bject of the _Examiner_, however, in
defending the cultivation and use of tobacco, will appear by reading a
little further. "Of all people," says the reviewer, "we ourselves are
the most moderate consumers; yet the 'filthy and offensive stimulant'
_puts four millions and a half a year into our exchequer_. An old
financier, like Mr. McCulloch, ought, _on this account alone_, to have
treated the weed with more respect." Here then is the true reason why
the London _Examiner_ is disposed to quarrel with that author. Nor can
it be a "filthy and offensive stimulant," because, forsooth, it puts
four millions and a half a year into England's exchequer! Upon this mode
of reasoning, what an inestimable blessing must opium be to the world,
and especially to the Chinese! We have only to say, that if tobacco
yields this immense revenue annually to England, any one who passes
through Eastern Virginia and sees the poverty stricken appearance of the
thousands of acres of exhausted useless land which present themselves in
every direction, will be able to determine at whose expense this has
been, in a great measure. If England has been enriched by the traffic in
tobacco, its cultivation has been the ruin of Eastern Virginia, by far
the larger portion of which now lies in open uncultivated sterile
commons, bleaching in the sun.

Virginia, we are glad to know, is at last awaking to her true condition
and interests; the rapid increase of population in the northern and
western states, and the proportionate improvement in their arts,
sciences and agricultural industry, have excited in the minds of our
people, no inconsiderable attention. While it is true of Western
Virginia, that if not advancing with a rapidity equalling that of many
of the states, she is nevertheless improving, and with her almost
inexhaustible mineral wealth, and productiveness of soil, must continue
to improve, if the inhabitants persist in declining to cultivate
tobacco. It is painfully true of Eastern Virginia--if we except the
cities--that if not just at this time retrograding, the change from a
retrograde to a stationary condition has been but recent, and some time
must necessarily elapse before any marked evidence of an advance will be
perceptible. There are even yet to be found, on the borders of James
River and in other parts of Virginia, the wealthy, intelligent, and
hospitable planter, living in style and entertaining with liberality
scarcely unequal to that whic