Chapter 17

TOBACCO IN AMERICA.

We do not find in any accounts of the English voyagers made previous to 1584, any mention of the discovery of tobacco, or its use among the Indians. This may appear a little strange, as Captains Amidas and Barlow, who sailed from England under the auspices of Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584, on returning from Virginia, had brought home with them pearls and tobacco among other curiosities. But while we have no account of those who returned from the voyage made in 1602 taking any tobacco with them, it is altogether probable that those who remained took a lively interest in the plant and the Indian mode of use; for we find that in nine years after they landed at Jamestown tobacco had become quite an article of culture and commerce.

Hamo in alluding to the early cultivation of tobacco by the colony, says, that John Rolfe was the pioneer tobacco planter. In his words:

"I may not forget the gentleman worthie of much commendations, which first took the pains to make triall thereof, his name Mr. John Rolfe, Anno Domini 1612, partly for the love he hath a long time borne unto it, and partly to raise commodities to the adventurers, in whose behalfe I intercede and vouchsafe to hold my testimony in beleefe that during the time of his aboade there, which draweth neere sixe years no man hath laboured to his power there, and worthy incouragement unto England, by his letters than he hath done, witness his marriage with Powhatan's daughter one of rude education, manners barbarous, and cursed generation merely for the good and honor of the plantation."

The first general planting of tobacco by the colony began according to this writer-- "at West and Sherley Hundred (seated on the north side of the river, lower than the Bermudas three or four myles) where are twenty-five commanded by capten Maddeson--who are imployed onely in planting and curing tobacco."

This was in 1616, when the colony numbered only three hundred and fifty-one persons. Rolfe, in his relation of the state of Virginia, written and addressed to the King, gives the following description of the condition of the colony in 1616:

"Now that your highness may with the more ease understand in what condition the colony standeth, I have briefly sett downe the manner of all men's several imployments, the number of them, and the several places of their aboad, which places or seates are all our owne ground, not so much by conquest, which the Indians hold a just and lawfull title, but purchased of them freely, and they verie willingly selling it. The places which are now possessed and inhabited are sixe:--Henrico and the lymitts, Bermuda Nether hundred, West and Sherley hundred, James Towne, Kequoughtan, and Dales-Gift. The generall mayne body of the planters are divided into Officers, Laborers, Farmors.

"The officers have the charge and care as well over the farmors as laborers generallie--that they watch and ward for their preservacions; and that both the one and the other's busines may be daily followed to the performance of those imployments, which from the one are required, and the other by covenant are bound unto. These officers are bound to maintayne themselves and families with food and rayment by their owne and their servant's industrie. The laborers are of two sorts. Some employed onely in the generall works, who are fedd and clothed out of the store--others, specially artificers as smiths, carpenters, shoemakers, taylors, tanners, &c., doe worke in their professions for the colony, and maintayne themselves with food and apparrell, having time lymitted them to till and manure their ground.

"The farmors live at most ease--yet by their good endeavors bring yearlie much plentie to the plantation. They are bound by covenant, both for themselves and servants, to maintaine your Ma'ties right and title in that kingdom, against all foreigne and domestique enemies. To watch and ward in the townes where they are resident. To do thirty-one dayes service for the colony, when they shalbe called thereunto--yet not at all tymes, but when their owne busines can best spare them. To maintayne themselves and families with food and rayment--and every farmor to pay yearlie into the magazine for himself and every man servant, two barrells and a halfe of English measure.

"Thus briefly have I sett downe every man's particular imployment and manner of living; albeit, lest the people--who generallie are bent to covett after gaine, especially having tasted of the sweete of their labors--should spend too much of their tyme and labor in planting tobacco, known to them to be verie vendible in England, and so neglect their tillage of corne, and fall into want thereof, it is provided for--by the providence and care of Sir Thomas Dale--that no farmor or other, who must maintayne themselves--shall plant any tobacco, unless he shall yearely manure, set and maintayne for himself and every man servant two acres of ground with corne, which doing they may plant as much tobacco as they will, els all their tobacco shalbe forfeite to the colony--by which meanes the magazine shall yearely be sure to receave their rent of corne; to maintayne those who are fedd thereout, being but a few, and manie others, if need be; they themselves will be well stored to keepe their families with overplus, and reape tobacco enough to buy clothes and such other necessaries as are needful for themselves and household. For an easie laborer will keepe and tend two acres of corne, and cure a good store of tobacco--being yet the principall commoditie the colony for the present yieldeth.

"For which as for other commodities, the councell and company for Virginia have already sent a ship thither, furnished with all manner of clothing, household stuff and such necessaries, to establish a magazine there, which the people shall buy at easie rates for their commodities--they selling them at such prices that the adventurers may be no loosers. This magazine shalbe yearelie supplied to furnish them, if they will endeavor, by their labor, to maintayne it--which wilbe much beneficiall to the planters and adventurers, by interchanging their commodities, and will add much encouragement to them and others to preserve and follow the action with a constant resolution to uphold the same."

The colony at this time was engaged in planting corn and tobacco, "making pitch and tarr, potashes, charcole, salt," and in fishing. Of Jamestown he says:

"At James Toune (seated on the north side of the river, from West and Sherley Hundred lower down about thirty-seven miles) are fifty, under the command of lieutenant Sharpe, in the absence of capten Francis West, Esq., brother to the right ho'ble the L. Lawarre,--whereof thirty-one are farmors; all theis maintayne themselves with food and rayment. Mr. Richard Buck minister there--a verie good preacher."

Rev. Hugh Jones "Chaplain to the Honourable Assembly, and lately Minister of James-Towne and in Virginia," in a work entitled--"The Present State of Virginia," gives the following account of the cultivation of tobacco:

"When a tract of land is seated, they clear it by felling the trees about a yard from the ground, lest they should shoot again. What wood they have occasion for they carry off, and burn the rest, or let it lie and rot upon the ground. The land between the logs and stumps they hoe up, planting tobacco there in the spring, inclosing it with a slight fence of cleft rails. This will last for tobacco some years, if the land be good; as it is where fine timber, or grape vines grow. Land when hired is forced to bear tobacco by penning their cattle upon it; but cowpen tobacco tastes strong, and that planted in wet marshy land is called nonburning tobacco, which smoaks in the pipe like leather, unless it be of a good age. When land is tired of tobacco, it will bear Indian Corn or English Wheat, or any other European grain or seed with wonderful increase.

