The Virginia Gazette

To the LADIES of Great-Britain.

THE Happiness and Welfare of a Nation greatly depends upon the Custom and Fashions of the Country, consistent with the Benefit of its Commerce. And a Free People that are wise, would endeavour to rival an arbitrary Trade in Sway as well as Morals, by making choice of what is proper, rather than to be drove to it by Compulsion.

The exorbitant Sums paid annually for Cambricks are insupportable, as they are mostly purchased with real Cash, and the Places from whence they are imported, take off few or none of our Manufactures; whereas Muslins are brought from the East-Indies, and stand us in one quarter Part as much Prime Cost, as we are obliged to pay for Cambricks, besides the Advantage of exporting large Quantities of our Woollen Goods to India, in Exchange for that Commodity.

I am credibly informed, that many of you Ladies have agreed to introduce the Wearing of Muslins instead of Cambricks, at the going out of the present Mourning for our late Queen. I heartily wish you Success in so laudable an Attempt, and that it may become universal, which will be a Saving to our Country of upwards of Three Hundred Thousand Pounds every Year, and is equal to paying Interest for Eight Millions to Foreigners ( for what they never granted any reciprocal Advantage ) and at so small a Distance from us, that the Treasure gained by the Article of Cambricks, may be made use of to our Prejudice, and be of those evil Consequences which we have no need to apprehend from Indians.

Many People and Kingdoms have been sav'd by the Conduct of one single Woman; and should your Sex resolve by Degrees to redress the Grievances this Nation suffers by the Importation of what partly composes your Dress, -----you will justly deserve Praise, as well as reap the Benefit of so reasonable an Alteration.

BRITANICUS.