In several Places is Coal enough near the Surface of the Earth; and undoubtedly in Time they will either have Occasion or Vent for it, to supply other Places, if they will not use it themselves; but if Coal Works were there carried on to Advantage, Newcastle may witness, what Numbers of Ships and People are employed in such Affairs, and what vast Profit accrues from thence.
If our Iron Works in Virginia meet with any tolerable Encouragement, we shall have no Need to apply to Spain and Sweden for Iron, for we have there enough to stock all Europe; and as I have been informed it surpasses all other Iron in Goodness and Cheapness. This Manufacture might be carried on without any Detriment to the Iron Merchants and Makers in England; for they might stint the Quantity, have it all brought into their Hands, and use themselves what they want instead of foreign Iron, and vend Abroad the Overplus that they may permit to be made. Certainly this most useful Commodity would come cheaper from our own Dominions than from other Countries; and in working it from the Oar to the Bar would employ great Numbers of People that now beg or steal for their Living. As for working Iron up into Instruments and Tools in Virginia, I believe they would scarce desire so great Liberty; unless upon Consideration the Gentlemen concerned in such hard Ware found it to be for the Interest of themselves, their Workmen, and the Publick, to send over People to make all Sorts of Utensils in Iron in Virginia, where they may have all Sorts of Provisions and Materials for their Work much cheaper than in England; where they may have Land to settle for little or nothing; where Wood, Oar, and Water Conveniences are plentiful. What Detriment would it be to work up Iron there, if it may be done cheaper, and by the same People, who are so numerous in England that they can (abundance of them) hardly get Work and a poor Livelihood? But if it will not be granted that Iron shall be wrought in Virginia, yet might it be cast there; if Forges will not be allowed there, yet might Furnaces be encouraged, from whence our Merchants may be supplied with better and cheaper Iron than from other Places; and Recompence might easily be made in the Trade to Spain and Sweden, &c. for the Deficiency that would ensue in the Quantities of Goods exported thither in Exchange for their Iron.
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.