"Tobacco and Indian Corne are planted in hills as hops, and secured by worm fences, which are made of rails supporting one another very firmly in a particular manner. Tobacco requires a great deal of skill and trouble in the right management of it. They raise the plants in beds, as we do Cabbage plants; which they transplant and replant upon occasion after a shower of rain, which they call a season. When it is grown up they top it, or nip off the head, succour it, or cut off the ground leaves, weed it, hill it; and when ripe, they cut it down about six or eight leaves on a stalk, which they carry into airy tobacco houses, after it is withered a little in the sun, there it is hung to dry on sticks, as paper at the paper-mills; when it is in proper case, (as they call it) and the air neither too moist, nor too dry, they strike it, or take it down, then cover it up in bulk, or a great heap, where it lies till they have leisure or occasion to strip it (that is pull the leaves from the stalk) or stem it (that is to take out the great fibres) and tie it up in hands, or streight lay it; and so by degrees prize or press it with proper engines into great Hogsheads, containing from about six to eleven hundred pounds; four of which Hogsheads make a tun by dimention, not by weight; then it is ready for sale or shipping.

"There are two sorts of tobacco, viz., Oroonoko the stronger, and sweet-scented the milder; the first with a sharper leaf like a Fox's ear, and the other rounder and with finer fibres: But each of these are varied into several sorts, much as Apples and Pears are; and I have been informed by the Indian traders, that the Inland Indians have sorts of tobacco much differing from any planted or used by the Europeans. The Indian Corn is planted in hills and weeded much as tobacco. This grain is of great increase and most general use; for with this is made good bread, cakes, mush, and hommony for the negroes, which with good pork and potatoes (red and white, very nice and different from ours) with other roots and pulse, are their general food."

The cultivation of tobacco increased with the growth of the colony and the increase of price which at this time was sufficient to induce most of the planters to neglect the culture of Corn and Wheat, devoting their time to growing their "darling tobacco." The first thirty years after the colonization of Virginia by the English, the colony made but little progress owing in part to private factions and Indian wars. The horrid massacres by the Indians threatened the extermination of the colony, and for a time the plantations were neglected and even tobacco became more of an article of import than of export, which is substantiated by an early writer of the colony who says:--"A vast quantity of tobacco is consumed in the country in smoking, chewing, and snuff." Frequent complaints were made by the colony of want of strength and danger of imminent famine, owing in part to the presence of a greater number of adventurers than of actual settlers,--such being the case the resources of the country were in a measure limited.

The demand for tobacco in England increasing each year, together with the high price paid for that from Virginia (3 s. per lb.), stimulated the planters to hazard all their time and labor upon one crop, neglecting the cultivation of the smaller grains, intent only upon curing "a good store of tobacco." The company of adventurers at length found it necessary to check the excessive planting of the weed, and by the consent of the "Generall Assemblie" restraining the plantations to "one hundred plants[15] ye headd, uppon each of wich plantes there are to bee left butt onely nyne leaves wich portions as neare as could be guessed, was generally conceaved would be agreable with the hundred waight you have allowed."

[Footnote 15: Another account is sixty pounds per head.]

In 1639 the "Grand Assembly" (summoned the sixth of January) passed a law restricting the growth of the colony to 1,500,000 lbs., and to 1,200,000 in the two years next ensuing. The exporting of the poorer qualities of tobacco by the colony caused much dissatisfaction as will be seen by a letter of the Company dated 11th September, 1621:

"We are assured from our Factor in Holland that except the tobacco that shall next come thence prove to be of more perfection and goodnesse than that was sent home last, there is no hope that it vend att all, for albeit itt passed once yett the wary buyer will not be againe taken, so that we heartily wish that youe would make some provision for the burninge of all base and rotten stuff, and not suffer any but very good to be cured at least sent home, whereby these would certainly be more advanced in the price upon lesse in the quantity; howsoever we hope that no bad nor ill conditioned tobacco shall be by compelling authoritie (abusing its power given for public good to private benefit) putt uppon or Factor, and very earnestly desire that he may have the helpe of justice to constraine men to pay their debts unto him both remaining of the last yeares accompt and what shall this yearse growth deue, and that in Comodities of the same vallew and goodness as shalbe by him contracted for."

At this period it appears that tobacco was used as money, and as the measure of price and value. The taxes whether public, county, or parish, were payable in tobacco.

Tatham says, "Even the tavern keepers were compelled to exchange a dinner for a few pounds of tobacco." The law for the regulation of payments in tobacco was passed in the year 1640. From these facts and incidents connected with the culture and commerce of the plant we see how intimately it was connected with both Church and State. Jones well said "the Establishment is indeed tobacco;" the salary of ministers was payable in it according to the wealth of the parish. In most parishes 16000 lbs. was the yearly amount, "and in some 20,000 lbs. of Tobacco; out of which there is a deduction for Cask, prizing, collecting, and about which allowance there are sometimes disputes, as are also differences often about the place, time, and manner of delivering it; but all these things might easily be regulated. Tobacco is more commonly at 20 s. per cent. than at 10; so that certainly it will bring 12 s. 8 d. a hundred, which will make 16000 (the least salary) amount to 100£ per Ann. which it must certainly clear, allowing for all petty charges, out of the lowness of the price stated which is less than the medium between ten and twenty shillings; whereas it might be stated above the medium, since it is oftener at twenty than ten shillings. Besides the payment of the salary, the surplice fees want a better regulation in the payments; for though the allowance be sufficient, yet differences often and illwill arise about these fees, whether they are to be paid in money or tobacco, and when; whereas by a small alteration and addition of a few laws in these and the like respects, the clergy might live more happy, peaceable, and better beloved; and the people would be more easy, and pay never the more dues.

"Some parts of the country make but mean and poor tobacco so that Clergymen don't care to live in such parishes; but there the payment might be made in money, or in the produce of those places, which might be equivalent to the tobacco payments; better for the minister, and as pleasing to the people."

