The Virginia Gazette

[From a late Magazine.]

Observations on Trade, our Colonies, Seamen, &c.

SIR,

No one would imagine the Depredations of the Spaniards, and their Barbarity to our Seamen, required only a clear Representation, to raise the ancient British Spirit, and fill every Breast with the highest Resentment against all our Adversaries, their Aiders and Abettors. But we are too much degenerated, that many Persons hear, and discourse of those infamous Practices with more Coolness and Indifference, than of the Mail being plundered, or some other Robbery on the High Ways. This may be attributed, in a great Measure, to the Want of Publick Spirit, and a true Knowledge of the Springs and Advantages of Trade.

But the principal Cause of the Difficulties our injured and distressed Merchants have long laboured under, is owing to false Brethren among ourselves, who have industriously misrepresented Facts, and raised unjust Clamours against them, in order to colour and palliate the Proceedings of the Spaniards. The great and learned Apostle St. Paul, who, in one of his Epistles to the Corinthians, enumerates the many Afflictions and Dangers he had undergone, seems to lay the greatest Stress on Perils among false Brethren. And, indeed, if we look into publick as well as private Life, there is not any one Evil we have more Reason to guard against. We may make Provision against many Accidents and Dangers; but we cannot always foresee, nor be prepared for the Treachery of false Brethren. I am unwilling to believe all that is suggested, concerning the Spaniards being spirited up against our Traders; of the Intelligence said to be given them from Time to Time; and their being furnished with armed Vessels, which have been employ'd as Cruisers, or Guarda Costas; tho' I think such Intimations are of so great Concernment to our Trade and Navigation, that they are sufficient to promote an Enquiry; and if there should be any Truth in them, the Persons convicted ought to be brought to condign Punishment, and be made Examples of, for such unnatural, monstrous Behaviour.

We cannot be too careful of every Branch of our Trade; and the more so, as our Neighbours are intent on improving their own Commerce, whilst they are undermining and making Encroachments on the Remains of ours. The French have been, for many Ages, our most inveterate and potent Enemy; and are become more dangerous, since they are grown so considerable a Trading Nation, that they are now our greatest Rival in Trade. In a former Letter, I observed their having engrossed all foreign Markets for Sugars; nor are they wanting in Industry and Craft to undermine us, even in our Woollen Manufactures. We have been so generous to those good Friends and Allies, as to permit them to share with us in the Newfoundland, or Cod-fishery, tho' it is notorious, wherever they get Footing, they are continually making Encroachments, till they have work'd themselves into the Whole. Witness their vast Encrease of their Settlements on Hispaniola, which sprung from a pyratical Possession of the little Island of Tortuga; from whence they attempted to cultivate those Parts, which were most contiguous; and meeting with no Molestation, the Spaniards not daring to take any Liberties with them, they made so great a Progress in about 50 Years, that they are now firmly seated in more than one half of that large and valuable Island; and it is highly probable, in much less Time, they will become Masters of the Whole. This, with the Improvements they are continually making at Mississippi, give them a hopeful Prospect of the Empire of America. The Spaniards, who are as much infatuated as Some other Nations, do not perceive their latent Designs, but blindly run into all their Measures, to the great Prejudice of their own Interest, as well as that of another Nation, with whom they ought, in Point of Policy, to be firmly united. Thus while we were dissolved in Luxury, they have had the Wisdom to take the Advantage of our Negligence, by encouraging Industry and Commerce, which we did not sufficiently regard and value; so that they are now become dangerous to all Europe, and by Craft and Cunning are likely to obtain their ambitious Views, which they could not in many Years effect by the Force of Arms.

It is vain to think of gaining new Advantages, unless we are more careful to preserve those we have got, or rightly improve what our Ancestors acquired. Our Colonies, with due Encouragement, may yet be restored to their former State; and other Branches of our Commerce, now in a manner lost to the Nation, with proper Assistance may be redeemed. We have many Advantages over Neighbours and Rivals, in Regard to Trade; and it is our own Fault they have deprived us of any Part of what we formerly enjoyed to ourselves. This will more clearly appear from the following Quotation of the Thoughts of a late judicious Author on this Subject.-----Since Trade, the Converse with the World, is the honest Way to strengthen and enrich a Nation, and the greatest Discourager of Idleness and Debauchery, we being situated by Nature, and Geniuses proper for it, ought to make it our Study to manage it to its highest Capacity and Improvement.------We contradict the received Maxim, that Men will attempt any Thing for Advantage, whilst we neglect proper Methods of improving and encouraging Trade; for no greater Advantages can flow from any Fountain, or proceed from any Faculty on Earth. The convenient Situation of any State gives an Estimate, and raises its Purchase; and without Convenience Life itself would be but a mere Spiration scarce worth the Valuing; then sure England ought to be valued and preferred to all other Nations on Earth, having both to so much Advantage. How absolutely necessary is it then, that all possible Endeavours be made (as the Examples of our Neighbour's successful Industry, and our own Sloth and Neglect sufficiently warn us) to study the ablest Means and Methods for the Improvement of Trade?

We may estimate what we lost, by what some of our Neighbours have gain'd; which appears in the great Encrease of their Navigation and naval Strength, and their flourishing Condition in other Respects; whilst we groan under an heavy Load of Debts, but very little diminished in above 20 Years; and are cramp'd with high Duties and Taxes, which cause a Stagnation of Trade, and give them a considerable Advantage over us.

It is therefore obvious, that the French have supplanted us in several Branches of our Commerce; and the Spaniards are endeavouring to destroy the most valuable Remains. Indeed, they seem to act in Concert, and to be playing the Game into each other's Hand: We only amuse ourselves, if we imagine that the latter have no other View than to exclude us from any Share of the Trade within their Dominions. The Steps they have taken, must convince every considerate and impartial Person, that they aim at the Destruction of our Colonies, as well as our Commerce to those Parts, by rendering the Navigation exceeding difficult and precarious.

The Hardships and Miseries they have imposed on our Seamen, more intolerable than Slavery in Algier, will discourage their sailing to that Part of the World, if not induce them to enter into the Service of other Princes. It is amazing to think that any Part of the Nation can be unmoved at the Groans of a great Number of their Fellow Subjects, who are unjustly deprived of their Liberty, loaded with Irons, and fed with Provisions neither sufficient nor wholesome, being nothing more than Salt Fish, and dry'd Beans full of Worms; when our own Interest, as well as common Humanity, lead us to commiserate and relieve them. Our Navigation and Ships of War, which exceed all other Nations, will be of no Use without Seamen; and without those floating Castles, we should soon become a Prey to our potent Neighbours. How incumbent therefore is it on us, to take Care of those useful and necessary Men, who not only make us Powerful, but are our Protection and Security? Are those brave Fellows, who daily expose their Lives in our Service, and toil to make us rich, to sink under a Load of Oppression and Misery?
It may seem odd and particular, yet I can't help thinking, that an honest industrious Seaman is of more intrinsic Value, than a Wretch, who lolls at his Ease, riots in Plunder, and laughs at all Mankind, who are not of his Sentiments; or the Sailor not only labours but exposes his Life in the publick Service; is contented with his Pay tho' small; and neither injures nor oppresses his Fellow-Creatures; but the Mischiefs that arise from the Other, if any such there be in this happy Nation, outweigh all other Circumstances in his Favour, and it would be happy for his Country that he had never been born.