From its first cultivation in these countries it has been a government
monopoly. In 1753, the King of Portugal farmed out the tobacco trade,
and from that time until now, the annual amount received has been one
of the principal sources of revenue to the crown. In France, as early
as 1674, a monopoly of the trade was granted to Jean Breton, for six
years, for the sum of 700,000 francs.

In 1720 the Indian Company paid for the privilege 1,500,000 francs per
annum; and in 1771 the price was increased to 25,000,000 francs.
Besides France there are thirteen other European states where the
tobacco trade is a government monopoly, namely, Austria, Spain,
Sicily, Sardinia, Poland, Papal States, Portugal, Tuscany, Modena,
Parma, San Marino, Lichtenstein.

From the first cultivation of the plant, its growers saw in the
tobacco trade a vast and constantly increasing source of wealth.
They doubtless in some measure comprehended the close relation
existing between it and commerce and realized how extensive would be
its use.

From the nature of the plant, it affords states and nations an
opportunity to engage either in its culture or commerce with the
prospect of the largest success. In this respect it is far different
from any other tropical plant, and unlike them is capable of being
cultivated in portions of the earth far remote from the tropics. In
Switzerland and in the Caucassias it attains to a considerable size,
but is nevertheless tobacco although it may possess but few of the
excellences of some varieties, still it affords some enjoyment to the
user, from the fact that it is the Indian weed. Fairholt speaking of
the tobacco trade says:

"The progress of the tobacco trade from the earliest
introduction of the plant into Europe until now, is
certainly one of the most curious that commerce presents.
That a plant originally smoked by a few savages, should
succeed in spite of the most stringent opposition in church
and state, to be the cherished luxury of the whole civilized
world; to increase with the increase of time, and to end in
causing so vast a trade, and so large an outlay of money; is
a statistical fact, without an equal parallel."

The tobacco plant notwithstanding its fascinating powers, has suffered
many romantic vicissitudes in its fame and character; having been
successively opposed and commended by physicians, condemned and
eulogized by priests, vilified and ve