We find further complaints from the London Company of the poor quality of the tobacco "sent home," in a letter addressed to the Governor, bearing date 10th June, 1622:--

"The tobacco sent home by the George for the company proved very meane and is yett unsold although it hath been offered at 3s. the pound. This we thought fitt to advise you concerning the quantity and the manner how it is raised, in both wich being done contrarie to their directors and extreamly to theire prejudice, the Companie is very ill sattisfied, will write by the next, more largely."

In the year 1620 the difficulties seem first to have been publicly avowed, (though perhaps before felt,) arising from attaching men as permanent settlers to the colony without an adequate supply of women, to furnish the comforts of domestic life; and to overcome the difficulty "a hundred young women" of agreeable persons and respectable characters, were selected in England and sent out, at the expense of the Company, as wives for the settlers. They were very speedily appropriated by the young men of the colony, who paid for the privilege of choice considerable sums as purchase money, which went to replenish the treasury of the Company, from whence the cost of their outfit and passage had been defrayed.

This speculation proved so advantageous to that body, in a pecuniary sense, that it was soon followed up by sending out sixty more, for whom larger prices were paid than for the first consignment; the amount paid on the average for the first one hundred being 120 pounds of tobacco apiece for each, then valued at 3s. per lb., and for the second supply of sixty, the average price paid was 150 lbs. of tobacco, this being the legal currency of the colony, and the standard value by which all contracts, salaries, and prices were paid. In one of the Companies letters dated in London this 12th of August, 1621, we find this account of a portion of the _goods_ sent over in the ship Marmaduke:--

"We send you in this ship one widdow and eleven maids for wives for the people in Virginia; there hath been especiall care had in the choise of them for their hath not any one of them beene received but upon good comendations, as by a note herewith sent you may perceive: we pray you all therefore in generall to take them into your care, and most especially we recommend them to you, Mr. Pountes, that at their first landing they may be housed, lodged and provided for of diet till they be marryed for such was the haste of sending them away, as that straightned with time, we had no meanes to putt provisions aboard, which defect shalbe supplied by the magazine shipp; and in case they cannot be presently marryed we desire they may be putt to several householders that have wives till they can be provided of husbands. There are neare fifty more which are shortly to come, we sent by our most honoble Lord William the Earle of Southampton and certain worthy gentlemen who taking into these considerations, that the Plantation can never flourish till families be planted and the respect of wives and children fix the people in the soil; therefore have given this fair beginning for the reimbursing of whose charges, itt is ordered that every man that marries them give 120 lb. waight of best leafe tobacco for each of them, and in case any of them dye that proportion must be advanced to make it upp to those that survive; and this certainly is sett down for that the price sett upon the bages sent last yeare being 20 lb. which was so much money out of purse here, there was returned 66 lb. of tobacco only, and that of the worst and basest, so that fraight and shrinkage reconed together with the baseness of the comoditie there was not one half returned, which injury the company is sensible of as they demand restitution, which accordingly must be had of them that took uppon them the dispose of them the rather that no man may mistake himself, in accomptinge tobacco to be currant 3s. sterling contrary to express orders.

"And though we are desirous that marriadge be free according to the law of nature, yett undervow not to have these maids deterred and married to servants, but only to such freemen or tenants as have means to maintaine them; we pray you therefore to be fathers to them in this business, not enforcing them to marrie against their wills; neither send we them to be servants, but in case of extremitie, for we would have their condition so much better as multitudes may be allured thereby to come unto you; and you may assure such men as marry those women that the first servants sent over by the company shall be consigned to them, it being our intent to preserve families and proper married men before single persons. The tobacco that shall be due uppon the marriadge of these maids we desire Mr. Pountes to receive and returne by the first, as also the little quantities of Pitzarn Rock and Piece of Oare, the copie of whose bill is here returned. To conclude, the company for some weighty reasons too long to relate, have ordered that no man marrying these women expect the proportion of land usually allotted for each head, which to avoid clamor or other trouble hereafter you shall do well to give them notice of."

In another letter written by the company and dated London, September 11th, 1621, they write:--

"By this Shipp and Pinace called the Tyger, we also send as many maids and young women as will make up the number of fifty, with those twelve formerly sent in the Marmaduke, which we hope shalbe received with the same Christian pietie and charitie as they were sent from hence; the providing for them at their first landing and disposing of them in marriage (which is our chief intent), we leave to your care and wisdom, to take that order as may most conduce to their good, and satisfaction of the Adventurers, for the charges disbursed in setting them forth, which coming to twelve pounds and upwards, they require one hundred and fiftie of the best leafe tobacco for each of them; and if any of them dye there must be a proportionable addition uppon the rest; this increase of thirty pounds is weight since those sent in the Marmaduke, they have resolved to make, finding the great shrinkage and other losses uppon the tobacco from Virginia will not leave lesse, which tobacco as it shalbe received, we desire may be delivered to Mr. Ed. Blany, who is to keep thereof a particular account. We have used extraordinary care and dilligence in the choice of them, and have received none of whom we have not had good testimony of their honest life and cariadge, which together with their names, we send them inclosed for the satisfaction of such as shall marry them; for whose further encouragement we desire you to give public notice that the next spring we purpose to send over as many youths for apprentices to those that shall now marry any of them and make us due satisfaction.

"This and theire owne good deserts together with your favor and care, will we hope, marry them all unto honest and sufficient men, whose means will reach to present repayment; but if any of them shall unwarily or fondly bestow herself (for the liberty of marriadge we dare not infrindge) uppon such as shall not be able to give present sattisfaction, we desire that at least as soon as ability shalbe, they be compelled to pay the true quantity of tobacco proportioned, and that this debt may have precedence of all other to be recovered.

"For the rest, which we hope will not be many, we desire your best furtherance for providing them fitting services till they may happen uppon good matches, and are here persuaded by many old planters that there will be good maisters now found there, who will readily lay down what charges shall be required, uppon assurance of repayment at their marriadges, which as just and reasonable we desire may be given them. But this and many other things in this business we must refer to your good considerations and fruitful endeavors in opening a work begun here out of pity, and tending so much to the benefitt of the plantation, shall not miscarry for any want of good will or care on your part."

In 1622 a monopoly of the importation of tobacco was granted to the Virginia and Somers Island, companies.

