 ]

The Rcafon of my doing this is, that the Httdfon s-Bay
Company condudt all their Affairs with fuch impenetrable Se-
crecy, that it is not poflible to know at what Rate they ex-
change their Goods for thofe of the Natives; an Oath of Se-
crecy being impofed upon their Servants; and the Obfervation
of all, upon whom they cannot impofe fuch an Oath, prevented
by the moft brutal Inho/pitality and Exclufion from every
Kind of Intercourfe. . , ;

.j i

r. • ("

Nor will the grofs ^a?ttity of the Exports open any latis-
fad:ory Infight into this Myftery ; as it is not known, nor can,
for the above Reafons be difcovered with any Degree of Pre-
cifion, how much of that Quantity is confumed by the Com-
p iiy's Servants ; and consequently no Return for it brought
Home in the Imports, ,. " \ . u - . " ' ^

This much I know from my own Experience, that there is
BO fixed Rate for the Barter of any Commodity, the Com-
pany allowing juft what they pleafe, at that Time ; in which
Allowance, . they are fo equitable and reafonable, that I my-
felf have feen Tnftances of their being confcientioufly content
with a Profit of 7iot above one thoufand per Cent, upon parti-
cular Articles. - . l - .- , ..\, ..,.. ..._..

, k J.

\)C

i I / 1 . . > 1 I i

10'

Thefe Lifts therefore only (hew what Advantage the Na-
tion reaps at prefent, from the Commerce of this Settlement,
under their Monopoly, What it would reap, were there no
fuch Mo7wpoly^ with a more particular Account of the cu-
' rious Methods taken to keep it in its prefent State of national
Iniignificancy, (hall be fhewn in the proper Place.

L E T-

[ «7 ]

5Cf»5«(3«O0S)eOJO((»)K»)tO«»»)IO((>*»3K>(S)(()e(*)«!)l<)!(»»S(OK)K)«()t)f')K

LETTER IV.

'},

My Lord,

IH A V E fhewn the prefent inconfiderable State of the
Commerce to Hudjons-Bay, I have aflerted that it is ca-
pable of fuch Improvement as would make it a confiderable
Advantage to the Nation. It remains now that I prove this
Aflertion. In doing this it will be neceflary for me to look
back for a Moment to Circumftances not attended to at pre-
fent, but which have influenced this Commerce, from its very
firft Inftitution, and do flill influence it, in the moft pernicious
Manner. ,-

At the Time when the Hudfons-Bay Company was efla-
blifhcd, in 1670, the Minds of all People of Power, or Pro-
perty, were fo fixed upon the Intrigues of the Court, and the
Confequences immediately apprehended from them at Home^
that they would not fpare a Thought for any Thing fo remote
in Situation and Effed, as foreign Colonization, by which
Means that mofl: important of political Enterprizes fell to thofe,
who were in every Refpe<St lead qualified to purfue it to Ad-
vantage.

Under

'I I

111 !

. i

C '8 ]

Undtr thefe inaufpicious Circumftances, a^t exclufive Char-
ter for trading to the Countries confining on the Sea, called
Hudfofis'Bay^ was without enquiring into the Confequences,
granted to a Set of private Adventurers, who without Support
or even Countenance from Government, undertook upon the
narrow Foundation of their own Fortunes to eftablifh a Trade,
attended with Hich Difficulties its. Appearance, as would have
dlfcouraged any Men not fully perfwaded of the Certainty of
Succefs. Nor were they difappointed ; the Event exceeding
their moft fanguine Expectations, in their very firft Experi-
ment. ' . , > .

" Such Succefs from fo weak a Beginning, fhewed to an Height
it might be carried, on a more extended Foundation. But the
Scheme it fuggefted was very different : Inftead of extending
their firft Plan, and making their Succefs known to procure
an Enlargement of their Capital, the Company turned all their
Care to conceal the whole, (which the Diftra£lions of the
Times gave them too good an Opportunity of doing) and keep
the Profits of the Trade entirely to themfelves, contraded as
it was, rather than run the Hazard of their being fhared in
by others, fhould it be pufhed to its natural Extent ; a Care,
which, as I have before obferved to your Lordfhip, has never
been relaxed fince.

;^v>.

For this fordid Purpofe, they contented themfelves with
proceeding on the low Capital, which Neceflity had at firfl
obliged them to fet out upon, and making a few paultry Set-
tlements, barely fufflcient to carry on the reftrained Trade
which fuch a Capital could fupport. The Event has in this

; ■ , . alfo

ii .^ *i »» ' ■-.

[ »9 ]

alfo too well anfwered their Defign. The inconfiderable A-
mount of their Export s^ and confequently of the Returns y have
kept the Trade in fuch Obfcurity, as to feem beneath the At-
tention of Government, whereby it has remained, according
to the Letter, however contrary to the Spirit of their Charter,
exclujively in iheir own Hands. ,

It muft be owned that the Temptations to this Condu£i
were powerful. Without hazarding, or even advancing more
than a comparative Trifle, they have long reaped, and do ftill
reap a Profit, which a Capital ten Times as large could not
produce in any other Channel of Commerce ; a Reafon, which
too many Inftances prove fufficient, in the prefent Times, to
over-balance national Advantage, and juftify Breach of Faith ;
for by no other Name can fo manifeft a Violation of the Pro-
feflions of promoting that Advantage, upon which all fuch
Charters are granted, be called, without as manifeft a Violation
of Truth.

J am aware, that it will be objeded to this, by thofe who
are interefted to keep thefe Affairs in their prefent State of
Darknefs, that the Imports prove the Sufficiency of the Capi-
tal for the Trade, and that it is abfurd and unnatural to think
any Men fhould be fo blind to their own Ad'/antage, as not
to make large Exi:!orts could they have adequate Returns
for them. The latter of thefe Objections lias been already
obviated. I fhall now fliew the Fallacy of the former, and
in what Manner the Imports are kept down to their prefent
low Stand ; low, , I mean as to what they might be, for they
are high beyond all parallel, confidering what they coft.

D 2 Though

' 9

[

]

.'!

Thoiiorh the Natives of the vaft Countries around Htidfons-
Bay, with whom the Traffick of the Company is carried on,
are ftill in that State of natural Ignorance, which People
more informed, have arrogantly prefiimcd to call favagCy
Heaven has not denied them the Knowledge neceflliry for
the few Purpofes of their narrow Sphere of Life. They were
not long engaged in this Traffick, therefore, before they
difcoveri:;d fome of the grofs Impofitions pra£tifcd upon them,
though they could not poiUbly form even a Conception of
the whole. '^ ' '\ ' ' ; ' '

I have obferved to your Lordfhip, that the Commerce of
the Hudfon S'Bay Company confifts in bartering fome of our
Manufactures and Commodities, the cheapeft and worft of
their Kinds, with the Natives, for their Furs. The firft Thing,
which Reafon would fuggeft to be done in fuch a Traffick,
by thofe, who had the Lead in it, muft be to fix the Rates of
the feveral Articles to be brought by them for Barter, at fuch a
Standard, as fhould obviate their being ever under a Neceffity
of altering it, and thereby raifing a Sufpicion of Injuftice.
in the others, who being neither able to judge of thefe Terms,
nor of the accidental Circumftances, which might at particular
Times make an Alteration in them neceflary, were they ftruck
with exaiEtnefs, would certainly take Offence at fuch Alteration,
though they could not avoid fubmitting to the firft Eftablilh-
ment, in the making of which I have not prefumed to men-
tion the leaft Regard to Juftice. •, ' '

But inftead of this, a new Standard is arbitrarily impofed
by the Company every Seafon, not on Pretence even of any

Alteration

[

]

Alteration in the Value of their own Commodities, or thofc
of the Natives, but folelv according to the Quantity of the
latter, the whole of v^hich be it more or lefs than on other
Years, they calculate fo as to get for their own, whofe
Quantity is nearly the fame every Scafon. Such an Impofition
was too glaring to efcape unnoticed even by Savages, who
though they could not lliew their Refentment of it, in the
fame Manner, as People in other Circumllances, by difconti-
nuinor the Trade, vet did not fail to take the obvious Means
of preventing it for the future, by bringing no more Furs, than
their little Experience had taught them would fuffice to pro-
cure in Exchange all the Commodities of the Corripany, the
Qiiantity of which they alfo knew by Experience. The Re-
mainder, for in their huntings for Food they flay many more
of the various Animals, than they bring the Furs of to Mar-
ket, they either confume themfelves in Ufes they might dif-
penfe with, could they turn them to any better Vk, or a£tu-
ally throw away ; pradifing out of Refentment the fame
Policy with the Dutch, in Regard to their fuperfluous Spices.

The EfFefts of a different Condu£t muft be the Subjed of
another Letter.

/ have the Honour to be, &c.

LET-

[ " ]

LETTER V.

My Lord,

THE Caufe, and Confequences of the Condufl, which has
been invariably purfued by the Htidjon s-Bay Company,
ever fince it was eftabUflied, having been confidered, let us now
confider what would be the EfFe£t, had they adopted a different
S}'flem, or rather had no fuch Eftablilhment been made from the
beginning, but the Trade left open in its natural State; indeed
the only State in which any Trade can prove beneficial to a Na-
tion, all Monopolies by their Principles counterading die publick
Interell, and fetting up a private one in Oppofition to it. The
only Trade (or at leaft the only one worth taking any Notice
of] carried on at prefent by the Hudfon s-Bay Company, is the
Fur-trade. But befide this, there are otliers already difcovered,
which if puflied to their proper Extent, would very foon not
only equal, but moll probably even exceed that; not to men-
tion the Probability of difcovering ftill more.

The firfl: of thefe which I fhall mention ; and which to
the Surprize of Realbn has not hitherto been thought of any
Confcqucncc, is the Fifliery. I will take upon me to fay, that
the Whale and Seal Fillicries in Hiidfojt s-Bay ^ and Baffiii s-Bay ^
are capabl c of affording fufficient, and fufficiently profitable Em-
ployment

[ *3 ]

ptoymcnt to fcvcial hundred fifliing Vcflcls. Nor is this a var;ue
AHAruon. I Ipcuk itirom Experience, having been fomc Years
pcrfonally engaged in tlie Greenland Filhcry, after my being at
IIudfoHs-Bayy and gained a clear liifight into e\ cry liranch
of it.

'i he Advantages \\lueli would neccflarily rcfult from this arc
moil: obvious. It would encrea^e the Numbers ot oin- Seamen
and Shipping, and every Branch of Commerce which docs that,
encreafes the cfTential Strength of the Nation. And it would
not only fupply us with a Sufficiency of the Produce of thcfe
Fiflieries for Home Confumption, but alio give us the Com-
mand of the Trade fo cR'et5lu>illy, as to enable us to underfell
all Rivals in it, at foreign Markets. That it is impoflible for
fuch a Trade to be carried on properly under the unnatural
Reftraints of an exdufive Charter^ even were the Company to
make the Attempt, is too evident to require Proof; and how
much the Nation fuffers by being fecluded from it, may be
judged from this one Circumftance, that inftead of feveral
hundreds of Vcffels, and thoufands of Seamen, which this
f ngle Trade would employ if laid open to publick Emulation,
the whole Trade of the Hudfori s-Bay Company employs no
more than four Ships, and one hundred and thirty Seamen.

Another ni'^ll valuable Article of Commerce, which thofc
Countries would fupply in the greateft Plenty, is Copper. In the
Year 1 744, 1 mvfelf difeovered there feveral large Lumps of the
fineft Virgin Copper, which in the honeft Exultation of my
Heart at io imjK^tant a Difcovery I direflily fliewed to the
Company ; but the thanks I met, may be eafily judged from the

Syllem

'"1

[ 24 ]

Syflem of their Condud. The Fad, without any Enquii*)'
into the Reality of it, was treated as a chimerical lUufion ;
and a Stop arbitrarily put to all farther Search into the Matter,
by the abfolute Lords of the Soil. . ' , •

The Advantages which would arife from a fufEcient Sup-
ply of this Metal, are alfb obvious to every Capacity. It
would afford Employment to all our various Artificers who
work in it ; and enable us to underfell all Competitors at fo-
reign Markets ; and this at a Time, when our internal Supplies
of it feem to be nearly exhaufted, and the Ufe of it is daily
encreafing in all Parts of the World.

I have faid, that Copper is to be found in Plenty in thofe
Countries, for this Reafon. Wherever any Metal is found in
Lumps, on or near the Surface of the Earth, it is a certain
Proof that the Earth abounds with it deeper down; fuch
Lumps being protruded from the Body of the Metal, like
Sparks from a large Fire. Nor is it unreafonable to expeft,
that Metals ftill more valuable might be found in the Purfuit
of this ; the richeft Gold-mines in the Eafl being intermixed
with thofe of Copper, as Copper itfelf is with Gold in Pro-
portion to the Finenefs of the former ; and finer, than the
Lumps I found there, have I never feen.

It mud not be objeded to what I have here advanced,
that the Intenfitv of the Froll in thofe Climates would de-
feat all Attempts of mining, or at the beft render them fo
difiicult and deflrudlive to the Lives of the Miners, as to
make it not worth the Attempt. This is only a vulgar

Error.

C ^5 ]

Error. It is known that Froft penetrates but a little Way
into the Earth ; no farther than the immediate Aftion of the
Atmofphere; where the Sphere of that Adion therefore
ceafes, Froft ceafes of Courfe; and the moft ignorant La-
bourer knows that the deeper he can work into the Earth,
the warmer Air he will breath.

/ have the honour^ &c.

LETTER VI.

My Lord,

HAVING traced the prefent State of the Trade to Hud-
fons Bay to its Caufe, in the Condufl: of the Com-
pany, and fliewn feme of the Confequences which would
follow a different Condu»El, the next Thing is to ihew what
that different Conduft fliould be.

The ImpofTibilit}'^ of attaining to a juft Knowledge of any
Country, without firft conciliating the Confidence of the

E Natives,

t ^6 r

NMii\ cs, is clear to Reafon, and has been proved by invariable
Experience, as alfo that fuch Confidence is not to he con-
ciliated, elpccially among hfs i7iformcd People, any Way but
by loncf Acqiiiin ranee, much Tntcrcourfc, and many good Of-
lices, to wear off the natural Shynefs and Sufpicioti, in'epe-
rable from iheir Iceing Actions not only new, but alfo incom-

prehenfible to them. In the Knowledge of a Country, I

include its various Produdts, and Connexions, as well as the
exterior Face of it. .

In order to this, the firft Thing neceflary (indeed indif-
penfibly fo) is to fettle Colonies, to which the Natives may
refort at all Times, to gratify Curiofity, carry on Commerce,
or implore Affiftance in any Circumflances of accidental Di-
flrefs \ and where they fliould always be received in an hu-
mane, and friendly Manner, without any Appearance of im-
mediate Diftruft, though at the fame Time, without appearing
to relax the Vigilance and Care neceflary to preferve Refped,
and obviate their being tempted by too great Security, to medi-
tate any Thing hoftile ; which Colonies Ihould be planted in as
many different Parts of the Country, as confident with
Conveniency, to make the Acquaintance with the Natives as
general as poflible, and prevent the Mifreprefentations, which
are always made, by thofe who go between different People,
for the Purpofes of Trade, in order to enhaunce the Merit of
fuch Mediation, and keep it exclufivcly to themfelves ; and
this as well among y^i^/T^^ as civilized Nations, from the fame
interefted Views.

The

• t 27 1

The Effefts of fuch an Intimacy of Intercourfe arc mofl
obvious. The hofpitable Natives would communicate to their
beneficent Guefts, all the Knowledge which Nature had learned
from Experience. They would lliew them the Secrets of the
Land, and affift them with their Labour to turn every Thing
to their own Advantage. „ >

Thefe Reflections, my Lord, are applicable to the firft
Principles of Colonization. In the prefent Cafe, the Conduct:
here recommended, would have thefe particular good EfFecSts.
It would, in all human Probability, enlarge the Fur-Trade,
the only Trade, as I have obfcrved before, now carried on
there, by the Difcovery of Animals not fought after at prefent
by the Natives, becaufe their Fkfli k not efteemed by them
for Food, but whofe Skins might be a valuable Addition to
their Commerce ; it would encreafe the Confumption of our
own Manufa£tures, in Proportion to the Increafe of our Ac-
quaintance with the Natives; and it would be the mod
certain Means of difcovering that Paflage to India^ which firfl
led our Mariners into, thofe Seas, if any fuch Paflage there is,
or elfe put an End to the Trouble and Expence of making
farther Attempts for fuch a Difcovery ; and fb accomplifli the
firll Objeft propofed by their Charter.

Nor are thefe the only Advantages which would refult from
the Eltablifliipent of fuch Colonies. They would neceflarily
extend to every other Branch of Commerce capable of being
purfued here by habituating our People to the Climate and keep-
ing them upon the Spot, by which Means they would be ready
to commence their Work earlier, and able to purfue it longer

E 2 in.

I s

I. «

■' \

II?

[ 28 ]

in the Seafon, than they can at prefent, coming from afar,
and obliged to get away foon, to fave their Paflage home. >

The only Objedions which can poflibly be made to this,
are the Want of People at Home to fpare for planting Co-
lonies ; and the Improbability of their thriving iji fo fevere a
Climate. But upon the lealt Examination, both thefe Ob-
jcdtions will vanifh.

The Numbers of Beggars, who infeft our Streets, fhew
that we have more People, than we can give Employment
to, or at Icaft, than will apply themfelves to the Employments
proper for them; and confcquently, who can be well fpared,
to be fent elfewhere. It will be faid perhaps, that while the
Streets of our great Cities fwarm, our Fields and Villages are
thin ; but this alters not the Cafe. Their Labour, not their
Number is an Advantage to the Publick ; and when that is
difcontinued, they become an Incumbrance to Induftry, like
Drones in a Hive, and had better even not to be at all, than to
be fupported at a Lofs. 'Till it is thought proper therefore to
put the Laws againfl fuch Vagrants, in Execution, or to frame
others, if the prefent are infufficient to reftrain the labouring
People from leaving their own Settlements, where their Work
is wanted, and crowding to the Cities, particularly the Metro-
polis, where there is not proper Work fufficient for them ; every
Scheme for removing them to Places, where they can get fuch
Work, makes an Addition of that Work to the general Stock,
and faves the Value of their prefent un-earned Confumption.
Befide the Notion, that planting Colonies dt^populates a Coun-
try has been long refuted, it being proved by Experience, that

i.??

V' jhill

W'^m^.

C 29 ]

in Countries where Induftry is encouraged properly, there will
always be as many Inhabitants, as there is good Room and
Employment for, an encreafed Generation, like Bees, fupplying
the Place of thofe who go away; and ic is the Want of this
Jnduflry, the Nece/Iity of which is feemingly removed, by
the Treafures returned from her Colonies, that has depopu-
lated Spain^ not the Numbers of the People fent to form thofe
Colonies.

