The Virginia Gazette

From the Political State for February, 1738.

The following Narrative, as it relates to a Branch of Trade of the highest Importance to the Nation, certainly deserves a Place in this Collection.

To the Governors and Manufacturers of Wool, and Exporters of the Woollen Manufacture of Great-Britain.

Gentlemen,

THE Exportation of Wool, from Great-Britain a Years universally acknowledged to be so destructive of the Trade and Commerce of this Nation, that it would be almost ridiculous in this Place to insist particularly upon the Proof of it. But tho' the pernicious Effects of this Practice are sufficiently felt, yet few have hitherto contributed their Endeavours, either to alleviate the present Evils, or to prevent those that must inevitably ensue from it.

The Publick has already been frequently inform'd of the numerous Hardships, under which the Manufacturers, and consequently the greatest Part of the Nation, groan and labour at this Instant: What then must become of the Poor, who, by the present low Price of their Labour, are hardly able to support their own single Persons, much less a Family of three, four, or five Children, which we all know to be too often the Case? Hence it is, that the Poor of this Nation are become so very numerous, in every Manufacture-town, that it is impossible for the Land Owners, &c. to bear the Burthen of their Support for any considerable Time longer.

If we look back to the Years when the Plague raged at Marseilles, it will appear evident, that the Manufacturers of Great-Britain were not only able to manufacture all the Wool of this Kingdom, but also all that which Ireland could spare; and tho' the Price of Wool was then above one third higher than at present, and the Price of Labour was much greater, yet it is well known, that the Wool then manufactured did not exceed our foreign Demands for it: and that the industrious Labourer was then able to provide a sufficient Maintenance for himself and his Family, without the Assistance of his Parish, as the Case is at present.

In order therefore to redress these Grievances of the British Trade, and recover this most valuable Branch, it's agreed and resolved upon, by a considerable Number of the Manufacturers of Suffolk, Norfolk, and other Counties, to form a Committee at London, in order to consider of a Scheme, intended to be laid this Sessions of Parliament before the Honourable House of Commons.

Gentlemen,

As this is an Affair of the utmost Importance not only to this Nation in general, but also to every Manufacturer in particular, it is to be hoped, that all Merchants, Factors, and others, concerned in any Branch of the Woolen Manufacture, will contribute their utmost Endeavours towards promoting so great and laudable an Attempt: The Decay of this Branch of our Trade calls loudly for the most powerful Assistance, as the Poison of all the Mines of Mexico and Peru, will hardly ever be able to compensate the Loss of it. Those Nations, who have lately been able to rival us in it, know well the Advantages of it, and carefully improve them; and should not we be equally diligent in preserving of it, as it is ours by all the Ties of Nature and Nations?