"But now at last it hath pleased God for the confirmation no doubt of our hopes and redoubling of our and your courage, to incline His Majestie's Royall heart to grant the sole importation of Tobacco (a thing long and earnestly desired), to the Virginia and Somers Island Companies, and that upon such conditions as the private profit of each man is likely to be much improved and the general state of the plantation strongly secured, while his Majestie's revenue is so closely joyned as together with the colonie it must rise and faile, grow and impair, and that not a small matter neither, but of twenty thousand pounds per annum, (for the offer of so much in certainty hath his majestie been pleased to refuse in favor of the Plantations)."

On Friday the 22d of March 1622 the Indians attacked the plantations "and attempted in most places under the color of unsuspected amytie, and by surprise to have cut us all off and to have swept us all away at once throughout the whole lande had itt not pleased God of his abundant mercy to prevent them in many places, for which we can never sufficient magnifie his blessed, name."

But notwithstanding this terrible massacre in which nearly four hundred persons were slain the colony increased in wealth and numbers as plantations were laid out and the colonists developed the various resources of the country. From the first planting of tobacco in Virginia by the colony it seemed to meet the royal displeasure of King James the First who falsely and frivolously sought to establish a connection between the balmy plant, and the influences of the Evil One.

In 1622 King James still opposing the cultivation of tobacco sought by every means in his power to discourage its growth and culture. He urged the growing of mulberry trees and the propagation of silk worms, as being of more value than tobacco. In a letter dated 10th June 1622, addressed to the Governor and Council of Virginia by the London Company we find this reproof for neglecting the cultivation of "mulberrie trees":

"His Ma{tie} (Majesty) above all things requires from us a proof of silke; sharply reproving the neglect thereof, wherefore we pray you lett that little stock you have be carefully improved, the mulberrie trees preserved and increased, and all other fitt preparations made for, God willing before Christmas you shall receive from us one hundred ounces of Silkworme seed at least, which coming too late from Valentia we have been forced to hatch it here."

In 1623 a letter was prepared for the colony by order of privy council of the king and addressed to Sir Francis Wyatt Knight and Captain General of Virginia and to the rest of the Council of State in which the colony is admonished to pay more attention to "Staple Commodities." That part relating to it reads:

"The carefull and diligent prosecution of Staple Commodities which we promist; we above all things pray you to performe so as we may have speedily the real proof of your cares and endeavors therein, especially in that of Iron, of Vines and Silk the neglect and delay whereof so long is to us here cause of infinit grief and discontent, especially in regard of his Majesties just resentment therein that his Royall grace and love to the Plantation, which after so long a time and long a supply of his Majesties favor hath brought forth no better fruit than Tobacco.

"Yett by the goodness of God inclyning his princely heart, we have received not only from the Lords of his Privy Counsell, but from his Royal mouth such assurance not only of his tender love and care but also of his Royal intentions for the advancement of the Plantation; that we cannot but exceedingly rejoice therein and persuade you with much more comfort and encouragement to go on in the building up of his Royal worke with all sincerity, care and diligence, and that with that perfect love and union amongst yourselves as may really demonstrate that your intentions are all one, the advancement of God's glorie and the service of his Royall Majestie: for the particularities of his Majesties gratious intentions for the future good, you may in part understand them by the courses appointed by the Lords, whereof we here inclosed send the orders.

"And we are further to signifie unto you that the Lords of his Majesties Privy Counsell, having by his Majesties order taken into their considerations the contract made last Sommer by the Company have dissolved the same; and signified that his Majestie out of his gracious and Royall intention and princely favor to the Plantation hath resolved to grant a sole Importion of Tobacco to the two Plantations, with an exception only of 40,000 weight of ye best Spanish Tobacco to be yearly brought in.

"And it hath also pleased his Majesty in favor of the Plantation to reduce ye custom and importing of tobacco to 9d. per pound: And last of all we are to signifie unto you that their Lordships have ordered that all the Tobacco shall be brought in from both Plantations as by their Lordship order whereof we send you a copy, you may perceive."

In 1624 King James prohibited the importation of foreign tobacco as well as the planting of tobacco in England or Ireland. The following is a portion of the proclamation:--

"Whereas our commons, in their last sessions of parliament became humble petitioners to us, that, for many weighty reasons, much concerning the interest of our kingdom, and the trade thereof, we would by our royal power utterly prohibit the use of all foreign tobacco, which is not of the growth of our own dominions: And whereas we have upon all occasions made known our dislike we have ever had of the use of tobacco in general, as tending to the corruption both of the health and manners of our people.

"Nevertheless because we have been often and earnestly importuned by many of our loving subjects, planters, and adventurers in Virginia and the Somer isles; that, as those colonies are yet but in their infancy, and cannot be brought to maturity, unless we be pleased, for a time, to tolerate unto them the planting and vending of their own growth; we have condescended to their desires: and do therefore hereby strictly prohibit the importation of any tobacco from beyond sea, or from Scotland, into England or Ireland other than from our colonies before named; moreover we strictly prohibit the planting of any tobacco either in England or Ireland."

Thus King James by Proclamation and Prohibition set his face sternly against the growth and traffic in the plant, which opposition knew no alteration and continued till his death, which occurred in 1625. James was succeeded by his son Charles I. On ascending the throne Charles manifested the same hostility towards the plant which his father had. He prohibited the importation of all tobacco excepting that grown by the colony, and throughout his reign made no change in the restrictive laws against its growth and sale. He continued its sale, however, as a kingly monopoly, allowing only those to engage in it who paid him for the privilege. The Company had now raised a capital of two hundred thousand pounds, but falling into dispute and disagreeing one with another, Charles thought best to establish a royal government.

Accordingly he dissolved the Company in 1626, "reducing the Country and Government into his own immediate ordering all patents and processes to issue in his own name, reserving to himself a quit-rent of two shillings for every hundred acres of land."

The first act was by proclamation as follows:--

"That whereas, in his royal father's time, the charter of the Virginia Company was by a quo warranto annulled; and whereas his said father was, and he himself also is, of opinion, that the government of that Colony by a company incorporated, consisting of a multitude of persons of various dispositions, amongst whom affairs of the greatest moment are ruled by a majority of votes, was not so proper, for carrying on, prosperously, the affairs of the colony; wherefore, to reduce the government thereof to such a course as might best agree with that form which was held in his royal monarchy; and considering also, that we hold those territories of Virginia and Somer isles, as also that of New England, lately planted, with the limits thereof, to be a part of our royal empire; we ordain that the government of Virginia shall immediately depend on ourself, and not be committed to any company or corporation, to whom it may be proper to trust matters of trade and commerce, but cannot be fit to commit the ordering of state affairs.

