Letter from New England by Richard Saltonstall, 1631
Richard Saltonstall to Emanuell Downing, in Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Second Series, vol. iv. Boston, 1894. 208-209.
To my very worthie friend Emanuell Downing Esq. At the Byshop's head in Fleet street near the Conduict in London dd
Worthy Sr., --Since my arriual in New England I have endeuored to guide a trew & fathfull relation of such things as came within mine observation, & might answere the desires of such as expected letters from mee. That which I know will be most gratefull to you in regard of your desire of a common good, & my debtvnto you thereby, I will briefly sett doune: The cuntrie abounds with good creatures needful for sustenation of the life of man: & after some time of libertie from building & inclosing of grounds for ye safetie of our cattell from the wolfe, I doubt not but wee shall rayse good proffit not only by or fishing Trade (which is sufficiently knowne) but by Hempe, flaxe, pitch, tarr, pottashes, sope ashes, masts, pipe statues, clapboard (&Iron as wee hope) for wee find there are mineralls; but for want of skill & time cannot yet certainly satisfie either our selues or you, of what kind they are. Therefoer good Sr. incourage men to come ouer for heare is land & meanes of liuely hood sufficient for men that bring bodys able, & minds fitted to braue the first brunts, which the beginings of such workes necessarily put men vpon. Without hands nothing can bee don nor any thing with any great profit vntil multitudes of people should bee soe backward hauing assurance that they may liue plentifully by their neighbours; & that the better soart of people should not help ye poorer, with meanes to transport them, that in time might returne their adventures with answerable advantage in any of the affoar named commodities, & diuers others not mentioned. If gentlemen of abillitie would transplant themselues, they might in time much advanc their owne estates & not only supply the want wee labour vnder, of men fitted by their estates to beare common burdens and the giufts of their minds to nurse vp this infant plantation, but allsoe might improue their tallents & times for the honor & benefit of old England, (to which wee owe the frute of our best endeuours) and their owne eternall glory, in beeing worthie instruments of propagating the gospell to these poor barbarous people, The trewest object of Christians bowell-compassions, that the world now affoards. Oh that it might please God to mooue either the generall state or at least (by the fauour & encouragement of our gratious soueraigne) some large harted men, to contribute (if it were) but the tythe of what was bestowed upon Virginia for the educating of our poore Indeans, in the suppoting of their bodilie necesities, till they might attaine such abilities whereby they might feed themselves and others, with spirituall foode.
I pray you send ouer by some of your East-Contrie merchants to gett some few mayster-workmen for the ordering of our potash work. Wee have great store of Hemp growing naturally in some pts of the Contrie, a sample whereof you may call from this bearer. Certainly the ground would admirably well agree with it planted, that offers it vnto vs without our labours. The hast of the bearer enforceth mee to take an abrupt leaue; & with my best respects to yr. Selfe & Mrs. Downing doe rest
Your very louing Friend
RICHARD SALTONSTALL
From the Matachusetts bay this 4th Feb. 1631.