markett in Spain Portugal or other parts of Europe has encouraged the sending it thither in Grain, the adventurers have often suffered by the undertaking, for at this remote distance, the intelligence of a demand reaches us so late, that the marketts are supplyed before our vessells come there, and even if it were otherwise our merchants lye under vast and certain disadvantages besides for freight of wheat from hence in time of warr was at least two shillings and six pence, and in time of peace is eighteen pence sterling per bushell, and by the length of the passage it often grows musty, at least cannot come so fresh to markett as from Great Britain; whence freights (as it's said) are not above one quarter part of what they are here. The main bent of our farmers is to raise wheat, and they are like to remain in that way until the price of it becomes so low, that necessity puts upon some other way of Cultivation; which in process of time is like to happen, because the Sugar Islands cannot increase in the proportion which the Northern Collonys do, and whether some other encouragement may bring them over sooner I cannot affirm. . In this Collony are a great many lands extream fit for hemp, and there is not one farm in it but has land proper to raise flax ; but little more of either is raised than what is for private use, the former they apprehend to require more hands than they have to spare, and labour is still so dear that they cannot afford to hire people for that purpose. Nor do they (as I believe) well understand how to rost [rot?] and dress it. Tarr Pitch and Turpentine may be got here, but more plentifully in some of the other Northern Collonys, in greater quantitys than can be made use of by the Navy or Nation of Great Britain, if the price at home will encourage it, which I am informed it has not done for several years past, notwithstanding the bounty allowed on the importation. I am told your Lordships formerly sent hither the method used in Russia for making of Tar and that upon tryal thereof it was found not to answer here, which is attributed more to the difference of the nature of their pitch pine and that of this Country, than to the unskillfulness of our people. In the Jerseys is an extraordinary rich mine and some others are discovered there which afford a good prospect but in this Province none have as yet been discovered, tho' a good deal of money has been expended in search of them. Some lead mines have been found in several parts of this Collony but they hitherto not by farr quitted the cost expended on them, and if they happen to prove good, I believe the proprietor will rather send it home in Oar than be at the charge to erect smelt houses here. We have a great many Iron mines both of the bogg, and of the Mountain Oar but as yet no Iron Work is set up in this province if any encouragement was given upon the importing of it in Piggs and Bars, at least that it might be free of dutys, It is very probable that in a few years the Nation might be amply supplyed from her own Plantations and it is evident that the whole amount thereof wo'd be paid in the manufactures of Great Britain, who now pays ready money (as I am informed) for greatest part of the Iron It has from Sweden I am informed that when the Dutch were in possession of this Collony they sett up a Pottash work at vast expence but found it wo'd not answer, about twenty five years agoe it was attempted here again at the expense of a Gentleman in London but dropt for the same reason, and a like essay is lately set on foot in Jersey; which it, is feared will be attended with the same fate. NEW YORK IN AMERICA. THE REFERRED QUERIES FROM THE LORDS OF TRADE AND PLANTATIONS; AND THE REQUIRED ANSWER FROM THE BOOKS OF REPORTS AND ENTRIES IN THE CUSTOM HOUSE AT ITS PORT BY DIRECTION OF THE GOVT OF THIS HIS MAJESTY'S PROVINCE. 1749. [Lond. Doc. XXIX.] Qre. What is the Trade of the Province, the Number of Shiping, their Tonage and the number of Seafaring Men with the respective Increase or Diminution within the years past? What Quantity and Sorts of British Manufactures do the Inhabitants Annually take from hence? What trade has the Province with any Foreign Plantations or any part of Europe besides Great Britain? How is that Trade caryed on? What Commodities do the People send to and receive from Foreign Plantations? What methods are there used to prevent Illegal Trade and are the same effectual? Ansr. The Inward Trading in General is from Great Britain, European Goods, & those India with Silk Manufactures chiefly. From Ireland Linnen and Canvas Manufacturies certified duly. From British Colonies, enumerated Commodities, Piemento, Sulphur, Strawplating, Lime juice, Coffee growth thereof, Hides, Deer Skins, Coach Shells, Mahogonie, Plank, Ebonie, & Negros. From Europe and Africa, besides from English Foreign Settlements in America, Salt. From the African Coast within the proper limits Directed, Negrôs: now less than formerly. From the Northern & Southern parts of this Continent; Fish, Oil, Bluber, Whale fins, Turpentine oil, Seal Skins, Hops, Cyder, Flax, Bricks, Cole, Lamp Black, certain wrought Iron, Tin & Braziery, Joinery, various Carriages and Chairs. From Plantations not under his Mays Dominions, Molasses, Sugar, & Rum in no great Quantitys, since the Act imposing the new Dutys thereon, Lign. Vitæ, Drugs, Logwood and other Dying Wood, Indico, Cocoa Nutts, Cotton Wool, Snuff &ca. And the Outward is to London and its Outports, the latter more seldom, Naval Stores, Copper Ore, Furs and other the enumerated species, with the |