Chapter IX: Appendix (3)

This with the _Negroe_ Trade is what the Assembly have often considered and attempted to rectify; in which Respects their strenuous Endeavours justly merit the Applause and grateful Acknowledgments of all Persons interested in these Affairs. As for the _English_ Laws and Duties relating to Tobacco, they are out of my Sphere; only I know that frequently the Duty is so high, and the Price so low, that it is very hard for the _Merchant_; and the _Planter_ and the _Smoaker_ get little or nothing but their _Labour for their Pains and Expence_; for it has happened that _Planters_, who have had a great Dependance upon their Years Crop of Tobacco, for the Support of themselves and Families, have, instead of clearing any thing, been brought in Debt by it, the Charges and Duties far over-balancing the Price of the Tobacco; so that though the _Virginians_ are for the most Part very eager at making Tobacco, which formerly turned to a vast Account, yet of late Years they sometimes get little or nothing by it, but Trouble and Loss; because of the great Expence in making and sending it _Home_ to Market, and the great Duties which are paid out of it, and the small Price that it usually bears, especially when there is no great Demand and Call for it. Besides many Frauds having of late Years crept into the Trade, and Abundance of Tobacco being counterfeited, and more _run_ in some Parts and Ports of _Great Britain_, the cunning Dealer often by such Means ruins the fair Trader, by vending his poor damaged counterfeited or run Goods at a cheap Rate, thus underselling his Neighbour, imposing upon the Publick, and defrauding the Government; nay, 'tis said that such have often doubly cheated the Government, first by running Tobacco, or entering all light Hogsheads at Importation, which in their Language is called _Hickory-puckery_; and then again by getting a Debenture for Tobacco that has been run, or entering all heavy Hogsheads for Exportation, which they term _Puckery-hickory_; after which it is said that the same Tobacco has been _runned_ again into some neighbouring Port.

It must be allowed as a Demonstration that some such Practices have been used, if upon Enquiry it be discoverable that the Government has lost by the Customs, when the Amount even of the Debentures has by much exceeded the Income of the Duties; without any Allowance for the vast Quantity that is consumed in the Country in smoaking, chewing, Snuff, _&c._

Having here and in the last Scheme spoken of the Vent that might be contrived for the additional Produce of _Virginia_, I shall add no more upon that Subject, but subjoin a few Considerations relating to all the Plantations in general.

The Extent, the Wealth, the numerous Inhabitants, the Hands employed, the Goods consumed, the Duties and Customs occasioned by the Plantations, especially such as _Virginia_, are well worthy the most serious Consideration, and claim the greatest Favour and Encouragement in the Trade and Manufactures of those Places, which are vastly larger than all his _Majesty_'s Dominions in _Europe_, and in Time may become as considerable; they being at present one of the chiefest Causes and main Supports of our Trade, and bringing as much Money into the Treasury, and the Purses of Merchants, and other People, as most other Parts of the World to which we trade.

The Good of the Publick consists as well in the Welfare of the Subject, as in the Power and Riches of the Prince; Regard being to be had as well to the Circumstances of the one, as the other. Now the Advancement of Trade and Manufactures in the Plantations in the highest Degree respects both the Sovereign and the Subject, in which both the publick and private Interest is deeply engaged; therefore should the Plantation Trade and Manufactures be set upon the best Footing imaginable; be carried on strenuously to the best Advantage; and be granted all reasonable Favour, Protection, and Encouragement. They are Branches and chief Members, why then may they not continue justly to partake of the same Privileges and Advantages that are enjoyed by _England_, which may truly be esteemed their Head, to which they are inseparably joined, as being essential Parts of the same _Body Politick_? I need not relate the Fable of the Head and Members, for every one knows the Moral inferred from it; how that unless the Members travel and labour for the Service of the Head and Body, and the Head contrives, and the Body conveys Nourishment and Sustenance to the Members, the whole Fabrick, both Head, Body, and Members would soon perish, and moulder to Dust. I presume that the Application of this to _Great Britain_, and our Trade and Plantations may not be altogether improper.

There can be no Room for real Apprehension of Danger of a Revolt of the Plantations in future Ages: Or if any of them should attempt it, they might very easily be reduced by the others; for _all of them_ will never unite with one another; for though all the Plantations agree in this, that they all belong to, and depend entirely upon _Great Britain_; yet they have each Views different from one another, and as strenuously pursue their separate Interests, by various and distinct Methods. Besides, they can't possibly be without _Great Britain_, to which they owe their being at first made Colonies; and afterwards have been always supported, maintained and employed by it. They can't live without this _Mart_ for their Manufactures and Market, for Supply of Goods that they want; where they have a great Interest, from whence they are descended, to which they are united by Blood, Religion, Language, Laws, and Customs, and also they have and may always expect to find greater Favour, Encouragement, and Protection in _England_, than from any other Nation in the World. The Plantations cannot possibly subsist without some Trade, Correspondence, Union, and Alliance in _Europe_, and absolute Necessity obliges them to fix these perpetually in _Great Britain_. Upon which, as upon a Stock, they are ingrafted, spring forth, blossom and bear Fruit abundantly, and being once lop'd off from it, they would soon wither and perish; thus is it the Interest and Safety, as well as the Duty and Inclination of the Inhabitants of our Plantations, always to be subservient to the Government of _England_, by which they are planted, protected, supported, assisted, and encouraged.

