| $5,999,769 | |
| Of manufactured tobacco, | 3,456,071 |
| Of snuff, | 295,771 |
| Making a total of | $9,751,611 |
| for 1832, and an increase from the year 1824, of | $2,214,266 |
Whether the quantity consumed in this country equals the quantity exported, or exceeds that quantity, I have no data enabling me to give a definite answer. But from the fact that large quantities of tobacco are raised in various other parts of the world, for foreign consumption; and from the fact that the people of this country are, above all other people under the sun, a chewing, smoking, snuffing people; I have very little doubt that the amount used in this country
is double that exported. If so, the sum total paid annually, for this vile weed, in this christian country, is $19,503,222. But as I wish in this examination, to put the estimate below rather than above the truth, I will set down the value of tobacco, cigars, and snuff, consumed annually in this nation, as equal to the amount exported; that is, in round numbers, $10,000,000.
That this is a very low estimate, will appear by another conclusive calculation.
According to the census of 1830, the population of the U. States, over twenty years of age, is about six millions. Suppose one in four of our adult population, use tobacco in some form; (and this is a very moderate supposition,) it gives one million, five hundred thousand: and suppose one in twelve of those who have not reached the age of twenty, use it; it gives five hundred thousand more: making a total of two millions—or one sixth of our population—who use tobacco in some form.
Now suppose the expense to the consumers of this noxious drug, varies according to the quantity, and mode of using it. The expense to some is two dollars a year, to some it is five, and to others ten, twenty, and even fifty dollars a year. A laboring man, of my acquaintance, who did not use tobacco extravagantly, and only by chewing, told me that it cost him five dollars a year. A young lady of my acquaintance, says her snuff costs eight dollars a year. If a man pay three cents a day for cigars, it amounts to ten dollars, ninety-five cents a year. If he pay six cents, it amounts to twenty-one dollars, ninety cents a year. If he pay twelve and a half cents, it amounts to forty-four dollars, sixty-two cents a year.
It is the opinion of good judges, that very many, who smoke freely and use Spanish cigars, pay more than fifty dollars a year for this foolish gratification.
King James, in his "Counterblast," says, "Some of the gentry of this land, bestow three, some four hundred pounds a year, upon this precious stink."
It will certainly be a moderate calculation to put down one quarter of the consumers at two dollars a year,—one quarter at five,—one quarter at eight,—and one quarter at ten dollars a year. Then the several items will stand thus:—
| Half a million at two dollars, is | $1,000,000 |
| Half a million at five dollars, is | 2,500,000 |
| Half a million at eight dollars, is | 4,000,000 |
| Half a million at ten dollars, is | 5,000,000 |
| Total | $12,500,000. |