As to the other Objeftion of the Climate, it is no more than a
meer vulgar Error, derived from the ancient one of urmhabitable
Zones y it having been long proved, that there is no Climate under
Heaven to which the human Conftitution cannot be reconciled
by very little Care ; the iNccelTity even of which Care would
ceafe with the firft Settlers themfelves, as the Climate would
be natural to their Children born and bred up in it.

Nor is there greater Weight in the Mifcarriage of the poor
Attempts hitherto made to raife Corn, and Vegetables for the
Support of thefe Colonies, in thofe Parts of the Country
which lie near to the Company's Forts ; fuch Mifcarriage being
far from proving that better Succefs might not attend more
judicious Attempts made in other Parts, particularly on Moufe^
and Albany Rivers, which lie nearly in the fame Latitude with
London. Or even iliould all Attempts fail ; Meal, Flour, Cheefe,
Butter, and efculent Roots may be carried thither at an eafy
Rate, andFifh and Flefh, prticularly that of Fowls, are mofl
excellent in their Kinds, and fo plenty, as to be below Price.

Having thus, my Lord, fliewn the Lofs fuffered by the
Nation, from the injudicioufly granted, and more injudici-

ouily

ill I

ill

'I t

: i

[ 30 ]

oufly (not to give it an harder Name), condudled Monopoly
of the Trade to Hudfons-Bay^ and the natural and eafy
Means of preventing fuch Lofs for the future, on a Revocation
of that Monopoly^ I muft beg Leave to trefpafs upon your
Lordfhip a little farther, while I lay before you a iliorr View
of the pre/ent^ and propojed State oi that Trade, brought to-
p-ethc:* for Comparifon.

The Hudforis-Bay Company employ four Ships, and 130

Seamen. They have four Forts, which contain 1 86 Men.

• And they export Commodities to the Value of ^16,000

a Year, and bring Home Returns to the Value of ^ 29 340 —
which yield to the Revenue^ 3734..

If the Trade were laid open, the Fiflicry alone in Hud/on s-^
Bay^ Baffin s-Bay^ and Davis's St r eights^ (in the laft of which
the Dutch find Fifli as Plenty as in Japan ^ where they kill
them folely for their Bone) would afford Employment for 800
Veflels of every Kind and 16000 Men.

The Trade would require and fupport Twelve Colonies,
confiding of 3000 fettled Inhabitants of both Sexes. — And,
the Exports would in the Courfe of feven Years at the very
fartheft, amount to £ 320,000. the Returns to £ 586,800,
which would yield to the Revenue £ 74,680, b^ing twenty
Fold the prefent Amount of each, with a certain Profped of
farther Increafe. But fo it is, that all thefe national and great
Advantages are Jacrificed to fatten a few worthy Individuals,-^

I need not purfue the Subjed: any farther. The Inference,
from what has been iliewn, is obvious \ and muft open the

Eyes

[ 3« ]

Eyes of all, who are not determined to keep them ihut.
Happy for the Nation, that fnch is not your Lordfliip*s
Cafe I That you hold not yourfelf above receiving Information
from your Inferiors ; and that Heaven has blefled you with
Ability to turn that Information to the bed Advantage.

/ have the Honour^ &c.

P. S, Among the Things negledled by the Hudfori s-Bay
Company, and what will always be negleded by every mono-
folizing Company, as foreign to their immediate Profit, I have
not made any Mention of civilizing the Natives, and inftrudt-
ing them in the Chriftian Religion, though to pafs over the
moral Duty of doing it, the great Advantages in Point of In-
tereft, which the French have reaped from th-sir Labours in
this Way, in other Parts of the World, fhould be an Incite-
ment to other Nations not to negled it. — —

? <

LET-

C 32 ]

«••#•••#•«*««•••••«««*«*************•••

LETTER VII.

My Lord,

TH E Country, I wifli I could fay Colony, that comes
next under Confideration, in our Return from the
North, \% Labrador,

The ftrange Negle£l of forming any Settlement in this
Country, is one of thofe glaring Inftances of the Blindnefs of
Man to his heft Intereft, which prove the Infufficiency of
his boafted Wifdom, and the indi^nfible Neceflity of a ru-
ling Providence to lead him right in the plaincll Road. For
though this Land does not immediately yield Gold, Silver,
precious Stones, or thofe Foods for Luxury and Oftentation,
which are in fuch mad Requeft, it would yield a Treafure much
more folid, permanent, and advantageous to the Common-
weal, in the l^'ruits of Induftry, which encreafes the Strength
along with the Wealth of a Nation; Labour rewarded by
Plenty invigorating the prefent Race, and encreafing Popu-
lation, in its happieft Appearance, an healthy and vigorous
Progeny.

The

.^1

[ 33 3

The Climate on the Coaft of Labrador is Icfs fevcre,
than that of the Countries confining on Hudfons-Bay, I'hc
Country is covered with Forefts of valuable Timber, abound-
ing with various Animals, whofe Furs would be a moil
profitable Addition to our Trade in that Branch, and whofc
Flefli, in the general, is moft wholefome, as that of the
various Fowls with which the whole Country alfb abounds,
is moft delicious Food. The Soil, with proper Cultivation,
is capable of producing Corn, and moft Kinds of exculent
Roots, and Vegetables ; and the Rivers and Sea-Coafts yield
Fifti, excellent lor Food, as well as Trade, in a Plenty, that
almoft exceeds Conception. All this is immediately on, or
near the Sea-Coaft; our Difcoveries extending but a very little
Way farther. Were the interior Parts of the Country known,
it is more than probable, that many other Advantages wculd
be difcovered in them ; and of this the Fewnefs of the Na-
tives hitherto feen gives the ftrongeft Prefumption ; it being
much more agreeable both to Reafon and Experience to fnp-
po(e, thatthofefewwefee are only Vagrants, and that the Body
of the People find Attachments to ^-^ them in the Centre of
their Country, than that fuch a Country ftiould be fo thinjy
peopled throughout. ' .. •

The only Attempt hitherto made to carry on any Trade
here, has been in the Fiftiery ; which makes the following
Exports yearly to Great-Britain^ Portugal, Spai?iy and
Italy,

. t 'it

mjale-

\ 1

i •'

[ 34 ]

Whale-Oil
Seal-Oil
Whale-bone
Seal-Skins

1500 Tons
310 Tons
72 Tons
12000

a* jC '5 - >C 22,500 o a

at >C 15 - 4»^so o o

at ^ 300 - 21,600 o o

at td, - 300 o o

.rl

-•'I.

^49,050 O O

1 J'

There are no Exports from Great-Britainy that can with
any Propriety be placed againil this. With the Natives we
have no Trade. In the Country we have no Seitlement ; and
the Confumption of the People, employed in carrying on the
Fifhery, is fupplied by the different Places whence they come
every Seafon, and whither they return at the End of it ; and
for the Time they ftay, confifls of the bare Neceflaries of
Life, and Implements of their Bufinefs, without entering at
all into our Manufactures. - - -.,

T • ' • ■ -

% -

How different would the Cafe be were thefe Colonies efta-
blifhed. The Advantages of fuch Eftablifhments have been
explained in the preceding Inftance of Hudjon s-Bay, All
thofe enumerated there (except the local one relating to the
North-weft Pajfage) are applicable to this Country, in the
ftrifteft Senfe. They would be filled with People of our
own, whom it were a laving to the Publick to fend abroad ;
or with People of other Nations, who allured with the Ad-
vantage, would fettle with us, and become our own. They
would turn to proper Advantage the Articles of Commerce
already difcovered there, and mofl probably difcover f^ill
many more. They would take off our Manufadures, and
fend us in Return the Produce of the Country to be manu-

fixdured

[ 35 ]

fa^lured by us ; and they would ncceflarily cncreafe the Num-
bers of our Shipping, and Seamen, the bed Wealth, and
Strength of Great-Britain,

The Number of Colonies proper to be planted here, is not
for me to determine. If we would begin with only two, or
even one, the Experiment would foon prove its own Utility,
and fhew where, and in what Manner we (hould proceed
farther.

I have the Honour^ &c.

i .1

i . )

P. S. Another (and that a moft important) Advantage that
would arife from the Eftablifhment of Colonies, on this Coall,
is the convenient Opportunity it would afFord of boiling down
the Blubber, and making the Whale-bone merchantable on
the Spot ; hy which Means they might be carried dirc6tiy to
Market, and the Lofs of Time and Expence of bringing them
Home in the Grofs, as at prefent, faved. » ,

:<i|

F 1

LET-

[36 ]

■ ■. f

h.i >n t ■•'' .}\t I

fil'. » *

-'iU

hn:i

■„»■ /

. ! » * .

::1

)¥.my^y^om^mya(.y^rKmmwmj^^

' ' L E T T E R VIII.

'1'

H ^ -• »*

f',y

I- I

^ii I

My Lord,

CONTINUING our Courfe from the North, we come
next to the Illand of Newfoundland. The Climate of
this Ifland differs not very much from that of Labrador ; and
that Difference is ftill lefs to its Advantage, the heavy Fogs
which hang over it, for fo great a Part of the Year counter-
balancing any little Abatement in the Intenfity of the Froft.
The Country is well ftock'd with Timber fit for the moft va-
luable Purpofes of Ship-building. It has many fine Rivers ;
and on the Coaft are feveral large, commodious, and fafe
Harbours. But, on the other Hand, the Soil is fo poor, and
unfit for the Purpofes of Vegetation, that the Heat of the
Summer, though very great, cannot force it to produce any
Thing in Plenty, or Perfedion.

This is on, or very near the Sea-Coaft, to which oui*
Knowledge of the Country has been hitherto confined. When
the interior Parts of it fhall be known alfo, it is far from
being in the leaft improbable, that this Complaint may

» 4

[ 37 ]

in a great Meafurc ceafe, and many Advantages, as yet un-
thougnt of, be difcovered.

But it is not the IHand, or its Produce, that is the Objc(ft
of our Attention. It is the Cod-Fifhery on the CoaA, or as
they are called, the Banks of Nervofoundland^ the greateft, and
the belt Fifhery in the known World. ,

The Importance of this Fifliery to Great-Britain has been
long and well known tr, the People of this Nation. Would
to Heaven, it had been as well taken Care of by its Go-
vernors. At the Peace of Utrecht it was ceded to us by the
French^ and difcontinued by the Spaniards ; but both foon
broke through their Engagements^ and refumed the Trade,
not indeed avowedly in the Names of the refpe£tive Nations;
but in private, and feemingly clandeftjne Attempts of Indi-
viduals, which were taken fo little ^^v)i.ice of here, if they
were not even connived at, thnt the French *n particular be-
fore the breaking out of the la: t V^ir, had gradually worked
themfelves, into a great Share of it, which has t-e n fince
confirmed to them, at the Peace of Pnris,

I muft not, my Lord, indulge my Thoughts upon this
Subject ! It is too late ! The Deed is done, and all that
remains now is, to remedy its Effe£ts, as far as pollible;
in order to do which, it is ncceflliry to take a diftind
View of the prefent ■ te of this Trade, ^-

i \

COMMO-

■i

[ 38 ]

Commodities exported from Great-Britain and
Ireland^ to Newfoundland,

Coarfe Chat king — Cottons — Checks — Britijh '
Linens — Guns — Gtinpmsoder — Shot — Gun-Flints
— Fijhmg-Tackle — Wrought- Leather — Wrought-
Steel — Iron — Bra/s — Copper — Pewter — Pipes
•^.^Hojiery — Hats Tallow-Candles Ship-
Chandlery -Stationary-Wares — Grocery — Oil —
Bacon— Beef-^Pork — Malt — Britijh-Spirits and
Wines — All which at an Average of three Years
coft - - - - -

>C 273,400

In carr)^ing the above leveral Articles to Newfoundland
from London^ Pool^ Weymouth^ Dartmouth^ lynemouth^ Top-
fijam^ Briflol^ Liverpool^ and different Parts of Ireland^ and
in bringing the Filh, and Oil to* the feveral Markets in
Portugal^ Spain,, and Italy \ as alfo in catching and curing
the faid Fifli, there are employed

Ships 3 So
Beats 2000

making together

with Twelve Men in each 7

with Eight Men in each, >• 205 60 Men.

In the above Lift of the feveral Articles fent to Newfound-^
Icnd^ I have not included Salt Wheaten-Meal Oaten-
Meat — Barky — Peas — Beans^ &c. carried from Philadelphiuy
and oil' other American Colonies thither} which though they
do Tioi 50 immediately from Great-Britain^ yet as they increafe
the Tjide of thofe Colonies, their Profits confequently centre

li her.

Cod-

[ 39 ]

Exported from Newfoundland,

Cod'FiJh - 30,000 Tons - at ^ 10 - ^ 300,000
Oil - 3000 Tons - at ^ 15 - 45>ooo

£ 345,000

The Ballance of^ 71,600 in the Favour of Great-Britain^
which appears upon the Face of this State, is by no Means to
be taken for the whole Amount of the Profits of the Trade.
The Prices here fct upon the Cod-fifli and Oil, are only what
they are worth upon the Spot. At the feveral Places where
they are difpofed of, they bring much more than twice that
Sum ; fo that at the moll moderate Computation, this Trade
adds annually a clear Profit of more than half a Million to
the Wealth of the Nation.

The Importance of fuch a Trade proves itfelf at the firft View;
and theVariet}^, a?, well as the Amount of the Articles exported,
fhews how extenfivc ly , and deeply it enters into our Manufadures ;
and the Numbers of the Seamen bred up in it, to every
tlardlhlp ot that laborious Life, make it the Nurfery of our
Navy, and therefore one of the main Sinews of our moft na-
tural, moll cllcntial Strength.

Nor is this Importance bounded by its prefent State,
profpcrous as it is. J he Profpeft extends ftill farther; and I
will be bold to fay, that the Advantages reaped from this
Filherx , may be doubled within the Courfe of a very few
Years, if the proper Means are taken, and purfued with
proper Vigilance, and Vigour.

I have

[ 40 ]

I have obferved to your Lordfhip, tliat the Coafl of this
Ifland abounds with large, and fafe Harbours. The firll
1 hing to be done to improve the Trade to its natural Ex-
tent, would be to plant Settlements on fuch of thefe Harbours
as lie moft convenient to the Banks, for curing the M(h,
where Stages, &c. fhould be ereded of Strength iufficient
for long continued U/e, and prc/erved for it, fb as to fave
the Expence, Inconvenience, and Lofs of Time, experienced
from the temporary ones now ufed.

As the Quantity of Fifli upon the Bafih is inexhauftible,
by having fuch Settlements eftablifhcd, ready prepared for
curing them, we fhould immediately be able to fupply all
our Wefl-India Iflands, with Fi(h for the Support of their
Negroes, fo much cheaper than the Way they are fupported
at prefent, that they would be ..able not only to fupply the
Mother Country with Sugars for Home Confumption, infinitely
cheaper than at prefent ; but alfo to underfell every other
Rival in the Trade at foreign Markets.

Let Britain ever preferve its hitherto unfullied Honour

of keeping inviolable the Faith of Treaties ! Let the

French enjoy what they have gotten; but give them no
more, nor let them encroach beyond the Bounds (too exten-
five already) indulged to them.

/ have the Honour to bey &c.

LET-

> 'i

[ 41 ]

V- ': ' - • - - - • -•

«c« «>•#•«•««•#*»••#«•««•••«•#«»•«#••••

1} -^lai

LETTER IX.

My Lord,

WE will now, if your Lordfliip pleafes, quit the Coaft
of the main Ocean, for a tew Moments, and make
a fliort Excurfion up the great River St, Lawrence^ to our
newly-acquired Dominion of Canada,

The Advantages that muft neceffarily arife from this
Country to Great-Britain^ have been fo lately, and fo fully
canvafled, as is the Cafe of all new Acquifitions, that it
cannot be neceflary to enter into the Proof of them here.
A bare Recital of a few of the moft confiderable for Refe-
rence, is all therefore which I fhall trefpafs upon your Lordfhip's
Time with at the prefent.

II '

[4a ]

By expelling an inveterate, adive, and infidioiis Enemy
from the Centre of our Colonies, on that vaft Continent, we
fecure them from the Danger of being attacked from behind ;
and enable our People to attend with proper Spirit, and
Induftry, to the Improvement, and Extenfion of their Settle-
ments in the interior, and more remote Parts of the Country,
where the Fertility of the Soil, or any particular Production,
or Convenience, may induce them to fettle. It removes a
rival Power out of the Sight of the Natives, and leaves them
without Afliftance, or even Hope of Impunity in any hoftile
Attempt againft us. It brings their Refource for all the Con-
\^eniencies of Life folely to ourfelves, and thereby puts us in
the fole PofTeflion of their Commerce. It gives us an Oppor-
tunity to pufti that Commerce to its full Extent, and to en-
large it with thofe farther Difcoveries of new Articles, which
the little Experiments we have hitherto been able to make,
j;ive us juft Reaibn to expeft there. It affords Employment
f(;r a great Addition to the Numbers of our Ships and Seamen;

and thereby cncreafes our national Strength. And laftly, it

doubles all thefe Advantages ten-fold, in our Hands, by tak-
ing them out of the Hands of our Enemies.

I? .^.

•it

? 1,

Ml- ^

'I ^
■ i[

Your LordQiip will obferve, that in fumming up thefe
Advantages, I fuppofe all proper Means to be taken for
making the moil of our Acquifition. On the contrary Sup-
pofition, the whole will be reverfed. The Advantages will

flip

[ 43 ]

flip out of our Hands, and arm the Hands of our Enemies
againft us. Nor mull this be looked upon as only meer Spe-
culation, or railing Phantoms of improbable Danger. 1 ho
Pertinacity, with which the French Crown inlifted on tlic
Rellitution of the Illand of Cape-Breton .^ when taken from
tliem in the War before the laft, — the enormous Sums expended
in fortifying it for, and defending it in the lall War, — and the
Reludtance with which they gave up their Claim to it, after
it had been again taken from, and was evidently impolTible
to be recovered by them^ prove, beyond a Doubt, their Con-
viction of the Importance of this Country, for keeping in their
own Hands the Command of the Navigation to which, as
well as for the Support of their Encroachments upon us in the
Newfoundland Filhery, thefe Fortifications were built, and de-
fended ; as our unvaried Experience of their political Faith, and
Regard to Treaties fufficiently (hews their Intention in the In-
fringements already made by them upon the Bounds fet them
by the Treaty of Paris ; and muft open our Eyes to what wc
are to exped, whenever they Ihall find a favourable Opportu-
nity for fetting up a Claim of Right to what they fliall get
hold of by fuch Infringments.