"Wherefore our commissioners for those affairs shall proceed as directed, till we establish a council here for that colony; to be subordinate to our council here for that colony. And at our charge we will maintain those public officers and ministers and that strength of men, munition, and fortification, which shall be necessary for the defence of that plantation. And we will also settle and assure the particular rights and interests of every planter and adventurer. Lastly, whereas the tobacco of those plantations (the only present means of their subsisting) cannot be managed for the good of the plantations, unless it be brought into one hand, whereby the foreign tobacco of those plantations may yield a certain and ready price to the owners thereof: to avoid all differences between the planters and adventurers themselves, we resolve to take the same into our own hands, and to give such prices for the same as may give reasonable satisfaction, whereof we will determine at better leisure."

From this time forward the Plantation seemed to prosper, Charles granted lands to all the planters and adventurers who would till them, upon paying the annual sum of two shillings payable to the crown for each hundred acres. Before the death of King James, however, the cultivation of tobacco had become so extensive that every other product seemed of but little value in comparison with it, and the price realized from its sale being so much greater than that obtained for "Corne," the latter was neglected and its culture almost entirely abandoned.

Arthur and Carpenter, in their History of Virginia, give a graphic and truthful picture of its cultivation during the reign of King James:--

"The first articles of commerce to the production of which the early settlers almost exclusively devoted themselves, were potash, soap, glass and tar. Distance, however, and a want of the proper facilities to enable them to manufacture cheaply, rendered the cost of these commodities so great, that exports of a similar character from Russia and Sweden were still enabled to maintain their old ascendency in the markets of Europe. After many fruitless and costly experiments in the cultivation of the vine, the growing demand for tobacco enabled the planters to turn their labor into a profitable channel. As the demand increased the profits became correspondingly great, and every other species of labor was abandoned for the cultivation of tobacco.

"The houses were neglected, the palisades suffered to rot down, the fields, gardens and public squares, even the very streets of Jamestown were planted with tobacco. The townspeople, more greedy of gain than mindful of their own security, scattered abroad into the wilderness, where they broke up small pieces of rich ground and made their crop regardless of their proximity to the Indians, in whose good faith so little reliance could be placed."

During the reign of Charles I. many families of respectable connection joined the colony, and from this time forward the colony increased in wealth as well as numbers. King Charles, to use the language of another, had now commenced "as a tobacco merchant and monopolist," and in 1627 issued a proclamation renewing his already strong monopoly more effectually, by appointing certain officers of London "to seize all foreign tobacco, not of the growth of Virginia or Bermudas, for his benefit, agreeable to a former commission: also to buy up for his use all the tobacco coming from our said plantations, and to sell the same again for his benefit."

Again in 1630 King Charles issued another proclamation, and among other restrictions limited the importation of it from the colony. Quickly following this the King issued in 1632 another proclamation regulating the retailing of tobacco. In 1634 he also prohibited the landing of tobacco any where except at the quay near the custom house in London.

In 1636 Charles appointed Sir John Harvey to be continued governor of the Plantation. In 1643 parliament laid a tax for the year 1644, calling it Excise, and also laid a duty of four shillings per pound on foreign, and two shillings per pound on English tobacco. From what has already been written, it will be seen that both King James and his son Charles I. enacted the most stringent laws against its importation, nearly suppressing the trade, which caused the English farmers to cultivate it for home use; but another law was now added to suppress its growth on English soil.

Fairholt in speaking of the hostility of King James to the plant says:

"When Kings make unnecessary and unjust laws, subjects naturally study how to evade them: it is a mere system of self-defence; and as James nearly suppressed the importation of tobacco the English began to grow it on their own land. But the Scottish Solomon who was on the alert, added another law restraining its cultivation 'to misuse and misemploy the soil of this fruitful Kingdom.' As this enforced the trade with the English colony of Virginia alone, it was soon found that Spanish and Portuguese tobacco might be brought into port on the payment of the old duty of twopence a pound; thus a large trade was carried on with their planters to the injury of the British colonists.

"Its use increased in spite of all legislative laws and enactments and James ended by prohibiting any person from dealing in the article who did not hold his letters patent. By this means the trade was monopolized, the consumers oppressed, importation diminished, and the London Company of Virginia traders ultimately ruined. Those who are fond of excusing the evil acts of one of the worst of English Kings, pretend to see James' care for his subjects' health and wealth in these restrictions, totally regardless of the fact that James cared for neither when the monopoly brought large sums into his own pocket."

In 1632 Charles I. granted to Sir George Calvert (who about this time was made Lord Baltimore) the territory now known as Maryland; soon after receiving the grant he died, when his son took the grant in his own name. The next year he sailed from England with two hundred persons and settled in his new possessions. The colony from the first, prospered far better than the colony of Virginia and soon laid the foundation of a strong and substantial government. Like the Virginians they soon engaged in the cultivation of tobacco which seemed as well adapted to the soil as the other products, corn and English wheat. The Indians were found here as in the Plantation of Virginia planting tobacco as they did Indian corn and cultivating little patches of it near their wigwams choosing the most fertile soil the females of the tribe being the actual cultivators.

From this time forward both colonies developed into strong and flourishing plantations and with each succeeding year increased the cultivation of tobacco which had now become more extensively cultivated than all the other products combined. Its culture however was looked upon with the same disapproval by Charles II. who confirmed the old laws against its sale and cultivation. But notwithstanding the remonstrances of the Stuarts the plant grew in use and favor and could not be uprooted even by a kingly hand. The early cultivators of the plant received a fresh impetus from the importation of a new species of labor in the form of Negro slaves brought from the West India islands. They arrived in the Ship Treasurer "being manned by the best men of the colony who set out on roving in ye Spanish dominions in the West Indies" and after a successful cruise against the Spaniards returned with their spoils including a certain number of Negroes. Rolfe in alluding to the importation of Negroes says:

"About the last of August came in, a Dutch man-of-warre that sold us twenty negars."

