That the Value and Improvement of Estates in our Parts of America, may yet appear with fur­ther clearness and Assurance to Enquirers, I propose to speak my own Knowledg, and the Observation of others, as particularly as I can; which I shall comprise under these Heads.

• I. The Advance that is upon Money and Goods.
• II. The Advance that is upon Labour, be it of Han­dicrafts or others.
• III. The Advance that is upon Land.
• IV. The Charge of Transporting a Family, and Fit­ting a Plantation.
• V. The Way the Poorer sort may be Transported, and Seated, with Advantage to the Rich that help them.
• VI. The easier and better provision that is to be made there for Posterity, especially by those that are not of great Substance.
• VII. What Ʋtensels and Goods are fitting to carry for Ʋse or Profit.

For the first, Such Money as may be carried, as pieces of eight, advances Thirty, and Goods at least Fifty per cent. Say I have 100 l. sterl. If I am but six in Family, I will pay my Passage with the advance upon my mo­ney, and find my hundred pounds good in the Coun­try at last. Upon Goods, well bought and sorted, there is more profit: but some money is very requisit for Trade sake; for we find it gives Goods a better market; so that considering the great quantity of Goods already carried, it were not amiss at present, if one half were in Money, and the other in Goods.

Thus in General. But it particularly encourages Mer­chants, because the profit by advance, is seldom less then 50 l. sterl. per cent, which is very considerable; and we have already got some things for returns, as Skins, Furrs, Whale-Oyle, Tobacco, &c.

II. For Labour, be it of Handicrafts, or Others, there is a considerable Encouragement by advance of price, to what is here, because the Goods Manufactured there, advance equal to those the Merchant sells, and where Pro­vision is at least as cheap, and there is such additional gain, to the first Gain of Handicrafts here (of whom the Merchant buys) the American Handicraft must have an extraordinary time of it. The like may be said or Ʋnder Labourers, for some time, until the Country be bet­ter replenished with People.

III. The Advance upon Land is Encouraging, which will be best apprehended by an English understanding in a Comparison with the Lands of England, that he is fami­liarly acquainted with.

If 500 Acres of unclear'd Land there, indifferently chosen, will keep as many Milch Cowes, or fat as many Bullocks for the market in Summer, as 50 Acres of im­proved Land in England, as chosen aforesaid, can do; then by Computing the value of the Summers Grass of such fifty Acres of Land here, we shall the better find the value of 500 Acres of Land in America; for within that compass the same quantity of Cattle may be well kept. Admit this then that the [...] Grass of 50 Acres of midd [...]ng Land in England, is worth 15 l. I conceive that makes 20 l, which is the price of the Inheritance of the 500 Acres, no dear Purchass. The cost to go thither is no Objection, be­cause it is paid by the Advance that is upon the Money and Goods at the rate aforeforesaid. If the hazard of the Seas be Objected, we see that the five hundreth Ship using those parts, does not miscarry, and the Risk is run for themselves only. However, except in Winter, Passages are pleasant, as well as safe.

But this Comparison draws an Objection upon us that must be obviated. What becomes of your stock in the Winter? I say our Woods usually keep them for the Mar­ket till December, and unless it be a more then ordinary Winter (which is observed to happen but once in four or five Years) or that they are young stock, or Cat­tel big with Young, they mostly shift for themselves. But if Fodder be wanted, we have a supply by H [...]y, we mow in the Marshes and Woods, or the Straw of the English Grain we use, or the Tops and Stalks of Indian Corn, and sometimes that it self; a Thing hearty, and easily rais'd, and is good to fat as well as keep, and answers to Oats, Pease, Beans and Fetches here, tho we have of them also.

This Scheam of Grazing and keeping of Stock, may inform Inquirers what the Woods and unbroken Lands of those Countrys in some sort will do in proportion to Lands here, and consequently, what they are worth to Lands here, allowing equally for Care and Fodder on both sides

To be short, the produce of wild Land there in this re­spect, is within less then ten to one, of what our cleare [...] Land is here, and the purchase here, is an hundred to [...] Dearer, which must needs make American Lands [...] Bargain to the Purchasers.