The bell Means therefore of obviating fuch Intentions, arc
the proper Objed:s of our prefent Conlideration ; as the iiili-
cacy of thofe Means will bed appear from a Reprefentation
of the prefent State of our Commerce with that Country.

■I

1 f I

G a

Com-

t 44 }

i I • » • : : / 1

Commodities exported from Great-Britam to

Canada.

1 1

->n ,*, (.

Wollen-Cloths — Briti/h-Linens — Cottons — ^
Checks — CallicoeSy and fundry India Goods —
Paijley Lawns — Guns — Cutlajfes — Gunpowder —
Shot — Gun-Flints — Haberda/hery-JVares — Gold
and Silver Lace — Wearing- Apfarel — Cotton-
Velvets — Stuffs — Hojiery — Hats — Gloves— Books
— Stationary Wares — Drugs — Glafs — Wrought- I ^
Leather — Wrought-Steel — Iron — Copper — Tin— f ^ ^^
Brafs — Pewter — PiSlures — Painter s Colours —
Bees- Wax — Vermillion — Millenery Wares —
Blankets — Sadlery Wares — Sail-Cloth — Cordage
— Fijlymg-Tackle — Cheefe — Tobacco-pipes — Strong
Bcer—^Britip Spirits — Wines — ^All which coft
at ail Average of three Years

I :•>

fii

The above View of the Nature, and prcfent Amount of
this Trade proves beyond a Doubt the Pradlicability of
pufliing it to fuch an Extent, as muft make it of the moft
efTential Importance to this Nation. The Commodities it
takes off are all, except the India-goods, immediately of our
own Produce, and Manufe6lure ; and the Returns it makes,

are

C 45 ]

Commodities imported from Canada into

Great-Britain.

Ninety thoufand Beaver Skms — 9000 Bear — 1
1 1,000 Otter — 4000 Fifier — 36,000 Marten — I
J 50 JVolf — 4000 Cat — 2000 Mink — loooFox — V ^ 76,000
Kp^oooMufquaJh — looyooo Racoon — Elk and Deer I
24,000 — And 2000/^. of Cafloreum - J

Whale-bone — Whale^ Porpus^ and other FiJh-OiL -
Wheat 1 2000 garters at 20s — —

Ginfeng — Snake-root^ and Capillaire — Sundry -
Timber — Plank — Deals — Lumber^

12,000

3,000

11,000

105,500

\ Which Trade is carried on by 34 Soil of Ships, navigated
by about 400 Mei^

are in the unmanufa&ured Produce of that Country ; which
fingle Circumftance of their being unmanufa<Siured, doubles
their Value to us, by the Employment it affords to our
Manufacturers, whofe Labour is one of the chief Sources of our
national Wealth. As to the Quantities both of thofe Cotntno^
ditiesj and the Returns for them, the kaft Attention to the

Circum-

•t

s ;i

L 46 ]

CIrcumftances of the Country will (liew how fliort they fall
of what they maybe. • ♦ ' . .> .

* * I

In all new Conquefts, the Inhabitants naturally have a Dif-
fidence and Dread of their Conquerors, however humane
in their Manner of waging war, and beneficial in their Mea-
fures of governing after. If it fliould be objedled in the pre-
fent Inftancc, that the only Inhabitants of this Country, who
can properly be faid to have been conquered, are the French^
the Natives only exchanging one Mafter for another, it alters
not the Cafe. The Dominion, which the French had acquired
over the Minds of the ignorant Natives, as well thofe appa-
rently free and independent of them, as their immediate Sub-
ject s, by the Arts of their Priefts and Friars, always fuccefsfiil
in Proportion to the Ignorance of thofe upon whom they are
praftifed; and the Animofity and Abhorrence which they
inftilled into them againft us, have been feverely experienced
in too many Inftances, during the whole Courfe of the War :
While any of thefe Priefts and Friars therefore are permitted
to remain among them to keep up thofe Prejudices, and fow
the fame pious Seeds of Difcord and Hatred, it is in vain to
expcft, that the Natives fhould enter into fincere Amity, and
Confidence with us.

The firft Thing tiierefore to be done, in Order to conciliate
their Confidence, is to banilli effciftually \S\^ French Priefts^ and
Re. "igious of all Denominations^ and to fend in their Room a
labouring Clergy of our own^ who breathing the true Spirit of
Chrlftianity themfelves, and pra£tifing it in its moll facred
Fruits of univerfal Benevolence, and Philanthropy, or in tlie

Phrafe

■i

[ 47 ]

Phrafe of holy Writ, in Charity to all Mcjj^ iliould fet fuch
an Example to their Flocks, as could not fail to eradicate their
Prejudices againft us, and implant in their Stead, Confideoce,
Refped, and brotherly Love.

The common Peproach brought even by ourfelves againft
our Clergy, that they follow only the Loaves and Fifhes of
the Church; and are too lazy, and too miich attached to the
prefent Enjoyment of the good Things of tliis World, to la-
bour in the Vineyard of their Lord ; and bear the Heat and
Burthen of the Day, in converting favage Nations to his Laws,
muft not be oppofed to what I have here offered. The Pains
taken to this End by fome Individuals, in other Parts of ylme-
ricd, and the Succefs with which Heaven has blefled thofe
Pains, prove that our Religion gives not a San£tion to fuch
Negled of Duty ; and that Proteftants, can be as indefati-
gable in propagating the Gofpel of Chrift, as Papifts of any
Denomination whatfoever.

By Protejlants^ my Lord, I mean Chriftians protefling a-
gainft fpiritual Tyranny in all its Exertions, and obeying in
the Freedom of Confcience the Laws and Doctrines of Chrift,
as explained by the beft Power of Reafon, without ftooping
to enter into the nominal Diftindtions, into which the Reftlefs-
nefs of human Imagination, more than any real Difference,
has divided that Name.

I muft not, my Lord, be underftood by thus urging the
Baniftiment of the Popifli Clergy to contradi(ft myfclf, and
propofe a Pra£lice oppoiite to the Principles of Chriftian Li-
berty

[ 48 ]

bcrty which I profefs. Where the Principles of any Set of
Men are profefl'edly fuhverfive of that Liberty, and exprefsly
contrary to tlie mofl: eflential Principles of that Religion whicn
they profefs in common with us, the moll, indeed the only
cffedhial Way to preferve both, is to drive them out from a-
mong us ; and that fuch are the Principles of thofe who af-
fume to tliemfelves a Right to put Shackles on the human
Mind, and limit God's Mercies to the Profeilion of their own
Opinions, is too evident to require Proof.

The fecular Advantages to ourfelves, which muft necefla-
rily follow from this Attention to \}iQ fpiritual Welfare of
thcfe People are moll obvious. Informed in their Minds, they
would become civilized in their Manners. They would foften
from that Ferocity, which prompts them to thofe barbarous
Wars, and Murders, that have almoll uefolated their Country,
and increafing in their Numbers would proportionably increafe
in their Demands for the Conveniencies of Life, with which
our Trade fupplics them ; and would confequently apply them-
fclves to procure an equivalent Encreafe of their own Produce
to give in Exchange for them. They would aflift us witli
tltcir Strength and Experience of their Country to improve the
Trade at prcfent carried on between them and us, and to pro-
fecute with better Prolpe6l of Succefs our Endeavours to en-
1 ige it by the Difcovery of new Articles. And by their In-
ly, leourfe with us in the fraternal Amity of Religion, they
V'ould acquire Knowledge of the Excellence, and be glad to
put themfclves under the Protection oi our Laws, and fo in
Hie End make their Numbers our Strength, and become one
I'cople with us,

C 49 ]

■' In enumerating thcfe Advantages, your Lordllilp may polli -
bly be furprized at my confining myftlf to luch as arc imme-
diately fecular. But in this I conform to the Humour (if I maN
fo call itj of ihc Times, to which Propofals for Practice mui^
never run counter: But I live, my Lord, in Hopes of feci tig
better Times , when the Advantages of this Life lliall be
held in Efteem only as they are conformable to the more va-
luable ones of that which is to come ; and no Means purfued,
at lead profefledly, to procure the former, which fliall not alfo
conduce to the latter. And in this Hope I am, humanly
fpeaking, confirmed by the Experience of all Ages, in which
it has been invariably obferved, that when Things arrive at a
certain Point, they always change; and if ImmoraHty and
Irrcligion are not arrived at their Height among us. Lord
have Mercy upon thofe who are to behold their Advance ! — •

The next, and only Thing farther, which I would propofc
for the Improvement of this important Acquifition, is Agri-
culture. The other Branches of its Trade are in the Hands
of the Matives, and fliould be left undilhirbed with them, as
beft qualified to purfue them with Succefs, I mean the Fte?'^
and P^//r);-trades, for any Encreafe that can poflibly bt* made
in the former of which, either in this, or any other Part of
our Dominions, or in any of the Countries where wc ha\'e
Set lements, we can never want i.dvantageous Vent ; and for
ii large Encreafe in the latter we have fufficient Room, and
fuflicicnt Reafon to expeft that Encreafe, particulaiiy ii th-
Article of Deer-Skins, a much greater Quantity of wliicli
than is now imported could be brought with th [riv'otcft
Advantage into our Manufactures j but as for Tiii.igc, they

H do

[ 50 ]

do neither, undcrftand, nor are yet fufficiently fettled in their
Difpofitions to a^^€"^P^ ^^* ^. ji i: . . 1 *

Tlic internal Advantages of purfuing Agriculture, are fuffi-
ciently known. It fupplies Employment, and plenteous Sup-
port to tJie People, ai>d th^t Plenty fupplies njore People to
be fupported and employed. Nor is this Article liable to be
carried toc^ far, as moll others are, it being impolfible that
l5rt\id Ihould ever be too plenty ; the Mouths to eat it encrea-
fing in Proportion as there is Bread for them to eat ; and ex-
ter?ially it would enable us to fupply with tjie Owerilowinga of
our own Plenty, thofe Countries which, mighf ftand in Need
of fuch Supplies ; and this without Danger of ever interfering
^vit]l the Corn-Trade of Great-Britain^ or our other Colo^
nies, there being, as I have before obferved, a fufficient De-
nviiid for both, and that neareft hand being always the firft
taken off^ , . ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

The Quantity of Corn at prefent exported from Canada^
luis been (hewn to be 12000 Quarters; but this is ratlier a
Proof that the Country can produce Corn, than any Meafure
of its Produj£tion ; as I will be bold to fay, that fifty Times
that Quantity may be produced annually without negledting
proper Attention to any other Branch of Commerce, v .

In a Word, my Lord, by proper Application to this finglc
Article of Agriculture, Canada may be made within the Com-
pafs of a few Years, to reimburfe to Great-Britaifty all the
Blood and Tre^fure, expended in the Conqueft of it.

I have the Honour ^ 8cc.

ii,i

■-: f

{ 5' 3

... ,.i

' . '

..f

IfiW^yiifi^^^ »)QQe()BC

' J, F J .

LETTER X.

r i

a :/

My LoRDy

FROM Canada^ we will defcend with the Stream to
NoFua Scotiuy a former Acquifition from the fame Power,
fituate on the Mouth of the River St, Lawrence,

Though this Province has been in our Poffeflion above half
a Century, fince the Peace of Utrecht^ little or no Advances
were made in the Settlement of it, 'till after the War before the
laft, when a moft numerous Colony, amply provided with every
Thing neceflary, was fent and fettled there, and an excel ^
lent Dock-yard, &c. built for the Service of the Navy, lla-
tioned in thofe Parts of America^ with good Houfes for the
Officers and Artificers employed in it, and Barracks for the
Army, compofing together the handfome Town of Hallifax^
all at the great Expence of Government. But the Succcfs has
no Way anfwered this Expence^ ex,cept fo fiir as it refpects
the particular Service of the Navy \ the only Advances made
in cultivating and impoving the Country, being confined
within the narrow Limits of the immediate Environs of the
Town, all at any Diftance remaining in the fame unprofita-
ble State as before ; fo that there is not a fufiicient Supplv

H 2 of

jL ;i

,1. ^

lHl_

C 52 ]

of the poor Produces of the Place even for the Inhabitants, who
inftead of being able to make any Exports, are obHged to
depend for their own Support upon our other Colonies; which
they would not be able to pay for, but for the Money fpent
among them by the Navy, and the Army ; the only Benefit
received by them from the latter^ who are found totally inca-
pable of defending them from the Outrages of the Natives.
How far this Benefit may be equivalent to the Expence ; and
whether Part of that Expence might not anfwer the End
better, if applied in another Manner, tiot to mention the Lofs
offo many Men's Labour and Lives, the Scurvy carrying them
off in Numbers, are Points well deferving the' Attention .'of
Go\*ernment,

As to the Navy, the Advantage to that is very great, as
the Shipping have not only a fafe and cc»ivenient Harbour
to be laid up in, during the Winter Sealbn, when all Navi-
gation is impradicable in thofe Seas; but can alfo be repaired,
nnd fupplied with any Thing they may want, without the
Fatigue, Danger, and Lofs of Time of coming Homc> upon
every Occafion of the Kind, as heretofore. > '

-/ tt 1

t »

The Mifcarriage in tlie Settlement of this Province, muft not
be attributed folely to any infuperable Incapacity in the Province
itfclf. The Climate, though far from being the bell, or molt a-
greeable, is yet equally far from being unwholefome, or unfit for
the Purpofes of Vegetation, if taken timely Advantage of, nor is
the Soil fo poor, but that with proper Cultivation and Care, it
would produce the molt valuable of all vegetable Productions,
Wheat ih great Plenty ; and many of the efculcnt Plants and
• ; . Roots

Ji'

[-53 ]

Roots in Requcft among its, if not in fo high Peife«ftion as
other Countries, yet whdlefbme and good for Ufe. , '

The true Reafon of this Mifcarriage, is the inveterate Hof-
tihty of the Natives, who, though very few in Number, yet
by lying in wait always, and in all Places, frequently find
Opportimities of committing tlie molt horrid Cruelties and
Murders upon the Settlers ; and even where they fail of this,
they keep tiiem in fuch a State of continual Alarm and Dread,
that they cannot apply themfclvcs to make any lafting or con-
liderable Improvement.^ i t, . _ . . .;, ;

:;n

An Enquiry into the Caufe of this Malignity in the Na-
ti^'cs towards our People is not fo immediately to the prefent
Purpofe. The firft Thing neceflary to be done is to guard
againft the Effecls of it ; and for this, fad Experience has
proved that Europea?i Soldiers are utterly imqualified, being
neither a£tive enough in themfelves, fufiic'^^ntly acquainted
with the Country, nor fuflicicntly inured to the Severity of
the Climate, to watch and purfue an Enemy poflefled of all
thefe Advantages, and aduatc- by the kceneft Hatred and
Animofity. Inftead therefore of fending Soldiers from hence,
the moft effcdual Means to put an End to the Inroads of thefe
Savages, obvioufly is to procure a Body of the Natives of
fome of the neighbourhig Colonies, moll: firmly attached to us
to encounter them. Thefe, from the natural Ferocity of their
Difpofition, might be brought at a v^ry trifling Expence,
comparatively to what we are now at to no Purpofe; and when
once let loofe upon the others, would in a very Ihort 'J imc
clkblilh the Country in a State of Safety, by cutting ofi^ all

thofe

*!■ ,!

f 5+ 3

thofe adually engaged in HoftiUtiea, and "whom Experience
has proved it to be impoflible to reconcile to us ; and taking
the I eft of all Ages and Sexes Prifoners, to be difperfed among
other diftant Colonies, where ihcy Hiould not imbibe, nor
have an Opportunity of pradifing fuch Prejudices.

••' r.t

I am very far myfelf, my Lord, from approving of the Ex-
tirpation of the Natives of any Country, by their Conquerors ;
and even if I did, have the Honour of knowing your I.ordfhip
too well to venture fuch a Propofal to you. But here the
Cafe is very different. The Country is fo large, and fo very
thinly inhabited, that our Settlements upon it can hardly be
called an Intrufion, and are by no Means even an Inconveni-
ence to the Inhabitants ; notwithftanding which, and notwith-
ftanding all the Advantages held out by us to them, we have
ever found it impoflible to fubdue their favage "Hatred in the
leaft ; fo that this Severity againft them is fan£lified by the
great, and eternal Law of Sclf-prefervation. The Safety of
the Settlers being once eftablifhed, they would be able to feek
o\it, and eftablilh their Settlements in the Places, moft fer-
tile in theniielves, and moil convenient for their different Pur-
pofcs of living and Commerce; and foon make fuch Returns,
par'iciilarly in Wheat, Htmp, and Flax, for the Produdion
of which, the Soil of the Country is in moft Places excel-
Icntly adapted, as would amply reimburfe the Expence of
feiiding diem thither. ' - 'y

.♦l STllJ

'■i..

^ 1

I'll ^TO ..'I!

.1 ..

Our

5S }

Our Exports to Nova Scotia at prefent confift
of the following Articles.

JVoolkft-Cloths — Foreign and Britijh Linens — ^
Wrought-lron — Steel — Erafs — Pewter — Tin —
Hats — Hopery — HaberdaJJjery-^^AJillenery^ and

Turnery-lVares ^ail-Cloth — Cordage — Ship- . r c^

Chandlery-IVares hiding Tackle Sadlery- ^ ^ 26,500

Wares — Gold and Silver Lace Britifli Spirits

— TVineSj Mid Medicinal DrugSy which coft at
an Average of tliree Years — • — —

1 - ji

*.| w't-V

;^!. *\-

The Articles exported from Nova Scotia^ are

Salted Mackaref and Shads, 3000 Barrels at 20s. -^ ^ 3000
Cod-Fijh 2500 Tons at jTio — — 25,000

Fi/h-Oily 300 Tons at £1^ — — 45 00

Whale-bone^ 5 Tons at ^^300 — — I-500

Ship, and other Timber, Mafts, Lumber, &^c, — 4000

fJ.MVl

£ 3^ho^

By this State, the Trade of this Countn^ appears to coniift:
entirely of Timber, and the Produce of ihe Fifhery; but

«!'

C 56 ]

if it were once well fettled, not only thefe might be ad-
vanced (the latter to more than double its prefent Amount,
and the former without Bounds, as the Forells cover the
whole Face of the Country) but alfo a new and mod ad-
vantageous Trade be opened in the feveral Articles of Tillage
before enumerated ; beflde what more might be ftruck out,
upon Experience, and a better Knowledge of the interior Parts
of the Country. ./'^'- "' .\ .'

. \ ' V i

i \

\ -v.

/ have the Honour^ &€.

