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diff --git a/36879.txt b/36879.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d4556d --- /dev/null +++ b/36879.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3361 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Nicotiana, by Henry James Meller + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Nicotiana + Or The Smoker's and Snuff-Taker's Companion + +Author: Henry James Meller + +Release Date: July 28, 2011 [EBook #36879] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NICOTIANA *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + NICOTIANA; + + OR THE + SMOKER'S AND SNUFF-TAKER'S + COMPANION; + + CONTAINING THE + HISTORY OF TOBACCO; + + CULTURE--MEDICAL QUALITIES AND THE LAWS + RELATIVE TO ITS IMPORTATION AND + MANUFACTURE: + + WITH AN + Essay in its Defence. + + THE WHOLE ELEGANTLY EMBELLISHED AND INTERSPERSED + WITH + ORIGINAL POETRY AND ANECDOTES, + BEING INTENDED AS AN AMUSING AND INSTRUCTIVE VOLUME + FOR ALL + GENUINE LOVERS OF THE HERB, + + BY HENRY JAMES MELLER, ESQ. + + + "I do assert and will affirm it before any prince in Europe, + to be the most sovereign and precious weed that ever the + earth tendered to the use of man." + _Captain Bobadil.--Every Man in his Humour._ + + LONDON: + EFFINGHAM WILSON, + ROYAL EXCHANGE. + 1832. + + + + + TO H. R. H. THE DUKE OF SUSSEX, + This little Work, + AS A + TRIFLING TOKEN OF VENERATION FOR HIS CHARACTER + AND ESTEEM FOR HIS TASTE, + IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Many an excellent cause has been lost through the want of sound arguments, +founded on a knowledge of the case, to support and place it in its proper +light. None, perhaps, more than _smoking_ and _snuff-taking_, the +propriety of which, in the upper orders of life, have been and are, +whether as regards their social or medicinal qualities, so frequently +called in question by their enemies. These, the author is sorry to say, by +the use of a few specious arguments, that chiefly pass current in refined +society--the ladies in particular--have, strongly aided by prejudice, +often made the defence succumb to the attack--an unpardonable weakness on +the part of a _consumer_ of the herb, who is naturally enough expected to +know the entire history of the favorite of his adoption. Unacquainted with +the excellence of his subject, its importance and consequence in ancient +and modern annals--its high worshippers and eulogists, medical, and +non-medical, with its many endearing and social virtues acknowledged over +the far greater part of the world; he, the Author asserts, unacquainted +with the above _data_ and references, opposes but a feeble barrier to the +sweeping and general assertions of his adversary. + +In the above glorious cause (i. e. Anti-Smokers and Snuff-Takers v. Lovers +of the Herb) the Author himself holds a brief in the defence as counsel, +and flattering himself he has made himself fully master of the case, he +begs to impart it as a proper, if not an absolutely requisite +accompaniment to all lovers of the 'soothing leaf.' The prejudices against +smoking are numerous. Smoking that is called _unsocial_, the author +affirms to be the common source of harmony and comfort,--the badge of good +fellowship in almost every state, kingdom, and empire. Aye, from the +English settlers in the wildernesses of America, where the _Calumet_ or +Pipe of Peace is smoked by the natives, to the turbaned infidel of the +East--from the burning zone of Africa to the icy regions of the North. In +fact, in almost every clime and condition of society it is known as a +common sign, or freemasonry of friendly feeling and social intercourse. In +the East, the first act of hospitality is proffering the pipe with its +invariable accompaniment coffee, which is more or less observed under +various modifications over nearly the rest of the habitable world. + +Smoking that is termed _low_ and _vulgar_ was, and is, an occasional +recreation with most of the crowned heads of Europe, among which may be +named his late Majesty, and their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Sussex and +Cumberland--Ferdinand of Spain, and the Emperor Nicholas of +Germany--besides very many of the nobility of either empires and +kingdoms. + +Smoking that is termed _idle_, is singularly popular with mechanics, the +most industrious classes of England. + +Smoking that is said to be _dirty_ and _filthy_, is in the greatest +esteem, among the most moral and cleanly sect in Christianity--the Society +of Friends or Quakers. + +Smoking that is affirmed to be _revolting_ and _disgusting_, is indulged +in by the most rigidly kept women in the world--those of Turkey, who +elevated in the dignity of the Haram, are taught to consider a whiff of +their lord's _chibouque_ a distinction. Then the ladies of both Old and +New Spain, who twining in the mazes of the giddy waltz, take the +_cigarros_ from their own pretty lips to transfer to those of their +favoured partners. If indeed, royalty be wanted in the female line, since +the good old times of Elizabeth, who can be so lamentably ignorant in the +annals of smoking, as not to know, that the late _Tumehemalee_, Queen +Consort of _Tirahee_, king of the Sandwich Islands, was dotingly fond of a +pipe--sensible woman and above all petty prejudices as she was, at our own +honoured court. + +Now, in regard to snuff, that like smoking is so much abused, coming under +the bans of the ignorant and prejudiced, _beastly_ is the word commonly +given to its application, though used to the greatest excess in the famed +land of _politesse_--France. The most polished and fascinating address is +ever followed by the gracefully proffered snuff-box. What a vast deal does +it not speak at once in a man's favor, begetting instantly a friendly +sympathy in the head that gradually extends to the heart. What does not +MOLIERE, their favorite author say, in favor of the herb? for the benefit +of casuists we quote the sublime panegyric, which alone ought to confirm +the bold lovers of the pipe and box, and 'inspire and fire' the diffident +and wavering. + +"Quoi que puisse dire Aristote, et toute la philosophie, il n'est rien +d'egal au tabac; c'est la passion des honnetes gens, et qui vit sans +tabac, n'est pas digne de vivre. Non seulement il rejouit et purge les +cerveaux humains, mais encore il instruit les ames a la vertu et l'on +apprend avec lui a devenir honnete homme. Ne voyez-vous pas bien, des +qu'on en prend, de quelle maniere obligeante on en use avec tout le monde, +et comme on est ravi d'en donner a droit et a gauche, par tout ou l'on se +trouve? On n'attend pas meme que l'on en demande, et l'on court au devant +du souhait des gens; tant il est vrai que le tabac inspire des sentimens +d'honneur et de vertu a tous ceux qui en prennent." + +The pipe and the box are twin-brothers; they are the agents of friendship, +conviviality, and mirth; they succour the distressed, and heal the +afflicted; impartial and generous, they administer to all that sue for +comfort, and the spirits of peace advance at their call; they live in +charity with all men, unite them, and re-unite them, and they sympathise +all hearts, entwining them in a cheerful and lasting community of soul and +sentiment. The pipe and the box give a vigour to the mind, and a language +to its ideas. They give harmony a tone, and discord a silence. They +inspire the bold, and encourage the diffident. Yes! through their agency +alone, all these benefits are received and experienced. In short, they +express in one breath, superlative happiness. A few illustrations will +suffice: + +A man in public company wishing to give utterance to some particular +opinion or sentiment, invariably finds the pipe or the pinch the best +prompter. A man wishing to be silent, in meditation finds the pipe his +excuser. A man in anger with himself, his family, or the public, the pipe +or the pinch will generally restore to kindness. A man desirous of meeting +a friend, need but give him a "pinch," and the heart is at once opened to +his reception. A man in misfortune, either in sickness or in +circumstances, will learn philosophy from the pipe, and count upon the +latter, at least, as his own: in this case, from both tobacco and snuff, +he borrows an independent vigour, and a cheerfulness that shines even in +the sadness of his heart. The impregnative spirit of tobacco will wind its +way to the most secret recesses of the brain, and impart to the +imagination a soft and gentle glow of heat, equally remote from the +dullness of fervor, and the madness of intoxication; for to these two +extremes, without the moderative medium of the pipe, an author's fancy +will alternately expand itself. To the man of letters, therefore, the pipe +is a sovereign remedy. + +Amongst the incidental benefits of the pipe and box, may also be noticed +their great advantages in a converzatione; they smooth the arrogance of an +apostrophe, and soften the virulence of a negative, give strength to an +ejaculation, and confidence to a whisper. In short, they extract the +sting, and purify the spirit, which are too frequently inhering +concomitants, in the common associations of life. + +In conclusion, fully impressed with the sovereign consequence of his +subject, the Author taketh his leave of the reader with the assurance, if +his labours meet their due object, _viz._ imparting of the entire History +of the much-aspersed, yet idolized herb, to its votaries, it will give him +infinite pleasure. Should he not be so fortunate in upholding by that +means,-- + + ----the grand cause, + I smokes--I snuffs--I chaws,-- + +Philosophy still offers him consolation for the degeneracy of the times, +in a pinch of _Lundyfoot_, or the fumes of his Merschaum. + +_Newington, Oct. 1831._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + + INVOCATION TO TOBACCO 1 + + The History of the Importation of the Tobacco Plant into + Europe, and the Origin of Smoking in England 3 + + On Snuff and the Origin of the Lundyfoot 18 + + SELECT POETRY: + Tobacco 27 + Snuff 28 + Thou art a Charm for Winter 30 + All Nations Honour Thee 31 + Walton and Cotton 34 + On a Pipe of Tobacco 36 + My Last Cigar 37 + + A Review of the Laws and Regulations concerning Tobacco 38 + + The Importance of Smoking and Snuff-taking, exemplified in + a Grave Dissertation, dedicated to the Youth of the Rising + Generation 48 + + The Medical Qualities of Tobacco 81 + + Botanical History and Culture of the Tobacco Plant 91 + + ORIGINAL POETRY. + New Words to an Old Tune 102 + Ode on Tobacco 104 + Stanzas to a Lady 105 + The Last Quid 106 + + Anecdotes 108 + + Divans 117 + + Mems. for Smokers 123 + + + + +INVOCATION TO TOBACCO. + + + Weed of the strange pow'r, + Weed of the earth, + Killer of dullness-- + Parent of mirth; + Come in the sad hour, + Come in the gay, + Appear in the night, + Or in the day: + Still thou art welcome + As June's blooming rose, + Joy of the palate, + Delight of the nose. + + Weed of the green field, + Weed of the wild, + Foster'd in freedom,-- + America's child; + Come in Virginia, + Come in Havannah, + Friend of the universe, + Sweeter than manna: + Still thou art welcome, + Rich, fragrant, and ripe. + Pride of the tube-case, + Delight of the pipe. + + Weed of the savage, + Weed of each pole, + Comforting,--soothing,-- + Philosophy's soul; + Come in the snuff-box, + Come in cigar, + In Strasburg and King's, + Come from afar: + Still thou art welcome, + The purest, the best, + Joy of earth's millions, + For ever carest! + + + + +NICOTIANA. + + + + +THE HISTORY OF THE IMPORTATION OF THE TOBACCO PLANT INTO EUROPE, AND THE +ORIGIN OF SMOKING IN ENGLAND. + + +The earth, perhaps, has never offered to the use of man a herb, whose +history and adoption offer so varied a subject for thought and the mind's +speculation, as tobacco. In whatever light we view it, there is something +to interest the botanist, the physician, the philosopher, and even the +historian, while, from the singularity of its discovery in a corner of the +world where it had remained so long concealed, it would almost seem +intended by Providence, to answer some especial purpose in the creation. +Few things ever created a greater sensation than it did, on its first +introduction into Europe. It was adopted with an avidity, so far from +decreasing with time, that the experience of nearly three centuries has +but rendered it universal. That the habits of snuffing, and smoking, are +not beneficial to the human constitution, has been asserted as a fact by +many _savans_, and more powerfully defended by others. Probably, after +all, the most singular thing in favour of these habits is, that the +practice of them, which should perfect our knowledge, advocates so +strongly their use as agreeable stimulants, promoting cheerfulness, and +mild and gentle in their operation when not adopted to too great an +extent. This will be found the belief among the most enlightened, as well +as the millions who echo its praises, from every clime and corner of the +habitable globe. + +The precise introduction of the tobacco plant into Europe, from the varied +and contradictory accounts that exist concerning it, is involved in some +obscurity. That it was unknown to the Europeans, till the discovery of +South America by that indefatigable voyager Columbus, is certain; +although Don Ulloa,[1] a Spaniard, and a writer of celebrity in the last +century, would fain have shown that the plant was indigenous to several +parts of Asia; as China, Persia, Turkey, and Arabia. He asserts, with some +ingenuity we grant, that the plant was known and used in smoking in those +countries, long previous to the discovery of the New World. But, as the +Old Testament and the Koran, books that treated of the most trifling +Eastern customs, make not the slightest mention of it, and more especially +as no travellers have ever recorded its existence previous to the +discovery of America, we cannot but dismiss the supposition, for want of +data, as idle in the extreme. + +Although we cannot, with the powers of observation Columbus is said to +have possessed, but imagine the plant must have been known to him, +particularly as it was so popular among the natives, yet no mention is +made of that fact or of its introduction into Spain by him. On the +contrary, one account furnished us, attributes it to Hernandez de Toledo, +and another with a greater show of probability to Fernando Cortes. + +This latter adventurer, after the death of his great and ill-fated +predecessor, succeeded to the command of a flotilla to prosecute those +researches in the New World, as it was then called, that promised such an +influx of wealth to the nation. It was in the year 1519 that Cortes, +flushed with the sanguine expectations of an ambitious people, set out to +take possession, in the name of the Spanish sovereignty, of a country +whose treasures were deemed boundless. + +Coasting along for several days, he came to a part of the shore of a very +rich and luxuriant description, which induced him to come to anchor, and +land; the natives asserting that it abounded in gold and silver mines. +This place was a province of _Yucatan_ in the Mexican Gulf, called +_Tobaco_, the place from whence tobacco is supposed to have derived its +present name. There it was that the plant was discovered, in a very +thriving and flourishing state. Among the natives who held it in the +greatest possible esteem and reverence, from the almost magical virtues +they attached to it, it was called _petun_, and by those in the adjoining +islands _yoli_. So singular a production of the country could not but +draw the attention of the Spanish commander to it. The consequence was, +that a specimen of it was shipped home with other curiosities of the +country, with a long detail of its supposed astonishing virtues, in +pharmacy. In the latter end of the year the plants arrived at their +destination, and this may fairly be deemed to have been their first entry +into the civilized portion of the world. + +A dreadful disease, first brought from America by the last return of +Columbus, raged about this period with a fearful and unchecked virulency +in Spain, committing dreadful devastations on the human frame, and finally +ending in the most horrible death imagination could picture. This +circumstance served to procure it a most sanguine welcome; for the sailors +composing the fleet, having learnt it from the natives, had disseminated +the belief, that it was the only known antidote against its ravages,--that +it in fact answered the purposes of mercury in the present day, a belief +welcomed with enthusiasm, and ending in despair. + +No sooner, however, was its inefficacy perceived, than it sunk in the +estimation of its worshippers, as low as it previously had risen. Indeed, +into such obscurity did it fall after the hopes it had vainly excited, +that nearly forty years elapsed, ere it obtained any notice worth +commemorating. At about the end of that period, however, we find that it +had regained the ground it had previously lost, on a surer and better +footing, as a soothing and gentle stimulant. + +From Spain, the plant was carried into Portugal; and from thence, +gradually exported to the different kingdoms throughout Europe. Shortly +after this, it was sent to the East, where it soon came into notice, as a +narcotic, and consequently found a ready market. Peculiar facilities at +this time too presented themselves to the Spaniards, above every other +nation; for Vasco de Gama, another of its adventurers, had discovered and +explored a great portion of the countries lying beyond the Cape of Good +Hope. Among other articles, exchanged in the way of commerce with the +natives, was tobacco: and this, despite of the reasoning of Don Ulloa +mentioned some time back, was the first channel through which Hindostan, +Arabia, and China, received the plants, now so common throughout the whole +of the Eastern Empire. This occurred about the year 1560, shortly after it +had been carried into France and Italy. + +While the nations of the Peninsula were thus distinguishing themselves, +and in the meridian of their glory, extending their discoveries, +conquests, and trade to the furthermost parts of that world which they had +opened to the eyes of astonished Europe, England, for a time, was +incapacitated from pursuing a similar course by intestine broils and +factions at home. And even when Elizabeth ascended the throne, her +naturally enterprising and ambitious spirit was almost solely confined to +arranging domestic discords, and settling foreign quarrels. + +Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a plain blunt soldier, instigated by feelings of +emulation and national enterprise, was the first to direct the attention +of the maiden queen towards the benefits that would naturally result from +planting a British colony in America. At his request a patent was granted, +empowering him to plant and colonize some of the southern districts. He +accordingly fitted out a squadron at his own expense, and proceeded on his +voyage, which, from different circumstances