ful to say that the “natives were very desirous to have clothes but of coarse cloth rather than silke. Coarse canvas they also like well of.”[1] The significance of these words lies in the term “coarse cloth,” as this made up at this time the great bulk of English woollen manufactures, the English looms not being yet able to compete with those of the Netherlands in the production of the finest stuffs.
The future importance of Virginia as a market for the sale of woollen goods was touched upon in the paper to which reference has already been made, namely: “Reasons for raising a Fund for the Support of a Colony at Virginia.” The author of that able and practical document evidently thought this to be one of the weightiest considerations in favor of its settlement. “It is publicly knowne,” he remarked, “that traffique with our neighbor countries begins to be of small request, the game seldom answering the merchantes’ adventure, and forraigne states either are already or at this presente are preparing to inrich themselves with woolle and cloth of their owne, which heertofore they borrowed of us, which purpose of theirs is being achieved in Fraunce, and it hath been already in Spayne and Italy; therefore, we must of necessity foregoe our greater showing if wee doe not wish to prepare a place fit for the vent of our wares.”[2]
Virginia, it will be seen, was not only to take the place of the old markets England at this time was losing in continental Europe, but it was to create new markets in which a vast quantity of English goods was to be disposed of in return for natural commodities. The anticipations of those speculative reasoners who, according to David Hume, foretold that the American colonies, after partially draining the mother country of inhabitants,
