18 TOBACCO : ITS HISTORY. 



but the currency of the colony.* Fifty years 

 after, Virginia exported to England 60,000 lbs. ; 

 during the next thirty years it increased to 

 120,0001bs.; and during the last 160 years, since 

 1689, the produce of Virginia has risen to nearly 

 twice as many millions of pounds ! 



As to the consumption of tobacco in England, 

 it is certain that the above 120,000 lbs. were all 

 the imported supplies for home consumption and 

 exportation ; but for the last year the imported 

 leaf which paid the duty of 35. per lb. exceeded 

 33,802,500 lbs., besides upwards of 333,000 lbs. 

 of cigars, which, paying a duty of ^s. Qd. per lb., 

 gave to the Customs 150,000/. The progressive 

 increase will appear by the following table : — 



And to this must be added the large quantity 

 of contraband tobacco which the duty of 3^. 

 a lb. tempts the smuggler to introduce. 



That the consumption among us is still rapidly 



* Bancroft, * United States,' i. 114. 



