418 



culation on tobacco, I could find rio profit 

 to rise from the cultivation of it. But 

 knowing that God made all things for use, 

 I thought some benefit was to be obtained 

 from the land in America; and the general 

 conversation of the gentlemen I became ac- 

 quainted with being much againstthe tobacco 

 crop, made it almost unnecessary for me to 

 examine into it. I found however in con- 

 versation, that where a family had raised 

 themselves to any eminence from the pro- 

 . duce of land, it was by planting tobacco ; 

 and probably mere necessity obliged them to 

 discontinue growing it, the land being worn 

 out: but when I found this to be profitable, 

 it was as foreign to rne as clock-making. 

 The curing of tobacco is a very nice pro- 

 cess : and, for want of knowledge and care, 

 there are every year many hogsheads 

 spoiled, and worth nothing. And, besides 

 all that, the management of negroes was 

 a great obstacle : for, notwithstanding the 

 great inhumanity so generally " spoken of 

 by those who are not acquainted with 