'Tis true indeed, that the _Roman_ Colonies, so famous and flourishing of old, are long ago all quite extinct; but then this is to be attributed to the Decline and Destruction of the _Roman_ Empire it self, and had that continued, in all Probability _England_ it self had still been a _Roman_ Colony, as it once was; but when the _Romans_ forsook _England_, then _England_ soon disowned _Rome_, being obliged to apply for Succour to the _Saxons_, afterwards to the _Danes_, and afterwards being brought to the _Norman_ Establishment; from whence it has wonderfully and gradually advanced its own Grandeur, Wealth, Dominions and Trade, to its present immense and glorious Bulk; in which thriving and flourishing Course may it still prosperously proceed in the present Establishment in Church and State, till Time it self shall have an End.

The _Roman_ Colonies were for the greatest Part inhabited by the Nations to whom the Countries belonged before the Approach of the _Roman_ Legions, who first subdued them, and then made them as Slaves rather than Fellow Subjects; so that when the Forces that kept them in Awe and Slavery were removed, they then readily embraced the joyful Opportunity of recovering their antient Rights and Laws, and reassuming their old Religions and Liberties, and rescuing themselves and their Country from Slavery and Bondage, wherewith they had been captivated by the _Roman_ Conquests.

But in our Colonies and Plantations the Case is vastly different; we have there few or none of the _Indian_ Inhabitants intermix'd with us; the Country is capacious enough for our Reception in the Islands and along the Coasts, and there is sufficient Room for the _Indians backwards_ upon the Continent. Our Colonies are all inhabited for the most Part by _Britons_ and _Irish_; their Trade and Interest, Customs, Laws, and Religion are agreeable to, or the same with ours; neither is there any Necessity for Fleets or Armies to keep them in Subjection and Awe.

Instead of forsaking _England_, it may be in the Power (as well as it would be the Interest) of the Plantations to assist _England_ against any foreign Force, that in future Ages may injure, insult, or molest it.

The greatest Occasion that the Plantations have or may require for powerful Assistance from _England_, is upon Account of the Pyrates who abominably infest their Seas and Coasts; but a competent Number of bold and active _Men of War_ might soon take all those Nests of Robbers; and Contrivances for proper Employment for such wild and extravagant People, and more honest Work for Sailors in the Plantations, might in a great Measure prevent Pyrates. Several come in upon _Acts of Grace_; the rest might be subdued by Force, and confined to proper Labour and Industry; and Encouragement and Work might be found for all such as may be suspected to be inclinable for _the Account_, as they call it; thus if we cannot, or rather will not execute proper Measures for the Extirpation of Pyrates in the _American_ Seas, yet certainly we should put a Stop to their Encrease, and not suffer them to swarm one Year more than another, which surely may be made very practicable by apt Endeavours, courageous Care, and good Conduct; as may most remarkably be evidenced by the well concerted Expedition from _Virginia_ to _North Carolina_ against _Blackbeard_ and his Crew, and the most successful Efforts of the celebrated Captain _Ogle_, who made such effectual Use of his Commission and Opportunity.

A few more such famous Commanders as Captain _Brand_ and Captain _Ogle_ might soon secure our Plantation Merchandize, and clear a free Passage, and safely guard our Coasts and convoy our Ships, and either totally abolish all Pyratical Republicks, or else at least put a Curb and Restraint upon their outrageous Insults. These are Matters of greatest Consequence to our Plantations, and the trading Part of our Nation; and therefore ought not to be neglected and slighted, but committed to the Management of such Persons, of the greatest Honour, Resolution, and Discretion, who prefer the Publick before their private Trade, mind the Interest of their Country as much as, or more than their own, that will make it their chief Business to find, that dare to attack, and are able to conquer, these bold and desperate Rovers, the greatest of Reprobates. Such gallant Persons, if they be rare to be found, ought the more to be rewarded and encouraged, valued and honoured.

The last Thing that I shall mention with Regard to the Advantage of Trade in _Virginia_, is the absolute Necessity of a better Regulation of the Post-Office there, for the safe and quicker Conveyance of Letters.

