24 INTRODUCTION INTO EUROPE. 



Tea has, by accident, fallen into the hands of a private 

 person to be sold. But that none may be disappointed, 

 the lowest price is 30 shillings in the pound, and not any 

 to be sold under a pound in weight." The persons of 

 quality were also requested to bring a convenient box 

 with them to hold it. 



The East India Company enjoyed a monopoly of the 

 trade in Tea up to 1834, when, owing to the methods of 

 calculation adopted by the Company, and the heavier ex- 

 penses which always attend every department of a trade 

 monopoly, the prices were greatly enhanced. Much dis- 

 satisfaction prevailing with its management, this system 

 of importing Teas was abolished, the Company being 

 deprived of its exclusive privileges, and the Tea trade 

 thrown open to all. 



In all probability Tea first reached America from 

 England, which country began to export' in 1711, but 

 it is claimed to have been previously introduced by some 

 Dutch smugglers, no definite date being given. The first 

 American ship sailed for China in 1784, two more ves- 

 sels being dispatched the following year, bringing back 

 880,000 pounds of Tea. During 1786-87, five other 

 ships brought to the United States over 1,000,000 

 pounds. In 1844, the "Howqua" and " Montauk " 

 were built expressly for the Tea trade, being the first 

 of the class of vessels known as " Clippers," in which 

 speed was sought at the expense of carrying capacity, 

 and by which the average passage was reduced from 

 twenty to thirty days for the round trip. The trade in 

 tea was entirely transacted at Canton until 1842, when the 

 ports of Shanghai, Amoy and Foo-chow were opened by 

 the treaty of Nankin, the China tea trade being mainly 

 conducted at the latter ports. As late as 1850, all vessels 

 trading in tea carried considerable armament, a necessary 



