Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/330

 the Cape Merchant, and two by each corporation in whose boundaries a branch magazine was seated. The leaves found to be worse in quality than those appraised at eighteen pence a pound, which were the most inferior that the adventurers of the general magazine were willing to purchase, were to be burnt on the spot. This provision, although well adapted to improve the character of the tobacco exported, does not appear to have been enforced after the abolition of the general magazine in the following year. In 1621, the Company urged upon the attention of the authorities in Virginia the necessity of destroying the meanest grades, and allowing only what was excellent in quality to be shipped to England.

This law contained a number of serious defects which led to its amendment. It was not to be expected that the commander would be very rigid in passing upon the quality of his neighbor&#8217;s tobacco. Not only was it always likely that a feeling of personal kindness and friendship