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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. >y errata sd to int ne pelure, ipon A 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■ * " "■- ' * ■■ ■ ■ ■' _ --.-^-i-'-g^ Wk W ' .1 -^m, m:'mm. .^ s ^^ Ik *^- ^ ■ 1 ^ ^^r ^ ' ^ 4 r-«'A>-^!^^ ""' ■■ v^ ■ - ■ I..I ^-.' ■ ' . --T '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. >iT I4A;)I>UIM-/, ^' A "■■■^' R .ji c a o ! 1' ':, iVIOti f>tl'; >[ -i c: -i i ►i :ic.::) / - V2./ ••;-! •d Ti<-aeH/:M 51 k.i n J . t ' )ii:^ rfj'ai: iin 'f/; -n! ! ■i ( j-^:},i 'tn #. i.;v_. 'Cf'l TO THE SOVEREIGN OFTHE BRITISH EMPIRE, THE FATHER OF HIS PEOPLE. WHOM HEAVEN HAS BLESSED WITH INCLINATION, AND ■s». TRUSTED WITH POWER, r 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. .KMiiUd imTiiia ■;::;• ^lo >: oin:^av() r> ; I H ': O' :: :i ji-t a'^{ 'i a -i i,. (J II V,' . :/i 1 T A K I J J /: I u T I ;/ a n ?. a 3 j a ? a ii tt a v 4\ a ii a '/. ;. .:: ■; .7 o 'i Ji T I w a h t .i u : t 1 H 1 1- » ■ ^ ' 7 T 3 a. I A M c! ■ Ii ' ' 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\ 9 if Y C[ /^ ■>]ji.,: ,j.>, i. .. . < ■ . .-'tUiuoO if! ■ brioiTi VTjva II 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 r 1 1 17 22 25 32 36 4' 5^ 56 59 65 7i 77 8[ 87 93 99 105 108 121 O B S E R- 1 ^K i I, '^H '' 1 1 r >■ 1 t ! T VI O 3 .,..K.^ .a ja ,1 'rv'iN<\0 , in j V .d 'AO ,V-k\-^Ti\Sj\\!.i>\'5ri'A s».o — -■> '.SOW^'d "i'liiO b'AA I ,^^^'iW.t»v^•i yj^ st,(> ■iirauv i. i\jQ^*A Jv :) ^Hv:J V \ .,,.\r »,' H •>,(', AVv ^, r^ a H ^;.:) J. A •' .['/■ T / .uv .IIIV .XI .IX .nx .IIIX T f IX .lYX :ivx \'.V ■:v Cii^j\i \x L-.i. •Xa • ji. y A. X v. JliXX .if ._J«^. 'I in >n *■' • fi %' ! , 1, II i liAii Mi t / 80 360 ajo vi V^: d4o JiO itsio HW 1 V. .with Par j RAVEL. "^ ^"^ 'i£':-j Java 5 5.0^' :'>^<^<3^ OBSERVATIONS O N T H E ijjdi ;t 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- E • ther \ ■^ RiiM ,if rtitM U)0 180 170 l(>0 150 A MAP of NORTH & SOUTH 140 130 l!iO lit) ••:-:r^ 100 9^' 80 AME R I V A.mfli Part of E IT R O BytheAMERiC AN TRAVELLER 150 NORTH & SOUTH 140 IJO 110 100 J)« JO AME RI C A.withPaTt of EUR 0P|: . A S I BytheAMERlC AN TRAVELLliR A *: u 1 — afr^ CA iSmi&a Soi PAH T S Jonrs's YnJ| iSotiud TTJ^ K N o n^ jsr Cape Sptrrel( -^^f j Cape Fowler ft^osed to te the 2fifrdi WejtFafiai/e i-' !lP Arctic Citclc "Rovriena Tnkt Cape St A '"^ _ >Hiprniogpnos Etkimaox C 7Hir .. -'« E , ; 4-"^ ^ IL T K ^ .JtUmmi BAY I X s B -1^ ^ames Lsl -i- ri> '#^'^^^^ ^ Maud ^1 I ^ CarJauttP. E R A. iWet ^tr—^ L A iComfor^ S'.Pcte B ('(r. A/'b O R. t tCapeCod I ■ ! / 'ewjerux iVewJexWy |/C.CJi«rl«t '.Hiitfrraa nokout Umi lifl'/iUa i,s X Ji AU \ . ! .., 1 y'-^^ 1 -J /ti.M ,/f J'Aitii f Hi, a t 'i- Or,i im voii ^, Cilwiiit ') ■< ' '' '' . - r.OiiitrJdIupf "^^^ V — N.(>rlr(iiif< 1 t < '..* :' ■ ;- i ^!-X v^ J V h *^ /'•yirA> 0* i D/,y,/Ai Trqjnc of CaJiccr ' (?s^„.>^ ^ or A.7;./ ■ -A. ' . 1 00 LosMiffi s STnt DuifTticittJa ! i ' OuatiiuttltfV- Aninpnl P AC I T I C I'lidiiokimv 1 0/. \ c ! ' ' E A r/vJl/U 1 ,^ B.trhaJ,Hf jfi'tiu ! f>y soiiif JliniiitiMs 1 i 1 1 < i 1 . 1 T Jf E ■ . ! ! 1: Q r^ .1 Gall. T n gt,I. GalUpngiM (^ f. ewDrit.tm ftiftage iSduiiKnililinids ■ toTiwnuiaol. ■ -.^ R • • SiBiiman/j T Sotirary *." The^ fariinifsjs itrNfcndiusa * D 1 SfPau/ 1 ^ 1 pTeiTaAurti alis ii;. i i 1 ■i ■' 1 1 . . i • ^ U 1 - . J ! _■ -. ' - 1 .1 j '■ 1 i i ■ 1 ■ ^ ' 1 ' r 1 1 *, 1 1 1 1 ■ • • 1 i y ' 1 1 i 1 i -^ . - ' ■ i ■ 1 i ! 1 t ■ ■ ' • 1 1 i I . • \ i ' ' i ; 1 1 90 180 170 160 J 150 140 150 WO no JOO 9» 80 tUdHpMa rwJerUT M«v ihiirUa L jeiiituuih, ;]niC.H4Kera« T.Jtfffiyt tStv/A 5!, If I 'it V -!■'•■ 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 ,1 ■,. 4(1 ' 1 1 ; 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 r ^ [ 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 V ^iik. [ 7 ] invalidate the natural, and indlfp iifible Attachment, which every Man is bound to hi nati^'e Country. ^y 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 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 c 10 ] 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^^ I LETTER III. II 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 H' M A ^:l [ 12 ] 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:}/ T 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 s. it lU I it I'j \ - i J / V > i Com MO- [ »♦ ] a !.. , .r II i # ,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 M. 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 li 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 H M [ 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 . " 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 [ 20 ] .'! i\ .- 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 [ 21 ] 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. J / 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 II [ *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 i I n 4 [ 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, a. 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? ib [ 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 in 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 i It ^1 i^ ill 'I t i : 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- wk I 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. ^% '1 The fl .^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 I mjale- \ 1 uV i •' w [ 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. Hi 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. » , :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 m » 4 X 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, ^- n I If i \ COMMO- ■i 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 wi li her. Cod- [ 39 ] Exported from Newfoundland, Cod'FiJh - 30,000 Tons - at ^ 10 - ^ 300,000 Oil - 3000 Tons - at ^ 15 - 45>ooo I £ 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 li [ 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. f / 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. G Bv I H' m 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. 