Most writers are of the opinion that this was in 1620, one of whom says "in the same year that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, slaves landed in Virginia." Another writer says of the introduction of slave labor into the Plantations, "Is there not a probability that the vessel was under control of Argall, if not the ship Treasurer? If twenty negroes came in 1619, as alleged, their increase was very slow, for according to a census of 16th of February, 1624, there were but twenty-two then in the colony, distributed as follows: eleven at Flourdiew Hundred, three at James City, one at James Island, one at the plantation opposite James City, four at Warisquoyok, and two at Elizabeth City."

About the same time that "negars" landed in the colony, commenced the arrival of starving boys and girls picked up out of the streets of London. The "negars" are described as follows by an early writer of the colony. "The negroes live in small cottages called quarters, in about six in a gang, under the direction or an overseer or baliff; who takes care that they tend such land as the owner allots and orders, upon which they raise Hogs and Cattle, plant Indian Corn (or maize) and Tobacco for the use of their Master; out of which the overseer has a dividend (or share) in proportion to the number of hands including himself; this with several privileges in his salary, and is an ample recompense for his pains, and encouragement of his industrious care, as to the labor, health, and provision of the negroes. The negroes are very numerous, some gentlemen having hundreds of them of all sorts, to whom they bring great profit; for the sake of which they are obliged to keep them well, and not overwork, starve, or famish them, besides other inducements to favor them, which is done in a great degree, to such especially that are laborious, careful, and honest; though indeed some Masters, careless of their own interest and reputation, are too cruel and negligent.

"The negroes are not only increased by fresh supplies from Africa and the West India Islands, but also are very prolific among themselves; and they that are born there talk good English, and effect our language, habits, and customs; and tho' they be naturally of a barbarous and cruel temper, yet are they kept under by severe discipline upon occasion, and by good laws are prevented from running away, injuring the English or neglecting their business. Their work (or chimerical hard slavery) is not very laborious; their greatest hardship consisting in that they and their posterity are not at their own liberty or disposal, but are the property of their owners; and when they are free they know not how to provide so well for themselves generally; neither did they live so plentifully nor (many of them) so easily in their own country where they are made slaves to one another, or taken captive by their enemies. Their work is to take care of the stock, and plant Corn, Tobacco, Fruits and which is not harder than thrashing, hedging, or ditching; besides, though they are out in the violent heat, wherein they delight, yet in wet or cold weather there is little occasion for their working in the fields, in which few will let them be abroad, lest by this means they might get sick or die, which would prove a great loss to their owners, a good Negroe being sometimes worth three (nay four) score pounds sterling, if he be a tradesmen; so that upon this (if upon no other account) they are obliged not to overwork them, but to clooth and feed them sufficiently, and take care of their health."

The planters, supplied with greater facilities for the work, now increased the size of their tobacco plantations, "taking up new ground" (clearing the land) and planting a much larger area. The first exportation of the colony's tobacco was brought into competition with that of much finer flavor, which had acquired an established reputation long before the English began the culture of the plant in the New World. The Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese had long monopolized its culture and trade, and brought from St. Domingo, Jamaica, St. Thomas, the Philippine Islands, West Florida, and various parts of South America, several varieties of tobacco of excellent quality, and which sold at an exorbitant price. On testing the tobacco grown by the London and Plymouth companies it was found to be sweet and mild in flavor, of a light color, and well adapted for smoking. On its first introduction into England it sold for 3s. per pound, but as its culture increased the price lessened, until it was sold at one-half this amount.

The planters, who at first cultivated small patches, now planted large fields of tobacco, and such was the greed for gain that some planters gathered a second crop upon the same field from the suckers left growing upon the parent stalk. Tatham[16] says in regard to it:--

[Footnote 16: Essay on Tobacco, London, 1800.]

"It has been customary in former ages to rear an inferior plant from the sucker which projects from the root after the cutting of an early plant; and thus a second crop has often been obtained from the same field by one and the same course of culture; and although this scion is of a sufficient quality for smoking, and might become preferred in the weaker kinds of snuff, it has been (I think very properly) thought eligible to prefer a prohibitory law, to a risk of imposition by means of similitude. The practice of cultivating suckers is on these accounts not only discountenanced as fraudulent, but the constables are strictly enjoyned _ex officio_ to make diligent search, and to employ the _posse commitatus_ in destroying such crops; a law indeed for which, to the credit of the Virginians, there is seldom occasion; yet some few instances have occurred, within my day, where the constables have very honorably carried it into execution in a manner truly exemplary, and productive of public good."

Fairholt says of the same subject:--

"It was sometimes the custom with planters to reset the suckers, and thus grow a double crop on one field, such conduct was disallowed; for the reason that the crop was inferior, and the more honest grower, who conscientiously cleared his plants, and gave them abundance of room to grow, was dishonestly competed with; and the first rate character of the Virginian crop prejudiced by the action."

Fairholt makes a mistake in speaking of the planter as re-setting the suckers, and his statement shows him to be entirely unacquainted with the habits of the plant. As soon as the plants are harvested, the stump of the plant remaining in the ground puts forth one or more vigorous suckers or shoots, which often in a good season grow almost as high as the parent stalk. In some tobacco-growing sections one or two crops of suckers are gathered besides the first crop.

The Creole planters in Louisiana are said to grow three crops in this manner, the first or parent crop and two growths of suckers. The quality of leaf, however, is greatly inferior, as it is small and thin and lacking in all the qualities necessary for a fine leaf. The planters now adopted new methods of culture, and cultivated several species of the plant known as Oronoko and little Frederick, although they did not fertilize the fields, even when the soil became impoverished, but simply took new fields for its culture.

Hugh Jones says of the kinds of tobacco grown in Virginia:--

"The land between the James and York rivers seemes nicely adapted for sweet scented tobacco; for 'tis observed that the goodness decreaseth the farther you go to the northward of the one, and the southward of the other; but this may be (I believe) attributed in some measure to the seed and management, as well as to the land and latitude: For on York river in a small tract of land called Diggens neck, which is poorer than a great deal of other land in the same latitude, by a particular seed and management, is made the famous crop known by the name of E Dees, remarkable for its mild taste and fine smell." He speaks of the planters and their plantations as follows:--"Neither the interests nor inclinations of the Virginians induces them to cohabit in towns: so that they are not forward in contributing their assistance towards the making of particular places, every plantation affording the owner the provision of a little market; wherefore they most commonly build upon some convenient spot or neck of land in their own plantation, though towns are laid out and established in each county.