\ , ■ ■

* r

> f'-^-jJ:* '• •; r 1

^§-

LETTER XL

.^4 I

. *> « *>

% • • ■

My Lord,

WE will now take a Trip, for n few Moments from
the Continent to the adjacent I (lands of aSV. Jolms^
and Cape-Breton,

The Ifland of St. Johns differs veiy little in Climate, but
moft materially in Soil, from No%)a Scotia ; the latter being
much fitter for Tillage, and the former for Palture. But this

Difference

[ 57 ]

Difference is far from a Difadvantage to eidicr, as it gives Rile
to an Interchange of their refpective Producti, in its Nature
neceffarily attended with Advantage, which their Nearnefs to
each other frees from all Inconvenience, or Danger of Inter-
ruption.

While the Inhabitants therefore of iVI5^'^ aS'l*;//^/ apply tliem-
felves to Agriculture, thofeof *$*/. Johns may turn their Lands
to Pallurage ; and thereby not only have their Time more nt
Command to purfue their own Fifhery ; but alfo be able to
fupply thofe engaged in the other Fifiicries with Beef for tbeir
Support, and to eftablifh a moft profitable Trade in that Ar-
ticle, with the JVefi' Indian Iflands, where it will always meet
abundant Vent. — I do not mean by this, that N'ova Scotia is
utterly unfit for Pafturage ; or aSV. Joh?is for Agriculture. I
only fpeak of the Produce, for which each is moft fit, and
which confequently it muft be their Intereft to purfue princi-
pally, as a Point of Commerce.

The Spirit, with which the Settlement of this Ifland was
undertaken immediately at the Conclufion of the laft War,
and the Numbers, Rank, and Wealth of the Pcrfons engaged,
gave Reafon to exped: a farther Progrefs by this Time, than
appears to ha\'e been yet made in it ; but whate\ er has been
the Caufe of the Delay, it is to be hoped that the bad Con-
fequences of it are fufliciently feen ; and that the Undertaking
will be re-aflumed with Effed.

As to the Ifland of Cape-Breton^ its Importance confifts
folely in its Situation, of which the Frefich took fufficient

I Advantage,

■I

( ■

I i

i!'

[ 58 ]

Adsantagc, while it was in tlicir Pofleflion, for the Protedlon
of their own and Annoyance of our Fifhery upon the Banks
of Ncwfoimdland. But that Importance has ceafed upon its
fallino- into our Mand:;, who are in the acknow!edo;ed Supe-
rloric\' of roirefhon of the whole Fifher/ ; and therefore the
Fortiiications created by them for their Purpofes, have been
demoliilicd by us, as not being of \5i<^ equivalent to the Ex-
pence of maintaining them.

The Idand though does not thereby lofe all Ufc to us ;
f()r as the Cod-Banks extend up to, and all along the Coaft of
it, it alibrds a convenient Station for curing the Fiih caught
there, without the Trouble, Delay, and Expence of carrying
them to n y od-er Place for that Purpofe ; not to dwell upon
the Impon ; 'ce of its Harbour, to the Navigation of the River
St, Laivra 'cc,

Oihcr Purpoies it can anfwer but very few ; the Climate
bwlng Hill worfe than that of Nova Scotia^ and the Soil more
unfit for Vegetation of every Kind, both on Account of the
Rockinefs cf the Ifland itfelf, and its Expofure equally to the
Cold cf Winter, and Heat of Summer, there being no Forefts
to ihcker Cultivation from them, as on the Continent. To at-
ten\pt ni.iking any permanent Settlements therefore on this
Illnnd, nuifl: be in vain, as they can never fucceed fuffici-
cnily to induce the People toftay, or to reimburfethc Expence.

/ have the Homur^ &c.

LET-

C 59 ]

»•#•••#•••«##•«#•»*•«#•##**•»•#**•««•

LETTER XII.

My Lorp,

I A M now come to Nm England^ a Country that well
deferves that Name, as being both the firft, and greateft
Colony eftablilhcd by us in America*

The Climate, Soil, and Produce of this Country are fo
well known, thnt any Account of them here mull be utterly
unncceffary : It's Importance to the Mother Country will fut-
ficlently appear in the following State of the Trade carried on
between tnem.

I 2

Com-

[ 60 }

.!l '

Commodities exported from Great-Britain to

New England,

JVroiight'Iron^ Steely Copper^ Brafs, Pewter"

ami Lead — Wollen-Cloths — Stuffs — Flannels —

Colchejicr-Bays — Long-Ells — Britijh^ Irip^ and

Forcig?i~Linens — Silks — Gold and Silver Lace —

Milkfieryy Haberdafhery^ and Hojiery-Wares —

Hats — Gloves — Manchefler Goods — Birmingham

and Sheffield Wares— Hemp — Sail-Cloth — Cordage

Upholflery^ and Sadlery Wares — Cabinet-Maker s

Geo is — Painter s Colours — Ship-Chandlery Wares

— Earthen Ware — India Goods — Grindftones —

FiJJjing-Tackle — Cheefe — Piekles — Toys — Seeds —

Tohacco-pipcs — Strong Beer — Wines — Spirits —

Medicinal Drugs — All which coil at an Average

oi three Years ------

^ Xr39S>ooo

The ahove Amount fpeaks for itfelf ; but when the Na-
ture of the Trade is conlidered, and that moft of the Arti-
cles exported from New England being carried to other
Markets, tlie greatell: Part of the Returns made to us for

our

[ 6i ]

Commodities imported from New England.

Cod-FiJJj dried -- loooo Tons - at^io - £ 100,000

Majls, Boards, Staves^ Shingles, and Jotlls - 45,000

Ships about 70 Sail — — ^^ ^ 1^^ " 49,000

Pickled Mackarel and Shadsy 8000 Barrels at 20 s - 8,000

Whale and Cod-Oil, 7000 Tons - at ^ 15 - 105,000

Whale-bone — > 28 Tons - at ^f 300 - 8,400

Turpentine, Tar, and Pitch 1500 Barrels at 8 s - 600

Horfes and live Stock — — — — 12,000

Potajh — 8000 Barrels — at 50 s - 20,000

Pickled Beef and Pork - ^000 Barrels at 30 s - I3>500
Bees- Wax, and fundry other Articles, valued at }
an Average of three Years - - - 3

Z Zl^^S^

our Exports are in the Money for u^hich their*s are fold,
the Confequence of it will appear in a ftiH ftronger Light.

It is moft delicate, my Lord, to mention any thing that may
feem to allude in the remoteft Senfe to the unhappy Difputes

l)j

1-1

[ 6j ]

at prefcnt fubfifting between Great-Britain and licr Avierkan
Children. I fhall therefore only obfervc, that if the Trade of
this Colony, on it's prefent Footing, is fo advantageous, what
muft it have been before thofe Difputes arofe, when our Ex-
ports thither aniounted to near ^ 550,000 per Annum ? And
wliat fhould we not do to bring it back to that Amount ?

The Complaints made by the Colonies (this along with the
rell) of the Scarcity of Coin among them, mult not be
taken to in\ alidate what I have here advanced of our being
paid in Money, for the grcateft Part of *our Exports to New
EnglamL 1 he Fad is the very Reverfe. That Money
comes not immediately from thence, but from the Coun-
tries where her Commodities are vended, whence it is brought
di redly to us, the Imports of New England from all other
Countries but Great-Britain^ being too inconfiderable, to
have any Weight in the Scale of Commerce ; fo that the
Scarcity of Coin there proceeds necefTarily from their paying
lis in Money, inikad of preventing it.

If it fliould be enquired huw this Colony can difpcnfc
v.'ith the want of the fevcral Articles of Commerce, their dif-
continuing to take which, as formerly, has made fuch a Fall
in our Exports thither, the Anfwer is obvious. It appears
from the foregoing State of thefe Expoits, that by very much
the grenttic Part of thcin confiih of the Luxuries, or at bell:
tlie dij^enfible Conveniencies of Life, the Country fupplying
the Necefllnies in abundance. Now, as the Inhabitants pride
thcmfelves more than any other People upon Earth in that

Spirit

[ 63 ]

Spirit of Freedom, wlilch flrft made their Anccftors kave
their native Country and fettle there ; and do really, as In-
dividuals, enjoy more Independency, from feveral peculiar
Circumftances in their Manners, Laws, and Situation, it is
natural to concei\ e that upon the iirll A[iprehenfion (whether
juftly founded or not makes no diilerence ! ) of any Invafion
of that I'rcedom, and Independency, they fliould take Fire,
and facriiice to Refentment, (May I not fay virtuous Principle?)
the Pallions whole Gratification con fumed thofc Articles of
Convenience and Luxury, and confine themfelves to meer
NeceiTaries. That they have already begun to do this, is too
well known and felt. I^low much farther they may proceed
in it, is far from beii ^ pleafing in the Profpe£t. Such Prin-
ciples gain Strength by Pra£lice ; and that Pradice will foon
make thofe Wants, which at the firft may have been molt
painiul, become lo familiar as to be no longer felt.

1 am well aware, my Lord, that this contradifts the
Notion of a necejfary Dependence upon us for thofe Articles,
which by artful and indullrious Propagation has become po-
pular here. But upon a proper Enquiry, this Notion will be
found unable to fupport itfclf. The People of New England
owe that Independency of Individuals, in which the \'ery
EfTence of true Liberty exifts, and which is the befl: Protec-
tion of it, to a particular Law of Inheritance, by whicli the
PofTeflions of the Father are divided equally among all his
Children ; fo that they arc kept in that happy Mediocrity,
which by obliging them to turn their Thoughts to Induftry,
in order to avoid Want, exempts them from Temptation to,

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as well as denies them the Means of gratifying Luxury ; and
at the fame Time, by fupplying them with a Foundation for
that Induftry to work upon, exempts them alfo from the Ne-
ceflity of fubmitting to any Encroachment on their Liberty.
A State, which they are known not to be yet refined enough
in their Tafte, to hazard, much lefs barter, for any Gratifi-
cation whatfoever ; and confequently the Necejftty of their De^
pendence for fuch Gratification, is meerly imaginary.

\ have before obferved to your Lordfliip, that the Products
of which this Country is capable, are fumciently underftood.
The only Articles in which there is Room for Improvement
are Hemp and Flax; Commodities for the Production of
which their Soil and Climate are peculiarly proper, and of
which it is impoflible for us to raife too much, even for our
own Confumption. >:

XIM

•«'' The Advantages which muft mcejfartly arife from our having
a fufficient Supply of thefe moft eflential Articles ofFer them-
felves to View, at the firft Mention of it ; nor can the In-
tereft of any Set of Individuals engaged in that Channel of
Trade by which they are at prefent fupplied, deferve to be put,
but for a fingle Moment, in Competition with that of the
Nation in General, fo nearly concerned in having this Trade
brought home thus to ourfelves.

_, M. I have the Honour^ ^c.

-• •')

.!,i'.'"V

k:^:.

LET-

J-T

t 6s 3

■i f'i

LETTER XIII.

My L

ORD,

TH E Colonies of ConneBicut^ Rhode IJland^ and New
Hampjhire come naturally under Confideration next
after New England^ of which they originally were, and ftill
in moft Refpe^s may be confidered as a Part ; the Obferva^
tions therefore made upon that are all neceflarily applicable
to thefe it's younger Brethren. ^

The Produce of thefe Colonies is moftly the fame as that
of New England \ and their Trade with Great Britain car*
ried on in the fame Articles, and fo blended with it, that it
is more difficult, than it may feem neceffary, to draw the
Line between them in many particulars. However, in order
to throw as much Light as poflible upon fo intercfting a
Subject, I here lay before your Lordfliip a State of their fepe-
rate Trade, as far as it is carried on with any apparent Sepa-
ration. . ,, ,.- , . .

■ i

CoM-

;i|

Commodities exported from GreauBritain to
ConneSiicut^ Rhoae-IJland and New Hampjhire.

Wrought-Iron^ Steely Copper^ Brafs^ Pewter
and Lead — Wolkn-Cloths — Stuffs — Flannels —
Colchefter-Bays — Long-Ells — Britijh^ Irip^ and
Foreign-Linens — Silks — Gold and Silver Lace —
Millenery, Haberdafheryy and Hojiery-Wares —
Hati — Gloves — Manchejler Goods — Birmingham
and Sheffield TVares— Hemp — Sail-Cloth — Cordage
Upholftery^ and Sadlery Wares — Cabinet-Makers
Goo'Js — Painters Colours — Ship-Chandlery Wares
— Earthen Ware — India Goods — Grindffones —
Fiffying-Tackle — Cheefe — Pickles — Toys- — Seeds —
Tobacco-pipes — Strong Beer — Wines — Spirits —
Medicinal Drugs — ^All which coft at an Average
of three Years " ~ " ~ ~ " j

> £ I2,00O>

'v.- I

.. I:

■if;

^«l -

,■ i
* !

The Difference between thefe Exports, and ihofe of New
England is evidently no other than is always, and every
where between different Parts of the fame Country, all the
Articles in the above Lift being included in that of the
Exports of New England, as Part of an Whole.

f 67 ] .

Commodities exported from ConneSlkut^ Rhodc"
IJland and New Hampfhire.

Maflsj Boards J Joiflsy Stavesy &c. - - ^ 30,000
i^tf/W 5^^/^ — Pork-^Hams-^ Butter — Cheefe — >

Callivances — and Flax Seed - - - J -S*

Whale and other FiJh'Oily 1500 Tons - at ^ 15 - 22,500

Pickled Macharely Shadsy and other Fijh - - • 7,000

Horfes and live Stock — — — _ _ 25,000

Pota/h -— 6000 Barrels — at 50 s - i5jOod

. ; ' £ 1x4,500

f .■'

\v V

!.i' ;

As to the Balance agalnft Great Britam, upon the Face of
this State, it is only in Appearance. Their Trade dircdly
with us has been fhewn to confift almoft totally in the Con-
veniencies neareft to being abfolutely neceflary to Life. If
therefore it may appear that they do not take from us a
Quantity of thefe, proportioned to their Numbers, the Rea-

K 2 . ^on

i i:

B«t

I' u

• [ 68 ] •

fon Is, that they get them nearer at hand from the other Co-
lonies, particularly JVew Torky and Neiv England^ who in a
great Meafure carry on their Trade for them \ fo that the
Produce of the Excefs of their Exports over their Imports is
to be placed to the Credit of thofe Colonies, and centers ul-
timately with us, as I have had the Honour to intimate to
your Lordfhip in the. preceeding Letter. ,-'-^*

' ■ And now, my Lord, as the four Colonies of New England^
ConneSiicuty Rhode IJland^ diwA New Hampjhire are fo infepe-
rably connected with each other in every Senfe, I Ihall here
lay before your Lordfhip fome farther Hints concerning them,
which will probably be found to affedt the general Intereft of"
them all ; and confequently that of Great Britain^ which is ;
as infeperably connedled with them.

As the Importance of the Colonies arifes folely from the
Numbers of their Inhabitants, not from any Produdion of"
their own, or Advantages of Situation for Commerce peculiar
to tliem ; the firft Thing to be thought of, is how to turn
thofe Inhabitants to fuch Purfuits, as iliall beft fupply their
Neceflities, and at the fame Time engage their Attention too
clofeiy to give them Leifure for forming thofe Schemes, which
Contemplation of their Number? might, in a State of Idlenefs,
fuggeft to them.

For this Purpofe the two Objefts evidently moft proper (if
not folely fo) are Agriculture and Manufadures ; but thefe are
to be propofed to their Purfuit, on very different Principles.

[ 69 ]

'■^ Agriculture, as hath been hinted before, is impoflible to
Be pu{hecl too far, Confumers encreafing regularly with the
Encreafe of the Subjed to be confumed ; and a Foreign De-
mand being always certain for any Excefs of Home Confump-
tion. But in refpedt to Manufadures, a very different Con-
dud is to be obferved. Inftead of giving a general and in-
difcriminate Encouragement to every Exertion of Art, as in
Great Britainy their Endeavours fhould be delicately and ju-
dicioufly direded to fuch particular Objeds, as there may be
jufl: Reafon to exped their fucceeding in ; and thefe are the
immediate Neceffaries, or at leaft the almoft indifpenlible Con-
veniencies of Life.. - . ,. , , ....

I mufl not, my Lord, be underftood to infinuate, by this,
a natural Incapacity in the Inhabitants of thefe Colonies for
any Arts. The Contrary is well known. All I intend by this
Limitation is, that their Capacities fhould be applied, to fuch
Arts as the Materials and Circumflances of their Country are
proper for bringing to Perfedion ; and as are exerted in pro-
ducing thofe Manufadures, which the poorer Part of the
People are not able to purchafe, and cannot, or at leafl will
not difpenfe with the want of, without Difcontent..

I am well aware, that felfifh, ihort-fighted Politicians will:
inflantly take the Alarm at this ; and exclaim that what I
propofe for the Benefit of thefe Colonies muft neceflarily be
an equal Prejudice to the Mother-Country. But I hope to
prove, that the Contrary is the Fad ; and that the moft ef-
fedual Way of making them ferviceable to us, and that in
the mofl extenfive and important Senfe, is by encouraging
them firil to ferve themfelves, by purfuing thefe two Objeds.
^ The

V- j

I i

il '

t 70 ].

The found and falutary Policy of promoting Agriculture is
too well, and too univerfally known to require Proof. The
firft and greateft Advantages arifing from it, are it's fupply-
ing Employment and Suftenance at the fame Time. In the
prefent Inftance the Applicvition propofed to Manufa£lures ef-
fe^s the firft, and comes neareft to the fecond of thefe Ad-
vantages, there being many Manufadures, fcarcely, if at all,
lefs neceffary to Life, than Bread itfelf. Where thefe there-
fore cannot be fabricated immediately by the Confumers them-
felves, their Eyes are neceflarily turned to thoff Places, wh. re
they may be purchafed > and if they want Money, the com-
mon Medium of fuch Purchafe, that Want is fupplied by;
Barter of the Things in their Pofleffion.

Thus for it may appear that the Progrefs is on right Prin-
ciples ; and fo in the general it is. But particular Circum-
ftances make a material Difference in the prefcht Cafe.

It has been faid that the Importance of thefe Colonies con-
fifts folely in the Numbers of the Inhabitants ; and that thefe
Inhabitants enjoy a State of Independence in a Manner pecu-
har to themfelves. But it muft be obferved alfo that the very
Means by which that Independence is preferved to them, by
keeping them at the fame Time in a State of Poverty prevents
their confuming a Quantity of the Manufactures of the Mo-
ther-Country proportioned to their Numbers, and even con-
fines their prefent fcanty Confumption to thofe Articles on
which the Profit of the Manufacturer is the loweft.

i To free them therefore from this Poverty, without under-

;: ' • \ • : ■: c - ' . r : -^ mining

C 7^

mining their Independence, is the readied and moft effedlual
Method of turning their natural Importance to our Advan-
tage ; and this can be done eaiieft, if not indeed only, by
the Encouragement here propofed to be given to Agriculture
and Manufactures ; the former, by fupplying them with Suf-
tenance, and a Stock to trade upon, which will never fail of
a Market ; and the latter by enabling them to make a fufE-
cient Quantity of thofe other Neceflaries, for which they now
barter that Stock, and thereby leaving it in their Hands, to
barter for other Conveniencies of greater Price, which they
cannot reach in their prefent Circumftances, though they re-
pine for, and never will be content without them.