1 I' ■I 1 f I f G a Com- ^' I 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 i 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^ c. 12,000 3,000 11,000 105,500 \ Which Trade is carried on by 34 Soil of Ships, navigated by about 400 Mei^ r r are in the unmanufa&ured Produce of that Country ; which fingle Circumftance of their being unmanufa . * * 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 Mi ii ■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 'J [ 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, In 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 t t r [ 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 . 'h LETTER X. r i a :/ I 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 f jL ;i t' i 1 ,1. ^ ll 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, 'T 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 w '■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^ r By this State, the Trade of this Countn^ appears to coniift: entirely of Timber, and the Produce of ihe Fifhery; but if «!' 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, 1 ■I ( ■ ii I i H i!' h [ 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 } ii .!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 J 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^ u 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 at 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, as lii \ ii ii • IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) <.^.4^ 1.0 ■tt Uii 12.2 I.I U£ L25 IIJ4I^ Vl 7 j>' ^. ^ .«> '^ '/ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 (716) 872-4S03 L 6+ ] ■ 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 A. K CoM- ;i| il 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 ,■ 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. As 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 1/ 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 mt 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 Jl 'm V- j I Pi I i i li > 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 i r 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: ll ii ;j s I Fi ^ « Hi [ 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 .'i f j . ■ < LET- ■i\', a ; 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< ,;,.!- .?tvv ^-i: ., iji: ■'iA Com- 1 V- { .1' ip L.I (■"b * [ 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 k ^ 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^. hi [ 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. A' / have the Honour^ &c.. L E T- *"*'^:-i-/?«' I r 77 ] r !: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- ^? - '■.'"i I' } " i' m m i 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^ rt r. tt : IV I' B}5 l\ r 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 \P 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 %i 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' :,ln > 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 ". ,'! 'J t , 'r , i i, i. « .' r. ^ k- , . jr J ^ ijjfj . .J ..J I Com- f ,:' i:'!. m 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 Oi '/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 W n : 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.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 f 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 'correui Iri .imiif fpi>b (;> r -4,j rtUfi jfvfh ,Fi^/H . fm ^baam ot #'^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 1 . iU i # ?» ■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 jh \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?; 11 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. A tfl i\ n: r[ ^(vr :}\\ n^ 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. ^ .^ ^, , X •I. •1 • ■ ; Though M 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. . ^/^ J 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 i.r 14 i Sf 1! 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 J rx;.:>3 J 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 fr 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 'K 'r ! f ■ [ 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 i- 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 n, IM : 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, u, ': ' 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 ,,; 4 .A 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 . ' u •> , . . ' .1/ .1. > -.'. ' > .(. •;; r. M 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 of "i 1 'in ■fti # if' m \' I c 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 I i [ 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 ] n :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- li N 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 i K I 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^)^^^ t: 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:; I '{ 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' I I ) '{ 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 f r 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. m i [ 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 -> J* :1^ «#»»••••##♦•••••**•♦♦♦♦••• ••••♦•'*'•••♦ dy •^ • ^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! r 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»« . )'■ / I !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^^ n. = Mi [ 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- .. **i C "9 ] u • ^11, C yicmy^^^^:^^i^y^^^ LETTER XXIII. ."I ;r 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| r L 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 c 121 1 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\t: ! h J 127 3, 400 105,000 26,500 395,000 36 330 390 3*960 408 1,680 240 24 120 "iiif't Pi? 28,910 I 2,000 r 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 d ■' •il! .J 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 * e * l,f>