read. One line more only to say that new enterprizes are starting up daily, which by judicious management may remove from Richmond-from Virginia-the opprobrium that she is dependant on other States or countries for everything she requires except bread and tobacco.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

TOBACCO WAREHOUSES.

WHERE Tobacco is in the mouth of almost every man and boy, either for mastication, fumigation, inhalation, or discussion, and where it constitutes one of the most important commercial staples, it seems proper to notice it, though I fear that my fair readers, if I have any, may turn up their pretty noses at it, instead of turning it up their pretty noses, against which latter turn I enter my protest, as well as against the practice of dipping, which I will not explain, lest an Eve-like, and evil curiosity might induce some now sweet lips to try the experiment, and I won't play the serpent to tempt them.

Tobacco is now an universal medium of introduction among those who are addicted to its use; but in the early days of Virginia, and until the

last seventy or eighty years, it was a circulating medium in the place of money. Even the parson's salary and fees were rated at so many pounds of tobacco, estimated at two pence per pound.

The Tobacco Warehouses or Inspections in Richmond, fifty years ago were, Shockoe, a mere cluster of wooden sheds; Byrd's, of brick, opposite to the present Exchange hotel; and Rocketts, of which a portion of the walls is now standing, their aspect from the river having the appearance of an old fortification. The two latter ceased their vocation long since, as has also one of later date, below Rocketts, called Powhatan from being built near the wigwam of that King. It is now converted into a number of dwellings, and serves to shelter other heads than hogs-heads. In later years, the Public Warehouse on the basin became an Inspection and Seabrook's was established in the valley.*

In old times a furnace stood near each warehouse, and tobacco unfit for export, was treated as heretics were at an auto-da-fé, as being unfit for salvation-both were burned; and now both are suffered to pass for what they are worth.

The primitive mode of transporting tobacco to market was curious. The cask containing it was

*Dibrell's, near the Dock, is a recent establishment, and Mayo's is being erected on land of new formation, based on the granite of an island, over which the river flowed, since my remembrance, in slight freshets, (1860.)

actually rolled on its own periphery, through mud and stream. A long wooden spike driven into the centre of each end, and projecting a few inches beyond it, served for an axletree, a split sapling was fitted to it for shafts, and extending in rear of the cask, where the parts were connected by a hickory withe; a few slabs were nailed to these, in front of the cask, forming a sort of foot board, or box, in which were stowed a middling or two of bacon, a bag of meal, a frying pan, a hoe, an axe, and a blanket, for the bipeds; the whole covered to some height with fodder, for the quadrupeds. If the distance to market was moderate, the hogshead was rolled on its hoops, which were stout and numerous; but if fifty to a hundred miles, or more were to be traversed, rough felloes were spiked on at each end or quarter of the cask, and these rude tires served to protect it from being worn through. Rough fellows also were the conductors.

The tobacco roller, as the driver (often the owner) was called, sought no roof for shelter, during his journey, sometimes of a week's duration and of severe toil; at nightfall he kindled a fire in the woods by the road side, baked a hoe cake, fried some bacon, fed his team, (I omitted to mention the bag of corn,) rolled his blanket around him, and slept by the fire, under the lee of his cask.

When he reached the warehouse, his tobacco was inspected, a note or receipt expressing the weight,

etc., was handed to him, and he then sallied forth into the streets in search of a purchaser; calling out as he entered a store, "Mister, do you buy tobacco?" When he had found the right "Mister," and obtained his money, and a few articles to carry to his "old woman," he strapped the blanket on one of his horses and rode home. These men generally travelled in small parties, and if the weather and roads were good, had a merry time of it; if bad, they assisted each other when obstacles occurred.

The journey from beyond the Roanoke, which then consumed six days, is now performed in as many hours, and for the labor of two hundred and fifty horses, and almost as many men and boys, (for a boy usually accompanied each man,) during ten days going and returning, is now substituted a train of railroad cars, with some four or five men, for half a day, and at one-fourth of the expense.

It were superfluous to draw the contrast of those days with the present. Tobacco rollers are an extinct species. Instead of them, tobacco buyers throng the warehouses. Manufactories of the weed have sprung up in every direction. The largest buildings in the city are, with few exceptions, tobacco factories, and I may venture to say that more tobacco is manufactured in Richmond than in any other place in the world. Such vulgar

Honey

terms as negro-head and pig-tail are discarded, and fanciful ones substituted, such as dew," "Christian's-comfort," “Heart's-delight, "Perfect-love," "Rose-bud," and "Cousin-Sally." Artists are employed to design and execute embellishments for the packages, and various sweets, spirits, spices, and essences, are used to give a good flavor or to conceal a bad one.

Italy, Spain and France furnish thousands of boxes of liquorice and of olive oil to sweeten, and to brighten the quid-but they do not accept a quid pro quo, by permitting the importation of "Christian's-comfort," or "Heart's-delight," or any other of the consolations prepared abroad, for the lovers of tobacco. About seventy-five factories are in operation, requiring 3,500 to 4,000 hands, male and female, and working up some 25,000 hhds. of tobacco annually.

NOTE. The following advertisement, which does not include Liquorice, Rum, Olive Oil, Sugar and Syrup, will give an idea of the condiments used in preparing tobacco for mastication.

To Tobacconists-500 lbs. large black Angustura Tonqua Beans; 200 lbs. Oil of Cinnamon, Cloves, Peppermint, &c.; 1,000 lbs. good Gum Arabic, in bales, low priced; 25 bottles English Essential Oil Bitter Almonds; 1,000 lbs. Cloves, Allspice, Nutmegs, Cassia, &c.; Oil of Sweet Flag Root, Branding Paint, red and blue; a large assortment of copper bound Branding Brushes; Varnish; Spirits Turpentine, and every article used about a factory, at low prices."