Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/68

 area of the English forests was small and was steadily diminishing. Coal as yet had not come into use as a fuel for manufacturing. Copper at this time was imported from Sweden; iron and steel, figs and raisins, were brought from Spain. France supplied the English people with wine, salt, and canvas; Italy furnished silk and velvets. Spices were introduced from the East. The acquisition of these articles, which were growing to be more and more essential to the English as their wealth expanded and their luxury increased, was subject to numerous casualties and interruptions. The Muscovy Company especially, which was the principal agent in the accumulation of naval stores in England, was exposed to many obstructive influences. First, it had to contend with the fickleness of the population and government of Muscovy; little reliance could be placed upon the stability and fidelity of either in private contracts or public treaties. The Dutch had now enlarged the volume of their trade with Russia, thus introducing a competition that curtailed the English dealings and lowered the profits of all bargains made. It was a serious drawback that the company could only send out an expedition to Russia at one season in the year, the ice of the northern waters offering at other times impassable obstacles to navigation. There was a constant danger that the King of Denmark would increase the tax imposed upon the cargoes of all foreign vessels passing into or out of the Baltic, while the Hanse communities south of Denmark were always seeking to deprive the Russia Company of the right of way in the northern seas.