Let the Inhabitants of thefe Colonies, I fay, be properly-
encouraged to raife Flax and Hemp, to tan the Hides of their
Cattle, to fpin the Wool of their Sheep, &c. &c. 8cc. and
work them up into the moft immediate Neceflaries ; and they
will then be able to apply the Price of their Exports, which
now goes to purchafc thofe Neceflfaries, to the Purchafe of
other Articles, lefs neceflary, but of greater Price and Profit
to the Vender ; and not only this, but they will alfo exert *
their Induftry to provide ftill more for Exportation, as foon
as they become acquainted with the Enjoyments thus procured
for them. .

Nor is this the only Advantage that will arife from this
Meafure. It will divert them from ihe carrying Trade, the
only Track in which they can poflibly interfere with us, and
leave it entiicly in our Pofleflion, by turning their Thoughts
wholely to internal Purfuits ; an Advantage, fo obvious, and
great that the very Mention is fufEcient to enforce every Means
&r obtaining it, It

t' !!<

■■ 11

{l:

;j s

Fi ^
«

[ 72 ]

' It muft not be objeded, that the Increafe of Population,
which would neceflarily follow fuch an Application to Agri-
culture as is here propofed, might be an Incouragement to at-
tempt Ihaking off Dependence upon Great-Britain, That is
only the Fear of a moft contrafted Policy. Our PofTeflions
on that Continent exceed any Ufes to which the Power of
Imagination can affign them. While the Inhabitants there-
fore find Room for extending their Settlements interiourly,
and a certain Vent, and fatisfadory Return for the Produce
of them, they will never think of breaking the Connexion,
from which they experience fuch Advantage; and by the
Breach of which they cannot exped even to keep, much lefs
to improve that Advantage. And this is that Commercial
Dependance, which has been fo much talked of, and fb little
underftood of late : A Connc6tion which, cemented thus by
mutual Advantage would become indifibluble, and make their
Numbers our Strength, as I have obferved in another Inftance.

Thefc, my Lord, are fome of the Hints, I propofed fub-
mitting to your Lordll^lp's Attention, under which I flatter
myklf that they may he improved to the End for which they
are humbly offered. , Others, not lefs important, arc referved
for another Place, as being more general in their Nature, and
equally applicable to others of our Colonies. - ,

'■if.

L:r:f!

hi.

'M':-K

I have the Honour, &^c. ,

.'i

f j . ■ <

LET-

■i\',

; 1 1 . ; } i i i

'- ... , "■ t

» K-'f I ' 1 »• ^

[73 1

Ii,-i'-T T E R

XIV.

My Lord, ' • '

H E next Province, that in Courfe offers itfelf to
your Lordfhip*s Confideration, is New Torky in every
Refped the happieft for Habitation in all JVort/j America ;
the Healthful nefs of the Climate vying with the FertiUty of
the Soil ; which not only produces aboriginally every Nccef-
fary of Life, but alfo brings all the vegetable Produ£tions of
Europe, that have been tried there, to Perfeftion, and many
of them in a much higher Degree, with little or no Trou-
ble, than they arrive at in England, under the mod careful
and expenfive Cultivation.

Our Acquaintance with this Country is in every Senfe fo
intimate, that it muft be unneceflary to enter into any parti-
cular Account of it here : 1 fhaU therefore only lay before
your Lordihip the following View of the Trade at prefent
carried on between it, and Great-Britain^ as the mott proper
Introduction to the few Remarks whicli I fhall beg Leave to
hint to you thereupon. -

I.!' S»

- J A ,/ i< ,;,.!-

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Com-

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[ 74 ]

Commodities exported from Great- Britain to

New Tori,

Wrought-lron^ Steely Copper^ Pewter^ Lead^'
and Brafs— Cordage — Jfie7np — Sail-Cloth — Shif-
Chandlery — Painter s - Colours — Millinery — Ho-
ftery — Haberda/Jjery — Gloves — Hatts — Broad-
Cloths — Stuffs — Flannels — Cokhefter.Bays — Long
Ells — Silks — Gold and Silver La e — Manchefter
Goods — Britijh^ Foreign^ ' and irijh Linen,s —
Earthen-JVares^-Grindftones — Birmingham,^ and
Sheffield Wares — Toys — Sadlery — Cabinet-Wares
— Seeds — Cheefe — Strong-Beer — Smoahng-Pipes
— Snuffs — Wines — Spirits — Drugs — All which
coft at an Average of three Years - - , -

h4-

The high Amount of our Exports plainly fliews the Im-
portance of this Trade to the Mother-Country ; but this Im-
portance will appear in a ftill ftronger Light, when it is con-
fidered that the greateft Part of the Exports of this Province
are carried to other Markets, and confequently the Returns

for

t 75 T ■

Commodities exported from New Tork to
Gnat'Britairu and other Markets.

(Ill '

<'J W/'.»i

• -

Flour ^ and Bif cutty 250,000 Barrels at 20 s — ^ 250,000

Wheats 70,000 Quarters at 20 s ,,^ — —

Bea7i5y Peasy Oats, Indian Corny and other Grain -

Salt-Beefy Porky Hamsy Bacony afid Vcnifon . —

BeeS'Wax '? 0,000 lb at i s . /i — —

Tongues y Buttery and Cheefe • ^ — -— j

jD^^r, ^«^ o//6tr Skins — — —

Flax- Seedy 7,000 Hhds at 40 s ., , — • —

HorfeSy and Live Stock — — — '

Timber y P lanky Maflsy Boardsy StaveSy and Shiitgles

Potajby 7,000 Hhds at 40 s — . — , .

Ships built for Sale^ 20 at £ 700 — .

Copper Grey and Iron, in Bars and Pigs —

fir: The whole at a like Average of three Years £ 526,000

70,000
40,000
i8,doo
1,500
8,00a
35,000
14,000
17,000
25,000
14,000
14,000
20,000

^ II Ol t;fO'.

"i":''

..'B

for ours made in Money, the moft advantageous Syftem of
Trade, that can be carried on with any Country.

>."?

The flourifhing State of this Province has led many to
conclude that it is come to it's Meridian. But the contrary

La ' is

.1/..

■■•I

fe if

1^.

[

S-v

C 76 J ,

is the Fadl. The fame Encouragement to Agriculture, ancL
Manufadures of the coarfer and more immediately neceflary
Kkids, that has been propofed in the prcceeding Letter to be
given to JVew England^ ConneSlkut^ Rhode- Ijlandy and New
Hafnpjhire^ would be found ta be cqimlly beneficial to New-
York^ and through that to Great-Britain, The Reafons*
which irrefragably fupport this Opinion are obvious in them-
fehes, and have been fo fully fhewn in thofe Inftances, that
a Repetition of them cannot be necefliiry here. I. fhall there-
fore only obferve to your Lordlhip, as a Proof of what tfiis
Province can produce^ above its immediate Exports, thaV-
there are above 2000 Tons of Hemp and Flax, of it's own.
Growth, worked up there annually for it's own^ Ufe*

Nor are the Improvements of which this Province is flill?
capable, confined to the particular Channels above-mention-
ed, highly adVaiatageous as they are: The Succefs of re-^
peated Experiments has. proved that it abounds in valuable •
Metals. Iron, and Copper, have already been railfed in fuch
Quantities, as to become capital Articles of Commerce ; and
there can fcarce be a Doubt, but other Metals, ftill more
valuable, will alfo be found, when properly fought for ; and.
fo open new Sources of Trade, equally advantageous to the;'
Colony and the Mother-Country, with whonv all. it's Wealth
ultimately centers.

/ have the Honour^ &c..

L E T-

*"*'^:-i-/?«'

r 77 ]

!:i^.)^)€()^)()()6()9C)a(}0C)9()e()SO6()9C)6O9()6()C(#^^eC^}6C)6C^

K-,\ ./ , -t

■f'-i*-

LETTER XV.

:*- *■■

-'•n

,\.

''i;

Mr Lord,.

■: n^

TH E adjoining Colony of Pennfylvania equals New
York in all the Gifts of Nature, and perhaps exceeds
i^ in thofe of Fortune, as we fpeak j it's Form of Civil Gqt.
Viernment being better calculated to promote private Happi-
nefs, and confequently Publick Profperity, tlian any other,
with which we are acquainted, under the Sun.

That this is not an Exaggeration in either Inftance will
appear from the following State of tlie Commerce of tliis
Qolonj with Grea^ Bn'taw*

.>■ ':V ■ -'!•■ '■ i

COM-

^? -

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m
m

t 78 ]

Commodities exported from Great Britain to
Philadelphia^ the only Sea-port in Pennfyivania.

■' ' ■' ■ *A.,

< . , ■« f„

Wrought Iro7t, Steel, Copper , Pewter, head^ ■ > •

and Br of s — Birmingham, and Sheffield Wares — ^i •..

Hemp — Cordage — Sail-Clot h — Broad-Cloths — . * ♦ ^

Cokhefter-Bays — Long-Ells — Stuffs — Flannels —
Manche/ler-Goods — Hofiery, Haberdafftery, and
Millinery Wares — ilats — Gloves — Britijh, Fo-
reign, and Irijb Linens — Silks — Gold, and Silver \. ^ 611,000
Lace — T'oys — Painter s Colours — Ship-Chandlery, j , ^ "

and Sadlery Goods — - Cabinet-Wares — Earthen
Wares — Grindftones — Piping Tackle — Seeds^-
Pickles — "Cheefe-'-^Strong-beer — Smoaking Pipes — -
Snuffs — Wines — Spirits, and Drugs, all which
coft at an Average of three Years —

w^nt^

<ii^J III ti

•> rt r. tt :

B}5

The Nature of thefe Expoits from this Colony fhews that
al'iioil the vihole of them is carried to other Markets, befide
Grrai Britain, and confequently the Returns, for ours, are
mat:e in the Money for which thefe are fold there ; a Cir-
ruinitance, the Advantage refulting from which, as well as
fi m the Amount of our own Exports in this Trade, has
been obferved in the Letter preceding this.

' ' ' ' ■'■■■■.' '. , ' ■ ■ i, '

.:■■--"■'•■. ' As

Commodities exported from Philadelphia to
Great Britain^ and other Markets. . "

'<"..i ^'

Bijcuit Flour ^ 350,000 Barrels, at 20 s — ;C 35°>^°^

Wheats 100,000 Quarters, at 20 s —

Beans — Peas — Oats — Indian Cornj and other Grain

Salt-Beef- — Pork — Bacon — Hams — Vetiijon

Bees- Wax, 20,000 lb at i s. —

Butter — Cheefe, and Tongues — .

Deer, and fundry other Sorts of Skins ,

Live Stocky and Horfes — —

Flax-Seedy 15,000 Hhds at 40 s —

Timber — Plank — Majls — Boards — Staves, and Shingles 3 5 ,000

Ships built for Sale, 25 at^ 700 — . . — i7)5oo

Copper-Ore, and Iron in Pigs and Bars — 35,000

ioa,ooa
12,000

— 45,000

— i^ooo

lOjOOO

— 50,000

rr-j'r 20,000
30,000

The whole at an Average of three Years

L 705>5oo

■' .*■" L:-

»i%

-V"'^ T"

f ^ f ^r\'f\

! f

As this Colony is in every Refpe£l circumftanced in the
fame Manner as New York, it is capable of equal Improve-
ment by the fame Means, a Repetition of which cannot De
neceflary here. - 'v - ri r

The Province of New Jerfey is fituated immediately next
to New Torky and Pennfylvafm, and yields to neither in the

Blellings

Hi'

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r i

[So ] ■

BlefTings of Nature, but in other Circumftances is yet far
behind them.

The Produce of this Counuy is in every Inftance the fame
with that of the others, as is it*s Trade ; both of which are
capable of much greater Improvements than the former, for
diis Reafon, that they are not yet nearly fo much improved.

The Caufe of this Backwardnds though being no othcrr
than the Impoflibility of attending to too many Things at
one Time, it is to be hoped that it will fbon ceafe ; and
New Jerjey^ fjom the Example of it*s Neighbouring Coun-^
tries, perhaps from the Spreading of their Inhabitants, as the
Means of Improvement are the fame^ rife to that Figure in
itfelf, and Importance to Great Britain^ for which it is fo
well and abundantly qualified.

The Trade of this Province being at prefent carried on
folely with and fiom New Tork and Pennjylvania^ though
it wants not good and convenient Ports of it's own, is
infeperably included, both inwards and outwards, with theirs,
to whicli it makes no inconfiderable Addition, efpecially in
the V aluable Article of Copper-Ore, the greater Part of which,
exported by them, is raiied here.

/ have the Honour ^ &c.

L JE T-

[ St ]

(iOJ ■ m-

'^'-,

mitiifoioimoioioommmt^

' ■ r \ T \ '

a ■•;

L E T T E R XVI.

t • ■

' •>

My Lord, . ; *. . :

FROM New Jerfey we come to Virginia and Maryland^
two Colonies in all Relpeds circumftanced fo exaftly
alike by Nature, and fo inexplicably connected with each
other in Trade and Intercoufe, that though politically di-
vided into diftin£t Governments, they are in themfelves to be
confidered rather as Parts of one, than as different Countries,
any Attempt at drawing a Line between them in the Scale
of their Commerce, being much more difficult to execute,
than the Execution of it would be advantageous.

I fhall therefore lay before your Lordfhip a State of their
Trade, as it is jointly carried on by them at prefent, with
out entering here into any other Specification of their Pro-
duce; or Proof of their natural Aptitude for ftill farther Im-
provement, - i ^^^

4.< » s-

.:.-'; a

". ,'!

t , 'r

i, i. « .'

r. ^

, . jr J ^ ijjfj . .J ..J I

Com-

f ,:'

i:'!.

^': 1 1

l(-, '■

\k.

!>l

[ 8a ] -
Commodities exported from Great Britain to

Wrought Iron, Steel, Copper, Pewter, Lead,^
and Bra/s — Hemp — Cordage — Sail-Cloth —
Broad-Clotjosr^ Stuffs— fPlanf\els-^ Colchiper-Bays
— Lo7ig'-Elh — Britijh, IriJJj, and Foreign Linens
— Silks — Gold^ and Silver Lace — Toys — Milline-
ry, Haberdaji.ery, and Hofiery Goods — Hats — I :r T ■
Gloves — Birmi7tgham, and Sheffield TVares- — Up- > ^ 865^000
bolfkry. Cabinet, Ship^Chandlerj^, and Sadlery\
Wares — -Earthen Whres-^-Grindfione^— Painter s :
Colours — Pickles — Seeds-. — Piping Tackle— Cheefe
— Strong-beer— Smoaking Pipes- — Snuffs — Wi?us^
-^Spirits, and Medicinal Drugs, all which coft
at an Average of three Ycais .'

^ t . L.W.I

a^w^aiaaaiwaBta

.ji.vrl- i 'M^voJ . ■■ ■ ■ '■ 7j^| 3iobi0fb kail ^

The firft Thing that ftrikes the View, in this State of the
Trade of thefe Provinces, is the Balance that appears upon
the Face of it, againft Greats Britain, But this, as hath
been obferved in other Inftances, is only in Appearance. All
the Articles exported from Great Britain to Virginia, and
Maryland, are of our own Produce and Manufadure, except
a very few \ and thefe alfo are of our own Importation, in
the moft lucrative Channels of our Trade ; fo that our Proiit
upon them bears a near Proportion to, if it does not equal

. , .. their

C 83 ]

Commodities expdrfed from Virginia and Ma^y-

•• ' iLkiJ . .i

Tobacco^ 96,000 Hhds at /"Svl r ii-iid' f -*^] > ^ 768,000
Indian-Corn — Beans — Peas^ &a > ^ • :im- ! j ., ! .^) ,; j 30,000
Wheat y i^o,ooo Qiiarters, at 20 s — — 40,000

Dcer^ and other Skins -^' ^--^ur I ^il; 07 r 25,000

Irony in Bars and Pigs — — ^ — ;; '35,000

Mal^s — Plank — Staves— ^Turpe7ttinei and Tar ^ -^-^ ' 55,000
Saffajras — Snake-root-r-rGinJengy &c*i Wiv*^^ .>-*!.;'il 7,000
FlaX'Seedy 7,000 Hhds , at 40 s v -i-* jI.,4— ljj ii: i4,oioo
Pickled Pork — Beef — Hamsy and Bacon >^ ^ i\ 15,000^.
Ships built for Saky 30 at ^1,000 — ' : -^ ^' 30,000
* Hempy 1,000 Tons, at f^ 21 .. -^ . ~ . . ^ .2r,(!)oo'

],/rhe wliole at a like Average ofthf^e Years, jf 1^40,000

ffjfyrt r''>r'i*//

« ■. 1 1 '-'f »

£ 2b/ijM.-iiiO /ir ra'jji ,'r\\i\\v\T.

V- iv. fi. i\

their firft Coll: to us : Whereas, not an inconfiderable Phrt
of the Exports of Virginia and Marylandy goes to the neigli-
bouring Colonies, in Exchange for Articles of their Produced '
with which \ve conld' not fupply them, but at fecond Wnc{, .
and confequently fb much dearer, that it would be d^ually'
abfurd and oppreilive, to expert they fliould take theni
irom, us. . » -k X t r , . » , - • .T

'/i

,* Jkfidc this Qiiantiry of Hemp exported raw to Great Britain, they raife
4..600 ions mori.% and 2jcoo Tons or Flax, which they work up at home
for their own Ulcs.

f M

hlf

C 84 ]

But this is far from being the Cipcumftance of moft Ad-
vantage in the Trade of thefe Provinces. The capital Arti-
ck of their Produce is Tobacco, a (3ommodity, which, ex-
clufive of the private Profits of Trade to the Merchant, yields
immediately to the Publick a Revenue greater than any other,
in the whole Circle of our Commerce.

To prove this, I muft beg leave to ob/erve to your Lord-
ihip, that of the 96,000 Hhds of Tobacco imported annual-
ly into Gr^at Britain from Virginia and Maryland ^ only
1 3,500 Hhds are confumed at home, the Duty paid by
which, at the Rate of jT 26 i o per Hhd, amounts to
^351,675; the remaining 82,500 Hhds being exported
by our Merchants to the other Parts of Europe^ and their
Value returned to Great Britain, "\^yz . F 000,1 ,'^,v >VA '

It mlift be unneceflary to enter into a Detail or Proof of
the Advantages arifing from fuch a Trade, which from
the Overflowing of a Non-necejfaryy keeps in our Hands a
Balance againft thofe Necejfaries^ which we are obliged to
purchafe from other Countries, indilpenfibly, and therefore
at a Lofs They prove themfelves on the bare Mention of
them. I ihall therefore only add, that this fingle Trade gives
conftant Employment to 330 Sail of Ships, and 3,960 Sailors,
to ihew that it's Advantages are not confined only to our
Wealth, but extend to the moft eflentialPart of our National
Strjcngth alfo. - •->

It it natural to think that Advantages fo obvious, and fo
great, have not been negledled. The Truth is, the Cultiva-
tion

^iii\.