Having thus delivered my Sentiments concerning Learning and Education, Religion, Arts and Inventions, and Trade in _Virginia_, with some general Remarks concerning all the Plantations, I draw near a Period upon these Subjects, supposing that what I have here mentioned may be enough to inform the Curious, and satisfy the candid Reader; knowing that I have writ a great deal more than they will relish or approve of, whose Humour or Interest may clash with my Opinion and Propositions; but I assure such that I don't vainly imagine that these my private Sentiments should be obligatory to any that dislike them, or that they are absolutely necessary to be punctually observed and complied with by them; but I only humbly offer these my Thoughts to the Consideration of all such as are concerned or skilled in these Matters; who certainly have Liberty either to reject them, or approve of them, as they shall esteem it most reasonable, according to their best Judgment and Discretion.

I shall only add, that if from these my private Notions and Remarks any _one_ publick Good may be extracted, it will prove a great Satisfaction to me, in that the Intent of this Memorial will be answered, tho' but in a very small Degree, which joyful Satisfaction will be raised in the same Proportion as the Use of this Treatise encreases; but if at last it should happen that _no_ Good should proceed from this my weak Endeavour; nevertheless (I hope) my Labour will not be imputed to me as criminal; since I have hereby offered my best Service in the Advancement of the Interest, and for the Promotion of the Good of a Country, to which I am in the highest Degree obliged.

FINIS.

_ERRATA._

PAGE 6. Line 2. and p. 22. l. 4. read _Powhatan_.
p. 7. l. 9. r. _West-Indians_.
p. 8. l. 22. r. _or sometimes_.
p. 11. l. 4. for _flung_ r. _slung_.
p. 16. l. 18. r. _Mohomny_.
p. 21. l. 22. f. _Professions_ r. _Possessions_.
p. 22. l. 28. f. _Country_ r. _County_.
p. 39. l. 19. f. _hired_ r. _tired_.
p. 42. l. 2. f. _these_ r. _they_.
p. 45. l. 2. f. _certain_ r. _in hopes_.
p. 46. l. 24. f. _few_ r. _most_.
p. 57. l. 4. f. _being_ r. _which being_.
ibid. l. 7. f. _the trench_ r. _a hole_.
p. 60. l. 4. f. _Wines_ r. _Vines_.
ib. l. 17. f. _Planks_ r. _Plants_.
p. 61. l. 28. f. _may_ r. _think to_.
p 62. l. 30. r. _Mannacan_.
p. 88. l. 9. r. _President_.
p. 93. l. 24. r. _a Fellow_.
p. 96. l. 14. f. _This_ r. _These_.
ibid. l. 33. r. _Ethicks_.
p. 116. l. 24. f. _Passages_ r. _Purposes_.
p. 129. l. 8. f. _it seems_ r. _seems_.
p. 132. l. 16. f. _so as_ r. _as_.
p. 134. l. 4. f. _before_ r. _above_.

_BOOKS printed for_ JOHN CLARKE, _at the_ Bible, _under the_ Royal-Exchange, Cornhill.

An Accidence to the _English_ Tongue, chiefly for the Use of such Boys and Men as have never learn'd _Latin_ perfectly, and for the Benefit of the Female Sex: Also for the _Welch_, _Scotch_, _Irish_, and Foreigners, being a Grammatical Essay upon our Language, considering the true Manner of Reading, Writing, and Talking proper _English_. By _Hugh Jones_, A.M. lately Mathematical Professor at the College of _William_ and _Mary_ at _Williamsburgh_ in _Virginia_, and Chaplain to the honourable the Assembly of that Colony. 12°. Price 1 _s._ Bound.

The History of _Virginia_ in four Parts.

I. The History of the first Settlement of _Virginia_, and the
Government thereof, to the Year 1706.

II. The natural Production and Conveniences of the Country, suited to
Trade and Improvement.

III. The Native _Indians_, their Religion, Laws, and Customs, in War
and Peace.

IV. The present State of the Country, as to the Polity of the Government, and the Improvement of the Land, to the 10{th} of _June_ 1720. By a Native and Inhabitant of the Place. The second Edition, enlarged, _8vo._ pr. 4 _s._ 6 _d._

A general Treatise of the Dominion of the Sea, and a compleat Body of Sea Laws. _4to._ p. 10 _s._

The Plantation Laws. _8vo._

* * * * *
* * * *
* * * * *

Transcriber's notes:

ERRATA applied to the text.

Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been retained as in the original.

The following corrections or modifications have been made to the text:

Page 6, line 14, Particularly [Original has Parcularly]

Page 29, line 16, Gaol [Original has Goal]

Page 83, forteenth line from bottom, Phoenix [original has [oe]
ligature]

End of Project Gutenberg's The Present State of Virginia, by Hugh Jones