that occurred, miscarried. A +similar fate attended two subsequent attempts, when Sir Humphrey's +half-brother, the after-celebrated Sir Walter Ralegh or Raleigh, as it is +now spelt, returned home from the wars in the Netherlands. + +Inspired by a restless ambition that ever distinguished this great man, he +succeeded in persuading the knight to undertake a fourth voyage, offering +to accompany him himself. Combining courage, enterprise, and perseverance, +with a degree of knowledge little known at the period we treat of, few men +were better qualified for the successful execution of such an enterprise +than Raleigh. The sequel proved the truth of this remark, Newfoundland was +discovered and taken; though the original gallant projector, Sir Humphrey +Gilbert, we have recorded, was drowned on his passage home. + +In the year 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh applied for the renewal of the +letters patent in his own name, which the queen immediately granted him. +Having fitted out a squadron, he put to sea, and after a somewhat tedious +voyage, discovered Wingandacoa, which he afterwards called _Virginia_, in +honor of Elizabeth. On his return, he was received with peculiar favour by +the queen, who testified her satisfaction by making him a knight, while +she lent a willing ear towards the colonizing schemes Sir Walter opened to +her aspiring view. + +In pursuance of some of these, Sir Richard Grenville, another relation of +Sir Walter Raleigh's, was sent out with Captain Lane, whom he left in +command of one hundred men in one of the southern districts of the +country, appointing him at the same time to act as governor; and promising +to return to him before the next spring with stores and fresh provisions. +Circumstances, that have never yet been properly explained to this day, +prevented Sir Richard from keeping his word, in consequence of which, the +colony was reduced to great distress. Shortly afterwards, taking the +advantage of Sir Francis Drake's return from the Spanish wars, they +embarked on board his ships for England, where they arrived in the month +of July, A. D. 1686, with their commander, Lane. Among the specimens of +the productions and peculiarities of the country, they brought with them +that which forms our subject, the tobacco plant. + +This, by some, is said to have been its first importation into Great +Britain; Lobel, however, asserts, it was cultivated here in 1570, a +statement plausible enough, we admit, considering the previous length of +time the plant had been known in Spain and Portugal, but yet +irreconcileable with the data our own historical research gives us. That +it might indeed have been introduced from France previous to its +importation from Virginia, and cultivated in trifling quantities, is +highly probable, inasmuch as the French date its first appearance among +them in 1560, just ten years previous to Lobel's affirmation. _Linnaeus_ +likewise mentions that the plant became known in Europe the same year the +French date from, and _Humboldt_ so far corroborates him, as to state that +seeds of it were received from Yucatan in 1559. + +That it was known in France, some years previous to its being carried into +England, from the above accounts handed down to us, we cannot doubt. The +French history of the importation of the plant into their country, +attributes it to _Jean Nicot_ of Nismes, who was their ambassador at the +court of Lisbon in the reign of Francis II. Some of the seed, we are +informed, was given him by a Dutchman, who had brought it with him from +Florida. This, we imagine, must have been shortly after it had begun to +regain notice in Spain. + +Impressed with the current account of its properties as a medicine and +luxurious stimulant, he sent a portion of it home, where it arrived, and +under high court patronage soon became popular. + +In England--and we shall now proceed to note our own accounts of the +subject,--the first importer is very commonly thought to have been Sir +Walter Raleigh, who is said to have brought it from Virginia in 1586--a +period when the tobacco plant was known throughout nearly the whole of +Europe, while whole fields of it were cultivated for commerce in Spain and +Portugal. If it is to be attributed to an Englishman, few possess a better +claim to the honor than Sir Francis Drake, as he had made several voyages +to the _New_ World in 1570-2-7, ere Raleigh had undertaken his first. This +idea is exactly in accordance, too, with the dates furnished us by +_Lobel_, _Linnaeus_ and _Humboldt_. Independent of this strong +circumstantial evidence, Bomare[2] and Camden[3] both attribute its first +appearance to him,--authority not to be disputed for a moment. + +That Sir Walter was the first distinguished individual that set the +fashion of smoking, we have recorded, although this, we are again told, +was taught him by the notorious Ralph Lane, whose adventure, we have a +page or too back slightly touched upon. Lane had himself learnt the habit, +from the Virginians, and having brought several of their pipes home with +him, communicated it to Raleigh, who indulged in it greatly, as a pleasant +pastime. It was during one of his pleasing reveries under the soothing +influence of the pipe, that the well-known anecdote is said to have +occurred of a lacquey drenching him with water, supposing from the smoke +he saw issuing from his nose and mouth that he was internally on fire. To +such a degree, indeed, did he adopt and set the fashion of smoking, that +he was frequently in the habit of giving entertainments to his friends, in +which the fare consisted of pipes of tobacco, and ale seasoned with +nutmegs--a somewhat curious origin of smoking-parties, or divans, in +England. The result was, the example of a man so justly celebrated and +popular was soon imitated by the court, and in the course of years +gradually became common among the lower orders of people. + +Elizabeth, notwithstanding her strong and powerful mind, possessed the +sex's natural vanity and love of novelty to a great degree, and would +seem to have very warmly patronized the custom; some writers of the period +have gone as far as to affirm, in her own person. We are further borne out +in this statement by the authority of the _Biographia Britannica_, that +the _ladies_ of the court indulged in smoking the fragrant herb, as well +as the noblemen and gentle men. That the queen therefore set a personal +example, is by no means so strange. What a striking contrast does this +afford, in regard to the taste expressed by the sex in the present day +towards tobacco! + +In reference to the nomenclature of the tobacco plant, like that of most +things handed down to posterity, it admits of many versions. As we have +previously observed in America, it was termed among the natives, _petun_ +and _yoli_, besides other barbarous names, probably each appellation +peculiar to a different tribe. On the appearance of the plant in England, +it received the name it is still recognized by, namely, Tobacco. This +word, by some writers, is supposed to have had its derivation from +_Tobago_ in the West Indies, while others assert it is derived from +_Tobaco_, a different place altogether; which latter, from its closer +approximation to the word _tobacco_, we cannot but imagine correct. In +botany it is more particularly known under the scientific appellation of +_Herba Nicotiana_, so named on its introduction into France, in compliment +to her ambassador, _Jean Nicot of Nismes_, from whom it was received. It +was also well known under the imposing titles of _Herba Reginae Catharinae +Medicae_, and _Herba Reginae_: the first given in honor of the queen, and +the latter of a grand prior of the house of Lorraine, both of whom were +the first receivers of the plant, and fostered it on account of the many +virtues it was supposed to be possessed of in pharmacy. In different +countries its names were various. In Italy at that time it was called _St. +Crucis_, taken from _St. Croix_, an apostolic legate who brought it into +the country, somewhere in the middle of the 16th century. The Dutch call +it TABOC, or _Taboco_, indifferently. Some of the German writers describe +it under the name of the _Holy_ or the _Indian Healing Herb--Heilig +wundkraut_, or _Indianisch wundkraut_. In most other countries _Tobac_ or +_Tabac_ prevails. + +Notwithstanding the extreme popularity that attended the introduction of +the plant generally throughout Europe, there were not wanting those +sovereigns who testified an antipathy at first to the tobacco plant, +little short of that, for which king James was afterwards remarkable--of +whom we shall have occasion to speak anon. + +Amurath the Fourth forbade its introduction in any form whatever within +his dominions under very severe penalties. The Czar of Muscovy and the +king of Persia issued edicts of a similar nature, while Pope Urban the +Eighth made a bull to excommunicate all those who took tobacco into +churches. + + + + +ON SNUFF AND THE ORIGIN OF THE LUNDY FOOT. + + Jove once resolv'd, the females to degrade, + To propagate their sex without their aid; + His brain conceiv'd, and soon the pangs and throes + He felt nor car'd the unnatural birth disclose: + At last when tried no remedy could do, + The god took _snuff_ and out the goddess flew. + JOE MILLER. + + +Snuff was manufactured and consumed in great quantities in France, long +previous to its adoption in England. For the account of its being +introduced to Great Britain we are indebted to the once celebrated[4] +Charles Lillie. + +Before the year 1702, when we sent out a fleet of ships under the command +of Sir George Rook, with land forces commanded by the duke of Ormond, in +order to make a descent on Cadiz, _snuff-taking_ was very rare, and +indeed very little known in England; it being chiefly a luxurious habit +among foreigners residing here, and a few English gentry, who had +travelled abroad. Among these, the mode of taking snuff was with pipes the +size of quills out of small spring boxes. These pipes let out a very small +quantity of snuff, upon the back of the hand, and this was snuffed up the +nostrils with the intention of producing the sensation of sneezing, which +we need not say forms now no part of the design, or rather fashion of +snuff-taking. + +But to return to our Cadiz expedition by sea. When the fleet arrived near +Cadiz, our land forces were disembarked at a place called Port St. Mary, +where after some fruitless attempts, it was resolved to embark the troops, +and set sail for England. But previous to this, the port and several +adjacent places were plundered. There, besides some very rich merchandize, +plate, jewels, pictures, and a great quantity of cochineal, several +thousand barrels and casks of fine snuffs were taken, which had been +manufactured in different parts of Spain. Each of these contained four tin +canisters of snuff of the best growth, and of the finest manufacture. + +With this plunder on board (which fell chiefly to the share of the land +officers), the fleet was returning to England; but on the way, it was +resolved to pay a visit to Vigo, a considerable port in Spain, where the +admiral had advice that a number of galleons from the Havannah richly +laden had put in: here, our fleet got in and destroyed the greater part of +the Spanish shipping, and the plunder was exceedingly rich and valuable. + +It now came to the turn of the sea-officers and sailors to be snuff +proprietors and merchants; for at Vigo they again became possessed of +prodigious quantities of gross snuff from the Havannah in bales, bags, and +scrows,[5] which were designed for sale in different parts of Spain. + +Thus, though snuff was very little known, as we have here remarked at that +period, the quantities taken in this expedition, which were estimated at +fifty tons weight, plainly show that in the other countries of Europe, +snuff was held in great estimation, and that the taking of it was not at +all unfashionable. + +The fleet having returned to England, and most of the ships been put out +of commission, the officers and sailors brought their snuff--called by way +of victorious distinction--"Vigo snuffs," to a very quick and cheap +market: waggon loads being sold at Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Chatham, for +not more than 4_d._ per lb. The purchasers were chiefly Spanish Jews, who +in the present case, bought up almost the whole quantity at considerable +advantage. + +The land officers who were possessed of the finer kinds of snuff, taken at +Port St. Mary, had sold considerable portions at the ports where they had +touched on their homeward voyage. Others, however, we are told, better +understood the nature of the commodity which had fallen to their share, +and kept it for several years; selling it off by degrees for very high +prices. + +From the above-mentioned quantities of different snuffs, thus distributed +throughout the kingdom, novelty being quickly caught in England, arose the +custom and fashion of snuff-taking; and growing upon the nation by +degrees, they are now as common here, as almost in any other part of +Europe; France alone excepted. + +After giving us a somewhat elaborate account of the manufactures of +different Spanish, Havannah and Brazilian snuffs, _Lillie_ proceeds to +describe a snuff he calls '_Inferior Lisbon_,' that singularly enough, +closely approximates to the celebrated Lundy Foot. "This kind," he says +"from the great heat used in drying it, has an agreeable smell, like +high-dried malt, and is often called snuff of the burnt flavour; but the +smell soon goes off on exposure to the air, for which reason, it is +advisable to put no more into the snuff-box than shall be used whilst +fresh." Though we cannot but be aware, from the preceding account, that a +snuff exactly resembling in all its attributes our own famous high-dried, +called Lundyfoot, so named from the nominal inventor, existed; yet the +history of its discovery is of too facetious a description to be omitted +here. + +Lundy Foot, the celebrated snuff manufacturer, some six-and-twenty years +ago, had his premises at Essex-bridge in Dublin, where he made the common +scented snuffs then in vogue. In preparing the snuffs, it was usual to dry +them by a kiln at night, which kiln was always left in strict charge of a +man appointed to regulate the heat, and see the snuffs were not spoilt. +The man usually employed in this business, Larey by name, a tight boy of +Cork, chanced to get drunk over the 'cratur', (i. e. a little whiskey) +that he had gotten to comfort him, and quite regardless of his watch, fell +fast asleep, leaving the snuff drying away. Going his usual round in the +morning, Lundy Foot found the kiln still burning, and its guardian lying +snoring with the fatal bottle, now empty, in his right hand. Imagining the +snuff quite spoilt, and giving way to his rage, he instantly began +belabouring the shoulders of the sleeper with the stick he carried. + +"Och, be quiet wid ye, what the devil's the matter, master, that ye be +playing that game," shouted the astounded Larey, as he sprung up and +capered about under the influence of the other's walking cane. + +"You infernal scoundrel, I'll teach you to get drunk, fall asleep, and +suffer my property to get spoilt," uttered the enraged manufacturer, as +each word was accompanied by a blow across the dancing Mr. Larey's +shoulders. + +"Stop! stop! wid ye, now; sure you wouldn't be afther spaking to ye'r ould +sarvant that way,--the snuff's only a little dryer, or so, may be," +exclaimed 'the boy,' trying to soften matters. + +"You big blackguard you, didn't you get drunk and fall asleep?" +interrogated his master, as he suspended his arm for a moment. + +"Och by all the saints, that's a good'un now, where can be the harum of +slaaping wid a drop or so; besides--but hould that shilelah--hear a man +spake raison." + +Just as Lundy Foot's wrath had in some degree subsided in this serio-comic +scene, and he had given the negligent watcher his nominal discharge, who +should come in but a couple of merchants. They instantly gave him a large +order for the snuffs they were usually in the habit of purchasing, and +requested to have it ready for shipping by the next day. Not having near +so large a quantity at the time by him, in consequence of what had +happened, he related the occurrence to them, at the same time, by way of +illustration, pointing out the trembling Larey, occupied in rubbing his +arms and back, and making all kinds of contortions. + +Actuated by curiosity, the visitors requested to look at the snuff, +although Lundy Foot told them, from the time it had been drying, it must +be burnt to a chip. Having taken out the tins, they were observed to emit +a burnt flavour, anything but disagreeable, and on one of the gentlemen +taking a pinch up and putting it to his nose, he pronounced it the best +snuff he had ever tasted. Upon this, the others made a similar trial, and +all agreed that chance had brought it to a degree of perfection before +unknown. Reserving about a third, Lundy Foot sold the rest to his +visitors. The only thing that remained now, was to give it a name: for +this purpose, in a facetious mood, arising from the sudden turn affairs +had taken, the master called his man to him who was lingering near, "Come +here, you Irish blackguard, and tell these gentlemen what you call this +snuff, of your own making." + +Larey, who did not want acuteness, and perceived the aspect of things, +affected no trifling degree of sulky indignation, as he replied. "And is +it a name ye'r in want of, Sir? fait I should have thought it was the last +thing you couldn't give; without indeed, you've given all your stock to me +already. You may even call it 'Irish blackguard,' stidd of one Michael +Larey." + +'Upon this hint he spake,' and as many a true word is spoken in jest, so +was it christened on the spot. The snuff was sent to England immediately, +and to different places abroad, where it soon became a favorite to so +great a degree, that the proprietor took out a patent and rapidly +accumulated a handsome fortune. Such are the particulars connected with +the discovery of the far-famed Lundy Foot or Irish Blackguard--for which +we are indebted to a member of the Irish bar, who was a resident in Dublin +at the time. + +With regard to the numerous varieties of snuffs that exist, we shall say +nothing at present, merely observing that the principal kinds of their +manufacture are under three classes. The first is the granulated, the +second an impalpable powder, and the third the bran, or coarse part, +remaining after sifting the second part. + + + + +SELECT POETRY. + + +TOBACCO. + +[_From a Book Published in 1618, called Texnotamia, or the Marriage of the +Arts._] + + Tobacco's a musician--and in a pipe delighteth + It descends in a close, thro' the organs of the nose, + With a relish that inviteth. + + This makes me sing so-ho!