122 TEA CONSUMPTION IN ENGLAND. 





not be unreasonable to suppose, under the circumstance 

 of tea being so placed within the reach of the whole 

 population, that then there would be some 150,000,000 

 Ibs. consumed.* The French are the most economical 

 people in the world, they will not now use tea. The 

 only tea imported is calculated at 300,000 Ibs. Reduce 

 the price of tea and the case would be different. And in 

 America, U. States, say 22,000,000 consume only 

 20,000,000 Ibs., hardly that. Let her produce her own 

 tea, and the case will be different. There is no article 

 of consumption for which there is so extensive opportunity 

 for progressive increase, and tha,t in the eastern world 

 too, more so than in Europe and America. Europe, 

 Asia, and America contain to-day 900,000,000 of human 

 souls, nearly. If 150,000,000 Ibs. are consumed by 

 thirty millions of people, it would not be too much to 

 say, that the whole population above would consume 

 500,000,000 Ibs., and that America would find ready 

 sale for that amount at 20 cents per lb., which would be 

 equal yearly to 100,000,000 dollars, or twice the amount 

 of the whole cotton crop in value. But if it be calcula ted 

 that England, when she can get her teas at one-fourth 

 the present cost, that then she consume 100,000,000 Ibs., 

 only twice her present quantity, which would be a very low 

 calculation of 3|f Ibs. a head then, of the 900,000,000 

 of population mentioned, it would only require one in 

 every six to drink tea, to consume 500,000,000 Ibs. 

 However, America herself, at no distant period, will con- 

 sume 500,000,000 Ibs. of tea, if she will but set to and 

 grow it, and from the universal desire there is for tea, it 



* The Americans consume upwards of 140,000,000 Ibs. of coffee, 

 t Much less than the people of Jersey and Guernsey consume, who con- 

 sume 4 Ibs. 4 oz., and Australia 7 Ibs. per head. 





