SECRETARY'S REPORT. G6 



We cannot forbear to make a quotation conccrninf^ the Vir- 

 ginia colony, at a more nourishing subsequent period, which, 

 as it records a historical fact, cannot fail to be interesting, 

 thougli at this day it would appear very sti'ange and comic. 

 *' The adventurers," (says Malte-Brun,) " who increased from 

 year to year, were reduced in consequence of the scarcity of 

 females, to import wives by order, as they imported merchandise. 

 It is recorded that ninety girls, young and uncorrupted, came 

 to the Virginia market in 1620, and sixty in 1021 ; all of whom 

 found a ready sale. The price of each at first was one hundred 

 pounds of tobacco, but afterwards rose to one hundred and fifty." 

 The original cost is not stated. 



In whatever way this weed found its way into Europe, 

 it met with strong opposition. The crowned heads published 

 edicts, imposed prohibitory duties, and issued penal laws 

 against its introduction, supposed to amount to total prohibi- 

 tion ; but its use had become so firmly fixed on the appetites of 

 the subjects, they fled to the mountains and hid themselves 

 rather than forego the pleasure of smoking. 



We copy from an ancient document the following brief 

 sketches, viz. : In 1624, Pope Urban Eighth anathematized all 

 snuff-takers who committed the heinous sin of taking a pinch 

 in church ; and so late as 1690, Innocent Twelfth excommuni- 

 cated all who indulged in the same vice in St. Peter's church 

 at Rome. In 1625, Amurath Fourth prohibited smoking as an 

 unnatural and irreligious custom, under pain of death. In 

 Constantinople, where the custom now is universal, smoking 

 was thought to be so ridiculous and hurtful, that the Turk who 

 was caught in the act, was conducted in ridicule through the 

 streets, with a pipe thrust through his nose. In Russia, where 

 the peasantry now smoke all day long, the Grand Duke of 

 Moscow prohibited the entrance of tobacco into his dominions, 

 under the penalty of the knout for the first offence, and death 

 for the second ; and the Muscovite who was found snuffing was 

 condemned to have his nostrils split. 



We will turn to our subject. We have said the growth and 

 consumption of tobacco was increasing, and that it would 

 continue to increase. We have no proof of the latter, except 

 to look and see how enormously it has gained for the last ten 

 years. The product in the United (and seceding) States and 

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