_Tanning_ of _Leather_ is an Employment which ought to be encouraged, as it furnishes us with a Commodity fit to be manufactured at home, and also to be transported into Foreign Countrys; I know the Exportation of _Leather_ hath been much opposed by the _Shooe-makers_ and others who cut it at home, and represented as attended with ill Consequences, one whereof is the making it dear here, but would it not be of much worse to confine and limit that Employment to an _Inland_ Expence, on the other side would it not naturally follow that when _Leather_ rises to a great Price the Exportation must cease because _Ireland_ would under-sell us, and would it not seem an unreasonable Discouragement to Trade if _Tobacco_, _Sugar_, and Woollen Manufactures were debarred from Exportation only because they should be sold cheaper here; for suppose the occasions of the Nation could not consume all the _Leather_ that is made, to what a low price must _Hides_ be reduced, for no other reason but that the _Shooemakers_ may get more by their _Shooes_? 'Tis true, if they could make out that those Countrys must then have their _Shooes_ from us who now have their _Leather_, I should be of their Minds, but it must needs have a quite contrary effect, especially whilst Ireland is able to supply them: This proceeds from a very narrow Spirit, and such as ought not to be encouraged in a Trading Nation; _Ireland_ hath already made great Progress in this Mistery, occasioned by our Imprudence, and should we give Encouragement to other Countrys we might too late repent it. A good Export for _Leather_ would cause a great Import of _Raw Hides_, which would be more Advantage to the Nation than if they were tann'd in _Ireland_, and sent abroad thence. [Sidenote: Iron.] Nor can I omit _Iron_, which is the great foundation of sundry Manufactures, not only used at home, but wherewith we supply our Plantations and other Places abroad, as _Howes_, _Bills_, _Axes_, _Cases_, _Locks_, _Nailes_, and a thousand such Necessaries, the Workmanship whereof adds much to their Value. [Sidenote: Clockwork.] There are many other things which may be and are daily improved amongst us; as _Clockwork_, wherein we sell nothing but Art and Labour, the Materials thereof being of small value; I have seen _Watches_ and _Clocks_ of great Prizes made for the Courts of Foreign Princes. [Sidenote: Paper-Mills.] [Sidenote: Powder-Mills.] [Sidenote: Artificers.] [Sidenote: Methods to improve our Manufactures.]