--so-ho! boys-- + Ho! boys, sound I loudly-- + Earth ne'er did breed such a jovial weed, + Whereof to boast so proudly. + + Tobacco is a lawyer--his pipes do love long cases, + When our brains it enters, our feet do make indentures, + While we scale with stamping paces. + + This makes me sing, &c. + + Tobacco's a physician--good, both for sound and sickly, + 'Tis a hot perfume that expels cold rheume, + And makes it flow down quickly. + + This makes me sing, &c. + + Tobacco's a traveller, come from the Indies hither,-- + It passed sea and land, ere it came to my hand, + And scaped the wind and weather. + + This makes me sing, &c. + + Tobacco is a critticke, that still old paper turneth-- + Whose labour and care is as smoke in the aire, + That ascends from a ray when it burneth. + + This makes me sing, &c. + + Tobacco is an _ignis fatuus_--a fat and fyrie vapour, + That leads men about till the fire be out, + Consuming like a taper. + + This makes me sing, &c. + + Tobacco is a whyffler, and cries huff, snuff, with furie; + His pipes, his club, once linke--he's the wiser that does drinke,-- + Thus armed I fear not a furie. + + This makes me sing so-ho!--so-ho!--boys-- + Ho! boys sound I loudly; + Earth ne'er did breed such a jovial weed, + Whereof to boast so proudly. + + +SNUFF. + + --A delicate pinch! oh how it tingles up + The titillated nose, and fills the eyes + And breast, till, in one comfortable sneeze + The full collected pleasure bursts at last! + Most rare Columbus! thou shalt be, for this, + The only Christopher in my kalendar. + Why but for thee the uses of the nose + Were half unknown, and its capacity + Of joy. The summer gale, that, from the heath, + At midnoon glittering with the golden furze, + Bears its balsamic odours, but provokes, + Not satisfies the sense, and all the flowers, + That with their unsubstantial fragrance, tempt + And disappoint, bloom for so short a space, + That half the year the nostrils would keep Lent, + But that the kind tobacconist admits + No winter in his work; when nature sleeps, + His wheels roll on, and still administer + A plenitude of joy, a tangible smell. + + What is Peru, and those Brazilian mines, + To thee, Virginia! miserable realms; + They furnish gold for knaves, and gems for fools; + But thine are _common_ comforts! to omit + Pipe-panegyric and tobacco-praise, + Think what a general joy the snuff-box gives + Europe, and far above Pizarro's name + Write Raleigh in thy records of renown! + Him let the school-boy bless if he behold + His mother's box produced, for when he sees + The thumb and finger of authority + Stuffed up the nostrils, when hot head and wig + Shake all; when on the waistcoat black, the dust + Or drop falls brown, soon shall the brow severe + Relax, and from vituperative lips, + Words that of birch remind not, sounds of praise + And jokes that _must_ be laughed at must proceed. + _Anthology_, Vol. II. p. 115. + + +THOU ART A CHARM FOR WINTER. + + Nor here to pause--I own thy potent power, + When chilling blasts assail our frigid clime, + While flies the hail or rudely beats the shower, + Or sad impatience chides the wings of time. + + Come, then, my pipe, and let thy savoury cloud, + Now wisdom seldom shews her rev'rend mien, + Spread round my head a bland and shelt'ring shroud, + When riot mingles mischief with the scene. + + Shield me at evening from the selfish fool, + The wretch who never felt for human woes, + And while my conduct's framed by virtue's rule, + Let only peace and honour interpose. + + Shield me by day from hatred's threat'ning frowns, + Still let thine aromatic curtains spread, + When bold presumption mounts to put me down, + And hurls his maledictions round my head. + + Do this, my pipe, and till my sand's run out, + I'll sing thy praise among the sons of wealth, + Blest weed that bids the glutton lose his gout, + And gains respect among the drugs of health. + + No shrew shall harm thee, no mundungus foul + Shall stain thy lining, as the ermine white; + My choicest friends shall revel o'er thy bowl, + And charm away the terrors of the night. + + From ample hoards I'll bring the fragrant spoils, + The richest herb from Kerebequa's shores, + That grateful weed, that props the British Isles, + And Sussex,[6] England's Royal Duke adores. + _The Social Pipe._ + + +ALL NATIONS HONOR THEE. + + 'Tis not for me to sing thy praise alone, + Where'er the merchant spreads his wind-bleach'd sails; + Wherever social intercourse is known, + There too thy credit, still the theme prevails. + + The bearded Turk, majestically grand, + In high divan upholds the jointed reeds; + And clearer reasons on the case in hand, + Till opposition to his lore concedes. + + Thy potent charms delight the nabob's taste, + Fixt on his elephant (half reasoning beast); + He twines the gaudy hookah round his waist, + And puffs thy incense to the breezy east. + + The grave Bavarian, midst his half year's frost, + Delights to keep thy ruby fins awake; + And as in traffic's maze his fancy's tost, + Light skims the icy surface of the lake. + + The Indian Sachem at his wigwam-gate, + By chiefs surrounded when the warfare ends, + Seated in all the pomp of savage state, + Circles the calumet[7] to cheer his friends. + + The Frenchman loves thee in another way, + He grinds thy leaves to make him scented snuff; + Boasts of improvements, and presumes to say, + France still the polish gives and we the _rough_. + + Still let him boast, nor put John Bull to shame, + His Gascon tales shall Englishmen divert; + France for her trifles has been _dear_ to fame, + From her the ruffle sprung, from us the shirt. + + The lib'ral Spaniard and the Portuguese, + Spread richest dainties brought from realms afar; + Nor think their festive efforts form'd to please, + Unless redundant breathes the light cigar. + + So when our Druids inspiration sought, + They burnt the misletoe to fume around; + Th' inspiring vapours gave a strength to thought, + They dealt out lore impressive and profound. + + Methinks I see them with the mental eye, + I hear their lessons with attention's ear; + Of early fishing with the summer fly, + And many a pleasing tale to anglers dear. + + The while they draw from the inspiring weed, + They boast a charm the smoker owns supreme; + And now diverted with the polish'd reed, + Forego the little fish-house by the stream. + + Tho' this be fancy, still it serves to shew, + That Wisdom's sons have lov'd Columbia's pride; + And shall, while waters round our island flow, + Tho' fools and fops its healing breath deride. + + Mem'ry still hold me in thy high esteem, + For lonely setting upon the day's decline; + Visions sublime, before my fancy gleam, + And rich ideas from her stores combine. + _The Social Pipe._ + + +WALTON AND COTTON.[8] + + Our sires of old esteemed this healing leaf, + Sacred to Bacchus and his rosy train; + And many a country squire and martial chief, + Have sung its virtues mid a long campaign. + + Methinks I see Charles Cotton and his friend, + The modest Walton from Augusta's town; + Enter the fishing house an hour to spend, + And by the marble[9] table set them down. + + Boy! bring me in the jug of Derby ale, + My best tobacco and my smoking tray; + The boy obedient brings the rich regale, + And each assumes his pipe of polish'd clay. + + Thus sang young Cotton, and his will obey'd, + And snug the friends were seated at their ease; + They light their tubes without the least parade, + And give the fragrance to the playful breeze. + + Now cloud on cloud parades the fisher's room, + The Moreland ale rich sparkles to the sight; + They draw fresh wisdom from the circling gloom, + And deal a converse pregnant with delight. + + The love-sick Switzer from his frozen lake, + Lights thee to cheer him thro' the upland way; + To her who sighs impatient for his sake, + And thinks a moment loiter'd, is a moon's delay. + + The hardy Scot amidst his mountain snow, + When icy fetters bind the dreary vale, + Draws from his muse the never-failing glow, + And bids defiance to the rushing gale. + + The honest Cambrians round their cyder cask, + In friendship meet the moments to solace; + Tell all thy worth as circles round the ask, + And cheerly sing of "Shenkin's noble race." + + The hardy tar in foamy billows hid, + While fiery flashes all around deform; + Clings to the yard and takes his fav'rite _quid_, + Smiles at the danger and defies the storm; + + And when the foe with daring force appears, + Recurrent to the sav'ry pouch once more, + New vigour takes and three for George he cheers, + As vict'ry smiles, and still the cannons roar. + + The soldier loves thee on his dreary march, + And when in battle dreadful armies join; + 'Tis thou forbids his sulphur'd lips should parch, + And gives new strength to charge along the line. + + Thy acrid flavour to new toil invites + The ploughman, drooping 'neath the noon-day beam; + Inspir'd by thee, he thinks of love's delights, + And down the furrow whistles to his team. + + Thus all admire thee: search around the globe, + The rich, the poor, the volatile, the grave; + Save the SWEET fop, who fears to taint his robe, + The smock-fac'd fribble, and the henpeck'd slave. + + Thus all esteem thee, and to this agree, + Thou art the drug preferr'd in ev'ry clime; + To clear the head, and set the senses free, + And lengthen life beyond the wonted time. + _The Social Pipe._ + + +ON A PIPE OF TOBACCO. + +BY ISAAC HAWKINS BROWN, ESQ. + + Pretty tube of mighty power! + Charmer of an idle hour; + Object of my hot desire, + Lip of wax and eye of fire; + And thy snowy taper waist, + With my fingers gently brac'd; + And thy lovely swelling crest, + With my bended stopper prest; + And the sweetest bliss of blisses, + Breathing from thy balmy kisses; + Happy thrice and thrice agen-- + Happiest he of happy men! + + Who, when again the night returns, + When again the taper burns; + When again the crickets gay, + Little crickets full of play; + Can afford his tube to feed, + With the fragrant Indian weed; + Pleasure for a nose divine, + Incense of the god of wine! + Happy thrice and thrice agen-- + Happiest he of happy men! + + +MY LAST CIGAR. + + The mighty Thebes, and Babylon the great, + Imperial Rome, in turn, have bowed to fate; + So this great world, and each 'particular star', + Must all burn out, like you, my last cigar: + A puff--a transient fire, that ends in smoke, + And all that's given to man--that bitter joke-- + Youth, Hope, and Love, three whiffs of passing zest, + Then come the ashes, and the long, long, rest. + + + + +A REVIEW OF THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS CONCERNING TOBACCO. + + +During the reign of Elizabeth, a facility had been afforded to the +dissemination of tobacco, that was soon destined to receive a check, on +the accession of her successor, James the First, to the throne. This arose +from a prejudice, that, with many others, rendered this weak and +vacillating monarch remarkable. Whether it arose, as many have supposed, +from his dislike to Sir Walter Raleigh, so despicably and cruelly shown, +and that the source of his peculiar feelings turned with bitterness to the +plant of that great man's adoption, can only be left to the imagination to +decide; but that he exerted all the powers of his mind for its entire +suppression, is certain. + +In the first place, the importation duty had been, up to this period, but +2_d._ per lb., and this, by the first law James passed, was increased to +6_s._ 10_d._, thus adding the comparatively enormous sum of 6_s._ 8_d._ to +the previously existing trifle. In consequence of this, nearly a +stagnation of the trade took place; and _Stith_ informs us, that so low +was it reduced in 1611, that only 142,085 lbs. weight were imported from +Virginia, not amounting to one-sixth of the previous annual supply. + +One of two things now only remained to be done, as the traders could have +no interest to gratify in shipping it under the existing law; they were +either compelled to give it up or cultivate it at home. The latter +alternative was adopted, and till the year 1620, the tobacco-plant was +cultivated to a very considerable extent. But the obduracy of its royal +enemy was not to be so eluded, an act was passed especially prohibiting +its culture at home. The crisis of the plant's fate seemed now to +approach. Determining on the other hand, not to forfeit an indulgence, +that habit in a great degree had made necessary, it was examined and found +in the reading of the act made in 1604, that though it particularly +provided 6_s._ 10_d._ duty should be levied on all tobacco _from +Virginia_, no mention was made of its importation from any other colony. + +Taking advantage of this omission, recourse was immediately had to the +Spanish and Portuguese districts, and the consequence was an influx of +the favorite herb at the old duty of 2_d._ The only real sufferers through +adopting this new channel of commerce, were the planters of Virginia, who +made a representation of their loss to the throne, when another law was +passed, lessening the duty and prohibiting the importation from any other +place. + +To this effect an act was passed in 1624, and though it was some time +previous to the trade regaining any thing like its pristine vigour, it had +but just began to do so, when, as if the sight was doubly hateful to +James, he had a new law passed. This was to the effect, that none, under +very heavy penalties, should deal in the article without holding letters +patent from himself. A blow so sudden and unexpected, occasioned the ruin, +we are told, of many thousands, and the trade went rapidly to decay. + +So uncertain and precarious did the law at this period seem with regard to +tobacco, and so well was the irritable monarch's antipathy to it known, by +the celebrated "Counterblaste" he had written against it, of which we +shall treat hereafter, that few cared to speculate in the traffic. +Although the act James had made in 1620 was not repealed, the cultivation +of the plant was still carried on clandestinely to a very great extent. +Most of the laws, indeed, since James's time, have an evident tendency to +banish tobacco from the kingdom. An act was made 12th Car. II. cap. 34. +This law, embracing the prohibitory portions of the preceding acts, +confiscated the tobacco so found, with a fine of 100 shillings for every +pole of land so planted. + +Another shortly followed after this, the 15th Car. II. cap. 17, wherein +the previous one was enforced, and the penalty fixed at 10_l._ for every +rod. By this we may infer, that the former of these acts had not, in the +estimation of the legislature, been sufficiently powerful to restrain the +practice of the secret culture of the plant at home. + +Turning aside from the perusal of these laws, which probably arose from +the pique of a learned though imbecile monarch, we cannot but reflect with +a feeling of surprise, that our own _enlightened_ regulations have their +origin distinctly traced to them. This is an assumption I think we may +fairly maintain, when we state that the duty is now 3_s._[10] per lb. on +the importation of the raw material; a sum that forms no less than +_fifteen times its prime cost_ in the countries where it is produced. On +the leaf manufactured it is immense, the duty on cigars being 9_s._ the +lb. (5th Geo. IV. cap. 48,) and on snuff 6_s._ + +That tobacco, as a luxury, is a fit article for taxation we are not +disposed to deny, but a little reflection must convince any one, that a +tax so exceedingly high, instead of adding to the revenue, can but have an +opposite effect; for what can be a greater incentive to the contraband +trade that is notoriously known to exist in this article of home +consumption? + +If the duty were lowered, the great cause of smuggling in this line would +no longer remain, and at the same time a much greater quantity would +doubtless be consumed. If we but look back in other instances of a similar +kind, we shall generally find it so. The duty on spirits in Ireland and +Scotland was decreased from 5_s._ 6_d._ the wine-gallon down so low as +2_s._, which instead of lowering the amount of the annual tax, very +considerably added to it. Then again, in regard to the duty formerly +levied on French wines, it was lowered from 11_s._ 5-1/2_d._ down to 6_s._ +the gallon, a reduction that also greatly tended to increase the amount of +the year's revenue. The duty on coffee is another proof we shall cite: in +1823 it was 1_s._ per lb. and the goverment derived from it that year +393,708_l._ Whereas when half of the amount levied was taken off, leaving +it but 6_d._, in 1825 the gross receipt amounted to 426,187_l._ Thus may +we see, with very numerous other instances that might be named, the +advantages arising from a low tax, which we affirm, with few exceptions, +will ever be found to benefit the country at large. + +Nor is this the only evil we have to complain of as regards the tobacco +regulations; while the whole system is defective, there is one that more +imperatively calls for the attention of the legislature. What we allude to +is, the glaring impolicy of obliging our merchant service to traverse +different portions of the globe, at a consequently large expence, in +search of an article we have the means of producing at home, and whose +very production would furnish constant employment to some of the millions +now a burthen to the country. + +Perhaps it would scarcely be credited, that in 1826, no less a quantity of +tobacco and snuff was imported than 40,074,447 lbs. Now out of this, only +18,761,245 lbs. paid duty; yet to the serious amount of 3,310,375_l._ +sterling. The rest we suppose sought a market elsewhere. + +As a proof of the evident want of policy in our regulations concerning +tobacco, we shall give our readers a slight abstract to judge for +themselves. + +No tobacco shall be imported but from America on pain of forfeiture, with +the vessel and its contents, except from Spain, Portugal, and Ireland, +from which it may be imported under certain regulations. (29 Geo. III. c. +68.) But tobacco of the territories of Russia or Turkey may be imported +from thence in British-built ships and warehoused, and may be exported or +entered for home consumption on payment of the like duties as tobacco of +the United States of America; and on its being manufactured in Great +Britain and exported, shall be entitled to the drawbacks. (43 Geo. III. c. +68.) + +By the 45 Geo. III. c. 57, tobacco the production of the West Indies or +the continent of America, belonging to any foreign European state, may be +imported into certain ports specified in the act, and exported to any port +of the United Kingdom subject to the regulations of the act; and such +tobacco shall pay the same duties as that which is the growth of the +British West Indies, or of the United States of America. + +By the 49 Geo. III. c. 25, unmanufactured tobacco may be imported from any +place in British vessels navigated according to law, or in foreign ships +navigated in any manner whatever belonging to any state in amity with +Great Britain; and such tobacco shall be liable to the same regulations as +tobacco from the British plantations. But no tobacco or snuff shall be +imported in any vessel of less burthen than 120 tons; nor any +tobacco-stalks, tobacco-stalk flower, or snuff work in any vessel +whatever; nor any tobacco or snuff in casks less than 450 lbs. on the like +penalty; except loose tobacco for the crew not exceeding five lbs. for +each person; nor shall the vessel be forfeited, if proof be made, from the +smallness of the quantity, that such tobacco or snuff was on board without +the knowledge of the owner or master. (29 G. III. c. 68.) + +And no tobacco or snuff shall be imported, except at London, Bristol, +Liverpool, Lancaster, Cowes, Falmouth, Whitehaven and Hull, (and by 31 +Geo. III. c. 47, Newcastle-upon-Tyne), on the like forfeiture. + +Every manufacturer of tobacco or snuff shall take out a licence from the +officers of excise, for which he shall pay, if the quantity of tobacco and +snuff-work weighed by him for manufacture within the year ending the 10th +of October, previous to his taking out such licence + + did not exceed 20,000 lbs. L. 2 0 0 + Above 20,000, and under 30,000 3 0 0 + 30,000 40,000 4 0 0 + 40,000 50,000 5 0 0 + 50,000 60,000 6 0 0 + 60,000 70,000 7 0 0 + 70,000 80,000 8 0 0 + 80,000 90,000 9 0 0 + 90,000 100,000 10 0 0 + 100,000 120,000 12 0 0 + 120,000 150,000 15 0 0 + 150,000 ------ 20 0 0 + +Every person who shall first become a manufacturer of tobacco or snuff, +shall pay for every such licence 2_l._, and within ten days after the 10th +of October next, after taking out such licence, such further additional +sum as, with the said 2_l._, shall amount to the duty hereinbefore +directed to be paid, according to the quantity of tobacco and snuff-work +weighed for manufacture. + +And every dealer in tobacco and snuff shall take out a licence in like +manner, for which he shall pay within the liberties of the chief office in +London 5_s._, elsewhere 2_s._ 6_d._ (43 Geo. III. c. 69.) But persons +licensed as manufacturers who shall not sell tobacco in a less quantity +than four pounds, nor snuff than two pounds, need not be licensed as +dealers. (29 Geo. III.) + +Every person who shall manufacture or deal in tobacco or snuff without +taking out such licence, or shall not renew the same ten days at least +before the end of the year, shall forfeit, if a manufacturer 200_l._, and +if a dealer 50_l._ + +Persons in partnership need not take out more than one licence for one +house. Every manufacturer and dealer shall make entry in writing of his +house or place intended to be made use of for manufacturing, keeping, or +selling tobacco or snuff, three days previous to his beginning, on pain of +forfeiting 200_l._, and also the tobacco and snuff there found, together +with the casks and package which may be seized by the officers of the +customs or excise. + + + + +THE IMPORTANCE OF SMOKING AND SNUFF-TAKING, EXEMPLIFIED IN A GRAVE +DISSERTATION, DEDICATED TO THE YOUTH OF THE RISING GENERATION. + + What soothes the peasant when his toil is done? + He cheerly sits beside his cottage door, + In the sweet light of ev'ning's parting sun, + His young ones sporting o'er the sanded floor:-- + + What cheers the seaman, when the fight is won, + And vict'ry smiles upon our naval band? + Toiling no longer at the murd'rous gun, + His thoughts are proudly of his native land. + + What charms the Turk, Greek, Frenchman, fop or sage, + In this enlighten'd comfort-loving age; + Since health, and pleasure's cheerful reign began, + But lov'd tobacco, sovereign friend of man?--M. S. + + + "For the taking of fumes by pipes, as in tobacco and other things, to + dry and comfort."--_Bacon._ + + "Bread or tobacco may be neglected: but reason at first recommends + their trial, and custom makes them pleasant."--_Locke._ + + +Hail! inspirers of the profoundest and the brightest things that have been +said and done since the creation, and, in the strength and plenitude of +our recollections of thy divine virtues, aid us to sing thy praises! What +though there be those, who, in the whim, caprice or ignorance of thy +merits, would run ye down in the plenitude of their prejudices--have ye +not stood the test of time, that criterion of excellence? Are ye not, most +sublime of pleasures, independent of your other numerous claims upon +public and private favour--are ye not immortalized by the hallowed names +of the great, the good, the wise, the witty and the learned, whose +encomiums of your worth shall descend with you, through the future ages of +unborn posterity. + +What! shall it ever be said that the disaffected to the great public +cause, the innovators upon common taste, shall be allowed to progress in +their rash undertaking, of seeking to undervalue the importance of those +gentle consolers through life, the snuff-box and pipe. Never! while +there's a Woodville--nay, even a Dhoodeen,[11] to smoke them to defiance, +or a pinch of 'high dried,' to father a witty reply. + +Much-injured and defrauded of habits--friends of past and present +learning and genius--of every land and every clime--sought by rich, as +well as poor, and alike soothing to the king as slave, how have ye not +been calumniated by the weak and designing! As the poet saith, "Envy doth +merit as its shade pursue," and so is it with you. Oh that those standing +highest in the popular favour--the 'tried and trusty'--should ever be the +objects of attack to the discontented! + +Most delectable of companions! how many tender reminiscences and +recollections are associated with you, from the last pipe of the murdered +Raleigh in Newgate, to the dernier pinch of the equally unfortunate Louis +XVI, ere they mounted scaffolds, it is hoped, for a better world. If we +turn to the imagination, how many endearing recollections connected with +our subject throng upon us, even from the once happy days of our boyhood, +when in secret we pored over the pages of genius in preference to +scholastic lore. Rise up before us, thou soul of philanthropy, and +humorous eccentricity, my uncle Toby! with thy faithful and humble +serviteur the corporal.[12] Methinks, indeed, we now see ye together in +the little cottage parlour, lighted up by the cheerful fire, discoursing +of past dangers and campaigns under the soothing influence of the narcotic +weed, whose smoke, as it rises in fantastic curls from either pipe, +harmonizes together like your kindred souls. And thou, too, poor monk,[13] +offspring of the same pervading mind, yet picturing many a sad reality, +must thou be forgotten, absorbed as thou art from all the grosser passions +of our nature? Our memory paints thee, impelled by the courtesy of thy +gentle nature, proffering thine humble box of horn, thy pale and +intellectual face, so sensitive, half-shrinking from the fear of 'pride's +rebuff:' whilst thou thyself, from the sneers of the affluent, seekest +consolation in--a pinch of snuff! + +Good Vicar of Wakefield![14] man of many sorrows, we greet thee in our +reminiscences, sitting in thine happier days beneath the elm that shades +thy rustic roof, as, under the influence of thy much loved pipe, thou +inculcatest to the youthful circle around thee maxims of truth and piety. +What peculiar feelings of veneration must we attach to these pipes and +snuff-boxes. Without them, indeed--with such a true knowledge of life are +they introduced--the stories would lose half their force, and nearly all +their effect. How naturally do we associate with a smoker, a blandness and +evenness of voice and gesture, which we can by no means ascribe to men in +common. The same almost in regard to the snuff-box: the mind seems to +acquire a polish and fire at its very sight. Nay, absolutely such is our +profound respect for the sympathising herb, that even the _quids_ of poor +Lieutenant Bowling[15] himself would appear venerable in our eyes were +they but in existence. + +Lowering our Pegasus a peg or two from the loftier flights of conception, +we will proceed more immediately to analyze the merits of these legitimate +offsprings of the parent plant, smoking and snuff-taking; first of all, +however, having recourse to a pinch of Welsh, to clear our head for so +arduous an undertaking. That smoking and snuff-taking have, as habits +pernicious to the health, been attacked repeatedly by the heads of +science, is no less true than that they have escaped each intended +flagellation, and thrived under the fostering lip and nose of a discerning +public. Previous, however, to proceeding further, we shall take a review +of the different enemies arrayed against the good old customs we have had +handed down to us from our fathers. These may most generally, we think, be +divided into three classes--the ladies,--physicians, and a certain class +of thin and pallid gentlemen, remarkable for the delicate susceptibility +of their noses. + +The ladies of England designate smoking and snuffing, filthy and dirty +habits. If you chance, dear reader, to ask why--because--because--they are +vile and dirty habits, and thereby--'hangs a tale.' Then, as a matter of +course, comes to be cited a list of the most gentlemanly men, young and +old, who are never guilty of committing the sin. Now, what does all this +come to?--that they do dislike the habits, and therefore none but brutes, +among the more refined orders, would think of annoying them by practising +either in their sweet presence. The understandings of women generally, in +comparison with those of men, are proverbially weak. Following the erratic +course of the first of their sex, who brought misery and woe upon the +devoted head of man, they in turn would fain deprive him of his two +cheapest comforts, left to console him in this vale of sorrow. + +Reader, if thou should'st chance to be a married man, when thy rib--so +vulgarly called in epitome, though perchance the better half of +thyself--rails against thy only consolation in domestic +broils,--smoking--answer not, we beseech thee. No, not a word of the +volume of eloquence we fancy rising indignantly in thy throat, against the +cruel calumnies levelled at thy favorite Virginia, as thou valuest the +safety of thy tube, whether Dutch or Merschaum. The voice of an angel +would not avail thee in thy cause. + +With reference to the _faculty_, though divided in opinions, we shall only +notice those arrayed against the plant divine. Indeed, the enmity of a +physician dependent upon his profession for support may be always known; +he detests anything cheap and soothing, conducive to health, and thence +his frequent antipathy to tobacco in smoking. In regard to snuff he is +wisely meek; for what were he himself without the stimulating dust in his +pocket? In former times, indeed, its influence perhaps was greater and +more respected than the wig and cane together, as Swift says:-- + + "Sir Plume, of Amber snuff-box, justly vain, + And the nice conduct of a clouded cane." + +Well, and what do the faculty say with reference to smoking? Some will +tell you it is hurtful to the lungs; others, that the head and heart are +more particularly affected by it; very few of them agreeing precisely as +to ill effects to be attributed to it. + +Grant us patience to bear such ingratitude! While they are indebted for +their consequence and fluency of discourse, to the wit-inspiring influence +of the herb in grain, they are running it down in another and not less +delightful preparation and form. Then, by way of conclusion, like a crier +of last dying speeches, comes to be related the death of some very +promising young man, who, through the frequent habit of smoking, which he +practised against the continued advice of the grave Monitor--made his exit +in a consumption. So if a man habituated to the pleasures of a pipe goes +off in a consumption, the anti-smokers must immediately assert it was +brought on by the use of tobacco. How do we know, indeed, but that its +magic influence kept him alive much longer than he would have been, +without it: supposing--and we suppose it only for the sake of argument, +that one or two, nay, say twenty in the thousand, suffer in their health +through smoking,--the abuse and not the use of which we candidly admit +may slightly impair some peculiar constitutions,--where is the recreant +who does not, feeling the joys of smoking, say with us, a "short life and +a merry one!" What, after all, are a few years in the scale of human +existence! Is the fear of losing one or two of their number, to deter us +from availing ourselves of innocent pleasures within our reach?--if so, +London, methinks, would soon be deserted by the scientific and intelligent +portion of its inhabitants, merely because the Thames water chances to be +a little poisonous, or so, and the air of the town notoriously unhealthy. + +By the same silly fear, too, the gourmand must abstain from the pleasures +of the table,--fashionables from late hours, and the army and navy from +hard drinking; in all of which the aforesaid, like true spirits, +exclusively delight and take a pride; doubtless, inspired in seeking to +indulge in what our own bard, Byron, says: + + "aught that gave, + Hope of a pleasure, or peril of a grave." + +An evident proof, if any be wanting, that beings of a pacific disposition +are as careless of facing death as those who have served an apprenticeship +to it. Once more, taking the most virulent of the medical enemies of +smoking, on their own assertions, and supposing people are killed outright +by smoking, why should this deter others from practising it? What is more +common, than that each year presents us with numerous deaths in every +department of recreation, whether riding, sailing, shooting or bathing; +and yet we should be surprised to learn that ever it deterred others from +following similar pursuits; then, wherefore, on their own shewing, should +the harmless happy recreation (that to the poor comprehends all the above +amusements) be excepted?--Why, indeed?--O! ye sons of the 'healing art,' +we throw reason away upon ye, and _we_ have too much reason to fear that +the true lights of science are lost to ye for ever, when ye attack that +which is so beneficial to man. + +The next, and in fact the most excusable of the triumvirate confederacy +against smoking and snuff-taking, the former more particularly, that now +calls for our attention, are the gentlemen of weak palates. These, first +caught by the look of the thing, from perceiving the mild serenity ever +attendant upon a smoker, and marking the sententious discourse of wisdom +flowing like honey from his lips, have essayed the practice, without +effect. At length, finding their nerves could never sustain the +delightful fumes, without certain inward admonitions, that were not to be +neglected or trifled with, they gave up all thoughts of that, which seemed +to make so many happy. Now, nothing is more common in metaphysics, than to +know that when a fancy or love is not returned by the object of affection, +it generally turns into as great a hatred. Nothing, therefore, is more +easily exemplified than the violence of the dislike expressed by this +order of 'tobacco's foemen.' Although the efforts of the above, with the +exception of an occasional treatise against the pernicious effects of +tobacco from the medical department, are confined to oral discussion of +the subject; the genial herb has enemies of a more aspiring and determined +cast. These parties are not contented with throwing their antipathies on +the sympathy of their own friends, but they must even occasionally cast +them upon the public in the awful form of a printed sheet. Some of these, +though written in a very grave style, are really amusing, and we shall +note a couple of them, among many other originals before us, in proof. The +first of these is the celebrated Counterblaste by King James the First, +written apparently in all the rancour of prejudice, and occupying rather +a curious place among his learned works. The second is a tract (published +in 1824) entitled, "An Appeal to Humanity, in behalf of the Brethren of +the Heathen World: particularly addressed to Snuff-takers and +Tobacco-smokers in all Christian Lands.--Second Edition." + +The application and tendency of this most facetious of pamphlets is, +neither more nor less, than to induce the world at large to abstain from +tobacco and snuff-taking altogether, and bestow the money formerly applied +for that purpose, to the promotion of the missionary society to convert +our 'heathen brethren.' + +Such is the benevolent object of this barbarian himself--for what else can +we, in the indignation that almost overwhelms us at his audacious attempt, +call him. When we reflect but for a moment, if he succeeded by the +powerful and charitable arguments he uses, the national wealth, powers, +and consequences of the kingdom would be undermined. For what, we say, +were Englishmen without tobacco?--no more than a Turk without his opium, a +Frenchman without his snuff, or any man without an agreeable stimulant to +the mind. Had he now only sought to deprive us of a meal in the day, our +dinner even, for instance, we could have borne patiently with him; but to +seek,--to conceive,--to attempt, banishing one of the most +soothing,--sympathising, and truest friends from the mansions of John +Bull, is an atrocity we scarcely can credit; did not the identical +barbarous proposition glare us in the face in good long-primer. Write of +the heathen, indeed! he wants converting himself to a just and proper +sense of the darkness in which he walks, or rather we should say, writes, +when he could conceive such an enormity. However, after thus premising, we +shall allow him an opportunity of speaking for himself. + +In the first instance, he states, that he had long seriously thought, that +the abuse of tobacco in every form is altogether inconsistent with the +grand rule of the inspired volume--"Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory +of God." (I Cor. x. 31.) + +After stating what truly astonishing large sums of money are annually +expended in tobacco and snuff, he details the following anecdote. + +"Travelling some time ago in a stage-coach, an elderly lady and a +gentleman sat opposite to me. It was not long before the old gentleman +pulled out his snuff-box, and, giving it a tap with his finger as the +manner is, asked the lady if she would take a pinch; but she declined. As +the lady particularly eyed me, I could scarcely refrain from +smiling.--(_most facetious!_) 'Perhaps, ma'am, you do not decline taking a +pinch, because you think there is any sin in snuff-taking?' 'Oh no. I do +take snuff: do YOU think there is sin in it, Sir?' 'Yes ma'am,' said I, 'I +think in _some cases_ it is sinful,' (_as cases are in italics we should +feel happy to know whether they are of tin or composition he alludes to, +but to proceed_.) At this, the lady expressed great surprise (_as well she +might_) and would not be satisfied, unless I would assign some reason for +thinking that snuff-taking was sinful. At length, for she teazed me, I +said to her, 'Pray ma'am, (_cannot he drop the field-preacher and write +Madam_) how much in the week may you spend in snuff?' 'Perhaps 7_d._' 'And +how many years have you been in the habit of taking snuff?' 'Well, I +suppose,' she replied, 'upwards of forty years.' 