Now for clearing of our Wood-lands in [...] [Page 2]corn; the diff [...]culty is not so great as is imagined; our Trees, being not so thick, or not so burdensome, but that four hands, in four months time, may easily clear five and twenty Acres for the Plow; which, at 15 d. English per Day, for each hand, comes to twenty five shillings per Acre. The encrease of which, is with less then half the seed at least equal to the Improv'd Land of England. Add to this, the ten pence which buys the see of an Acre un­clear'd, and an Acre of Land, producing the like quan­tity with English Ground, shall cost 1 l. 5 s. 10 d. which at eight years purchase, ought to yeild three shillings two pence three farthings per Annum. Now, where it brings an increase equal to Land of ten shillings per Annum in Eng [...]and, and what it produces, yeilds not, at present, a less value, the advantage is almost four to one, which I conceive is no inconsiderable advance.

Having given this general account of Lands in those parts [...]f Amer [...]ca, which for Variety of Earth, and Num­ber of Fountains, falls not short, in my Opinion, of any Country I have seen in Europe; I shall in the next place, for their Help and Direction that intend thither,

IV. First, S [...]t down the Charge of Transporting an or [...]in [...]y Family.

Secondly, The Method and Charge of their setling a P [...]ation when there, which will serve for all Ranks, proportion still considered. I will suppose my self worth but one hundred pounds.

When it pleases God we are well arrived, which I sup­pose to be about the first of October, the First thing is to get a Lodging in some Town or Village at hand, for my, Fam [...]ly, and there stay one Week, and take something for our health, refresh our selves, and advise where to settle, if my land be not already fixt: This done, I take my two men and g [...] to my Lot, which is, say, five hundred Acr [...]s. I lodg them at the next Village, or House to the place, and then go to felling of Trees, proper for a first House, which will very well serve for the present occasion, and afterwards be a good out House, till plenty will allow me to build a Better.

To build then, an House of thirty foot long and eigh­teen foot broad, with a partition neer the middle, and an other to divide one end of the House into two small Roo [...]s, there must be eight Trees of about sixteen Inches square, and cut off, to Posts of about fifteen foot long, which the House must stand upon; and four pieces, two of thirty foot long, and two of eighteen foot long, for Plates, which must lie upon the top of those Posts, the whole length and bredth of the House, for the Gifts to rest upon. There must be ten Gifts of twenty foot long, to be [...]r the Loft, and two false Plates of thirty foot long to lie upon the ends of the Gifts for the Rafters to be fix­ed upon, twelve pare of Rafters of about twenty foot, to bear the Roof of the House, with several other small pieces; as Wind beams, Braces, Studs &c. which are made out of the Waste Timber. For Covering the House, Ends, and Sides, and for the Loft, we use Clabboard, which is Rived feather edged, of five foot and a half long, that well Drawn, lyes close and smooth: The Lodging Room may be lined with the same, and filld up be­tween, which is very Warm. These houses usually endure ten years without Repair.

The lower flour is the Ground the upper Clabbord: This may seem a mean way of Building, but 'tis sufficient and safest for ordinary beginners. 'Tis true, some of our Folks have exceeded much, even in Villages; but how wise they were in it, is the Question: An ordi­nary House, and a good Stock, is the Planters Wisdom; Else, some of our Neighbouring Provinces, improv'd by persons, whom Necessity had made ingenious and provi­dent, had not succeeded so well as they have done. How­beit, if better are desired, people may have them sutable to their abilities.

This House may be finished by the middle of Novem­ber, the Barn by the Spring, but there being little use for it till the next fall, it may be built at Leasure, and the Winter imploy'd to clear Land for the Spring, by which time, they may easily have clear'd fifteen Acres.

The Spring come a stock must be bought.

Here will fittly come in our Years Provision.

I fall now to the Land I have clear'd to Plant, upo [...] which, with Gods ordinary Providence, a Crop may be thus made of divers Grain, viz.

By this time the Year is bought about, and October is come again. Let us see now what we are Worth.

With the overplus of the Grain I have, to what I want, I furnish my self the ensuing Year with two Barrels of Mollasses, two of Meat, and two of Fish, to save my young stock; and proceed to clear more Land for Indian Corn and Oates, and Imploy the other Land to English Wheat and Barley: A Garden Plat, next the House, and an Acre in an Orchard, follow of course. And thus [...]end with my settlement of a Plantation, leaving the Planter to live by his industry and encrease, and make what he can of the rest of his five hundred Acres, that for the sake of this very setlement, is in reputation worth, three times more then it was.

For those that have greater abilities, and aim at better settlements, they have the means in their own Hands, and the People of the Country skill enough to answer their desires be it in fine Timber or very good Brick Buildings. But for the Poorer sort, that either can but just transport themselves, or that are not well able of them­selves to do that, I shall, for the encouragement of such, as well as of those that shall assist them, propose my for­mer Meth [...]ds somewhat better explain'd.