?rio

iiO

C 85 ]

tion of thip Cott^t^odity has been cafried as far as it will
bear, there iipt t^pfng (Vjcnt for ^nyi greater Qiiantity than
is now raife<d. But this does not preclude thefe Provinces
from Improvement, in prfier Inftances. Attention to their
Tobacco has made them in a great Meafure negle£l the Tillage
of Corn, t and be top rqniifs even in the Articles of Hemp
and flax , for all v^Jnicji t\}ey are Jxipi^ happUy fity ated. To
thefe tliey fhouj J be encouraged to apply themfdves with
Spirit, as alfa to the Nd[anufaftures of moft immediate Necef-
fity tc them,-,andv ,|sAiPrQfi,t^ JQ tl^ie Ii^port^r frpm other
Countries.

'jijiKilJiH

,rn

\uhiii

■jrh hm^i

>.l

;]iiJOJ iv» l|a-

I ; r., ■,.• ' .. ' ',.. "r T . • ,. •'■■ '•• >,'

"The Evils indeed arifing from the NcgleA of thefeindiA
peniibly neceflary Articles, at length begin to be perceived
by the People of thefe Colonies, who have accordingly made
fome weak Efforts in Agriculture to raife the Corn neceflary
for their own Subfiftence, and free themfelves from the Ex-
pence and Danger of depending for their daily Bread upon
other Countries, when put fo bountifully within their reach
by Heaven. But the Attempts of Individuals are liable to
too many Interruptions ; and at the bell will adVa-nce too
flowly to remedy an Evil, that has taken fo deep Root, if
they are not both encouraged and aflifted by publick Mur-
nijiicence.

I prefumc not, my Lord, to direft the Manner in which
this is to be done. The bare Hint is all that can come with
Propriety from me to your Lordfhip ; nor is it to be doubted,
but thofe to whom his Majefty has delegated the Care, will
with tlie Example of our Tillage-A£t before their Eyes, fooa

. fee

I'fi:

[ 86 3

fee the Expediency of whsLt\i here fuggciftB^j ' and' ' dppfy the
moft efFeaual Mcafurfei for'tiariVing k^happrW' into J£xecution.

The Benefits which muftnecefiarlfy^a^re from this Policy
have been ihewn in the formed' Mfehcies, in which it has
been recommended. -Td^ what hay;l3^eH''thei'e ^faid; i ftall
not trefpafs upon H^our- E'ordifhip-'Urltii atiy ftirtl^Ler'A'adit^oiiij
than that in the C^fe of thefe Pi'itVinces, it fdenis' iA fome
Meafure more immedir^tely neceflaiyi than ' in any* other,
the Want of a Variety c^ iriternidl Eiiiployihcnt ^haviiig weak-
ened the Spirit of Induftry, and of courfe introduced a Turn
to Diflipation and Expence in the Inhabitants, j. of all. pe-
grees, that mufi; inftantly affeft, and if rtot 'corre<fted, in^Oyrfe
6i Time totally overturn the Profjperity pf any Country. ^ ' ^ |

no^rr; br^nq vli«b .i.dl.i;/^^^, ^, //^Ji^^-^^. *^^

ocl d^n/ivbn W'nr Hifi' och T'-. km ; '4bhcpni'ji.!l v^j:rrr(>ui
Iri .imiif fpi>b (;> r -4,j rtUfi jfvfh ,Fi^/H . fm ^baam ot <u,vnii

r:i

uiiOicj t>

#'^i5xno^'fiB:> J/ub iii: fct :?aili Plfid ^jdl .'I'aob -d ciV at -Jii't
^^fesidiiob sd OJ il ^i ioct ;airUlnoJ luo/.oj '5m mo-f ^ ]? T-

3at-''-.

t «7 ]

'i , . • -

•*■• ■"•• r vv^.:/\' Aj.^a ^^'.e.*:''^ }':yi .rTi\ a-Xtv^-i^
L E T T E R XVIL-^^^v..

My Lord, j^ v^;^,- ;^wv^'r._. ^^,V,,\-vA''f ^ .-yy^^:l,^.

NEX^t XXi'yirgfnfkttVid Maryla^^ He the tW lf*ro-
\Knc^s of JVar^S', UnS Sour 6 Carolina. The "alnlbft
total Neglect, under wl^tcli; the foi'mer of thefe ProVirLces
lay, till very lately'; and the very little Advances made eVeh
yet, in the Imprbveineilt of it, (Jan be accounted for only
from this Obfervation, that the firft Settlement of Countries
is directed by Chance, miiclt itibit than by Choice; and that
even where vfuch Choice~"can be made, all Things cannot
be attended to, at one Time. Well it'is, that our Eyes arc
at length opened to Advantages, which Blindnefs only could
overlook ; and that Leifure begins to be found to improve a
Country, whofe Soil and Climate court Cultivation with Af-
furances of the moil grateful Returns, •i■^\^ ]<_, ,... / i \)\\ k

Under fuch Difedvantages, it cann6t be expelled that the
(I had almoft iaid infant) Trade of this Province, can have
arifen to any confiderable Height; The following Account
fliews it in it's prefent State. What it may be improved to
fhall be confidered after.
U) juffiV ^:b 1<> l:orfm)i i^(i -(iflu;.iin:^. t/Ofnt>t.bif[ v>\ iJci

?»

■m :

Pi
r

[ 8S 3

Commodities exported from Great-Britain to

^orth CaroliNat'/^'i^Y\^\s'y^^

Wrought-IroHy Steely Copper y Leady Pewter y")
and Brafs — Eirmingham^ and Sheffield War'ei —
Hemp — Cordage — Sail-Cloth — Broad-Cloths —
Stuffs — Flannels — Colchefter3aySy and Long Ells
— Sadlery — Haberda/hery — Millinery y and Ho-
fiery Goods — Hatts — Gloves-^ Gold and Silver j^'

Lace — Silks — Britijhy Irifijy and Foreign Linens '^ ^ 1 8,000
•^ — Upholfteryy and Cahinet-JVares — -Earthen--
Wares — Grindftones — Fifi)ing'Tackle — Garden-
Seeds — Toys — Cheefe — Pickles — Strong-Beer^^
Sff^oaking-Pipes — Snuffs — Wines—^ Spirits — Me- , ,\{\-^ '^jf^fj
dicinal Drugs — All which coft at an Average
of three Years — — ; . rr— . t—

■'A\

:f!/

"11

.i.\...

■TO'

The Fxcefs of the Exports of this Province over it's Im-
ports from Great Brttairiy is to be accounted for in the
lame Manner, as the like Excefs has been in other Inftances.
Much the greater Part goes to the neighbouring Colonies,
in Exchange ibr Commodities of their Produce, fo that the
Balance upon the whole is in Favour of Great Britain,

But no Judgement can juftly be formed of the Value of
this Province from the prefent Amount of it's Trade, as

• . hath

[ 89 ]

Commodities exported from North Carolina to
Great-Britain^ and other Markets, r

\ *

Ricey 2000 Larrels, at 40 s — — — f
Tohaccoy iooo Hhds at /" 7 — — —
Pitchy Tavy and Turpentiney 51,000 Barrels, at 7 s
Boardsy StaveSy Joiftsy Shinglesy Maftsy and Lumber
Indian Corny PeaSy and other Grain — —
Live Stock of different Kinds — — —
Skins of different Kinds

\n]:i\u)

■ 1. I

4,000
14,000

15,000
7,000
5,000

C 68,350

The whole at an Average of three Years

* ruoii^iv "ni fnn'3 lo i'i.vo.r> odl, ^i*: of :^ •:)J:; >, 'Xw,^

-;u :;;>] ji::,;'^!-;^ ;.h rf-ji/f?;

f* -^ —ih^ ttu^i »» *f ^I,J '*»*.>< • i > J ,. I I, '.

/I:

hath been obfcrvcd before. Every Article of its Produce
might be pufhed to many Times the Quantity it is now at ;
and many new Articles introduced with a Certainty of Sue-
cefs, were the Advantages of Nature properly purfued. Pitch,
&c. and Rice, are the only Commodities which Ncrth-Ca-
7'olina now fends to Europe, The two former mull neceflarilv
increafe, with the Encreafe of Inhabitants, from the Clcarinrr
of the Coiuitry, as the Settlements are extended ; and the
Certainty of a good Market will encourage tlie Culti\'ation of
" M the

) '

the latter, as an Article of Commerce, as well as for Home-
Confumption.

VC/

The moll obvious of the new Articles, which may be in-
troduced into the Trade of this Province, are Com and Wine,.
No Argument can be wanted to enforce the Cultivation of
thefe frft Neceffaries^ if not Indiffenfibks of Life, whereverx
Nature will allow it. Bread (made of Corn) is " the Sttifi-
of Life : " and " Wine maketh glad the Heart of Man'^ —
All therefore that can be neceflary for the prelent Purpofe:
is to prove, that this Country is not improper for their Pro-
dudion.

tfl

i\ n:

^(vr :}\\

And in this, my Lord, I have the Advantage of having
Reafon fupported by Experience. The Appearance of the
Soil, and 1'emperature of the Climate foon tempted the Eu-
ropean Settlers to try the Growth of Corn in various Parts
of this Country, in every one of which the Succefs has in-
variably anfwered their moft fanguine Expectations. But they
have gone but little, or no further. Satisfied with the Ex-
periment, or unable to purfue it, at lead with any View to.
Commerce, they go on in the beaten Path, turning their
Backs to an Advantage fo obvious, and fo great. That
fuch Advantage muft really arife from the Culture of Corn
for Exportation, will fufEciently appear from this fingle Con-
(ideration ; that this is the lai; nf the BritifJj Provinces, to
the Southward, that will produce Corn ; and confequently
that it can fupply the more Southern Colonies, at a cheaper
Rate, than thofe at a greater Diflance. ^ .^ ^, ,

•I.

•1 • ■ ;

Though

i 91 1

Though the Experiments hitherto made for the Culture of
die Vine, have not, for obvious Reafons, been fo many,
nor fo extenlive as the former, the Succefs has been abun-
dantly fufficicnt to encourage the Purfuit of them ; and
fcarce leaves a Doubt but this Country is capable of pro-
ducing the Wines of Switzerland^ Germany^ and France^ in
Quantities fufEcient to fupply all our Colonies, and of fuch
Quality, as perhaps in Time to tempt the Mother- Country
to give it a Share of that Trade with her, in thofe Articles,
which is now wholly in the Hands of Strangers. . ^/^

The Advantages, which mull refult from this, are in a
Manner felf-evident. Wine is in fuch univerfal Ufe, that the
Countries which cannot produce, muft purchafe it ; as the
Want of it will not be difpenfed with by any.

That the Climate and Soil of Great Britain will not
bring the Grape to fuch Perfedion as to make it's Juice in
Requeft, .either for Health or Pleafure, has been long
known! That the Climate, and Soil of feveral of our
Southern Provinces in America^ beginning at this of North
Carolina^ will, has been fufKciently proved by Experience !
Why we fhould not then encourage our own Subjefts to
produce a SufHcicncy of it, not only for their own Ufe,
but alfo to fupply us, and fo give the Profits of the IVade
to them, from whom it will return ultimatelv to ourfelves,

' ml

rather than to other Nations, cannot be reconciled with
any Principles of common Prudence, much lefs of found
Policy,

?'' I

N 2

I have

[ 92 ]

I have mentioned only thefe two Articles, my Lord, not
as all which may be added to the Commercial Stock of this
Province, but as the moft obvious, and eafieft to fucced in ;
^nd becaufe I would not diftra6t the Attention, by pro-
pofing too many Objedls at once. In the Purfuit of thefe,
niany others will naturally open themfelves, in Circumftances
" which will beft point out the proper Methods of purfuing
them alfo ; and thefe I have only jull touched upon here,
as I (hall have Occafion to purfue the Subjeft in other In-
(lances.

— . I 11

^HH -"■

-,^^U cJ

A -jflT

r^tuoi'R ^sL') moA tlffe , ^ ■ / I.- ^ .... ..:*>.

u , ? > „'i ■ f » 1 ' f i ^ave the Honour ^^ ixc. - . ,

■', :♦'

tsfci -. Id ffii^^-ml \>^ iio2 ban \:5aj raiD ^ii/ ^x^i^iT I nv/oni
-"^IQ'/I^ihyo o? v';H;riii^lrj m f;i^i l]i#* ai rnoilo ir

LET-

i-,i^ '%■-.

'^mk I

[ 93 ]

-'' • "■' ' fVr?Af!. /^l.l;^'?^! ,-\%^^'^> r-,;'^^. ..>,V'kt''-!4li>.^*C¥; •

^ VW.V'»->-^

IN the Complaint pfNegieB''m^^^ the

next ViowmcQoi South-Carolina W no right to join ih
any Senfe. Of all the 5r/V^ Colonies in ^w^r/V^, this has
been cultivated with moft Attention, Spirit, and Expence ;
and the SuGcefs has been anfwerable. The Country is well
peopled ; and wears a Face of Improvement and Civilization,
fcarce inferior to any Part of Europe, It's aboriginal Pro-
duds are cultivated with proper Care ; and the Produds of
other Countries introduced, and carried nearer to the Perfec-
tion of their Nature, than Exoticks in any other Country we
l^noWt * c- jHiXk.! 'jiij 1*.' '"u/Jri ''j, i.j'"i:> --'** »

Si^The Advantages derived from this flourifhing Colony (by
tiie Mother Country) will appear from the following State of
it's Trade. . r/; jtiffnelTl sirfif ur'l . i.n i/y.nv-.yjji-, cjcj u2 zi

- - ' ' ' ' . . ,'

/ "• CoM-

»«-

otlT

t V , *

' .V

i.r
14 i

i>\

■

I 94 :i

Commodities exported from Great-Brkain to

, .^ ,, Saufb-Qarolma.

i.1 vi * ••; V je ♦: *l

«•» ^ a «• -i^^j < ■Vf 4< "S V »4 .»f

Wrought-IroHy Steely Copper^ Pewter^ Brafs"
and Lead — BJnningham and Shield Wares —
Hemp — Cordage — Saii-Cloth^ — moad-C^oths'^
Stuffs — Flannels — Colchefler-Bays — Long-Ells —
Sadlery — Haberda/hery — Millenery — and Hojiery
Goods — Hats — Gloves — Gold and Silver Lace — r • >,, ^
S^fks — Briti/hy Iri/h^ and Foreign-Lmens-^Up" \*^ ^ -^^
bolfieryy and Cabinet -Wares-^— Earthen Wares——
Grind ft ones — Toys — Garden-Seeds^— Cheefe —
Pickles — ^ Strong Beer — Smoahing-pipes — Snuffs
—Wines — Medicinal Drugs — All which coft at
an Average of thre? Years

rx;.:>3

toi-

ooo

i
•1

>f'i ban

»i.. . .'.-^ j^jxu >.j;

t ^..

!iY/

^J-i

'a?^ i?f

>^n r

:my(.

The high Amount, and Nature of the Exports from Great
Britain to this Colony (all confilHng of it's own Produce and
immediate Manufa£tures) fliew the Importance of it : The
Excefs of the Exports of South-Carolina over thefe Imports^
is to be accounted for in the fame Manner, as the like Excefs
has been in other Inftances. What Improvements this Coun-
try, and of Courfe, it's Trade, is ftill capable of, comes now
to be confidered.

;'::' - , ' .• Hie

95 ]

Commodities exported from South-Carolina ^ to
Great'BritaWy and other Markets.

;•'»:?.-.

Ricey no,ooo Barrels, at 40 s — £ 220,000 o o

Bitch J!aryandXurpentiney^,fiOQB£ttvth^zt(i%^ii 2,666 13 4

J^khkd Porky and Beef -^ — , ^^t '.»^

: Deer and other Skim — . --*. f'

' IndigOy 50.0,000 lb. at 2 s — ^

Boards^ MaJ^Sy Staves, Joifisy &c. —

Indian-Corfty Peas, Beansy and Callivances — 1 2,000 o a

o o
o o

25,000
45,000
50,000 o o

20,0GO O O

Liive Stock and Sundries —
Ships built for Saky 10 at £ 600

-~ 15*000 o o,
^ u 6,000 o o

The whole at an Average of three Years £ 395,666 13 4

;,,.v; , .-..,

i ,'.

-^'h

The favourable Reprefentation which I have made of this
Province to your Lordlliipj muft. not be applied indifcrimi-
nately to the Whole, nor taken to preclude all Neceffitv of
farther Improvements of it, v *;i-,cji

'' The firft Settlements being naturally made as near as poiTi-
ble to the Sea ; the Improvements of the Country of Courfe
begun there : But though they have been extended from
thence a great Way inwards, there flill remains a much great-

...... ■ err

i! SI

:j>

r V

'r
!

■

[ 96 I

ci- Extent unimproved, at Icail conipatatively to vvJiat it is ca-

pablc of.

:^}::mMm 'iticlk: tjun ^Wi^w\

In Praife of the Spirit aifd Indullry of the Inhabitants,
and for the Encouragement of their Succeflbrs to follow fo
laudable an Example, it is proper to be obferved, that by much
the greater Part where the Improvements above-mentioned
have been fo fuccefsfully made, was not only the moft diffi-
cult to work upon, 43ut alfo the leaft qualified by Nature to
make a fuitable Return , the Country adjoining to the Sea,
and from thence near eighty Miles inwards, being moftly a
dead Flat, and of a light, (hallow, fandy Soil ; though a
late Difcovery has ihcwn tliat this very Soil is in a peculiar
Manner adapted to produce one of the moft valuable Articles
of Commerce, ^^''^m^^.^idl \o ^liioviv an •.. .,^1 :. -jl :

But from the Commencement of the Hilly Country to
the Extremity of the Province, Heaven has beftowed it's
Bleffings with a moft bounteous Hand. 7 he Air is infi-
nitely more temperate, and healthful, than nearer to the Sea.
The Hills are covered with valuable Woods! The Vallies
watered with beautiful Rivers ! and the Fertility of the Soil is
equal to every vegetable Produ6lion. All that remains there-
fore is to turn thefe Blcftings to our beft Advantage.

