_Virginia_ is justly esteemed one of the most considerable Branches of the _British_ Dominions; may it then not be thought very hard that the _Virginians_ should not only be debarred the Favours allowed other _Britons_; but also have less Privilege allowed them than is given to foreign Nations? What then may be the Reason why other Nations are permitted to import their _bar Iron_, whereas the _Virginians_ shall not make a _Bar_, and must pay the Duty of foreign Iron for all the _pig_ and _sow_ Iron that they make?
I might mention more Projects, that in all Probability would turn to an extraordinary Advantage, if carried on in _Virginia_; but I presume these may suffice as a Specimen to shew how useful and easy it is to promote many Trades, Arts, and Manufactures there, and what Numbers of poor, idle, and wicked People may there be employed, and get a plentiful Maintenance and Settlement for their Families, and by their Labour may enrich themselves, the Planters and Merchants, benefit our Trade, encrease the Revenue of the Crown, and advance the Interest and Glory of _Great Britain_, _Ireland_, and all the _English_ Plantations and Settlements Abroad.
I shall conclude this Scheme with observing, that the People sent over for such Employments as are here mentioned, when rightly settled, might have their Provision much cheaper than in _England_, and might have their Cloths sent over at the best Hand; and might be seated conveniently on Tracts of Land taken up, bought, or rented by long and cheap Leases; which besides the Profit of their Labour would secure Estates for Thousands of poor miserable Wretches, would advance the Price of Land, and augment the Income of the Quit-Rents.
The Projects before laid down might be put in Execution without any Impediment to the planting of Tobacco, Corn, _&c._ in the Methods that are now practised, and without any Loss to the present _Virginia_ Trade, and Income to the Crown arising from Tobacco, or Decrease of the vast Quantities of all Sorts of Commodities yearly transported to that large Plantation. And till such Designs as are here laid down be put in Execution, or brought to due Regulation and Perfection, it might not be Cost and Labour thrown away if the _Virginia_ Gentlemen, Traders and Planters attempted at some, if not all the Things mentioned for their Advantage in the last Scheme; especially when Tobacco is so very low, that it is not worth while to plant too much of it, which frequently happens. They might soon perceive if these Designs would answer Expectation; and Trials for Experience at their Leisure would not cost much; for their Experience, I say, rather than their Satisfaction, because they may be satisfied as to the Practicableness and Usefulness of most of these Things, from the repeated Proofs that have been already made in most of these Commodities, together with many more; particularly Hides, which I forgot to mention, which are now hardly of any Use or Value there, but might be tann'd very cheap, because of the Plenty of Bark; and I believe likewise that good Use might be made of their Sheep and Calf-Skins, which are now of no Value nor Use worth speaking of. What Numbers would the Manufacture of these Things employ, and what Advantage would it bring to the Workmen and the Planters?