'Seven-pence a week, you +say,--that is something more than thirty shillings in the year,--and if +you have taken snuff at this rate for forty years, the same will amount to +more than 60_l._' 'You surprise me,--you must be mistaken, Sir.' 'No, +Ma'am,' said I, 'I am not mistaken. It amounts to more than 60_l._ +without the interest (_profound calculation!_) Now, do you think that God +will reward you for taking snuff?' 'Reward me for taking snuff!' said she, +'No, Sir, I do not expect that.' 'But suppose, instead of spending this +60_l._ in snuff, you had spent it in feeding the hungry, clothing the +naked;'"--we really can follow these opinions no further, as we have more +than one old maiden lady within our ken, that would have actually +_fainted_ outright at such a want of modesty. + +Trusting our reader will bear with us, we shall notice a little more of +this self-created minister's appeal in favour of the heathens, who, +doubtless, if favoured with the knowledge, could not but feel highly +indebted for the exertions of so powerful an advocate in their cause. At +the same time we strongly suspect, from the love he has of showing his +knowledge of the tables of pence, that the writer was formerly an +officiating deputy in a huckster's or chandler's shop, until seduced by +the influence of the "spirit that moves" for a nobler call of action. The +following is another specimen of his _figurative_ powers. + +"A few days ago, I mentioned the above anecdote in the house of a farmer. +'Why,' said the farmer, 'I could never have thought that 7_d._ a week +would have come to so much.--Do you know my wife and I can assure you, +that awhile back, we smoked an ounce a day.' 'An ounce a day,' said I, +(_the echo!_) 'What is tobacco an ounce?' (_ignoramus!--we thought he knew +not the value of what he attempts to depreciate_). 'Four-pence,' said he. +'Four-pence an ounce, and an ounce in the day, that is 2_s._ 4_d._ per +week, and 52 weeks in the year will be the sum of 6_l._ and 4_d._ +annually.--O Sir!--I am very sorry for you.'"--(_kind hearted soul!_) + +Pursuing his system, apparently, of poking his head into the affairs of +country farmers, he gives us another trite anecdote, too rich a _morceau_ +to be passed in silence; since it so admirably serves to shew the +estimation the pipe is held in by the true representatives of John Bull. + +"Since I commenced writing of this, I had occasion to call upon a +respectable farmer, who is a member of your society--(_we smell a +rat_)--and a leader I suppose, greatly esteemed by his neighbours, who +certainly have the best opportunity of knowing him as a truly pious, and +useful man. Almost immediately after we were seated, he called for his +pipe (for some people cannot be cheerful or make a wise bargain--_symptoms +of the shop_)--unless their heads are enveloped in smoke. 'Now, Sir,' said +he, 'can you smoke any, will you have a pipe?' 'No, Sir,' said I, 'I +never smoked a pipe in all my life;'--(_miserable man! this he says +doubtless by way of shewing his Christian self-denial_). 'I have for a +long time considered it sinful, and therefore I never smoke.' 'Sinful,' +said he, laughing--(_jolly fellow!_)--'how can it be sinful?' 'Because,' +said I, 'it wastes our power of doing good. Did you never consider that.' +Upon this his wife who was sitting by, pleasantly observed, 'Our John is a +terrible smoker'--(_worthy man!_)--'For goodness sake don't make him +believe that it is sinful to smoke. If he can't get his pipe, we shall +have no peace: he'll be quite out of temper.' 'Nay,' said I, 'surely not +out of temper.' 'Yes, for sure, out of temper enough,--quite peevish and +fretful.' 'Now,' said John, 'how thou talks my dear.' 'Talk! why is it not +true? Thou wants it first thing in the morning--then again at breakfast +time--then again at noon, and then again at night--just as it happens. +Why, I'll warrant you (turning to me) he has seven or eight pipes in a +day, and sometimes more,'--(_sensible man!_)--'Perhaps,' said I, 'he's +sick, and smokes for his health.' 'Nay, nay, sick, bless him! he's none +sick, he has got a habit of it you see, and so he thinks he wants it. Oh, +he must have his pipe--he can't do without his pipe--sin in it! nay, +surely it cannot be sinful.' (_He concludes with his favorite +computation_). Upon inquiry, I found, that though the only smoker in the +family, yet at a moderate reckoning, he contrives to consume about 5_l._ +worth of tobacco every year." + +This would, doubtless, have been better employed in the hands of the good +promoter of the Missionaries, of whom we now take our leave; and to whom, +we wish no further punishment for his cruel attempt at seeking to banish +the cheerful companionship of the pipe from mansions of peace, than being +compelled to the smoking of a pipe of the oldest shag himself. + +In reference to King James' Counterblaste, although, from its antiquity, +as well as the rank and learning of the author, it occupies a serious +claim upon our attention, yet, upon the whole, it may be termed nearly as +ridiculous as the foregoing, although not in its application. It, indeed, +fully bears the stamp of those antipathies that, once conceived, the +monarch was seldom or never known to waive. This is more singular, as they +were formed against a plant, received into the greatest favour and esteem +among all ranks, and, as a medicine, was in far greater request than it +is even now. Facts like these plainly establish, that James' dislike, +however acquired, proceeded from prejudice and _prejudice_ alone. + +In the first paragraph, he tells us, that it was first introduced into +England from the Indians, who used it as an antidote against "a filthy +disease, whereunto these barbarous people (as all people know) are very +much subject." + +After bestowing a volley of abuse upon smoking, not of the most elegant +description, he refers to the acquiring of the fashion that certainly +generally applies in all things now, as well as it did in his own times. + +"Do we not daily see, that a man can no sooner bring ouer from beyond the +seas any new forme of apparell, but that he cannot be thought a man of +spirit that would not presently imitate the same? and so, from hand to +hand it spreads, till it be practised by all; not from any commodity that +is in it, but only because it is come to be the fashion." + +Of the popularity of smoking in his time, he says himself, "You are not +able to ride, or walk, the journey of a Jew's Sabbath, but you must have a +reekie cole brought you from the next poor-house, to kindle your tobacco +with?" + +"It is become in place of a care, a point of good fellowship, and hee that +will refuse to take _a pipe_ of tobacco among his fellowes, though by his +owne election he would rather not feel the savor of the stinke, is +accounted peevish and no good company; even as they do tippling in the +COLD Eastern countreys." + +Of the consequences then often attending the habit of smoking, he +observes, "Now how you are by this custome disabled in your goods, let the +gentry of this land beare witness; some of them bestowing THREE, some FOUR +HUNDRED POUNDS A YEERE upon this precious stinke, which I am sure might be +bestowed upon far better vses." + +Than the assertion of the above individual enormous expenditure, nothing +perhaps is better calculated to display James's exaggeration, which +actually here can only be considered hyperbolical. The idea, the bare +possibility, is scarcely conceivable for a moment, that in those days, +three hundred pounds, at least equal to nine hundred of our present money, +was ever laid out by a single individual in smoking; excepting, indeed, +perhaps, as a very rare and singular occurrence. King James concludes his +Counterblaste in the following piece of declamation. + +"Have you not reason then to be ashamed, and to forbeare this filthie +noveltie so basely grounded, so foolishly received, and so grossly +mistaken, in the right use thereof? In your abuse thereof, sinning against +God, harming yourselves both in persons and goods, and raking also +thereby, the markes and vanities vpon you: by the custome thereof, making +yourselves to be wondered at by all forreinne civill nations, and by all +strangers that come among you, to be scorned and contemned: a custome +loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmefull to the braine, +dangerous to the lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof, nearest +resembling the horrible Stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomlesse." + +What a pity it is, James never smoked; instead of this long tirade against +the most cheerful of all pastimes, we should have had an eulogy, glowing +with the warmth and feeling of truth from the head and heart. From the +very gall perceivable at times, one could easily know he was an utter +stranger to the gentle sympathy of a pipe. He ridicules and condemns that, +which, like many others, he knows not, and therefore cannot appreciate. +Had he but put the pipe fairly upon its trial, and found it guilty of the +mischiefs ascribed to it, then could we have excused him; but to conceive +ideas not founded upon truth and justice and the welfare of the kingdom he +was called upon to govern, and to act upon those ideas, by the framing of +arbitrary laws, repressing the tastes of the nation at large, raises in +its remembrance an indignation in our mind, that takes repeated whiffs of +our 'German' to quell. + +Now the truly immense extent of the benefits Europe is indebted to for the +introduction of the tobacco-plant, is by no means generally known. For the +instruction of our _fellow_ creatures--we say instruction, because +probably our numerous readers may never have met with them before,--we +shall proceed to enlighten the world upon the subject. If we look backward +to the earlier periods of History, what barbarous and savage manners do we +not mark characterizing the people and the times. Rapine and murder +stalking hand in hand among them, and scarce at all repressed by laws, +divine or human. Now mark, sweet readers, especially if true lovers of the +invaluable herb, whose praises we are about singing! Mark what "great +effects from little causes spring." No sooner did tobacco make its +appearance and get into notice and use, than the passions of all men +wooing its soothing influence, gradually began to receive a change. As it +got more generally diffused, its influence might almost be termed magical; +the sword, in a great degree, was exchanged for the quill, the wine-cup +for the coffee-cup (thence its use in Turkey always with smoking), and +letters began to flourish--the first grand step towards that civilization +I shall prove it was gradually destined to effect in the world. Doubtless, +like many other great writers, who open out a new light to the world, we +shall have enough of sceptics, as opponents, to contend with; but we are +sanguine from the facts we shall clearly establish, that far more is to be +attributed to the powers of tobacco, than millions dream of. + +In the first place, it is too well known to admit of much doubt, that +tobacco, whether smoked or taken as snuff, exercises a very considerable +power upon the mind, more especially when taken in considerable +quantities. When such is the case, the faculties are refined and exalted +to a degree of spirited buoyancy, that forms a strange and pleasing +contrast to the usual unstimulated lethargic state of the mind. We can +only compare it, though in a much milder, and more inoffensive degree, to +the species of delirium the Turks so vividly describe, when labouring +under the effects of opium. The intellectual senses, more particularly +that part of them forming the imagination, become so much more powerful +and pervading, that its conceptions receive a warmth and strength of +colouring they never can, under common excitement. + +Now tobacco, as we have recorded, was first brought to England in the +reign of Elizabeth, who greatly patronized it among the nobles and poorer +orders, by whom it came speedily into general use. Most mighty herb!--the +effects of thy worship were soon visible, for where do we find a reign so +great and glorious either for victories by land and sea, or the +distinguished talent and genius, whether in the camp or cabinet, it +fostered at home. Then was it, that Shakespeare--the magnificent +Shakespeare, (blest and honored was the reign in which he drew life) burst +forth like a star destined to excite the astonishment of the world he came +to throw the effulgent light of his genius upon. He was a smoker. + +Then, to sketch forth the gigantic march of intellect, in the ages of +which we write, came forth those luminaries of the world; Hobbes, the +parent of Locke's philosophy, the profound philosopher Lord Bacon, the +most illustrious mathematician and philosopher, Sir Isaac Newton, and the +singularly talented metaphysician Locke, each and all of whom were +celebrated for their devotion to the soothing and stimulating powers of a +pipe! It is related of Hobbes, who was one of the most profound thinkers +of his time, that as soon as the dinner was over, he used to retire to his +study and had his candle with _ten or twelve_ pipes of tobacco laid by +him; then shutting the door he fell to smoking, thinking and writing for +several hours together. Locke and Bacon smoked much for recreation; the +latter of whom probably was indebted to the practice for the preservation +of his life in the plague of 1665, from whose contagious influence in +London he sought safety in the country and his pipe. + +Now, to what, we should like to know, are to be attributed the mighty and +successful efforts of these wonderful men, who may justly be considered +the founders of modern civilization and literature, but the all--the far +pervading fumes of the sovereign tobacco-leaf they worshipped with such +devotion. To its exhilarating influence and invigorating aid, exciting the +imagination to realms of undiscovered beauties, are we indebted for those +works that shall live, while time is,--the wonder of this and all future +ages. + +Are we singular in our opinion? Mark, learn, and inwardly digest, ye +unbelievers, what the learned Dr. Raphael Thorious says on the subject:-- + + "Of cheering bowls I mean to sing the praise, + And of the herb that can the poet's fancy raise; + Aid me, O! father Phoebus I invoke, + Fill me a pipe (boy) of that fragrant smoke, + That I may drink the God into my brain; + And so enabled, write a noble strain. + For nothing great or high can come from thence, + Where that blest plant denies its influence." + +Smile on, ye critics; but let us ask ye, if those works that have so +strong a claim to our respect, would ever have come into existence had +there been no tobacco, to rarify and stimulate the mind. No!--must be your +candid answer, if only in verification of the old saying, '_No pipe, no +Parr_.' Then, what mighty blessings are we not indebted for to the +much-aspersed, calumniated, and insulted herb. Nor is the fact of its +consequence in regard to these first great discoverers in science, the +only proofs that exist of its reputation; successive generations, under +the weed's cheering auspices, have but continued what they so ably began. + +Dr. Johnson,[16] Dr. Thorious, Dr. Aldrich, Dr. Parr, Pope, Swift, +Addison, Steele, and a host of other approved writers of celebrity, +independent of those of the present day, are all similarly indebted to the +genial influence of tobacco, under one preparation or another, for the +stimulus of their inspiration. The fact is incontrovertible. Where was +transcendant literary ability before the introduction of +tobacco?--Nowhere--it was unknown:--but, no sooner, we repeat, did IT +become known and in use, than its generative powers became quickly +visible: the minds of men, though previously barren, became fructified by +its influence, and letters flourished. With truth it is observed, we +formerly were a nation of readers; but, who is so ignorant as not to know, +that as tobacco has become diffused, with knowledge, we are now a nation +of smokers and writers. It may, indeed, be fairly set down as an axiom we +may rely upon, that nearly every one occasionally gets a penchant for +scribbling who smokes or snuffs; from the cobler, whose "_soul_ on higher +things is bent," that composes a ditty to the measure of some admired +production gracing his stall, to the peer of the realm, who, lounging on +an ottoman under the inspiration of prince's mixture, dictates a sonnet, +or a novel, to his secretary, as the humour may chance to be of the +moment. That tobacco has effected wonders in the promotion and +promulgation of knowledge, we flatter ourselves we have plausibly shown; +that it is equally distinguished in _diplomacy_ and _war_, is a fact we +shall now proceed to demonstrate. To commence then: who ever knew or heard +of a plenipotentiary without his jewelled _snuff-box_?--The thing were out +of nature: without _it_, indeed, he were but an automaton--a body without +a head--a mere 'cypher in the great account,' unbacked and unsupported. So +well aware, indeed, are civilized governments of this fact, that +snuff-boxes set with brilliants to the value of a _thousand pounds_ are +given them, that they may be stimulated to business; diving into the +cabals and intrigues of the state,--concealing their own, and, in a word, +never be deserted at a PINCH. Nay, so much is snuff the fashion, that a +courtier in most European countries without it were a sort of curiosity. +Many of the greatest of men, have been remarkable for the snuff they took. +Napoleon was among this number; he (acute and penetrating) _was up to +snuff_, disdaining your common methods of worshipping that "spirit +stirrer" of the human mind, he took it out of his waistcoat-pocket, and +when vexed or thwarted by any unexpected occurrence, was always observed +to have recourse to it, previous to exerting his mind on the subject. The +greatness of his fortunes was commensurate with the quantity he consumed: +the greatest snuff-taker in the French territories, it is by no means +singular to relate, he became the first in grandeur and consequence, as +well as the most idolized of men. At the same time, he was by no means +insensible of the powers of smoking, for we find it recorded, that his +greatest relief from extreme fatigue (as he used to declare) arose from "a +CIGAR, _a cup of coffee, and a warm bath_;" three things, we affirm, +highly creditable to the taste of so great a genius. Nor did Buonaparte +confine the use of it solely to his own person: fully impressed with its +powers, he ordered its use throughout the whole of the French army. The +immediate consequence was, that under his influence and that of the +stimulating weed, they conquered all before them, and became renowned +throughout Europe for their discipline and determined bravery. This may, +by those who dive no further than the surface, be attributed to the +ability of their general, to a certain degree we in our candour +acknowledge; but the grand secret and mover of it was tobacco--sovereign +tobacco! What sceptic so rash, dares breathe a doubt of the truth of this +statement? Does he require additional evidence?