A great Degree of Heat is not a Quality requisite to the Perfection of all Vegetables. Saffron in France exceeds the Produce of Spain, as much as the little we have in Ireland excells the Product of England.
Our Temperate Climate seems in some Degree, to be more adapted to Vegetables of this Species of Power, than those that are deemed hot. Our Bark is allowed to excel the Bark of those warmer Climates, as also our Timber.
It is a contested Point, whether the Tormentil is not the Plant, the Greeks called Britanica; probably so named from its plentiful Growth in that Island.
One great Advantage, arising from this Tannage should it become general, will be, that it will give Imployment to a great many Poor People, that will be set to work in gathering, or raising such a Quantity of those Roots, as will answer the present annual Import of Bark; as also the Tannage of some, if not the Whole of those Hydes, we now export unwrought; besides the great Numbers, that will be employed in the encreased Tannage.
Thus, with as much Brevity, as the Nature of the Subject would admit of, I have given a Narrative, of what I hope will be as satisfactory, on a candid Perusal as I am assured, it will be beneficial to the Publick, in all its Consequences; if the Method laid down be but pursued with common Care, and Assiduity. It requiring no greater Skill than what at present is used in Bark Tannage; no Alterations in Forms, or Utensils.
If the Instructions, laid down, should appear to Any insufficient, or imperfect; I shall always with Pleasure be ready to render them, if in my Power otherwise. I have made a Plantation, very near this City, that if the Curiosity of Any should prompt them to a farther Information, in that Particular, they there may meet with it. As this Tannage is constantly carried on; it is open to the View of Any that desire it. I have several Thousands of Pounds weight of these Roots by me; I never refusing the buying of any brought to me. If any Tanner wants, he may have it at the Price, I gave to the Countryman, or be directed where, or how to be supply’d, until a Demand makes it a Market Commodity.
Our Necessities, and those daily encreasing, first prompted to this Essay. The Authority of Books, I have not relied on, but a Series of Experiments that employed several Years in the Pursuit. If I have pointed out, or cleared from Incumbrances, an advantageous Path that may lessen the Import of Bark, extend our Tannage by our own Produce, and give a Support to any Number of Poor; I regard it in no other Sense, than having done Part of that Duty, I owe to a Country, which in Gratitude, I would call mine.
I might justly incur a severe Censure, if I should conclude, without testifying with all due Acknowledgements, a grateful Sense of my Obligations, to the Honourable House of Commons, for the Vote they were pleased to pass in my Favour, on the Report of the Committee; that I had, after a full Enquiry, answered the Allegations of my Petition; and for the Resolution, they entred into, of giving all proper Encouragement to so useful a Proposal.
Far from being insensible, that all new Attempts of this Kind, are apt to subject the Author of them, to the Name of a Projector, and render him the Object of Reproach and Suspicion; when I was fully satisfied in the Facts, on which this Method is grounded; I communicated it to some Persons, who are as little liable to be impos’d on themselves, as they are above all Suspicion of imposing on others; under the Sanction of whole Characters, such an Imputation would at once be removed. By their Directions I preferred my Petition, and notwithstanding the Success was not altogether such as they desired; I hope they will not deny me the indulging a sincere Gratitude, in particulary owning the Obligations to them, who so warmly espoused my Interest, grounded upon that of the Nation. I shall venture to say no more, than as I flatter my self they can clear me from any Imputations of Sinister or Mercenary Views; So I can promise my Endeavours shall always tend to hinder a Blush, for the Kind Representations, they have been pleased to make in my Favour; and that I shall always study to approve my self what is my chiefest Ambition to be, and what only intitles me to their Patronage; a Pretender to no other merit, but Plain dealing.