The Virginia Gazette

To
THE PRINTERS.
Gentlemen,

HAVING Occasion lately to be in different Parts of this State, about
my lawful Business, I met with several Persons who had contri-
buted towards the Encouragement of my Salt Scheme, agreeable to a
Resolve of Convention held at Richmond in March 1775, and who desired
to be repaid in Salt for their respective Sums subscribed, in Consequence
of Assurances given them by the Delegates that I was under such an Obli-
gation, and that there had been at least £30. raised in each County for
that Purpose; from which they were made to believe that every Person in
the State would be fully supplied from my Works. Upon my declaring
I had received but ten Pounds a County, and that I could not possibly
repay them, nor, from the Works that the Money enabled me to erect,
supply above a twentieth Part of the State, they expressed great Dissatis-
faction and Disappointment, and even bestowed some Epithets upon me
which I do not think I deserved, as it must Be well known to the Dele-
gates of each County, who undertook to raise a Sum, that I received no
more, and that purely to make an Experiment.
I beg you will insert this in your Paper, by Way of Information to
the Public, that I never meant to repay any Sum raised by Resolve of.
the aforesaid Convention, as it was fully intended by them as an Encou-
ragement for my Trouble, which was very considerable, and every Person
must acknowledge it who has had an Opportunity of seeing the Materials,
which I have been obliged to collect from distant and remote Parts of the
Country, to form Works that make about sixty Bushels of Salt per
Week.
I am, Gentlemen,
NORTHAMPTON,
Your most obedient Servant,
Feb. 13, 1777.
JAMES TAIT.

Next Summer I intend to pay those Gentlemen who were pleased
to advance me Money for Salt at 2 s. per Bushel, to be delivered at the
Capitol Landing, York Town, and Norfolk; but as I cannot possibly deli-
ver it to them at that Price now, I beg they will inform me immediately,
by letter, or through your Paper, what they will allow me for Salt to
the Amount of each Subscription. I hope it will be a generous Allow-
ance, and they may positively depend on being supplied.