with you some few Thoughts, which I have couch'd in Writing, and which I'll fetch you; he went into his Cabbin, for, tho' the Governor's, it did not deserve the Name of a House, brought out some written Papers, and gave them him. Captain _Tew_ finding the Quarter-Master spoke the Sentiments of his Companions, took Leave, and returned to his Ship. When the Captain was in his Cabbin, he read the Quarter-Master's Papers, which, as the Contents of them may oblige the curious, I shall set down. This Island of _Madagascar_ affords all the Necessaries of Life, and yields to none either in the Wholesomeness of the Air, or Fruitfulness of the Soil: The Seas around it are well stor'd with Fish, the Woods with Fowl, and the Intrails of the Earth are enrich'd with Mines of excellent Iron, as I have learn'd from some Natives, by their having Arms of that Metal; and, doubtless there are here both Gold and Silver Mines in the Mountains. The Soil will produce Sugar, Cotton, Indigo, and other Growths of our _American_ Colonies, at a far inferior Expence, as I will make plain, by comparing the Charge of erecting a Mill, _&c._ in _Barbadoes_, with what it would be here. A Windmill in _Barbadoes_ will cost 100 l. all Materials and Labour being very dear; but here Wood and Stone may be had for Labour only; so that with Artificers, and the needful Iron and Copper Work brought from _Europe_, a Sugar Work may be set up for very little Money. Negroes in _Barbadoes_ are at 30, 40, 50 l. _per_ Head; and I dare answer 10 s. in _European_ Goods, will purchase a Negroe Slave at _Madagascar_, since we have purchas'd for an old Coat, a lusty Fellow. Food is very dear at _Barbadoes_, and here you may feed a Slave, as well as your self without Expence; consequently he will do more Work than a _Barbadoes_ Slave, who is, by the Dearness of Provision, half-starved. Tho' a Cattle Mill is of less Expence in _Barbadoes_, yet the feeding of Horses and Oxen at _Barbadoes_ is very dear. But, to proceed to other Advantages, all Sorts of medicinal and dying Woods may be carried from hence to _Europe_; and your Woods for fine Works, as Iron, Wood, Cedar, Mahogony, _&c._ are here in great Abundance. If a Colony, with a lawful Power, were settled here, no doubt, but many of the Commodities which we fetch from the _Indies_ might be made here, as Silk, Cotton, _&c._ the Soil being proper for their Production. The Natives are, or seem to be, very human; and they have such Plenty of black Cattle, that we have bought an Ox of 800 lb. Weight, for a Pair of Breeches. Besides, a Settlement here would be a Curb on Pyrates, and a Protection, as well as a great Conveniency to our _East India_ Ships, who might here be stored with fresh or salt Provisions, and consequently not be obliged to carry with them so great a Quantity as they now do, and save a great Deal of Money to the Company in their Victualling.