From the foregoing State of the Exports of this Country,
it appears that tlic capital Article of it's Production is Rice.
Great as the Quantity already raifed of this is, a ftill greater
might be raifed, to anfwer any new Demand. The Quan-
tities of Skins, and Pitch, 8cc. would neceflarily increr?fe with

tlie

t 97 3

the Settlement of the back Country. The Importance of
Indigo, the Produce of the fandy Soil hinted at above, is al-
ready too well known, to require any Uluftration, or Argu-
ment to urge Attention to it.

'• ' .., •, "• •

The only new Article, both of Commerce and Home-con-
fumption, obvioufly and immediately neceflliry to be intro-
duced into the Stock of this Country is JVine, The Expe-
diency of making this, wherever Nature will allow it, has
been fufficiently Ihewn in the preceding Inftance of 7V(?r//6-C/«-
rolina. To what has been there advanced, it is fufEcient to
add, in the pre.'ent Cafe, that South-Carolina has been proved
by repeated Experiments, to be capable of producing the fame
Wines of Switzerland, Germany, France^ and Portugal as her
more Northern Sifter, and that too with an equal, at leaft, if
not a greater Degree of Perfedion. , .

I am aware that there is another Article, of which fome
Experiments have been made, and fpeculative Men talked '
much, as capable of being cultivated with Advantage in this
Colony. This is Silk, The Importance of fuch an Addi-
tion ,to the Trade of any Country requires no Proof. The
only Queftion is, whether that Importance, great as it is, may
not be purchafed at too high a Price. The Thinnefs of Po-
pulation, in all our Colonies, makes every Article, that re-
quires many Hands, come fo dear, that it is found better
to import than make them. Add to this, that our next Co-
lony of Georgia is in every Refpeft much better adapted to
the Production of this valuable Article, than South-Carolina*
Let U3 then confine the Cultivation of it to the latter, and

O nor,

: t $8 3

not, by feekitig more than we can compafs, run the Hazard
of ncgledting what is in our Power, and fo loling the Sub*
ftance to grafp at the Shadow. '^"^ "^ ^'*"^^" * *^ '^^' ^'<

Jl O? £j

jA o-f>ii/ (>: 'n:>r

' rt'"5', •

The fame may be faid with Relpedl: to Colony which,
though poilible to be produced here, is yet the natural Pro-
duce of the more Southern Colonies, from whence it may, of
Courfe, be had with more Advantage. ■ ^

I have not, my Lord, faid any Thing of the Probability
of difcovering valuable Mines, in either of the Colonies of
North or South-Carolina^ for feveral Realbns. Where the
certain Advantages are fufEciently great, it is unnecefTary, if
not dangerous, to propofe fuch as are doubtful to the Pur-
fuit. Befide, that I really think the Riches earned by gradual
Induftry are in their Confequences infinitely more valuable,
than thofe which come upon us, as it were, in an accidental
Shower.

.'• '. 1

-ILhA r,) .' .A "io L-niiilrv:-'] I have the Hojiqui

'> ^^^ Jo:)

^^'i' ^ p,j fy-J^^^yj, :,.•'_> ■ rr- "» n -^l-"^

•^ !' 02 fioii

'" ,noiU:l:tq

';'>.',»'5:.l ,..•.»!>. ii >j ^uLW ■'

i'A.<\i

LET.

♦^ ■' ' ■in.i.r: * ■ ; io . ,,

•'M 'jl'u

>; .7

'.)

t 99 ]]

< >■ !

L E T T E R

XIX.

My Lord> . . ,, . r:: ^ , , . - ^ ,. . . . ;. =,

\\) — -lAiV

OU R next Province, to the Southward of the CaroIinaSy
is Georgia, Though the Neceflity of eftablifhing a
Barrier between our's, and the Spanijh Colonies, the firft Mo-
tive for forming a Settlement in this Country, has been re-
moved by the Ccflion of the Floridas to Great Britain^ the
Attempt has opened other Advantages of Weight abundant-
ly fufficient to determine us not to relinquifli the Undertak-
ing, the Soil and Climate being found to be particularly
proper for the Produftion of fome mofl valuable Commodi-
ties, which our other Colonies cannot produce in equal Per-
fe^aion, nor at all without much more Labour and £xpence.

« *v.

But before I enter into an Inveftigation of what this Coun-
try is capable of producing, I lliall lirft lay before your Lord-
fhip a State of it's prefent Trade, according to the Plan I have
purllied, through the Courfe of this Undertaking. ,.,

««.^i^?^l A ,;-;-:.*

V. . i 4

O 2

s Com-

51,

': '

P',

■<\'

Commodities exported from Great Britain to

Georgia.

Wrought Iron J Steely Copper^ Pewter j Leady
and Brafs — Birmingham^ and Sheffield Wares —
Hemp — Cordage — Sail-Cloth — Broad-Cloths —
Stuffs — Flannels — Colchefler-Bays — Long-Ells —
Sadlery — -Haberdajhery — Millinery — and Hofiery
Goods — Flats — Gloves — Goldy and Silver Lace —
Silks — Britijhy Irijhf and Foreign Linens — Earth- ^ £ 49,000
en Ware — Grindjiones — Fijhing Tackle — Painter s
Colours — Ship-Chandlery Goods — ManchefterGoods
— Upholfieryj and Cabinet Wares — Stationary
Wares — Books — Toys — Garden Seeds — Smoaking
Pipes — Snuffs — Strong-beer — Wines — Medicinal
DrugSy all which cofl at an Average of three Years

• "^c

vrmXX

t^3*)!..'

.•H:-y ,,;

Inconfiderable as the Amount of this may at firft View ap-
pear, yet when the very late EftabUfhment of the Colony,
and the very many Difficulties it has had to ftruggle with,
are taken into the Coniideration, it will appear more worthy
of Remark, that it fhould have rifen fo high. The Reafon
of the Excefs of it's Exports over it's Imports has been ahea-
dy explained in iimilar Inftances.

-„ '^' •-■;■ ■■ '■•' ■ The

^ roi ]

Commodities exported f om Georgia^ t0l$reat
BriiaWy and other Ma kets.

Ricey 1 8,000 Barrels, at 40 & —

IndigOy 1 7,000 lb. at 2 s •— — —
Silky 2,500 lb. at 20 s — — —
Deer, and other Skim — — * —

Boardsy Staves^ &c. — — — —
Tortoife-Shelly DrugSy Cattle^ and Live Stocky &c.

£ 36,000

1,700
2,500

1 7,000

11,000

6,000

ThQ whole at a like Average of three Years £ 74,200

, , ■■.'1*7 . '

•> , . . '

.1/ .1.

> -.'.

' >

.(. •;; r.

The capital Articles in the prefent Trade of Georgia, are
Rice, Indigo, and Skins ; every one of which may, and moft
probably will, for the Reafbns given in the preceding Inftances
of the Carolinas, be pufhed to many Times the above A-
mount, as the Settlement of the Country fhall be extended.

But the Importance of this Province is not refted on thefe
Articles alone, important as they evidently are. In Addition
to them, others of equal, perhaps greater Weight in die Scale

"i 1

'in

■fti

if'

\' I

I02

]

of Commerce, may be mtrod^v<^4^ .^hcfc ^rg ff^m^ aiul

0//A'. . ^ . . ,

1 he Expediency, I may almoft iJiy NccefTity, of cultivating
the Vine, wherever it can be brought tp Perfection, has
been already (liewn. To what has been ther^ laid down, it
it fiifficicnt to add in tlie prefent Inftance, tliat this Province
of Georgia^ has been proved by Experience to be in every
Refped proper for producing the Wines pf Portugal^ Spam^
Itaty^ Madeira^ and the Canaries, of Quality at lealt not
infer iour to what we purchafe from thcfe Countries, and in
Quantities ecpal to our Demand for them, •»& 'Aijiiu idT

The National Advantages which muft neceflarily refult
from bringing home fuch a Trade to ourfelves, from the
Hand : of Foreign Nations, are felf-evident. I fliall therefore
lay no more on the Occafion, than that if the Conduft of the
Fiill of the Countries above-mentioned, from whence we are
nov/ chiefly fupplied with Wine for our Home-Confumption,
for fomc Years paft, is adverted to, indignant and Juft Re-
fenlment will enforce the Purfuit of fuch a Meafure.

^ The Arguments adduced in the Cafe of Wina^ niay, in a
"Jrreat Degree, be applied to Silk. Ufe has brought it to be
rcc-koned almoll a Neceffary of Life. At lealt the Want of
it \vill not be difpenfed with by thofe who can polTibly pur-
c hafe it, at any Price. The Produ6.ion of this Article there-
fore, if only in Qiiantlty fufficient for our own Ufe, muft be
all imp ntant Saving; if fufficient to be introduced into fo-

r>igfi Trade, a moft important Addition tp the publick Stock,
3L:^{i i^b , . ■ ,t

■ ig • • " " The

t '<53 J

The Climate of Georgia has been found to agree in every
Refpedl with the Silk-Worm ; the Vegetables, which arc it's
iVitural Food, are indigenous to it ; and the Silk, that has
been produced there, has proved equal in Quality to the bed,
that can be purchafcd any where. The only Obflaclc then
that appears to oppofe the Purfuit of fo advanta£!,eous an Ob-
je^", is the Want of a fufficient Number of Hands to prepare
it in fuch a Quantity as may deferve publick Attention. But
even tliis Obftacle leflens, when taken into nearer Conli.lcr-
ation.

The only Hands, required to fit the Work of the Silk-
Worm for Trade, are thofe of Women, and Children, before
they arrive at Age and Strength for more laborious Occupa-
tions. That the Application of thcfe to this Branch will not
interfere with any other that can be of publick Concern, is
obvious; as it is alio a knov/n Facl, that the Number of
People cncrcafcs in Proportio:\ to the Encrcafe of tlic Support
which they can earn by their Induftry. While the Men there-
fore turn their Attention and Time to fuch Buliiicfs, a. tliey
onlv can execute, that Part of their Families, wlujh wcAikl
otherwife be a Burden upon their Indivilry, nnd keep them
in continual Want, and Depreiilire of Spirits, will, by the
Means here propofcd, rc^'erfe the whole Scene, filling their
Habitations with Plenty, and their Hearts with Gladnel'j, tliC
true, and never-failing Sources of Population. That this h
not vifionary Speculation, and that tliis Trade is capable oF
producing the Hffeds here afcribed to it, appears in all tiie
Countries, where it is purfued, whicli though labouring un-
der many Dii^culties, and Difcoujagcments unknown in tlic

Dominions

[ 104 ]

Dominions of Greai. Britain, are ftill full of an healthy and
diearful People. ; ., -lu/l

I have thus, my Lord, endeavoured to point out the Ad-
vantages, which may be reaped from this, till very lately
negleSed Country. That in the Purfuit of thefe many others
may open themfeives, is more than probable. But I have re-
ligioufly adhered to the Principle laid down at my Entrance
upon this Undertaking, to advance nothing upon meer Con-
jecture, or which I cannot vouch upon my own Experience.

There are other Particulars, belide what immediately re-
lates to the Produce and Trade of this Colony, which in
their Confequences muft affeft them, and therefore well de-
ferve Attention. But I fhall referve thefe for another Letter,
as they are applicable alfo to the Country which comes next
under Confideration ; and this is already fwelled to too great a
Length.

'■■ 11

/ have the Honour <, ^c.

i i

J.J

L E T-

[ '05 ]

:f ,;r

>-i.-

nx)f^}^^n^mio^)^)^y^)^^

f-, i

LETTER XX.

,?r r

My Lord,

cmi

1 1 1-

* ■ i - i -

WE are at length arrived at Florida, the Boundary of
the Britifh Empire, and confequently the End of our
Travels on the Continent of America. A new Acquifition
of Territory is always the Subjed of much Speculation, and
Controverfy. This of Florida has been fo much, and fo con-
trarily defcribed, fince it came into our PofTeflion, that a
Word on either Side of the Queftion is fure of meeting Con-
tradiaion. In fuch Cafes, the middle Way is generally held
to be the fafeft 5 in this it is certainly the right ; the Advan-
tages and Difadvantages, the Praife and Difpraife of this
Country being equally exaggerated, in every Particular, and
that from the Tame Motive of Self-intereft. This will appear
when it is confidered who the Perfons arc, who have given
iiich Defcriptions. - - ,...,...

The People, who have obtained Grants of Lands in Florida,
and want to fettle or fell them, reprefent the whole Counti-v
as a Ca7taan, " flowing with Milk and Honey," in order to
tempt Purchnfers, or allure Adventurers to go thither with
them. The Army, who have been lent there to take and
keep the Pofleflion, exclaim againft it as an Aceldama, "a
Field of Blood," defigned to be the burying Place of all
Strangers, who are fo unhappy as to go there.

P Contra-

ilt

Contradidory as thefe Reprefentations are, it is not fo dif-
ficult, as it may appear, to reconcile them. The 3ea-coalts,,
where the FortreiTes, judged neceflary for prote6ling the Na-"
vigation, and maintaining the Pofleilion, have been ereded, ,
are barren, and unhealthy, in an extream Degree. The in-
land Country, from the Commencement of the Hills, is health-
ful, and not only fertile in all it's aboriginal Produdions;:
but alfo fit to produce many exotick to it, in the higheft
Perfedion. All neceflary therefore to decide between the
different Charaders, drawn with equal Warmth, and Confi-
dence of Aflertion, of Florida^ is to diftinguifh between thofe
two Parts of it, and give to each it's own. The Confe*
quence in refped to the former is obvious. Of the latter, it _
is not mine to judge : All that comes within my Province, ,
being to point out the Advantages, in a commercial View,
which this Country is capable of producing to Great Britain, .

Florida is divided, like Carolina^ into two Provinces of the
fame Name, and dilHnguifhed only by their Situation on •

the Eajlern^ or Weftern Sides of the Country.. : i;-! i ?!

Mod of the Difad vantages, indifcriminately imputed to the
whole Country, fliould be confined to Eaft Florida^ which is,
for the greater Part, a flat, fandy, and almoll: barren Defert.
The moll confiderable Fortrefs and Port for Trade in this
Province is St. Augufiine. .- i ./ -- - " . v^vt, o i; a:

^'■iCH

It is not to be expeded, that a Settlement fo new, and
under fuch Circumftances, can have yet made any very con-
fiderable Advances in Trade. Our Exports to St. Auguflins
confift of the fame Commodities, as thofe to the neighbour-

ing Provinces of Georgia and Carolifia^ and amouiit to about
£ 7,000 annually. Imports from thence, we have yet re-
ceived none worth bringing to Account. ; • .. • , .,

It muft not be concUided from hence though, that the
Country is incapable of producing any Commodities proper
for Exportation ; or that it may not be brought to take ofF
much greater Quantities of ours, than it does at prefent.
The Contrary is the Fa£t, in both Inftances. With proper
Cultivation it will produce Rice, Indigo, Silk, Wines, and
Cochineal, fo as to be brought into Commerce on advanta-
geous Terms. The Importance of thefe Articles requires no
Proof, The laft in particular will be one ot the moft advan-
tageous Additions, that can be made to our commercial Stock,
as it enters deeply into the Manufacturing of fome of our moft
valuable Commodities, for which Purpofe we are now obliged
to purchafe it from others, at what Price they pleafe to im-
pofe ; whereas if we produce it ourfelves, we fhall not only
lave the greater Part of that Price, and thereby be enabled
to carry thofe Manufa<9:ures to Market on cheaper Terms,
than we can at prefent ; but alfo to turn the Scales, and fet
our own Price upon it to other Countries, k! !'

The Importance of this Colony though arifcs not from the
immediate Produce of this or any other Article, however im-
portant in itfelf ; but from the Advantage of it's Situation,
indeed of the whole Country of Florida^ for carrying on a
Trade with the Spanijh Colonies ; it being certain that, a re-
gular Intercourfe might be eftablifhed with them, which
would open a Vent for the Commodities of Great Britaw,

P 2 and

> I

i K

and yield Returns for them in Gold and Silver, the moft
profitable of all Kinds of Commerce, to an Amount fupe-
riour to any Trade we have.,

. ^ ' ■ '^j " J have the Honour.^ &c. ^

•■ :i;^-;i:,i:5JJ!
/ ••■in.r<

ysi;Ky^ymymymmi)^yf^)^^^

LETTER XXL «iw J

My Lord, . *

AS the Difadvantages under which EaJ^ Florida has been
fhewn to labour, extend not to it's Sifter Province of
■Wefl Florida^ the latter confequently adds the Importance of
internal Produce, and Aptitude for Population, to that of
peculiar Situation for Trade with the Spanijh Colonies, in
which, as hath been obfcrved before, it fhares equally with
it ; there not being perhaps on the whole Continent of Ami>-
7'ica^ any Place better qualified by Nature to afford not only
all the Neceffaries of Life, but alfo all the Plcafures of Ha-
bitation, than that Part of this Country, which lies upon the
Panks of the Mijftjftpi, . i ..ti>ui». i .«. (/uii. ;.ii

Of this Difference between thefe two Provinces, the differ-
ent Amount of their refpeclive Trades, occafioncd by the
Difference between their Population, is the beft Proof, irju:;

COM-

1!'

:'i;.^iv'

Commodities exported from Great-Britain to
Penfqcola^ the Capital of Weft Florida, ;

TVrought-Irony Steely Copper^ Pewter^ Brafs
and Ltiad — Birmingham and Sheffield Wares —
Hemp — Cordage — Sail-Cloth — Broad-Cloths —
Stuffs ~-Fla?tnels — Colchefier-Bays — Long-Ells —
Manchcji^,r Goods — Hojiery — Haberda/hery — and
Millenerj Goods — Gloves — Hats — Britifi^ Irijh^
and Foreign hinens — Gold and Silver Lace — Silks ^ £ 97,000
' — Lidia Goods — Cabinet — Upholjlery — and Ship-
Chandlery Wares — Painter s Colours — PiBures —
Booh — Statio7iary Wares — Bar then Wares —
G7nndflones — 'Toys — Smoaking-pipes — Cheefe —
Strong Beer — Wines — Pickles — Snuffs— 2^ which

coft at an Average of tliree Years.

W.. I

■:\ fi".-

f,. }

•lui*

I .Jj i n »

.- \i \j \ ;

:ypi

.ii«{4^»: : X

- / » ij i fcj* ^ i. I ,4 # 1 j^ *

s '

W k K- i

The Commodities exported from Penfacola to

Great-Britain^ are . .„...

Shns — Logwood — and other dying Woods — a7id ) p. ^
Silver in Dollars — amounting annually to y ^ ^*

••!

d ^^id. n.

The Infancy of the Colony will fufficiently account for
the Fewnefs of the Articles in the above Lift of Exports; as

it-

)

i'XIO

]

it will alfo for the Balance againll them in Value; the Surplus
being indifpenfibly neceffary to effeft the Settlement, and keep
a Stock in Hand for the Spa7iijh Trade, till a fufficient Fund
fliall be eflabliflied for tliat Purpofe. ^ ^ ., .

