Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 2.djvu/390

 of the navigable streams, from ten to thirty planters who had a part in this local trade, and so considerable were the operations of these wealthy citizens in mercantile life, that Jones, who visited the Colony many years afterwards, affirms that they made as great and advantageous a business for the advancement of the public good as most merchants upon the Royal Exchange in London. He especially commended the &#8220;fair and genteel&#8221; way in which they carried on their transactions.