[Sidenote: Tobacco.] Tobacco also hath imployed our Poor by Cutting and Rowling it, both for a home Consumption, and also for Exportation; but the latter is lessen’d, as the Places, to which we used to export it, work it up themselves. [Sidenote: Tanning.] Tanning of Leather is an Employment which deserves to be encourag’d, because it furnishes us with a Commodity, fit to be farther Manufactur’d at home, and also to be transported abroad; I know the Exportation of Leather hath been much opposed by the Shoemakers, and others who cut it at home, and represented as attended with ill Consequences, one whereof is the making it dear; 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_ will undersell us? And would it not seem an unreasonable discouragement to Trade, if Tobacco, Sugar, and the Woollen Manufactures, were debarred from being Exported, only because they should be sold cheaper at home? 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 Shoemakers may get more by their Shoes; ’Tis true, if they could make out, that those Countries must then have their Shoes from us, where we now Sell our Leather, I should be of their Minds; But it must needs be otherwise, seeing _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; a good Export for Leather, will cause a great Import of Raw-Hides, which will be more Advantage to the Nation, then if they were Tann’d in _Ireland_, and sent abroad thence. [Sidenote: Minerals.]