Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/433

 There now occurred one of those wonderful transformations which were so common in the history of Virginia in the seventeenth century, and which have repeated themselves at still later periods, the state of the community being one of poverty or wealth according to the prices of its only staple.

In 1682, tobacco was selling at the lowest rates, and had been selling at these rates for a number of years, with the result of reducing the people to extremities. In 1683, a prodigious crop was planted, and as the production of the previous year had been so much shortened, tobacco now commanded more remunerative returns: in consequence of this fact, the inhabitants of the Colony were, in 1684, contented and peaceful, the insurrectionary impulse having been entirely allayed. Lord Culpeper, writing to the English Government, declared that this disposition would be maintained as long as their only commodity continued at its present value, which he hoped would be for two years at least; and Secretary Spencer of the Council confirmed this opinion, remarking at the same time, that his unthrifty countrymen preferred to live miserably by tobacco rather than be put upon a new undertaking, however advantageous. All thought of a cessation had been deferred.

There now arose a question which presents more than one aspect of curious interest. In the instructions given to the Governors of the Colony by the English authorities, there had for sixty years been invariably inserted a distinct command that they should use every means in their power to encourage the production of silk, wine,