--If so! let him turn his +eyes to the British navy. What is it, ever since the time of Elizabeth, +from the defeat of the Spanish Armada up to the victory at Trafalgar, has +rendered them invincible and the terror of the world?--what, we exclaim, +but tobacco! To quids! quids! alone is their success to be attributed; but +deprive them of these, and you take the spirit of the men away. Immortal, +godlike pigtail! And well too does government know this fact, and wisely +institute an allowance to each man. Hunger, thirst, and every hardship is +borne without a murmur by each gallant tar, so long as there is pigtail in +the locker. Go seek the man, whether _topman_, _afterguard_, or _idler_, +who has ever been upon a seven or three years' station, and ask him whence +his chief consolation in the watch of safety, or peril, and he, if a true +sailor, shall answer with an indescribable roll of the jaw--"Pigtail!!!" +'Tis the essence, in fact, the very quintessence of the man, and its +consideration in his mind may be sufficiently gleaned from the following +well-known epistle--at once an irrefutable proof, if any be needed. + + "Warren Hastings East Indyman, + off Gravesend. + + March 24, 1813. + + Dear Brother Tom; + + This comes hopein to find you in good health as it leaves me safe + anckor'd here yesterday at 4 P. M. arter a pleasant voyage tolerable + short and a few squalls.--Dear Tom--hopes to find poor old father + stout, and am quite out of pig-tail.--Sights of pig-tail at Gravesend, + but unfortinly not fit for a dog to chor. Dear Tom, Captain's boy will + bring you this, and put pig-tail in his pocket when bort. Best in + London at the Black Boy in 7 diles, where go acks for best + pig-tail--pound a pig-tail will do, and am short of shirts. Dear Tom, + as for shirts ony took 2 whereof one is quite wored out and tuther + most, but don't forget the pig-tail, as I a'n't had a quid to chor + never since Thursday. Dear Tom, as for the shirts, your size will do, + only longer. I liks um long--get one at present; best at Tower-hill, + and cheap, but be particler to go to 7 diles for the pig-tail at the + Black Boy, and Dear Tom, acks for pound best pig-tail, and let it be + good. Captain's boy will put the pig-tail in his pocket, he likes + pig-tail, so ty it up. Dear Tom, shall be up about Monday there or + thereabouts. Not so perticuler for the shirt as the present can be + washed, but don't forget the pig-tail without fail, so am your loving + brother." + + "T. P." + + "P. S.--Don't forget the pig-tail." + +Treating of the milder virtues of tobacco, who ever knew a smoker--one of +your twenty years' standing,--ill tempered; or a veteran snuff-taker, who +did not occasionally give utterance to witty sayings?--the thing were +against reason. In conclusion, what can we say more for thee, omnipotent, +prolific herb! than in the inspired lines of thy true admirer Byron? + + Sublime tobacco, which from east to west, + Cheers the tar's labours or the Turkman's rest; + Which on the moslems' ottomans divides + His hours, and rivals opium and his brides: + Magnificent in Stamboul, but less grand, + Though not less lov'd, in Wapping or the Strand. + Divine in hookas; glorious in a pipe, + When tipped with amber, mellow, rich and ripe; + Like other charmers, wooing thy caress, + More dazzling fair and glaring in full dress; + Yet thy true lovers more admire, by far, + Thy naked beauties--give me a cigar? + + + + +THE MEDICAL QUALITIES OF TOBACCO. + + +Of the properties attributable to the plant in the _Materia Medica_, a +variety of opinions prevail, and have done, indeed, since its first +appearance in the civilized portion of the globe. It certainly cannot but +strike the reader as a fact to be very greatly lamented, that science +should be so unfixed, even in this much boasted-of-enlightened aera, that +some medical men should be found to ascribe every bad and pernicious +quality to the use of tobacco; and others, equally celebrated for their +professional knowledge, recommend it as a panacea for many ills. +Reflection makes this still more dreadful, when we consider these are the +men to whose abilities we are frequently compelled to look up, for the +preservation of our healths and lives. It would be well, indeed, if this +lamentable difference of opinion among the facult existed only in +reference to our present subject. + +We shall now, however, proceed to note some of the ideas of the learned +that have been expressed concerning the qualities of the herb, in +pharmacy, and quote our first specimen in the following poem, by the +famous Dr. Thorious, who most sagely recommends it as an antidote for +every evil under the sun. + + +A LATIN POEM, + +By Raphael Thorious. + +(_Translated into English by the Rev. W. Bewick._) + + The herb which borrows Santa Croce's name, + Sore eyes relieves and healeth wounds; the same + Discusses the kings evil, and removes + Cancers and boils; a remedy it proves + For burns and scalds, repels the nauseous itch, + And straight recovers from convulsive fits; + It cleanses, dries, binds up, and maketh warm; + The head-ach, tooth-ach, cholic, like a charm + It easeth soon; an ancient cough relieves, + And to the reyns and milt and stomach gives + Quick riddance from the pains which each endures, + Next the dire wounds of poison'd arrows cures; + All bruises heals, and when the gum once sore, + It makes them sound and healthy as before: + Sleep it procures, our anxious sorrows lays, + And with new flesh the naked bone arrays; + No herb hath greater pow'r to rectify + All the disorders in the breast that lie; + Or in the lungs. Herb of immortal fame, + Which hither first by Santa Croce came; + When he (his time of nunclature expir'd) + Back from the court of Portugal retir'd, + Even as his predecessors, great and good. + All Christendom now with its presence blesses, + And still the illustrious family possesses + The name of Santa Croce, rightly given, + Since they in all respects resemble heaven: + Procure as much as mortal men can do, + The welfare of our souls and bodies too. + + +_Dr. Cullen_ observes, that tobacco is generally recognized for its +narcotic powers, as well as being a very considerable stimulant, with +respect to the whole system, but more especially the stomach and +intestines, and acts even in small doses as an emetic and purgative. + +The editors of the Edinburgh Dispensary also remark, that of late, tobacco +under the form of a vinous or watery infusion, given in small quantities, +so as to produce little effect by its action on the stomach, has been +found a very useful and powerful diuretic. + +_Dr. Fowler_ published some cases of dropsy and dysury, in which its +application was attended with the best effects, and this has been +confirmed by the practice of others. Beaten into a mash with vinegar or +brandy, it has sometimes proved highly serviceable for removing hard +tumours of the _hypochondres_. Two cases of cure are published in the +'Edinburgh Essays.' + +Considerable reliance has also been placed upon it, by some of the most +eminent practitioners, as an injection by the anus of the smoke, in cases +of obstinate constipation, threatening _Ileus_, of _incarcerated hernia_, +of spasmodic asthma, and of persons apparently dead from drowning or other +causes. + +_Dr. Strother_ speaks of its being beneficial in smoking, to persons +having defluxions on the lungs. By long boiling in water, its deleterious +power is said to be neutralized, and at length destroyed: an extract made +by long decoction, is recommended by _Stubb_ and other German physicians, +as the most efficient and safe aperient detergent, expectorant and +diuretic.--_Lewis Mat. Med._ + +_Bates_ and _Fuller_ give many encomiums on its powers in asthmatic +cases. + +_Boyle_ asserts the juice and the plant to be very excellent in curing +ulcers and mortifications, although its operation, in this respect, is +stated by numerous other authorities, to be deleterious in the extreme. As +regarding, indeed, many of the virtues attributed to its use by Lewis and +others, in decoctions and poultices, candour obliges us to declare, though +with great deference to those opinions which have been expressed by the +most eminent of the medical profession, that we cannot consider it of any +particular efficacy. We shall, therefore, forbear tiring our readers with +recipes of the different forms in which it is prescribed for many +illnesses. + +Taken as snuff, tobacco is generally allowed to be a mild and inoffensive +stimulant, which, indeed, in many cases, is prescribed as a most effectual +errhine for clearing the nostrils and head. When taken, however, as it +frequently is, in excessive quantities, its consequences become often +visible, and tumours and secretions in the nose are said to be the result. +It is likewise said by some, when taken immoderately, to greatly tend to +weaken the sight and bring on apoplexy. + +_Revenus_ and _Chenst_ likewise wrote against the habit of smoking; but +like more modern writers, among whom may be named _Dr. Adam Clarke_, with +little or no effect; for it may be set down as a fact, proved in many +other instances, as well as this illustrates,--that where a people have +the facilities of judging for themselves, they invariably will do so. In +this case, practice and precept peculiarly go together. + +Of the medical qualities of tobacco, as an antidote against contagion, its +inestimable efficacy was never better proved, than in the period of the +plagues[17] that have at times visited England. + +_Dr. Willis_ says, in his very able treatise, that its power in repelling +the infectious air during the plague of 1665 was truly astonishing; so +much so, that the shops of the tobacconists remained quite uninfected. + +It is also very favourably mentioned by _Richard Barker_, a physician, at +the period of the pestilence, who gives it in the following recipe against +the plague: "Carry about with you a leaf of tobacco rolled up in tiffiny +or lawn, so dipt in vinegar. Smell often to it, and sometimes clap it to +the temples for some few minutes of time. For those that smoke tobacco, +let them use it with one-fourth part of flower of sulphur, and seven or +eight drops of oil of amber for one pipe." + +Among very many celebrated physicians, who have also recorded and +recommended the use of tobacco against the poisonous influence of the +plague, may be mentioned _Gideon Hovey_, M.D.,[18] _Dr. Fowler_,[19] and +_Diemerbroek_, a distinguished Dutch medical practitioner; besides +numerous pamphlets that have been published on the subject of the plague. + +One account, published in 1663 by W. Kemp, professing to recommend the +best means to the public to avoid the infection, mentions tobacco in a +way, that reminds us somewhat of its warm panegyrist, Dr. Thorious, and is +too facetious to be here omitted. The following is the literal +transcript:-- + +"The American silver weed[20] or tobacco, is an excellent defence against +bad air, being smoked in a pipe, either by itself or with nutmeg shred, +and rew seeds mixed with it; especially if it be nosed, for it cleanseth +the air and choaketh and suppresseth and disperseth any venemous vapour; +it hath both singular and contrary effects; it is good to warm one being +cold, and will cool one being hot. All ages, all sexes and constitutions, +young and old, men and women, the sanguine, the choleric, the melancholy, +the phlegmatic, take it without any manifest inconvenience; it giveth +thirst, and yet will make one more able and fit to drink; it chokes +hunger, and yet will give one a good stomach; it is agreeable with mirth +or sadness, with feasting and with fasting; it will make one rest that +wants sleep, and will keep one waking that is drowsy; it hath an offensive +smell, and is more desirable than any perfume to others; that it is a most +excellent preservative, both experience and reason teach; it corrects the +air by fumigation, and avoids corrupt humours by salivation; for when one +takes it by chewing it in the leaf, or smoking it in the pipe, the humours +are brought and drawn from all parts of the body to the stomach, and from +thence rising up to the mouth of the TOBACCONIST, as to the helm of a +sublunatory, are voided and spitted out." + +Of the poisonous qualities of tobacco, we are informed that a drop or two +of the chemical oil of tobacco, being put upon the tongue of a cat or dog, +produces violent convulsions, and death itself, in the space of a few +minutes; yet, the same oil used on lint, applied to the teeth, has been +found of the utmost service in the tooth-ach.[21] + +A very common opinion prevails among those who do not smoke, that it is +bad for the teeth: a belief founded upon any thing but experience, and +resulting generally from prejudice. For preserving the gums and the enamel +of the teeth, in a healthy and sound state, few remedies can operate +better than the smoke of tobacco. In the first instance, it renders +nugatory the corruptive power of the juices that invariably set into the +interstices of the teeth, and unless brushed away, remain after meals; +and, in the second place, it destroys the effluvia arising at times from +the breath that, in some constitutions, so quickly brings about a +corrosion of the outer surface or enamel. The benefits that have resulted +from smoking, in cases of the tooth-ache, have been too commonly +experienced to admit of doubt. In a pamphlet that was published some +thirty years ago, detailing the adventures of the Pretender; an anecdote +is related of its excellence. While taking refuge in the mansion of Lady +Kingsland, in the Highlands of Scotland, from his enemies, after having +had recourse to many things, he smoked a pipe to free himself from this +'curse o' achs;' and after a short time, received the wished-for relief. + +As another and concluding instance of the preservative power of tobacco +upon the teeth, it is related in the life of the great Sir Isaac Newton, +who was remarkable for the quantity of tobacco he smoked, that though he +lived to a good old age, he never lost but ONE TOOTH. + + + + +BOTANICAL HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE TOBACCO PLANT. + + +Tobacco is a genus of the class _pentandria_. Order _monogynia_; natural +order of luridae (solaneae, _Juss._)--GENERIC CHARACTERS--Calyx; perianthium +one-leafed, ovate, half five-cleft, permanent. Corolla: one-petalled +funnel-form.--_Essential Character_--Corolla funnel-form, with a plaited +border, stamina inclined; capsule two-valved and two-celled. + +There are six kinds of tobacco peculiar to America: which we shall proceed +to notice in their relative order. + +1. Nicotiana Fruticosa, or shrubby tobacco: leaves lanceolate, +subpetioled, embracing; flowers acute, stem frutescent. This rises with +very branching stalks, about five feet high. Lower leaves a foot and a +half long, broad at the base, where they half embrace the stalks, and +about three inches broad in the middle, terminating in long acute points. + +2. Nicotiana Alba, or white-flowered tobacco. This rises about five feet +high: the stalk does not branch so much as that of the former. The leaves +are large and oval, about fifteen inches long and two broad in the middle, +but diminish gradually in size to the top of the stalk, and with their +base half embrace it. The flowers grow in closer bunches than those of the +former, and are white: they are succeeded by short oval obtuse +seed-vessels. It flowers and perfects seeds about the same time with the +former. It grows naturally in the woods of Tobago, whence the seeds were +sent to Mr. Philip Miller by Mr. Robert Miller. + +3. Nicotiana Tabacum or Virginian tobacco: leaves lanceolate, ovate, +sessile, decurrent, flowers acute. Virginian tobacco has a large, long +annual root; an upright, strong, round, hairy stalk, branching towards the +top; leaves numerous, large, pointed, entire, veined, viscid, pale green; +flowers in loose clusters or panicles. + +4. Nicotiana Latissima, the great broad-leaved or Oroonoko; formerly, as +Mr. Miller says, sown in England, and generally taken for the common +broad-leaved tobacco of Caspar Bauhin, and others, but is very different +from it. The leaves are more than a foot and a half long, and a foot +broad; their surfaces very rough and glutinous, and their bases half +embrace the stalk. In a rich moist soil the stalks are more than ten feet +high, and the upper part divides into small branches, which are terminated +by loose bunches of flowers, standing erect: they have pretty long tubes, +and are of a pale purplish colour. It flowers in July and August, and the +seeds ripen in autumn. This is the sort which is commonly brought to the +market in pots. + +5. Nicotiana Tabacum, broad-leaved, or sweet-scented. The stalks of this, +which is the broad-leaved tobacco of Caspar Bauhin, seldom rise more than +five or six feet high, and divide into more branches. The leaves are about +ten inches long, and three and a half broad, smooth, acute, sessile; the +flowers are rather larger, and of a brighter purple colour. + +6. Nicotiana Angustifolia, or narrow-leaved Virginian tobacco; rises with +an upright branching stalk, four or five feet high. The lower leaves are a +foot long, and three or four inches broad: those on the stalks are much +narrower, lessening to the top, and end in very acute points, sitting +close to the stalks. + +Besides these, it must be remarked, there are many other kinds of tobacco +peculiar to different countries. + +_Nicotiana undulata_, or New Holland tobacco: radical leaves obovate, +obtuse, somewhat wavy; stem-leaves sharp-pointed. It came to Kew in 1800, +and is perennial in the green-house, flowering all summer long. The +settlers at Port Jackson are said to use this herb as tobacco. + +_Nicotiana plumbaginifolia_, or lead-wort-leaved tobacco: radical leaves +ovate, contracted at the base; stem-leaves lanceolate, clasping the stem; +all undulated; corolla salver-shaped, acute. The native country of this +species is unknown. It has been cultivated in some Italian gardens, and +there were flowering specimens in May 1804, in the store of the late lady +Amelia Hume. + +_Nicotiana axillaris_, or axillary tobacco: leaves opposite, ovate, flat, +nearly sessile; stalk axillary, solitary single-flowered; corolla obtuse; +segments of the calyx deep, spatulate. Gathered by Commerson at Monte +Video, and communicated by Thouin to the younger Linnaeus. Leaves rather +above an inch long, and near an inch wide, downy, and apparently viscid, +like the rest of the herbage. Fruits unknown. + +_Nicotiana tristis_, or dull-purple tobacco: leaves lanceolate, wavy, +clasping the stem; corolla salver-shaped, its tube not twice the length of +the calyx, and scarcely longer than the obtuse limb. Gathered also by +Commerson at Monte Video. + +_Nicotiana rustica_, common English tobacco: leaves petioled, ovate, quite +entire; flowers obtuse. The stalks of this seldom rise more than three +feet high. Leaves smooth, alternate, upon short foot-stalks. Flowers in +small loose bunches on the top of the stalks, of an herbaceous +yellow-colour, appearing in July, and succeeded by roundish capsules, +ripening in the autumn. This is commonly called English tobacco, from its +having been first introduced here, and being much more hardy than the +other sorts, insomuch that it has become a weed in many places. + +_Nicotiana rugosa_ of Miller, rises with a strong stalk near four feet +high; the leaves are shaped like those of the preceding, but are greatly +furrowed on their surface, and near twice the size, of a darker green, and +no longer on footstalks. + +_Nicotiana urens_, or stinging tobacco: leaves cordate, crenate; racemes +recurved; stem hispid, stinging. Fructification in racemes directed one +way and revolute, with bell-shaped corollas, and cordate leaves like those +of Nicotiana rustica; but crenate, and the whole tree prickly. Native of +South America. + +_Nicotiana glutinosa_, or clammy-leaved tobacco: leaves petioled, cordate +quite entire; flowers in racemes, pointing one way, and ringent. Stalk +round, near four feet high, sending out two or three branches from the +lower parts. Leaves large, heart-shaped, and a little waved. + +_Nicotiana pusilla_, or primrose-leaved tobacco: leaves of oblong oval, +radical; flowers in racemes, acute. This has a pretty thick taper root +that strikes deep in the ground; at the top of it come out six or seven +leaves spreading on the ground, about the size of those of the common +primrose, but a deeper green. This kind was discovered by Dr. Houstoun at +Vera Cruz, and he sent the seed to England. + +_Tabacum Minimum_ (Gen. Em. 358.) appears to be another species, hitherto +unsettled, with a branched leafy stem, a span high; leaves ovate on +footstalks, opposite; and stalked acute, greenish-yellow flowers. The N. +minima of Molina (Poir. in Lum. Diet. iv. 481.), is probably another +species, or perhaps the same. + +Culture.