"The whole country is a perfect forest, except where the woods are cleared for plantations, and old fields, and where have been formerly Indian towns, and poisoned fields and meadows, where the timber has been burnt down in fire hunting and otherwise; and about the creeks and rivers are large rank morasses or marshes, and up the country are poor savannahs. The gentlemen's seats are of late built for the most part of good brick, and many of timber very handsome, commodious, and capacious; and likewise the common planters live in pretty timber houses, neater than the farm houses are generally in England: With timber also are built houses for the overseers and out-houses; among which is the kitchen apart from the dwelling house, because of the smell of hot victuals, offensive in hot weather.

"The habits, life, customs, computations of the Virginians, are much the same as about London, which they esteem their home; and for the most part have contemptible notions of England, and wrong sentiments of Bristol, and the other out-posts, which they entertain from seeing and hearing the common dealers, sailors, and servants that come from those towns, and the country places in England and Scotland, whose language and manners are strange to them; for the planters and even the native negroes generally talk good English without idiom and tone, and can discourse handsomely upon most common subjects: and conversing with persons belonging to trade and navigation from London, for the most part they are much civilized, and wear the best of clothes according to their station; nay, sometimes too good for their circumstances, being for the generality, comely handsome persons of good features and fine complexions (if they take care) of good manners and address.

"They are not very easily persuaded to the improvement of useful inventions (except a few, such as sawing mills) neither are they great encouragers of manufactures, because of the trouble and certain expense in attempts of this kind, with uncertain prospect of gain; whereas by their staple commodity, tobacco, they are certain to get a plentiful provision; nay, often very great estates. Upon this account they think it folly to take off their hands (or negroes) and employ their care and time about anything that may make them lessen their crop of tobacco. So that though they are apt to learn, yet they are fond of and will follow their own ways, humors and notions, being not easily brought to new projects and schemes; so that I question if they would have been improved upon by the Mississippi or South sea, or any other such monstrous bubbles. The common planters leading easy lives without much labor, or any manly exercise, except horse-racing, nor diversion, except cock-fighting, in which some greatly delight.

"This easy way of living, and the heat of the summer, makes some very lazy, who are then said to be climate-struck. They are such lovers of riding, that almost every ordinary person keeps a horse; and I have known some spend the morning in ranging several miles in the woods to find and catch their horses to ride only two or three miles to the Church, to the Court-House or to a Horse-Race, where they generally appoint to meet upon business; and are more certain of finding those that they want to speak or deal with, than at their home. No people can entertain their friends with better cheer and welcome; and stranger and traveler is here treated in the most free, plentiful, and hospitable manner; so that a few Inns or Ordinaries on the road are sufficient."

This is no doubt a correct picture of the early planters of Virginia. Many of them became the owners of large plantations and all those who were successful growers of tobacco became wealthy in proportion to the quality of leaf produced.

The merchants, factors or store-keepers bought up the tobacco of the planters paying in goods or "current Spanish money, or with sterling bills payable in Great Britain." At first the cultivation of tobacco by the colony was confined to Jamestown and the immediate vicinity, but as the colony increased and the country became more densely populated, plantations were laid out in the various counties and a large quantity was produced some ways from the great center Jamestown; accordingly various methods were adopted to get the tobacco to market, some of which was sent by boats or canoes down the rivers, while some was conveyed in carts and wagons while another method was by rolling in hoops.

Tatham in his interesting work on tobacco, gives the following description of the method:

"I believe rolling tobacco the distance of many hundred miles, is a mode of conveyance peculiar to Virginia; and for which the early population of that country deserve a very handsome credit. Necessity (that very prolific mother of invention), first suggested the idea of rolling by hand; time and experience have led to the introduction of horses, and have ripened human skill, in this kind of carriage, to a decree of perfection which merits the adoption of the mother country, but which will be better explained under the next head of this subject.

"The hogsheads, which are designed to be rolled in common hoops, are made closer in the joints than if they were intended for the wagon; and are plentifully hooped with strong hickory hoops (which is the toughest kind of wood), with the bark upon them, which remains for some distance a protection against the stones. Two hickory saplings are affixed to the hogshead, for shafts by boring an auger-hole through them to receive the gudgeons or pivots, in the manner of a field rolling-stone; and these receive pins of wood, square tapered points, which are admitted through square mortises made central in the heading, and driven a considerable depth into the solid tobacco. Upon the hind part of these shafts, between the horses and the hogshead, a few light planks are nailed, and a kind of little cart body is constructed of a sufficient size to contain a bag or two of provender and provision, together with an axe, and such other tools as may be needed upon the road, in case of accident. In this manner they set out to the inspection in companies, very often joining society with the wagons, and always pursuing the same method of encamping."

The methods of making the plant bed, cultivating and harvesting, by the early planters may be interesting to all growers of the plant and are here described as showing the progress made in cutting tobacco from that time until now.

"In spring red seed, in preference to the white, is put into a clean pot; milk or stale beer is poured upon it, and it is left for two or three days in this state; it is then mixed with a quantity of fine fat earth, and set aside in a hot chamber, till the seeds begin to put out shoots. They are then sown in a hot-bed. When the young plants have grown to a finger's length, they are taken up between the fifteenth and twenty-second of May, and planted in ground that has been previously well manured with the dung of doves or swine. They are placed at square distances of one and a half-foot from one another. In dry weather, they are now to be watered with lukewarm water softly showered upon them, between sunset and twilight. When these plants are full two feet high, the top of the stems are broken off, to make the leaves grow thicker and broader. Here and there are left a few plants without having their tops broken off, in order that they may afford seeds for another year. Throughout the summer the other plants are from time to time, pruned at the top, and the whole field is carefully weeded to make the growth of the leaf so much the more vigorous.

"In the month of September, from the sixteenth day, and between the hours of ten in the morning and four in the afternoon, the best leaves are to be taken off. It is more advantageous to pluck the leaves when they are dry than when they are moist. When plucked they are to be immediately brought home, and hung upon cords within the house to dry, in as full exposure as is possible to the influence of the sun and air; but so as to receive no rain. In this exposure they remain till the months of March and April following; when they are to be put up in bundles, and conveyed to the store-house, in which they may be kept, that they may be there till more perfectly dried by a moderate heat. Within eight days they must be removed to a different place, where they are to be sparingly sprinkled with salt water, and left till the leaves shall be no longer warm to the feeling of the hand. A barrel of water with six handfuls of salt are the proportions. After all this the tobacco leaves may be laid aside for commercial exportation. They will remain fresh for three years."

