During the reign of Elizabeth, a facility had been afforded to the dissemination of tobacco, that was soon destined to receive a check, on the accession of her successor, James the First, to the throne. This arose from a prejudice, that, with many others, rendered this weak and vacillating monarch remarkable. Whether it arose, as many have supposed, from his dislike to Sir Walter Raleigh, so despicably and cruelly shown, and that the source of his peculiar feelings turned with bitterness to the plant of that great man's adoption, can only be left to the imagination to decide; but that he exerted all the powers of his mind for its entire suppression, is certain. In the first place, the importation duty had been, up to this period, but 2_d._ per lb., and this, by the first law James passed, was increased to 6_s._ 10_d._, thus adding the comparatively enormous sum of 6_s._ 8_d._ to the previously existing trifle. In consequence of this, nearly a stagnation of the trade took place; and _Stith_ informs us, that so low was it reduced in 1611, that only 142,085 lbs. weight were imported from Virginia, not amounting to one-sixth of the previous annual supply. One of two things now only remained to be done, as the traders could have no interest to gratify in shipping it under the existing law; they were either compelled to give it up or cultivate it at home. The latter alternative was adopted, and till the year 1620, the tobacco-plant was cultivated to a very considerable extent. But the obduracy of its royal enemy was not to be so eluded, an act was passed especially prohibiting its culture at home. The crisis of the plant's fate seemed now to approach. Determining on the other hand, not to forfeit an indulgence, that habit in a great degree had made necessary, it was examined and found in the reading of the act made in 1604, that though it particularly provided 6_s._ 10_d._ duty should be levied on all tobacco _from Virginia_, no mention was made of its importation from any other colony. Taking advantage of this omission, recourse was immediately had to the Spanish and Portuguese districts, and the consequence was an influx of the favorite herb at the old duty of 2_d._ The only real sufferers through adopting this new channel of commerce, were the planters of Virginia, who made a representation of their loss to the throne, when another law was passed, lessening the duty and prohibiting the importation from any other place. To this effect an act was passed in 1624, and though it was some time previous to the trade regaining any thing like its pristine vigour, it had but just began to do so, when, as if the sight was doubly hateful to James, he had a new law passed. This was to the effect, that none, under very heavy penalties, should deal in the article without holding letters patent from himself. A blow so sudden and unexpected, occasioned the ruin, we are told, of many thousands, and the trade went rapidly to decay.