--Tobacco thrives best in a warm, kindly rich soil, that is not +subject to be over-run with weeds. In Virginia, the soil in which it +thrives best is warm, light, and inclining to be sandy; and, therefore, if +the plant is to be cultivated in Britain, it ought to be planted in a soil +as nearly of the same kind as possible. Other kinds of soil might probably +be brought to suit it, by a surface of proper manure; but we must +remember, whatever manure is made use of, must be thoroughly incorporated +with the soil. The best situation for a tobacco plantation is the southern +declivity of a hill, rather gradual than abrupt, or a spot that is +sheltered from the north winds: but at the same time it is necessary that +the plants enjoy a free air; for without this they will not prosper. + +As tobacco is an annual plant, those who intend to cultivate it ought to +be as careful as possible in the choice of the seeds; in which, however, +with all their care, they may sometimes be deceived. The seed should be +sown in the middle of April, or rather sooner in a forward season, in a +bed prepared for this purpose, of such soil that has been already +described, mixed with some warm rich manure. In a cold spring, hot beds +are most eligible for that purpose; and gardeners imagine that they are +always necessary: but Mr. Carver[22] tells us, that he is convinced, when +the weather is not very severe, the tobacco seeds may be raised +without-doors: and for this purpose gives us the following directions: + +"Having sown the seed in the manner above directed, on the least +apprehension of a frost after the plants appear, it will be necessary to +spread mats over the beds, a little elevated from the ground by poles laid +across, that they may not be crushed. These, however, must be removed in +the morning, soon after the sun appears, that they may receive as much +benefit as possible from its warmth and from the air. In this manner +proceed till the leaves have attained about two inches in length and one +in breadth, which they will do in about a month after they are sown, or +near the middle of May, when the frosts are usually at an end. One +invariable rule for their being able to bear removal is, when the fourth +leaf is shrouded, and the fifth just appears. Then take the opportunity of +the first rains or gentle showers to transplant them into such a soil and +situation as before described; which must be done in the following +manner:--The land must be ploughed or dug up with spades, and made as +mellow and light as possible. When the plants are to be placed, raise with +the hoe small hillocks at the distance of two feet or a little more from +each other, taking care that no hard sods or lumps are in it; and then +just indent the middle of each, without drilling holes, as for some other +plants. + +"In some climates the top is generally cut off when the plant has fifteen +leaves; but if the tobacco is intended to be a little stronger than usual, +this is done when it has only thirteen; and sometimes, when it is designed +to be remarkably powerful, eleven or twelve are only allowed to expand. On +the contrary, if the planter is desirous of having his crop very mild, he +suffers it to put forth eighteen or twenty. + +"This operation, called _topping_, is much better performed by the finger +and thumb than with any instrument, because the grasp of the fingers +closes the pores of the plant: whereas, when it is done by instruments, +the juices are in some degree exhausted. Care must also be taken to rip +off the sprouts that will be continually springing up at the junction of +the leaves with the stalks. This is termed _succouring_ or _suckering_ +the tobacco, and ought to be repeated as often as occasion requires. + +"When the plantation comes to a proper growth, it should then be cut down +and placed in a barn, or covered house, where it cannot be affected by +rain or too much air, thinly scattered over the floor; and if the sun does +not appear for several days, they must be allowed to _milt_ in that +manner; but in this case the quality of the tobacco is not so good." + +"_Cure._--After the plants have been transferred, and hung sometime, +pressing or SMOKING, as it is technically termed, they should be taken +down, and again laid in a heap and pressed with heavy logs of wood for +about a week: but this climate may probably require a longer time. While +they remain in this state it will be necessary to introduce your hand +frequently into the heap, to discover whether the heat be not too intense; +for in large quantities this will sometimes be the case, and considerable +damage will be occasioned by it. When they are found to heat too much, +that is, when the heat exceeds a moderate glowing warmth, part of the +weight, by which they are pressed, must be taken away; and the cause being +removed, the effect will cease. This is called the second or last +sweating; and when completed, the leaves must be stripped from the stalks +for use. Many omit this last sweating; but Mr. Carver thinks it takes away +its remaining harshness, and makes it more mellow. The strength of the +stalk is also diffused by it through the leaves, and the whole mass +becomes equally meliorated. When the leaves are stripped from the stalks, +they are to be tied up in bunches or _hands_, and kept in a cellar or +other damp place. At this period the tobacco is thoroughly cured, and as +proper for manufacturing as that imported from the colonies. + + + + +ORIGINAL POETRY. + + +NEW WORDS TO AN OLD TUNE. + +A COMIC DITTY. + + Lieutenant Fire was fond of smoke, + And cash he ow'd a deal; + Tho' some said he'd a heart of OAK, + For others it could feel: + With wit he was,--not money stor'd,-- + His landlord thought it meet, + As he'd liv'd free so long on board, + Why he should join the FLEET. + + The station he lik'd not at all, + And wish'd the duty o'er; + He saw some fights, and many ball, + But ne'er saw such before. + To banish care, he sought a rod, + And smok'd like any mid, + But unlike some,--altho' in quod,-- + Disdain'd to take a QUID. + + And though a man, both short and stout, + All knew him in a crowd; + For oh, he never mov'd, without + His head was in a CLOUD: + In pris'n he met a friend he'd known + Full many years ago, + In 'four in hand' his cash had flown, + And now he'd come to WOE. + + Poor Brown, alas! he had been GREEN, + And so his hopes had marr'd; + But thought it strange in turn, I ween, + He should be driven HARD. + Now he took snuff, in _quantum suff._, + He thought it calm'd his woes,-- + While one friend blew the light cigar, + The other blew his NOSE. + + "As we have bask'd in fortune's calm, + Now squalls come we'll not flinch," + Thus spoke the tar, and gave his arm, + And Brown gave him a PINCH. + "Now, Fire, all snuffs are good, we know, + Except when ill-prepar'd, + I love a BOX and you a BLOW, + But keep me from BLACKGUARD. + + At _Lundyfoot_ I am no hand, + Seldom its dust I take, ah! + Each day or so, by turns, I go + From STRASBURG to JAMAICA." + "'Tis well, my boy," return'd the tar, + "Such journeys you can wend, + For fuel here don't go so far, + Here's plenty of WALLS-END." + + Of future scenes of happiness, + The tar he often spoke; + But they, indeed, as you may guess, + But ended all in SMOKE. + At length there money came one day,-- + Each left the walls unkind; + The tar went out--yet strange to say, + His ASHES left behind! + + +ODE ON TOBACCO. + + Gently o'er my senses stealing, + Indian-weed, I love thee well; + Raising, soothing, passion's feeling, + Who can all thy magic tell: + Who can paint the soft entrancing, + All thy virtues who can know? + Moving visions, sweetly glancing, + Giving joy and calming woe. + + Tell me, do the proud ones scorn ye, + Does the monarch on his throne, + In the countries where are born ye, + In the lands of either zone; + Prince and beggar, both caress thee, + And to thee their homage pay; + From Ind to Lapland, myriads bless thee, + All bow to thy sovereign sway. + + True, there are some soft ones ever, + Like a drop within the sea; + Weak in nerves, yet vastly clever, + Who have vainly 'countered thee: + But thy strength, their own excelling, + Moves the wrath they cannot quell; + Envy makes their breast its dwelling, + And the grapes are sour as[23]---- + + +STANZAS TO A LADY. + +IN DEFENCE OF SMOKING. + + What taught me first sweet peace to blend, + With hopes and fears that knew no end, + My dearest, truest, fondest friend? + My pipe, love! + + What cheer'd me in my boyhood's hour, + When first I felt Love's witching power, + To bear deceit,--false woman's dow'r? + My pipe, love! + + What still upheld me since the guile, + Attendant on false friendship's smile, + And I in hope, deceiv'd the while? + My pipe, love! + + What cheer'd me when misfortunes came, + And all had flown me?--still the same, + My only true and constant flame, + My pipe, love! + + What sooth'd me in a foreign land, + And charm'd me with its influence bland, + Still whisp'ring comfort, hand in hand? + My pipe, love! + + What charm'd me in the thoughts of past, + When mem'ry's gleam my eyes o'ercast, + And burns to serve me to the last? + My pipe, love! + + +THE LAST QUID. + + He seiz'd the quid,--'twas hard and dry, + The last one in its nook; + The beggar'd sailor heav'd a sigh,-- + Despair was in his look. + And have I fought, and bled in vain, + Are all my comforts o'er-- + When shall I see thy like again, + Thou last one of my store. + + High and dry I've kept thee here, + In hopes of getting aid; + My cruise, alas, is lost, I fear-- + Oh why was BACCE made! + I've borne all weathers, wind and rain, + And patiently I bore-- + When shall I see thy like again, + Thou last one of my store. + + His gaze was on the muddy ground, + And mis'ry in his eye; + Sudden he sprang with eager bound, + On something glitt'ring nigh: + A sovereign's aid, 'tis very plain, + Thank heaven, I ask no more; + Soon shall I see thy like again, + Thou last one of my store. + + + + +ANECDOTES. + + +_The Precious Pipe._--Napoleon greatly patronized the habit of smoking in +the French army, so that it soon became actually indispensable for the +continuance of that _gaite du coeur_, for which his troops were +remarkable, even in the moments of severest peril. Under the cheering +influence of the pipe, they surmounted all difficulties; and, under its +consoling power, bore fatigue, and hunger, and thirst with a fortitude and +philosophy, remarkable in the annals of military record. During the latter +end of their march to Moscow, and after the burning of the Russian +capital, they endured severe privations from the loss of their favourite +herb, the stock of which was all expended: nor was this all; they suffered +exceedingly through want of food and the inclemency of the weather, with +many other evils, the smoking of tobacco had hitherto consoled them for. +Such was the general state of the army, when a private of the _Garde +Imperiale_, being out with a detachment on a foraging party, chanced to +stray from the rest, and, in the skirt of a wood, came upon a little low +deserted hut. Overjoyed in the hopes that he might find something to +relieve his necessities, he stove in the door with the butt end of his +musquet, and instantly commenced a scrutiny, to see if anything had been +left behind by those who had evidently lately quitted it. The few articles +of comfort it had formerly contained seemed, however, all to have been +carried away in the flight of its late inmates, and he was about +abandoning his search, when he perceived something stuffed up between the +rafters of the ceiling. Thrusting it with his bayonet, a dark bundle fell +at his feet: his joy may be better imagined than expressed, when, on +untying the rag that bound it, he found a quantity of coarse tobacco. +After filling his pouch with it, and stowing the rest of the (to him) +invaluable treasure about his person, he pulled forth a short clay pipe, +whose late empty bowl he had so often contemplated with melancholy regret, +and, having struck a light, filled it with his darling herb, and commenced +smoking immediately. "Never," said the soldier, who himself narrated the +tale to us in Paris, "since the campaign began, when we started with the +certainty, almost, of returning with plunder to enrich the rest of our +lives, did I feel half the pleasurable emotions I did, the hour I spent, +sitting in the darkened room of that hut, whiffing the grateful fumes from +my short pipe. Indulging in visions that for a long time had been a +stranger to me, the much-boasted pleasures of the opium eaters, were +nothing in comparison to mine.--I seemed in heaven, sir." + +After having regained the camp, it soon became a subject of remark and +discussion, how Faucin (the soldier's name) got his tobacco to smoke, and +looked so cheerful, when his comrades would have given all they were worth +for the same luxury. Knowing his extreme danger if it should be discovered +he had any quantity of tobacco in his possession, he took every +opportunity, when questioned, as he often was closely on the subject, to +state that it was only a trifling remnant he had preserved. Under this +pretence, he refused the numerous applications that were made him for +portions, however small. At length, as his short pipe was still perceived +week after week, emitting its savoury steam, on their toilsome march +homewards, it was generally suspected, and he was openly told, he had +plenty of tobacco in his knapsack, and he was threatened, in case of his +refusal to divide a share. Firmly believing he should be robbed, if not +murdered, by some of his comrades, who watched him with selfish eyes for +the sake of the tobacco he carried, he was obliged by prudence to confess +the secret to two corporals and a serjeant, and divide a quantity among +them. While their line of march was daily and nightly strewed with the +dead and dying, and many a gallant fellow breathed his last on the cold +beds of snow, they were wonderfully sustained by the tobacco, that kept up +their spirits throughout the scene of famine and desolation, and he +reached France with the few wretched remnants of the fine troops, who had +quitted it with the eagle's flight, amid the shouts of _vive Napoleon_. + + +_An old Quiddist._--A late messenger in a certain public law-office had +rendered himself remarkable for the very excellent economy he pursued in +the consumption of tobacco. In term time he had always plenty to do, and +picked up a sufficient sum to supply the deficiency of business in the +short vacations, which enabled him to obtain as much shag as he could well +chew at those times, but he never lost sight of the 'rainy day.' He +frequently got drunk but never forgot the miseries of the 'LONG VACATION,' +and accordingly acted upon the following plan, which, for its genius, has +never been equalled in the annals of chawing:--He would begin, for +instance, the first day of Michaelmas term, which succeeds the long +vacation, with a NEW QUID, which he would keep only about half the usual +time in his mouth, and extract only a portion of its nectarine sweets. +This quid, instead of casting it at his feet, he would then transfer to a +certain snug little shelf in the office, with the most reverential +caution, and obtain another. This practice he would repeat five or six +times in the course of the same day, and every day during the times before +mentioned, and what was the result? When the long vacation commenced, and +he had nothing to do, he had collected the amazing quantity of between 14 +and 1500 quids!!! These he worked upon, _de novo_, during the long recess, +and 'rich and rare' indeed was the collection; it was the poor messenger's +only comfort. + + +_Dr. Aldrich._--His excessive love for smoking was well known to his +associates; but a young student of his college, finding some difficulty +to bring a fellow collegian to the belief of it, laid him a wager that the +Dean Aldrich was smoking at that time (about ten o'clock in the morning). +Away went the latter to the deanery; when, being admitted to the dean in +his study, he related the occasion of his visit. The dean, instead of +being disconcerted, replied in perfect good humour, "You see, sir, your +friend has lost his wager, for I am not now smoking, but only filling my +pipe!" + + +_Chinese Arrogance._--As a precursor to the following, it will only be +proper to relate, that in China the use of smoking and snuff-taking is +general, although buildings are not thought requisite for curing tobacco, +as in the West Indies, there being little apprehension of rain to injure +the leaves when plucked. Thus the Chinese grow tobacco enough for their +own consumption, and will not allow any to be imported, so as to +discourage their own cultivation. This prohibition, which has long existed +in that country, was some years ago notified to Mr. Wilkodes, the American +consul, then at Canton, in the following manner: + +"May he be promoted to great powers! We acquaint you that the foreign +opium, the dirt which is used for smoking, is prohibited by command. It +is not permitted that it shall come to Canton. We beg you, good brother, +to inform the honoured president of your country of the circumstance, and +to make it known, that the dirt used for smoking is an article prohibited +in the celestial empire."