Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/71

 So numerous were the obstacles in the way of the importation into England of the many articles produced in foreign countries, which were required by the English people, that it was asserted in 1609 that there was danger that the merchants of the kingdom would grow weary of meeting the cost of introducing these articles, and in consequence would cease to put forth any effort to obtain them. This statement had special reference to copper, iron, steel, timber, yards, masts, cordage, and soap ashes, but it was equally applicable to many other wares. This fact was used as a strong argument in favor of the promotion of the Virginian enterprise, the ability of Virginia to supply England with the commodities in which it was lacking, being regarded as certain by those who were interested in the Colony, provided that it was steadily developed. As early as 1582 the hope had been entertained, and on grounds apparently entirely reasonable, that America, if settled by the English, would take the place of foreign countries in furnishing the English people with the imported articles which they needed. It was recognized very clearly at the same time that these articles were not to be obtained from that region in the greatest abundance unless plantations were established there. Every voyage to North America had only enlarged the popular conception of its natural productiveness. The description which the Huguenots, the survivors of the terrible massacre in Florida in 1565, had given of the commodities of the southern part of the continent, had been confirmed by the observations of Sir John Hawkins, while the commodities of the northern part had become known by the reports of the