V. The way the Poorer sort may be transported, with advantage to the Rich that hely them, is thus;

In the first place, there are such as are able to transport themselves and Families, but are unable to build or stock themselves when they are there; others that have not e­nough to Transport themselves and Families, and such will come under a different Consideration.

The first of these may be entertained in this manner, Say I have 5000 Acres, I will settle Ten Families upon them, in way of Village, and build each an house, an out-house for Cattle, furnish every Family with Stock; as four Cows, two Sows, a couple of Mares, and a yoke of Oxen, with a Town Horse, Bull and Boar; I find them with Tools, and give each their first Ground-seed. They shall continue Seven Years, or more, as we agree, at half encrease, being bound to leave the Houses in re­pair, and a Garden and Orchard, I paying for the Trees, and at least twenty Acres of Land within Fence, and improved to corn and grass: The charge will come to about sixty pounds English for each Family: At the seven years end, the Improvement Will be worth, as things go now, 120 l. besides the value of the encrease of the Stock, which may be near as much more, allowing for casualties; especially, if the People are honest and care­ful, or a man be upon the spot himself, or have an Over­seer sometimes to inspect them. The charge in the whole is 832 l. And the value of stock and improvements 2400 l. I think I have been modest in my computation. These Farms are afterwards fit for Leases at full Rent, or how else the Owner shall please to dispose of them. Also the People will by this time be skilled in the Country, and well provided to settle themselves with stock upon their own Land, which shall be a thousand Acres their Land­lord will give them, which is one hundred to each Family, in some part of his five thousand Acres, they only paying for the same ten shillings yearly, which is a shilling for each Family.

The advantage of this way, is chiefly to those that go, for as the benefit seems greater, so is the hazard, by loss or embezlement of stock, unless one were present, or a dilligent and honest Overseer there: But those that design going, and have money, and aim to live with most Ease, cannot do better; for the half encrease of the stock and labour of those Families will supply them with Provisions; so that they need not toyl, in a way, they are perhaps un­acquainted with, for their accomodations of life. And if half encrease be thought a way too uncertain, it may be brought to a certain value, by paying a yearly Rent for such stock as aforesaid.

The other sort of poor people may be very beneficially transported upon these terms: Say I ave 5000 Acres I should settle as before, I will give to each Family 100 Acres, which in the whole makes 1000; and to each Fa­mily thirty pounds English, half in hand, and half there, which in the whole comes to 300 l. After four years are expired, in which time they may be eane, and in a good condition, they shall each of them pay five pounds, and so yearly for ever, as a Fee-farm rent; which in the whole comes to 50 l. a Year. Thus a man that buys 5000 Acres may secure and settle his 4000 by the gift of one, and in a way, that hazard and interest allowed for, amounts to at least ten per cent. upon Land security; be­sides the value it puts upon the rest of the 5000. Acres, which will be, for that reason, really worth three times as much as before. In these Families I propose that there be at least two working hands besides the wife, whether son or servant; and that they oblige what they carry; and for further security bind themselves as servants for some time, that they will settle the said land accordingly, and when they are once seated, their improvements are security enough for the Rent.

There is yet another expedient, and that is, give to, ten Families 1000 Acres forever, at a small acknowledge­ment, and settle them in way of Village, as before; by their seating thus, the Land taken up is secured from o­thers, because the method of the Country is answered and the value such a settlement gives to the rest reserved, is not inconsiderable; I mean, the 4000 Acres; especially that which is Contiguous: For their Children when grown up, and Handicrafts will soon covet to fix next them, and such after settelments beginning at an Improved Rent in Fee, or for long Leases, on small Acknowledge­ments, and good Improvements, must advance the whole considerably. I conceive any of these methods to issue in a sufficient advantage to Adventurers, and they all give good encouragement to feeble and poor Families. Now I know some think this looks a little hard upon the People that are to pay the said Rent, the thing that is most con­trary to my inclinations, as well as design in making this proposal. But I am of another mind; for in Ire [...]and, money bears the Interest of ten per cent: Thirty pounds then, will deserve three pounds a Year, three Years In­terest makes Nine pounds. The 100 Acres surveyed and Patented are worth eight pounds at least, for that is one of the lowest prises Parchasers sell again at. The Interest of this eight pounds for three Years at ten per cent, is Eight and forty shillings; there is also three shillings for three years rent. Now put the thrity, the nine, the eight and the two pounds eight shillings, and the three shillings together, and there will be forty nine pounds eleven shil­lings, which wants but twelve shillings of fifty pounds, and you advance no more then money does in Ireland, that is neerer home, and an improv'd Country. To which add, the hazard that is Run, in this way, above a double Bond for the payment of the fifty pounds in Ireland; for if the ship perish, my money is gone, if the man or work­ing hands Dye, I have a Charge instead of a Revenue that will follow me; which plainly evidences that the pro­position is not grievous, but re [...]sonable and charitable too, and especially when we Consider that Sixty five Dayes out of the Year, at eighteen pence by Day, will, within half a crown, pay the Rent, and he has three Hun­dred to himself. Nor is this ail, he is come to a Country where Land is cheap, and does Pise, and where those [Page 4]that have hands cannot but [...] and [...] way too, not sub­ject to the Contingences and decays of Trades; for as be­low the grownd none can fall, so here every one falls upon his own; which brings me to the Sixth Particular, about the benefit these Countries bring to Posterity.