--_Paunkbyquia Mowqua, &c. Kai Hing, 22nd year, +5th Month, 22nd day, Canton, May 22nd, 1818._ + + +_Sir Isaac Newton._--This illustrious individual was remarkable for +smoking and temporary fits of mental abstraction from all around him; +frequently being seized with them in the midst of company. Upon one +occasion, it is related of him, that a young lady presenting her hand for +something across the table, he seized her finger, and, quite +unconsciously, commenced applying it as a tobacco-stopper, until awoke to +a sense of his enormity by the screams of the fair one. + + +_Extraordinary Match._--Some years ago, in a public room at Langdon Hills, +in Essex, the conversation chancing to turn on smoking, a farmer of the +name of _Williams_ boasting of the great quantity of tobacco he could +consume at a sitting, challenged the room to produce his equal. Mr. +_Bowtell_, the proprietor of the great boot-shop, Skinner-street, and +remarkable for smoking "pipes beyond computation," travelling his round at +that time, chanced to be present, and immediately agreed to enter the +lists with him for five pounds a-side. A canister of the strongest shag +tobacco was placed by the side of each at eight o'clock in the evening, +when they began the match. Smoking very fast, by the time the clock had +struck twelve, they had each finished sixteen pipes, when the farmer, +through the dense atmosphere, was observed to turn pale. He still +continued, however, dauntlessly on, but, at the end of the eighteenth +pipe, fell stupefied off his chair, when the victory was adjudged to his +opponent, who, calling for an extra glass of grog, actually finished his +twentieth pipe before he retired for the night! + + + + +DIVANS. + + Nor ball, nor concert, nor theatre can boast, + With all their frippery and senseless fun; + Nor broiling taverns, when they shine the most, + By hot unruly spirits overrun;-- + In dance, or song, or drunken laugh, and toast, + With elegance and comfort, cheaply won,-- + To cheer the spirits and to refine the man: + Hail! books and mocha,--cigars and the divan! + + +It is with feelings of pleasure we have remarked of late years the change +that has gradually taken place in regard to places of public nightly +amusement. Formerly, the metropolis had no other allurements than were +comprised in the theatre or the tavern,--the former of these being but too +frequently a precursor to the latter; and that latter, in its turn, among +young men in general, to scenes of a worse, and, in the end, more fatal +description. As a preventative in a great degree to the above incentives +to dissipation, must we welcome the appearance of divans amongst us, +forming, as they do, in their quiet and elegant seclusion, a pleasing and +intellectual contrast to their more boisterous contemporaries. Divan, or +more properly speaking, _Diwan_, by some writers is said to be of eastern +origin, and the plural of _diw_, a devil. The appellation, says a Persian +lexicographer, was first bestowed by a sovereign of Persia, who, on +observing his crafty counsellors in high conclave, exclaimed, _Inan diwan +end_--"these men are devils." _Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur_, may +be pertinently applied, in this instance, to the councils of more +sovereigns than those of Ispahan. Another derivation, and a more probable +one, perhaps, is the Turkish word for sopha,--a luxury abundantly supplied +in every divan in Turkey. In that country it is a chamber of council held +by the Grand Seignior, his pashas, or other high tributaries, in which all +the councillors assembled smoke their chibouques during the debate in all +the sedate pomp of eastern magnificence. The interiors of these divans are +represented by travellers as superbly grand, falling little short of the +far-famed description of their harems. Coffee, it must be remarked, is the +common beverage used by the Turks whilst smoking, and is commonly handed +round with little or no milk or sugar, in small china cups. Taken thus, +perhaps, nothing harmonizes with smoking so well on the palate; as the +Rev. Dr. Walsh says, in his Travels in Turkey, speaking of tobacco, and in +whose judicious remarks we cannot but concur, "I do not wonder at the +general use of this most indispensable of Turkish luxuries; it is always +the companion of coffee (mocha), and there is something so exceedingly +congenial in the properties of both, that nature seems to have intended +them for inseparable associates. We do not know how to use tobacco in this +country, but defile and deteriorate it with malt liquor. When used with +coffee, and after the Turkish fashion, it is singularly grateful to the +taste, and refreshing to the spirits; counteracting the effects of fatigue +and cold, and appeasing the cravings of hunger, as I have experienced." + +The popularity of divans in England may be best known by the rapid +increase of their numbers since their first adoption here. + +At the present period there are no less than six popular divans +(independent of several obscure ones) in London. + +These are,-- + + The Oriental Divan, Regent-street. + The Private Subscription Divan, Pall Mall. + The Royal City Divan, St. Paul's Churchyard. + The Royal Divan, King-street, Covent Garden. + The Royal Divan, Strand. + The Divan, Charing Cross. + +The whole of these divans are fitted up in a style of Asiatic splendour +and comfort, that produces to the uncultivated eye a very novel and +pleasing effect; while, upon a closer examination, the other senses are no +less delighted. + +The Journals of every nation in Europe are a general attraction to +linguists and foreigners, while the cream of our own ever fertile press +leaves the English reader nothing to wish for in the way of literature. +Indeed, no means of entertainment are found wanting at these delightful +_soirees_; chess invites the player, pictures the eye, and occasional +music the ear; while lounging on a sopha with a cigar in the mouth, the +gazer might almost fancy himself in the land of the crescent. + +The divans in Regent-street and Pall Mall, are considered the most +oriental of any in town, though the saloon in the Strand is perhaps the +largest. + +A refinement that peculiarly distinguishes the divan in King-street, is an +admirably laid-out garden; at night lit by numerous parti-coloured lamps; +in the day during the summer-time it forms a pleasing attraction to all +lovers of the cooling shade. + +Of the Royal City Divan, of whose elegant interior our frontispiece +engraving presents so correct a view, we can only say that its allurements +are peculiarly attractive. In the first place, the saloon has an advantage +in being situated--unlike all the other divans--on the first-floor, and is +fitted up in a very superior manner. It likewise possesses, from the +extent and spaciousness of the premises, the additional advantage of +private refreshment rooms, to which parties of friends can retire from the +busy hum of the grand saloon, and enjoy the pleasures of a convivial +glass. + +Altogether, we cannot help observing, ere we conclude, that great merit is +due to the several proprietors of the divans for the tasteful and +expensive way in which they have furnished their different saloons; while, +from the extreme moderation of their charges, they cannot but have strong +claims to the patronage of a discerning public. + + + + +MEMS. FOR SMOKERS. + + +Cigars.--The best and most approved cigars consumed among our nobility and +gentry, are those brought from the Havanah in the West Indies. The +Woodville, so called from the name of the importer, are held in the +greatest estimation. In form, these should gradually decline from the +middle to long and tapering ends. Color, a clear raw sienna brown, +variegated with bright brown yellow spots. In flavour they should be light +and spicy, draw free, leaving a firm white ash. An excellence too, that +should distinguish these cigars from the common kind, independent of their +taste, should be the length of time they are capable of retaining their +light without being drawn. + +The strong flavoured Cuba, by smokers of long standing, when indeed a pipe +has not altogether superseded the cigar, are in the greatest request. +These vary in color from black to brown, according to the strength or age +of the leaf; and like the Woodville, are also distinguished when properly +seasoned, and kept by mildew spots, though of a darker hue. + +The tobacco of the Cubas growth is very frequently made up into cheroots, +a form some prefer to the cigar, and are sold under the denomination of +Manilla. + +Without entering into a description of the numerous kinds of cigars vended +in the United Kingdom, we can only remark, as a fact well authenticated, +that the greater and more common part, sold from eight to thirteen +shillings the hundred; are prepared from the cabbage-leaf, soaked in a +strong solution of tobacco-water. Cigars, so composed, are generally +passed off under the names of _Hambro'_, _Maryland_, and _Virginia_. The +same deceptions may be said to exist, in respect to the small cheroots, +whether scented or not: they are, with comparatively trifling exceptions, +nearly all of British make. + +The reason is obvious, why these deceits are practised: in a former part +of this little work, we stated the duty on the imported raw leaf of +tobacco to be three shillings per lb., while on the _manufactured_, it is +just thrice that amount: at once a reason why a good price must needs be +given for the genuine foreign article. + +A great saving is effected in purchasing cigars by the weight or box as +imported, while from a respectable shop you may be always sure of their +being made abroad, as they are sent under seal in boxes from the West +Indies. + + +_Tobaccos._--An idea prevails among young smokers, that tobacco, +independent of its fancied vulgarity, is always much stronger than cigars; +an error that is very common. Like cigars, indeed, it is of various growth +and quality, and like them, may be had weak, or strong. The smoker, if he +desires it, can have tobacco as weak as the mildest Havanahs. The only +difference in their manufacture is, the leaf is cut into shreds to form +the one, and wrapt up to form the other. The Persian, Turkish, and +Maryland tobacco, are the mildest. The shag and twists, the strongest; the +latter of which, as its name implies, is manufactured uncut; its +excellence may always be told by a shining cut and an agreeable smell. +Besides these, we have tobaccos under an infinite number of appellations, +with all the variations in their nature, incident to climate, growth, +age, and method of being prepared for use. + +The tobacco held in the greatest esteem in the East, is the Persian. The +Turks, notwithstanding their own excellent growth of the plant, give very +high prices to possess it; especially that which comes from, _Shiraz_. +This is accounted the best. The moslems are also much in the habit of +smoking a composition of opium and rose leaves with their tobacco through +scented waters. A similar practice is common in India among the higher +class; the same materials are made into a thick consistency and rolled +into balls, which they term _Jugeny_. To the unpractised palate, the +smoking of this composition has a strangely exhilarating and intoxicating +effect. + +A singular habit also prevails in the island of Ceylon. Some of the +natives wrap the leaf of a strong tobacco they call _Kapada_ into a +lengthened form, and then covering it with the leaf of the _Wattakan_ +tree, light one end of it, and smoke by the other, till the whole is +consumed. + +Besides the tobacco of the West Indies, Persia and Turkey, considerable +quantities are cultivated in the Levant, the coasts of Greece, the +Archipelago, the island of Malta, and Italy. + +_Pipes._--In reference to these essentials to smoking tobacco, a great +variety of tastes are displayed, while that of each country forms an +amusing contrast to that of its neighbour. In the Eastern portion of the +globe, the gorgeous hookah or superb chibouque with their serpent train +are caressed: in France, the short twisted pipe: in Germany, the +merschaum: in Holland, the long slender black pipe: in America, the short +red clay pipe, or the ingeniously manufactured, yet murderous tomahawk, +bears the tube of comfort; while in England--happy England--all, or any of +these, are attainable. + +The portable pipes the Turks are in the habit of using have their bowls +generally made of a peculiar kind of red clay; and the tube part of +jasmine and cherry sticks. The most expensive and those which from their +exceeding size, and costliness, are regarded as the most sumptuous +furniture of the mansion, are composed of a variety of materials. + +The tubes, which sometimes have been known to exceed twenty yards in +length, are commonly made of leather covered with the richest velvets, +and bound with gold or silver wire; this is generally terminated at the +one end by a gold, silver, or amber mouth-piece; while the other (when +used as it almost always is with scented water) tipped with a reed of a +foot long, is placed in a decanter containing the water, through which the +smoke is to be drawn; it is then met and joined by a similar reed, bearing +the chafing dish; this is of silver, very large, with a fretwork cover of +the same metal, through which the fumes of the aromatics used arise. + +It is by no means an uncommon thing in the East to have these tubes (which +are remarkably flexible) carried through the wall of one apartment into +another, that the apparatus may not be in the way of the smoker. + +The merschaum or German pipes, in Europe, are celebrated for the virtues +of their bowls, which are of a very porous quality. These are composed of +a substance thrown upon the shore by the sea in Germany, and being called +_Ecume de Mer_ form the origin of the word Merschaum. In Germany they are +commonly set in copper, with leather and horn tubes, but in England they +are variously formed and ornamented with chains and tassels. + +_Tubes_, when they are used for cigars (whose flavour we think they +greatly tend to spoil) should be short, and composed of amber. + + +_Lights for Smoking._--The advantage of obtaining an instantaneous light, +is perhaps seldom more appreciated than by smokers. The articles used +until lately for the purpose of igniting cigars, when out, or travelling, +were the Amadou, with the flint and steel--the phosphorus box, and +pneumatic cylinder:--all of which were, more or less, uncertain or +inconvenient, until the ingenious invention of Jones's Prometheans. These +may very fairly be said to possess a never-failing facility in producing +an instantaneous light. + +The Promethean is composed of a small bulb of glass, hermetically sealed, +containing a small part of sulphuric acid, and surrounded by a composition +of chlorate of potash and aromatics. This is enclosed in paper prepared +for the purpose. The light is simply effected by giving the promethean a +smart tap that breaks the bulb, when the acid, coming in contact with the +composition, causes instant ignition. It must be remarked however, the +Lucifers or chlorate matches that ignite, by drawing the match through +sand paper, introduced by the same inventor, is decidedly bad for a cigar; +the fumes arising from the combustion being offensive, are too apt to +spoil the flavour of the leaf. + +In divans, burners called Jos-sticks, are generally used for lighting +cigars, as they smoulder in their light, like the promethean. + + +FINIS. + + +London: Printed by Littlewood and Co. Old Bailey. + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] _Memoires Philosophiques, Historiques, Physiques, concernant la +Decouverte de l'Amerique, &c. Par Don Ulloa. Traduit avec des observations +par M----._ Paris, 1787. Vol. II. p. 58. + +[2] _M. Valmont de Bomare_, formerly director of the cabinets of Natural +History, Medicine, &c. to the prince of Conde. + +[3] The British Historian. + +[4] A well-known perfumer in his day who resided in Beaufort's Buildings, +London, A. D. 1740. + +[5] Scrows are the untanned hides of buffaloes, sewed with thongs of the +same, and made up into bags or bales for the exportation of several kinds +of American produce, as indigo, snuff, tobacco, &c. &c. The fleshy side of +the skin is turned outwards, whilst the hairy side, partly scraped, comes +into anything but an agreeable contact with the commodity. + +[6] Independent of His Royal Highness's attachment to the Columbian weed, +the Duke has a repository where are to be seen, in curious arrangement, +all the smoking tubes in use by the civilized inhabitants of the world, +from the slender pipe used by the Hollander, to the magnificent Hookah +used by the Indian prince in his Court, or on the back of his elephant; +and so attentive is the prince to this healthy amusement, that even in his +travelling carriage a receptacle is formed for the pipe, the tinder, the +flint, and the steel. + +[7] The Pipe of Peace. + +[8] The two celebrated anglers. + +[9] See Walton's complete Angler. Charles Cotton of Beresford Hall, his +little Fishing House. + +[10] Except from British possessions in America, and then it is 2_s._ +9_d._ + +[11] A short pipe smoked by the lower orders, and generally rendered black +by time and the frequent use of the commonest shag tobacco. + +[12] Sterne's Tristram Shandy. + +[13] Sterne's Sentimental Journey. + +[14] By Goldsmith. + +[15] Smollett's Peregrine Pickle. + +[16] Antiquarian fact: The identical Pipe and Chair used by the celebrated +author of the Rambler are still in being, and are exhibited as relics of +no ordinary value, at the house he used formerly to frequent in +Bolt-court, Fleet-street. It now goes under the very appropriate +appellation of Dr. Johnson's Coffee-house. + +[17] We more particularly refer to this fact from the reports concerning +the Cholera Morbus that are now in circulation. + +[18] Discourse on the Plague, A. D. 1678--recommends tobacco smoked in a +pipe. + +[19] Physician to the General Infirmary of the county of Stafford, A. D. +1785. + +[20] At that time frequently so called. + +[21] Vide Experiments on the Effects of Oil of Tobacco on Pigeons, &c. +&c.--Phil. Trans. Vol. xx. Part I. Append, p. 38. Fonbine sur les +poissons, Florence. Quarto. + +[22] Treatise on the Culture of Tobacco. + +[23] I am sorry to say our leading black primer is all out; I have been +down below, but they cannot spare any there.--_Printer's Devil._ + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Nicotiana, by Henry James Meller + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NICOTIANA *** + +***** This file should be named 36879.txt or 36879.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/7/36879/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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