thirteenth of May, erected a committee upon which was imposed the duty of regulating the affairs of the Colonies, its power, however, to be subordinate to that of the Privy Council. This proclamation announced that the King had resolved to create in himself a monopoly of the main product of Virginia and the Somers Isles, but at prices which would be satisfactory to the planters. The provisions of his first proclamation as to the exclusion of the foreign leaf were to be rigidly enforced, and the punishment to be inflicted upon any one who violated it was to be exemplary.[1]
Before the second proclamation reached Virginia, the General Assembly had written a letter to the Privy Council reflecting the feeling of consternation and despair with which the news of the contract approved by James had been received in the Colony. This contract was condemned as certain to be pernicious in its influence, because entirely destructive of the good that might spring from the grant of the right of sole importation. It was said that instead of causing this right to operate to the advantage of the people of Virginia, such an arrangement would really divert it to the profit of a few individuals. A blow was struck at the welfare of the planters which would be irremediable, unless prompt redress was afforded. Already the supplies from England had fallen off and were only to be obtained at the most exorbitant prices.[2]
It shows how strong had become the habit of the colonists in the past of suspecting the motives of their
