The Economic Role of Williamsburg (Williamsburg Research Studies)

xvi, 209 pp. Since Williamsburg was not an important port town, this study emphasizes the periodic Meetings of Merchants, especially in regard to the setting of the exchange rate with Great Britain. CONTENTS: The Williamsburg Meetings; The Marketing of Agricultural Commodities for Export: The Tobacco Trade: Tobacco Production; Major Markets; The Marketing Mechanism: The Consignment System; The Marketing Mechanism: The Direct Purchase of Tobacco; The Marketing Mechanism: The Williamsburg Meetings of Merchants; Organization of the Store Trade; The Purchase of Tobacco; The Produce Trade: Major Markets; Purchasing of Produce; The Trade in Imported Goods; Planters and Merchants; Money, Credit, and Sterling Exchange: The Currency Problem: Currency in Circulation; Commodity Money; Paper Money; Substitute for Money; The Credit System: Operation of the Credit System; Significance of the Credit System; Sterling Exchange: The Bill of Exchange; Organization of the Exchange Market; Problems of the Meeting of Merchants; Appendix; Bibliography; Index.