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 contributed towards the Encouragement of my Salt Scheme, agreeable to a Resolve of Convention held at Richmond in March 1775, and who entitled 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 Obligation, and that there had been at least 30 l. 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 Dissatisfaction and Disappointment, and even bestowed some Epithets upon me which I do not think I deserved, as it must be well known to the Delegates 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 Encouragement 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 deliver 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 Allowance, and they may positively depend on being supplied.