In Maryland they formerly prepared the land for a plant-bed by burning upon it a great quantity of brush-wood, afterwards raking the surface fine; the seed was then sowed broadcast. The young plants were kept free from weeds, and were transplanted when about two inches high. The cultivation of tobacco gradually spread from one State to another. From Virginia it was introduced into North Carolina and Maryland and finally Kentucky which is now the largest producing tobacco State in the Union. The demand for Virginia tobacco continued to increase and long before the Revolutionary war, Virginia exported annually thousands of hogsheads of leaf tobacco. Half a century ago the plant began to be cultivated in Ohio and from the first grew remarkably well, producing a leaf adapted for both cutting and cigar purposes.

Tobacco was planted in New Netherland (New York) by the early Dutch settlers and in 1638 "had become a staple production." In 1639 "from Virginia numbers of persons whose terms of service had expired, were attracted to Manhattan, where they introduced improved modes of cultivating tobacco." Van Twiller was himself a grower of the plant and had his tobacco farm at Greenwich. Soon after its cultivation began it was subjected to Excise; and regulations were published to check the abuses which injured "the high name" it had gained in foreign countries.[17]

[Footnote 17: Jacob van Churler and David Provoost were appointed inspectors of the new staple tobacco. "In 1652 the commonalty at Manhattan was informed that, to show their good intentions, the Amsterdam directors had determined to take off the export duty of tobacco."]

Wailes says of the early cultivation of tobacco in Mississippi:

"When the country came under the dominion of Spain, a market was opened in New Orleans; a trade in tobacco was established, and a fixed and remunerating price was paid for it, delivered at the king's warehouses. Tobacco thus became the first marketable staple production of Mississippi."[18]

[Footnote 18: In 1783 Mr. Wm. Dunbar writes: "The soil of Natchez is particularly favorable for tobacco and there are overseers there, who will almost engage to produce you between two and three hogsheads to the hand besides provisions."]

An English writer has the following account of the culture of tobacco in Louisiana by the French:

"Tobacco is another plant indigenous to this part of America; the French colonists cultivated it with such success that had they received any encouragement from their government they might soon have rivalled Virginia and Maryland; but instead of this they were taxed heavily for cultivating it, by duties laid on the trade; what they produced was of so excellent a quality, as to sell some at five shillings a pound. There is one advantage in this culture here which ought not to be forgotten; in Louisiana the French planters after the tobacco is cut, weeded and cleaned the ground on which it grew the roots, push forth fresh shoots, which are managed in the same manner as the first crop. By this means a second crop is made on the same ground, and sometimes a third. These seconds indeed, as they are called, do not usually grow so high as the first plant, but notwithstanding they make very good tobacco."

During the reign of the Stuarts, the plant was first cultivated in New England but only in small quantities[19] and used solely for smoking. About 1835 the plant received more attention from the farmers living in the Connecticut valley containing some of the finest tobacco land in the country. They found by repeated trials that the soil was well adapted to the production of a finer leaf tobacco than any they had ever seen. At this time Kentucky and Havana tobacco were used in the manufacture of cigars, but on testing American tobacco or as it is now known "Connecticut seed leaf" it was found to make the finest wrappers yet produced, and consequently the best looking cigars. From that time its reputation has kept pace with its cultivation, until it now enjoys a world wide popularity. As a wrapping tobacco it towers far above the seed products of other states and can never have a successful competitor in the other varieties now cultivated in the Middle and Western States. Doubtless America furnishes the finest varieties of the plant now cultivated, suited for all kinds of manufacturing, and adapted to all the various forms in which it is used.

[Footnote 19: "Every farmer plants a quantity of tobacco near his house in proportion to the size of his family. It is likewise very necessary that they should plant tobacco, because it is so universally smoked by the common people,"--_Kalm's travels in North America_, 1772.]

The great diversity of soil and climate renders this probable while actual experiments and improved methods of culture have demonstrated it to a certainty. Thousands of hogsheads, cases, and bales are annually shipped to all parts of the world and the demand for American tobacco is greater than for the varieties grown in the Old World. More than two hundred and fifty years have passed since the London and Plymouth Companies began its cultivation in the Old Dominion, and on the same soil where the red man grew his "uppowac." Virginia leaf still continues to flourish, and to-day it is the great agricultural product of the State.

From a small beginning, like the plant itself it has developed into a great and increasing industry and its culture become a source of wealth unprecedented in agricultural history. Could the sapient James I. and his successors the Stuarts, now look upon this cherished production of the world, they would discover a commercial prosperity connected with those nations which have fostered and encouraged its growth far in advance of those who have frowned upon the plant and prohibited or hindered its cultivation. Saint Pierre alluding to the beneficence of nature and of the folly and cruelty of man as contrasted says:

"When the princes of Europe went Gospel in hand, to lay waste Asia, they brought back the plague, the leprosy and the small-pox, but nature showed to a Dervish the coffee tree in the mountains of Yemen, and at the moment when nature brought curses on us through the Crusaders, it brought delights to us through the cup of a Mohammedan Monk. The descendants of those princes took possession of America, and transmitted to us by this conquest, an inexhaustible succession of wars and maladies. While they were exterminating the inhabitants of America with cannon, a Carib invited sailors to smoke his Calumet as a signal of peace. The perfume of the tobacco vanquished their torments and their troubles, and the use of tobacco was spread all over the earth. While the afflictions of the two worlds came from artillery, which kings call their last resort, the consolations of civilized nations flowed from the pipe of a savage."

It seems hardly possible to draw a more graphic picture of the blessings diffused by the balmy plant, than that just given. Its peculiar charms and soothing influence are well calculated to inspire in the breast of man, feelings of peace and happiness, rather than elements of discord and strife. The pipe of a king burns not more freely the shreds of the plant, than it does the last remnant of hostile feelings and the recollections of bitter wrongs; while the snuff-box of the diplomat contains the precious dust that has soothed the fierce hatred of rival houses and cemented the divided factions of a tottering throne.