The _British_ Trade may easily vend their Effects and Manufactures; and _Virginia_, with the neighbouring Plantations, is capacious enough for their Reception, plentiful for their Maintenance, and abound with most Conveniences and Materials for most Kinds of Imployments; where several Things, upon Account of the Goodness of the Climate, and Fertility of the Country, may be produced with less Labour and more Plenty than in _Great Britain_; and innumerable Commodities might there be made by our own People, that are now imported at extravagant Prices, and excessive Toil and Danger from other Nations: Nay, we might supply other Nations with most of those Things which we now fetch from Abroad; so that though our _Imports_ might decrease a little, yet would our Exports be abundantly augmented, which undoubtedly would tend much more to the Advantage of our Country: Even our own _home_ Consumption in most Respects might be raised much cheaper and better in the Plantations than here; especially such Things as are with great Toil and Cost forc'd (as it were) unnaturally out of barren Ground, improper Soil, or a disagreeable Climate; and the Land and People in such Places might be occupied in more proper Business, and for more useful Purposes.
But the common People here have such a vain Fondness for their own Country, and such despicable Notions of _Virginia_, &c. and are under such dreadful Apprehensions of the imaginary Slavery of the Plantations, that they choose for the most Part rather to steal, beg, or starve, than go _Abroad_ to work; and in the mean Time the Magistrates and our Laws are so mild to them, that like as _Pharaoh_'s lean Kine devoured the fat ones, they grievously oppress and molest the Rich and the Honest.
But certainly Means might be invented and practised for easing our Nations of these Burdens, for promoting our Trade and Plantations by their Industry; and not for the Oppression (whatever some may imagine) of the Poor and Needy, but for their Maintenance and Felicity. And I believe this may be done without putting any Stop to the Importation of _Negroes_, rather than fail, since they might be kept on in their present Course of Life and Business; only they must raise more _Stock_ and Grain for the Support of the additional _English_, who should stick solely to the Arts and Employments to which they were bred, or in which they are most expert. Indeed while Tobacco is the only _Staple_ Commodity of any Consequence to Virginia, the Country may be easily over-stock'd with _Negroes_, because the Trade can't find _Vent_ for near all the Tobacco that so many _Hands_ will make; so that the Market being over-charged, is thus spoiled; for too much of any Commodity is as bad, if not worse, for the Planter, the Merchant, and the Publick, than too little. For which Reason the Honourable the Assembly of _Virginia_ has from Time to Time endeavoured to make prudent Provision against raising too much Tobacco.