54: TOBACCO USED AS MONEY. 



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 Ibs. was the yearly amount, 

 "and in some 20,000 Ibs. 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 cer- 

 tainly 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 ill will 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 

 law T s 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 