VI. There is an easier and better provision to be made there for Posterity, especially of such as are not of great Substance. I never thought, but mere Trades would do as well here as there, but when People have gain'd something here by their ingenuity and Toyl, say 1000 l. how much Land will that buy here, and how much in­com will that fetch; perhaps 50 l. per Ann. on Bond, or 40 in Land, which at 10 s. by the Acre, comes to four­score Acres. This, to bring up five Children, Feed, Cloath, School, and Portion them, will be very scanty; but then, what will this do to Estate their Children, and so forward.

Now in America, a thousand Pounds discreetly laid out, is an Exchequer to a Family. I will suppose I have one hundred Pounds in Land, which contains 3000 Acres. This I stock, to half increase, for 360 l. upon this half increase I live well, till my Children are of age. By this time at least, the Tennants Term is up, and I place my Children in those Tenements, with a proportion of stock, without Portions or Rents to pay: Each has 500 Acres, besides my five hundred after my decease. If each of them have five Children, there is an hundred Acres apiece for them, besides the 500 Acres I leave them; and if any take to Trades, the rest have the more Land. By this time, an hundred Acres may be reasonably presum'd to be worth as much as a 1000 was in their Fathers time, and it must advance yet: All improv'd Countries teach us this. Now this is a way of putting people into the natural Channel of life, to wit, Agriculture, and of Adjour­ning care for posterity to the Fourth Generation. Let it be remembred that there is but 360 l. expended of the 1000 l. so that to carry me and my Family, and settle us in some proportion to our Degree, as also to Traffick and encrease portions, there rests 540 l. now if a 1000 l. in Europe, cannot have so natural an increase, free of those Contigences that other means of life are subject to, I conceive America somewhat a better place for the good of Posterity, especially of such as are not wealthy, o [...] have many Children, that they would not should too un­equally live and be provided for.

VII. Now as to what Utensels and Goods are fittest to carry for use and profit, I say, in general, all things relating to Apparrel, Building, Housholdstuff, Husbandry, Fowling and Fishing: but for Particulars, English Woollen, and German Linnen, As ordinary Broad-Clothes Kereseys, Searges, Norwich-Stuffs, some Duffels, Cot­tons and Stroud-waters, for the Natives, and White and Blew Ozenburgs, Shoes, and Stockins, Buttons, Silk, Threed, Iron ware, especially, Felling Axes, Hows, Indian Hows, Saws, Frows, Drawing-Knives, Natles, but of 6. d, and 8. d. a treble quantity, because they use them for shingling, or covering of Houses. Powder and Lead are often wanted for the Woods, in Winter for Water Fowl, that are very numerous. There are lesser things that will be convenient to carry; but being trivial in themselves, and what People can hardly miss to think upon; I shall close this Information and Direction with my usual Cauti­on, and good Wishes. Let none be Hasty or Presumptu­ous. The even humble Temper will best endure the differ­ence of the Change either way. A Wilderness must want some things improv'd Countries do enjoy; but Time and Labour will reprize, where Industry sooner makes an In­heritance. And tho we have not the Ornaments of Life, we want not the Conveniences; and if their Cost were put in Ballance with their Benefit, the World would be great­ly debtor on Account. If then we have less of Art, we have more of Nature; and the Works of God are fitter objects for meditation and Delight; then the Inventions of men: In vain do we admire the First and Simpler Ages of the World, and stile them Golden, while we object against America Rusticity and Solitude.

I will Say no more, but if Jacob dwelt in Tents, and Herds and Flocks were his Revenue, a Life like his should be no stop with those that love his Plainness and Integrity. I beseech God it may be so with them that go, and I am sure they will not have much Reason to repent their Change.