- Beiide the Articles here enumerated, Weft Florida yields
all the Weft-Indian Produce naturally ; and is alfo ca-
pable of producing many of the moft valuable Articles of
other Countries, particularly Medicinal Druggs of feveral
Kinds, Wines, Indigo, and Cochineal, all of which are of
fuch known Importance in Commerce, that no Argument
can be neceflary to enforce the Cultivation of them.

h. Country fo rich in commercial Produce, and fo happily
fituated for the richeft Species of foreign Commerce, cannot
want People. It's Advantages only want to be known to
draw Men of Enterprize and Genius from every other Coun-
try to the Harveft, efpecially under the Protedion of fuch a
Government as that of Great Britain^ which enfures the free
Enjoyment of their Acquiiitions to them ; and fo makes every
Son of Freedom it's own.

In what I had the Honour to fuggeft to your Lordfhip con-
cerning the Province of Georgia^ I mentioned referving fome
farther Hints to another Place. This, my Lord, is the Place
I meant. ^.... .. . ._ _ , :.........._ _„.,_/

It has been obferved, that the original Motive of Great
Britain for fettling Georgia^ was to eftablifh a Barrier between

in ,-.^{. j-t ...

our

III

]

our other Colonies, particularly the CaroUnas^ and the Spaniards
and their /?/^/?j, in Florida, ...

• 1.

The Acquifition oi Florida, inftead of taking away, has
in reality heightened the Neceflity of fuch a Barrier, by
changing the Place of it ; as it is evident, that the Spaniards
will be doubly jealous of a Colony, advanced fo much nearer
to their's, and fituated fo conveniently for a Trade with them,
that counterafts a fundamental Principle of their Go^xrn-
ment, that of keeping the Supply of their American Domi-
nions with European Commodities entirely in their own
Hands., . , -

That a miHtary Force, and Fortrefles, or Places of Arms
are indifpenfiUy neceflary for the Purpofe of proteding a
Country that lies open to the Inroads of Enemies is evident ;
but though they may be the firll, they are by no Means the
only Neceffaries in the prefent Inftance ; where the Indians^
the Enemies principally to be guarded againft, aft entirely by
Surprize, invading in fmall Parties like Robbers, murdering
the People, and dellroying all the Effcfts which they cannot
carry dS., ' ' ' •

The InefEcacy of Forts, and the Inability of European
Soldiers to proteft a Country from fuch Ravagers, have been
fhewn in former * Inftances ; and the t Remedy proper to
be applied in the prefent Inftance, pointed out. Againft
the Indians^ while 'Enemies, there is no Safety. They mu ft

'■iAK%

* Fnge si^

t Fagci 25 and 26.

[ 112 ]

fee made Friends, to make their Neighbours fafe. Nor is
this difficult. In their natural Difpofitions they are brave,
honeft, generous, and friendly ; and as grateful for Benefits,
as revengeful of Injuries. Honeft, generous, and friendly
Treatment wiU therefore evidently win them to our Intereft ;
and this the more readily, as they know the DifFerence be-
tween it, and that of the Spaniards ^ whofe Oppreffions and
Cruelties they have a moft lively and indelible Senfe of; and
will eagerly, and cordially conned themfelves with thofe,
who fhall not only ufe tliem better ; but alfo give them a
Profpe<5t of Protedion and Affiftance, whenever Occafion
may offer for their gratifying their darling Paffion of Re-
venge. *
" ■-, jf' ^>^

I mean not by this, my Lord, to flimulate thefe unin-
formed People, to Ads of Violence againll others, which we
complain of ourfelves. I only fhew how we may avert this
Violence from our own Heads, fo effedually as even to turn it
againft thofe of our Enemies, if we ihould be authorized by

Neceflity fo to do. ^, - ^ «-

..: . ' ■ ' -'i. 'id:

Nor is this the only Advantage, to be propofed with mora!
Certainty of Succefs, from fuch a Condud towards the native
Indians. They would foon learn our Manners, and, incor-
porating themfelves with us, become a Part of our own Peo-
ple ; I will confidently fay, a moft ufeful Part, as they would
take that Labour upon them, which from the Difference of
Climates, we are unequal to ; and fo free us from the Necef-
fity, and Danger of importing the untradable Negroes of
■Africa^ whofe Numbers hourly threaten the Safety of our

Colonies

C "3 ]

Colonies, as their Expence is an heavy Burthen up )n tlieir
Trade. , *

1^ ■^r;

I (hall not enter here into the Advantages, and Duty of
informing thefe Indians in the Chrtjlian Religion ; as it will
properly come into another Place, where the Application will
be more general. - , :

I have the Honour^ hQ. , ,_.

U' 4 . . ''.I-*''

A ->

:1^

«#»»••••##♦•••••**•♦♦♦♦••• ••••♦•'*'•••♦

•^ • ^v , i

' jt 1 : - , r ' :i..

't.

("I ■■■ft ( -

LETTER XXII.

My Lord.,

,, ~ii ,.

HAVING thus ran down the whole Length of the
Britifh Empire, on the Continent of America, I fhall
beg your Lordihip's Leave to flop here for a Moment, and
call a Look back, over the immenfe Regions we have tra--
•verfed. ;

At our fetting out on this Journey, I faid it was the mu-
tual Intereft of Britain and her Colonies, to preferve Harmo-
ny, and good Agreement with each otlier. To prove the
hrft Part of this Pofition, The Intereft of Britain, I h^v^

diitinftlv

1^
Ir

\i '

;; t

pi!

114 i

dlftindlly and faithfully fhewn the great Advantages, which
at prefent are, and the greater which yet may be received by
her from thefe her thriving Children. The Advantages reci-
procally received by the Colonics, require no Proof. They
appear felf-evident, from the Nature of the Connedion, and
Intcrcourfe between them. Their Wants are fupplied ! Their
Weaknels is fupported I They flcep in Peace, and they awake
in Freedom ; under the Prote£lion of a powerful and indulg-
ent Parent I • ;,.......« , .. , ■ X.

It will probably be remarked, that in the Courfe of thefe
Obfervations, I have univerfally recommended Agriculture,
and ExtentJon of Settlement. The latter eftablifhes itfelf:
it being evident, that the Wealth, Strength, and Impor-
tance, of every Country are in Proportion to it's Population.
As to Agriculture , however ftrange it may appear to thofe,
who fearch no deeper than the Surface, to propofe the fame
Thing, in fo many Countries, differing fo widely from each
other in every Circumftance, it will be found, upon clofer
Enquiry, that this is eflentially, and equally proper and nc--
ceflhry for them all. . ., . ; ,: .. _,, ,;,., j /^. ^ ?>

The greateft Difadvantage poflible for any Country to la-
bour under, is not to have the indifpenfible Neceffaries of
Life within itfelf; not only becaufe of tlie conftant Danger
of Delay or Mifcarriage of Supplies from other Countries ;
but alfo becaufe thofe Countries always have it in their Power
to dillrefs the Purchafers by impoiing what Price they pleafe
upon that, the Want of which they know cannot be difJ3enf-
cd with. The firll Thing therefpre to be taken Care of in

eftablim-

I "5 ]

cftablifliing foreign Colonies, is to enable them to raifc ihcir
own immediate Subfillence at Home, without being obHgcd
to depend upon other Countries for it. Subfiftcnce, may be
faid to be a Term fo comprehenfive as to include every Thing,
that may be eaten ; but in the prefent Cafe, I ufe It in a
more limited Senfe, and intend only that iirft Neceilluy of
Life, Breads whether made of our Corn, or of Rice, the
Corn of the Southern Hemifphere ; any, if not indeed all,
other Kind of Food, animal or vegetable, being unneceflary,
in Comparifon with this. . ; ;trfo! rj v/, .■ /

This fufficiently proves the general and indifpenfible Ne-
ceflity of Agriculture ; a Necemty for which Heaven has
made as general Provifion, there not being any known Coun-
try on the Globe, which will not, with proper Cultivation,
yield this Support, this Staff of Life. And this NecefTity
was fo obvious, that Tillage was the firft Exertion of Human
Induftry, and that to which the higheft Honour was an-
nexed, in the uncorrupted Simplicity of antient and true
Wifdom. Nor was the Preheminencc given only by Man.
The Purfuit of it has ever been encouraged by Heaven above
all others, with the Rewards of Health, Strength, and In-
creafe, the firft Bleilings of Life.

I would not be underftood by this to recommend Agricul-
ture equally, in all Countries. Many Circumftances may
vary the Degree, in which it Ihould be purfued. Climate,
Soil, Inconvenience for Exportation may clog it with fo ma-
ny Difadvantages, that to attempt more than acquiring a
Sufficiency for immediate Subfiftence would be moft imprur

0^2 dent.

. i»« . )'■

C "6 ]

dent. Let that be amply provided every where I But let
ihofe only who can carry their Harveft to an advantageous
Market, and on Terms of Advantage, go further. Plenty of
Corn at home makes every Thing neceflary for the Support
of Life plenty, and confequently cheap ; but as an Article of
Commerce, too much will glut the Market, and make it of
no Price : A Caution c'^pplicable alfo to the Fiflieries on the
feveral Coalls of Hucifons Bay^ Labrador, and Newfoundland ^
Sic. of the Produce of which, taken in proper Proportion j
tliere may be found advantageous and fufficient Vent to efta*
blifh their Profperity ; but if purfued too far in any one
Place, it would ruin not only that, but alfo all the reft,

The fame Reftridion, my Lord, I muft' beg Leave to
make in other Inilances. In the Accounts I have given of
tlie feveral Provinces, which we have reviewed, I have care-
fully and faithfully enumerated every Article, which I know,
or have juft Reafon to think them capable of producing.
But I do not by this recommend the Culture of every AiticJe
indifcriminatelv, everv where. Thofe. onlv, which can be
produced ro beft Advantage would I have purfued, at leaft
with any View to Commerce.

An Iiiftance or two will perhaps explain this more fully.

. rtj «.'/!.

Tt has been (hewn, that South Carolina will produce Silk j
and Geurgia Cochineal. This they mod certainly can do,
and tliut to Advantage, if we had no other Places, which
would produce them to greater; but as it is known that
Georgia will produce Silk, better than South Carolina \ and

- " y Florida

[ "7 ]

Florida Cochineal better than Georgia^ what an Abfur-
dity would it be to fly in the Face of Nature, and purfuc
the Cultivation of either, where fhe has denied the Advan-
tage. It is right to know the Extent of every Country's Pro-
duce I It is right to purfue only the moft advantageous.

There is another Particular, my Lord, which I have juft
glanced at in one or two Inftances, but which I am convinced
is the Means moft eflientially neceflary to be taken to pufh thc
Advantages of thofe Colonies, to their natural Extent. This
is cultivating, civilizing, chriftianizing, if I may To fay, the
Natives. •- , . ,

■'f'

The Advantages of this in a political, and the Duty in a
religious Light, are equally obvious. Nor can it be attend-
ed with any Difficulty, that fhould difcourage the Attempt.
Except in the fingle Inftance of Nova Scotia^ the Difpofition
of the native, and neighbouring ///^/^«j of every Country
we poirefs, invites it. Their own Vices and Virtues arc thofe
of uninformed Nature. Like a too luxuriant Soil, they want
only proper Cultivation, to make the Produce uniformlv.
good, that is, as far as the weak, unftable Natiue of Man
can be fo. This much is certain, that they have learned their
greateft Vices from us ; and therefore we furely have no Right
to upbraid them with them. For Good, they naturally re-
turn Good : as they naturally return Evil for Evil ; becaufe
they have not been taught otherwife, either by Precept or
Example. Ought we then to complain if the Meafure, with
which they mete to us our own, overflows? V/as their Re^
fpciEl, their Efteem, their Affedion won by good Offices, by.-

upright^^

[ x'« ]

'u]iright and generous Dealing, they would return them an
hundred-fold. They v/ould lie down at our Feet ; they would
work for us by Day ; and guard us by Night.

The Duty in a religious, is ftill greater than the Advantage
in a political Light, as befide the greater Excellence of the
Objedt, it alfo includes that Advantage. To explain this
Duty, to a People profefHng Chriftianity, would be an Infult
either upon their Principles, or their Underftanding. If they
know it not, they have the Scriptures ! If they will not be-
lieve them, " neither will they believe the Voice of one rifen
from the Dead ;" much lefs that of a Man coming without
Power or Authority to fpeak to them. I (hall therefore only
fay, that to expedt Advantage from any Undertaking, with-
out firft ftriving to conciliate the Favour of Heaven by fuch
moft obvious, moft indifpenfible Means, is to contradidl the
Light of Reafon as well as of Religion, and flight the Expe-
rience of all Ages. • . -

I muft not prefume to fay more. The Duty is fufficiently
known. The Right, the Power of enforcing it, with any
Profpe£t of Succefs, is not in me.

f^ •;; a *-'f''"^' - .O '.* I

•■!;;•/

)rh >l on jyifi :m\

„.jj ;^;ir/fM,in ' ,». *^ ^^"^^ ^^^ Honour^ &c.

'J-//

YOri*

.'^

-'H^L E T-

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C "9 ]

u •

^11, C

yicmy^^^^:^^i^y^^^

LETTER XXIII.

."I

My LoRDj

!'-...' ^

THOUGH I hope I have clearly proved by the un-
erring Evidence of Fads, the mutual Advantages^,
which Great Britain and her Colonies reap from each other ;
yet as Matter diffufed over a large Space may not operate fo
ftrongly upon the Mind, as when coUefted together, I fhall
beg Leave to draw the Whole into one Point of View, and
then leave Reafon to form it's own Conclufion. ; , ":

- ^ :f

The firft Ends propofed in planting Colonies, are to encreafe
the Strength of the Mother Country by providing Room for
an Encreafe of People ; and to encreafe it's Wealth by efta-
blilhing with them an Intercourfe of Commerce, mutually
advantageous, Colonization in any other View than one of
them, or tending to them, being abfurd, and fubverfive of

itfelf ; , ^ „.i^ v'.,^ / ..: .-J.,.vr . :-.-:,:„:... , .^-.^ . ..■-.-

That our Colonies, on the Continent oi America^ will abun-
dantly anfwer the firft of thefe Purpofes, has been proved by
Experience, wherever the Experiment has been made ; and is
clear to Reafon in thofe others, where either Want of Time,
or other lefs juftifiable Caufes, have hitherto prevented tlic
Trial in any Extent, as at Hudfofis Baj, Labrador^ Nova

Scotia. &c. &c.

The:

It .'

! i|

120

]

The only Objeaion poflible to be made to pufliing this
Advantage to it's full Heighth, is the Danger of depopukt-
ing the Mother Country, on a Suppofition of it's not having
People to fpare for fuch Tranfplantations : but this Suppofi-
tlon, and of Courfe the Apprehenfion arifing from it, are
groundlefs. The Overflowings of this Metropolis {London)
who, for want of being properly employed, are a dead Weight
upon the Induftry of thofe w^ho are, and upon the Trade of
the Nation, their unearned Confumption being the real Caufe
of the Scarcity and Dearnefs of the Neceflaries of Life, vi^hich
makes all our Manufactures come fo dear to Market, would
afford a greater Stock to breed, than would be rcquifite to
plant every Colony I ^la^'e propofed ; and confequently fend-
ing them out for that Purpofe, infiead of diftreffing the Mo-
ther Country, would Houlile the Advantage immediately to
her, by delivering her from that dead Weight, as hath been
already fhewn at large *. The quick Encreafe of Popula-
tion, where there is proper lEncouragement, and Room for
Induftry to procure Plenty, is fufficiently Icnown.

That the fecond of thefe -Ends, the Eftablifhment of an
advantageous Commerce has been already anfwered by every
Colony we have planted, will be proved to Convi£tion by
the State of the refpeftive Trade of each. How much far-
ther that Advantage may ftill be carried, has been repeatedly
and clearly lliewn in the preceding Remarks. ,

* Paget 28 and z^

;

TotiU

121

Total Amount of Britijh Ships, and Seamen employed in the
Trade between Great Britainy and her Colonies on the

Continent of America of the Value of Cjbods exported^

' from Great Britain to thefe Colonies, — and of their Produce
' exported to Great Britain and elfewhere

■f '

i Colonies

Hudfon's Bay-
Labrador

American Vef-
fels 1 20
Newfoundland

(2000 Boats)
Canada
Nova Scotia
New England
Rhode-Hland,
Connedicut and
New Hampfliire^
New York
Pennfylvania
Virginia and

Maryland
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
St. Auguftine
Pendicola

Ships

lj'7<i^ .V j JLili »*•

?A Cit

380

34
6

Seamen

130

20,560

408
72

330

34
140

1,078

Exports fromlExports from
Great Britain

JT 16,000

';n>\t:

! h J 127 3, 400

105,000

26,500

395,000

330
390

3*960

408

1,680

240

120

"iiif't

Pi?

28,910

I 2,000

531,000
611,000

865,000

18,000

365,000

49,000

7,000

97,000

3,370,900

the Colonies

£ 29,340
49,050

345,000

105,500
38,000

37o>5oo

114,500

526,000

705,500

1,040,000

68,350

395,666
74,200

63,000

3,924,606
Let

■'

•il!

Let the Addition of the abave Nvuiibers of Ships, and
Seamen — The Pr>ofits upon the ^bove Coft of the Goods ex-
ported ixom Great Bntaifiy ;and iipon the Val-ue of the un-
manufa^ured Proidwce of the Colonics, , fent in return, witli
the Employment given to the ManufaiEturers, be taken into
Conlideration ! And then let him who will prefume to fay that
our American Colonies do not pay an Equivalent for every Be-
neiit they receive, ftand fqrth, and prove his AfTertion, by
the fame Evidence of Fa(^, as this.

1. '■ IK.-lJJWi I

Nor do I re|l the Point h^re. I will be bold to fay far-
ther, to your Lordfliip, that when the Amount of th^ Re-
venue received! by Governmjent from thefe Exports, and the
returned Produce is added to the Account, it will incontefti-
bly appear, that inftead of being a Burthen upon Great Bri-
tahty her Colonies do in reality lighten her Burthen, by
taking fully their Proportion of it upon then^. ^hV{

But this, my Lord, muft be referved till we fhall have
continued our Progrcfs through the Weft-hidian lilands \ as
attempting to divide the Revenues arifing from their r blended
Trade and Produce would only caufe Confufioix, and em-
barrafs the Queftion.

\''X

ij t.i

a, I

WO,

noryVXrt

I have the Honour ^ &c» lo'/l

unioin'J (i]ui>?>

^i . It) I sA^y^^Jirl

4-' Si

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