A Discourse on Trade, and Other Matters Relative to it

by John Cary

Corn.As for Corn; foreign Markets are supplied therewith, both from thence, and from the Islands of the Azores, cheaper than the Rents of our Lands will admit; but our Plantations have still some Dependance on us for our Product, and as the Lands of Ireland rise in their yearly Value, they will have more. We also raise considerable Quantities of Hemp and Flax, both which are useful in our Trade.

Fruits.The other Fruits of the Earth, such as Apples, Pears, Cherries, Plumbs, together with the Herbs and Plants, serve rather for Food and Delight than for Trade: Some Cider we do export; also Spirits raised by the Distillers, both from some of these, and from Barly.

Fish.On the Sea-Coast both of this Kingdom, and also of Newfoundland, and New-England, are caught great Store of Cod-Fish, Herrings, and Pilchards, which are saved, and sold in foreign Markets.

Minerals.Nor is this all the Product of our Earth, whose Womb being big with Treasure, brings forth Lead, Tin, Copper, Calamy, Coal, Culm, Iron, Allom, Copperas, and sundry other Minerals, which are sold in foreign Markets, whither we send them: Besides a great Expectation we have from a much richer and more valuable Discovery, lately made in that Part of Great-Britain called Scotland.

Trees.Among the several Trees that adorn our Fields, the Oak, the Elm, and the Ash, are the chiefest; these not only serve in Building our Ships and Houses, but also furnish us with materials, wherewith our Artificers make many things fit for Commerce: And it were much to be wish’d, that better Care was taken to preserve our Timber, for the Benefit of Posterity.

Manufactures.The third Part of our Inland Trade is our Manufactures, whereby our Products are improv’d in their Values and made useful in sundry Manners, both for our selves and others, by the labour of our People; and fitted for such Services, as of their own Natures, without the help of Art, they could not have been proper; and those to suit the Necessities and Fancies, both of our own, and also of foreign Countries to which we export them; where they yield a Price, not only according to the true value of the Materials and Labour, but an Overplus according to the Necessity and Humour of the Buyers: And this adds to the Profit, and encreases the Wealth of the Kingdom.

These Manufactures, as they employ Multitudes of our People in their Making, so also in Exporting them, and importing foreign Materials to be used with our own, such as Oyl, Dye-stuff, Silk, Wooll, Cotton, Barillia and many others, which are either manufactured here by themselves, or workt up with our own Product.

Sheep's-Wool.And first to begin with Sheep’s-Wooll, whereof either by it self, or mixt with Silk or Linnen, we make Variety of pretty Things, fit for all Climates, and proper for the Wearing of both Sexes; wherein the Invention and Imitation of our Workmen have been so great, that they have out-done all that went before them. From a strong Cloth, fit to keep out Cold in Winter, they have turn’d their hands to a fine thin sort, which will scarce keep warm in Summer; from hence they fell on Perpets, Serges, Crapes, Stuffs, Sayes, Ratoons, Antherines, and many other Things, fit both for outward Garments, and inward Linings; of various Colours, Stripes, and Flowers, some of them so fine and pleasant, as scarce to be known from Silk: Besides those Multitudes of coarser Cloth for the Poor; also Rugs, Blankets, and all sorts of Furniture for Houses. And such a Progress have they made in these Manufactures, that a Man may have his Picture wrought at the Loom, with the same Exactness as if drawn with a Pencil; one Work-man vying to excell another, they make Things to answer all Occasions. And as for Arras and Tapestry, I believe it will be allowed, that they do not fall short of those from whom they first had the Art: Add to these, Hats, Stockings, and many other things, which are both worn at home, and exported abroad.

Cotton-Wool.The next material for the Manufactures is Cotton Wool, which is now become a great Imployment for the poor, and so adds to the Wealth of the Kingdom; This being curiously pickt and spun, makes Dimities, Tapes, Stockings, Gloves, besides several things Wove fit for use, as Wastcoats, Pettycoats, and Drawers, of different Stripes and Finenss; and I doubt not the Workmen would equal the East Indies for Callicoes, had they Encouragement; with all which we supply our Plantations and other foreign Markets, besides what serves for our Consumption at Home.

Hemp and Flax.Hemp and Flax are the Grounds for another Manufacture; for tho’ Weaving of Linnen is not so much used in South Britain, as of Woollen, yet in North Britain it is, and may be farther improved, not so much by Laws to direct the Workmen in their making it, as by apt Methods to encourage them; and even in South Britain several Counties are imployed thereon, who not only supply themselves, but furnish those bordering on them, with such Cloth as answers the ends of French Linnens: Besides which great Quantities of Ticking, of all Finesses, Incle, Tapes, Sacking, Girtwhip, and many other Things are made thereof; also Cordage, Twine, Netts, with Multitudes of other Manufactures, which imploy the Poor, and bring by their Exports Profit to the Nation; and I can not here omit Sail-cloth, wherein we have made a wonderful Progress in a little time, at the Charge and Expence of private Stocks, who deserve to be encouraged.