_Years._ _Gr. Hydes._ _Bark B’s._ 1721 46,847 46,556 1722 86,004 45,794½ 1723 123,514 47,824½ 1724 103,477 60,740½ 1725 69,858 48,407 1726 60,441 45,279 1727 57,373 50,598 In the next Place it is to be observ’d, That Bark, according to its Goodness, is sold from 6 to 10, and in some Years, 11 Shillings, the Barrel. That Cow-Hydes weigh from 56, to 84 Pounds each; Bullock Hydes, weigh from 84 to 140 Pounds each, and both are sold from 15 to 21 Shillings, the hundred Weight. That Soles, are generally sold from 8 to 8 Pence half-penny the Pound. That Hydes generally lose about half their Weight, in Tanning. From these Principles, when thrown into mean Proportionate Quantities, it is evident: That the Quantity of Bark, annually imported, is 50,000 Barrels, and the Value 21,000 Pounds. That the Number of Green Hydes, annually exported, are 80,000, and their Value 57,000 Pounds. That if these Green Hydes were tanned before Exportation, their Value would be 123,000 Pounds. That the Difference, arising from the Different State of these Hydes, on Exportation, is 66,000 Pounds, which Sum added to the 21,000 Pounds, the Value of the imported Bark, making in the whole 87,000 Pounds, must be accounted, as so much gained to the Kingdom, should our Tannage be effected by our own Produce and Labour. The Nations, that demand this Export of those Green Hydes, are those, whose black Cattle are not bred, in such Numbers, as to supply their indispensable Demands; Nor will their dry Hydes, which they receive from their Settlements abroad, admit a thorough Tannage; They, in hopes of putting their Neighbours, who have a Redundancy of Hydes, under a Necessity, of parting with them unmanufactured, have prohibited, by the severest Penalties, the sending us any Bark. While we, on the other Part, have not only complied with this detrimental Export; but also have been so regardless of our own Interest, as to permit several Tanners, some from this City, to go, and instruct them in an Art, they almost were Strangers to. The _English_, from a true Sense of the Disadvantage of such a Trade, have subjected the Exporter of a Green Hyde, to the Penalties of 500 Pounds, and a Disability to trade in Leather, ever after. _Ann._ 14. _Car._ II. Such an Act, even in our present Circumstances, may, by some, be thought adviseable for us; Because, such Nations, as now gladly receive our Green Hydes, finding a Stop, put to their usual Supplies, would be under a Necessity of receiving our tanned Hydes, and selling us their Bark. Leather being a Commodity, that does not depend on the Fancy; but, is absolutely requisite, not only to the Luxuries, but also, to the Necessities of Mankind.