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ir rj c^rrrh Street, Bristol, 
 
 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 
 
 (SE^^ai) in tt^ Qtftnce. 
 
 HE WHOLE ELEGANTLY EMBELLISHED AND INTERSPERSED 
 WITH 
 
 ORIGINAL POETRY AND ANECDOTES, 
 
 EING 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 
 tarth tendered to the use of man." 
 
 Captain Bobadil- — Every Man in his Huniour. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 EFFINGHAM WILSON, 
 
 Royal Exchange. 
 
 1832. 
 
TO 
 
 H. R. H. THE DUKE OF SUSSEX, 
 
 Ci;i^ little Wioxh, 
 
 AS A 
 
 TRIf LIMG 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 sup- 
 port 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 theiv 
 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 suc- 
 cumb to the attack — an unpardonable weak- 
 
VI 
 
 ness 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 wor- 
 shippers 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, unac- 
 quainted with the above data and refe- 
 rences, opposes but a feeble barrier to the 
 sweeping and general assertions of his ad- 
 versary. 
 
 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 him- 
 self 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 pre- 
 judices against smoking are numerous. 
 Smoking that is called unsocial, the author 
 
Vll 
 
 affirms to be the common source of harmony 
 and comfort, — the badge of good fellow- 
 ship in almost every state, kingdom, and 
 empire. Aye, from the English settlers in 
 the wildernesses of America, where the Ca- 
 lumet 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 prof- 
 fering the pipe with its invariable accom- 
 paniment coffee, which is more or less ob- 
 served 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 Ma- 
 jesty, and their Royal Highnesses the Dukes 
 of Sussex and Cumberland — Ferdinand of 
 Spain, and the Emperor Nicholas of Ger- 
 
VUl 
 
 many — besides very many of the nobility of 
 either empires and kingdoms. 
 
 Smoking that is termed idle, is singu- 
 larly popular with mechanics, the most in- 
 dustrious 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 igno- 
 rant in the annals of smoking, as not to 
 know, that the late Tumehemalee , Queen 
 
IX 
 
 Consort of Tirahee, king of the Sandwich 
 Islands, was dotingly fond of a pipe — sen- 
 sible woman and above all petty preju- 
 dices 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 o^politesse — France. The most 
 polished and fascinating address is ever fol- 
 lowed 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 Mo- 
 LiERE, 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 waverino;. 
 
 " Quoi que puisse dire Aristote, et toute 
 
la philosophie, il n'est rieii 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 Ton apprend avec lui a devenir 
 honnete homme. Ne voyez-vous pas bien, 
 des qu'on en prend, de quelle maniere obli- 
 geante on en use avec tout le monde, et 
 comrae on est ravi d'en donner a droit et a 
 gauche, par tout ou Ton se trouve? On 
 n'attend pas meme que Ton en demande, et 
 Ton court au devaut du souhait des gens ; 
 tant il est vrai que le tabac inspire des sen- 
 timens d'honneur et de vertu a tons ceux 
 qui en prennent.'' 
 
 The pipe and the box are twin-brothers ; 
 they are the agents of friendship, convivi- 
 ality, and mirth ; they succour the distressed, 
 and heal the afflicted ; impartial and ge- 
 nerous, 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 
 
XI 
 
 they sympathise all hearts, entwinmg 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 bene- 
 fits are received and experienced. In short, 
 they express in one breath, superlative hap- 
 piness. 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 misfor- 
 tune, either in sickness or in circumstances, 
 will learn philosophy from the pipe, and 
 
xu 
 
 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 
 
XIU 
 
 frequently inhering concomitants, in the 
 common associations of Hfe. 
 
 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 His- 
 tory of the much-aspersed, yet idolized 
 herb, to its votaries, it will give him infinite 
 pleasure. Should he not l^e so fortunate in 
 upholding by that means, — 
 
 the grand cause. 
 
 £ 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. 1381. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Invocation to Tobacco 1 
 
 The History of the Importation of the Tobacco 
 I*lant into Europe, and the Origin of Smoking 
 
 in England 3 
 
 On Snuff and the Origin of the Lnndyfoot 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 con- 
 cerning Tobacco , . . 38 
 
 The Importance of Smoking and Snuff-taking, 
 exemplified in a Grave Dissertation, dedicated 
 
 to the Youth of the Rising Generation ..,.,. 48 
 
VI CONTENTS* 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Medical Qualities of Tobacco 81 
 
 Botanical History and Culture of the Tob<icco 
 
 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 dullnes>>i — 
 
 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 ihe nose. 
 
 B 
 
INVOCATION TO TOBACCO. 
 
 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 OK 
 THE TOUACCO PLANT INTO EUROPE, 
 AND THE ORIGIN OF SMOKING IN ENG- 
 LAND. 
 
 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 
 
4 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 snulfing, 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 ex- 
 tent. 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 contra- 
 dictory accounts that exist concerning it, is 
 involved in some obscurity. That it was un- 
 known to the Europeans, till the discovery of 
 South America by that indefatigable voyager 
 
NICOTIANA. b 
 
 Coluinbas, is certain; altliough Don UUoa,* 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 coun- 
 tries, long previous to the discovery of the New 
 ^^*orld. 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 dis- 
 covery of America, we cannot but dismiss the 
 supposition, for want of data, as idle in the 
 extreme. 
 
 Although we cannot, with the powers of ob- 
 servation Columbus is said to have possessed, but 
 imagine the plant must have been known to him, 
 pirticularly as it was so popular among the na- 
 tives, 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 
 
 * Memoives Philnsophiques, Historiques, Physiques, 
 coiicernant la DecPiiverte de VAmerique, ^c. Par Don 
 
 UUoa. Traduit arec des obseriaiions par M •. 
 
 Puii3, 1787. Vol. II. p. 58. 
 
 B 3 
 
b NICOTIANA, 
 
 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 re- 
 searches 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 Tohaco, the place from whence 
 tobacco is supposed to have derived its present 
 name. There it was that the plant was discover- 
 ed, 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 
 petmij and by those in the adjoining islands 
 yoli. So singular a production of the country 
 
NICOTIAN A. / 
 
 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 san- 
 guine welcome; for the sailors composing the 
 fleet, having learnt it from the natives, had dis- 
 seminated the belief, that it was the only known 
 antidote against its ravages, — that it in fact an- 
 swered the purposes of mercury in the present 
 day, a belief welcomed with enthusiasm, and end- 
 ing in despair. 
 
 No sooner, however, was its inefficacy per- 
 ceived, than it sunk in the estimation of its wor- 
 shippers, as low as it previously had risen. 
 Indeed, into such obscurity did it fall after the 
 
8 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 stimu- 
 lant. 
 
 From Spain, the plant was carried into Por- 
 tugal; 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. 
 
MCOTIANA. y 
 
 While the nations of the Peninsula were thus 
 distinguishing themselves, and in the meridian 
 of tlieir glory, extending their discoveries, con- 
 quests, 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 
 \vhen Elizabeth ascended the throne, her natu- 
 rally enterprising and ambitious spirit was al- 
 most solely confined to arranging domestic dis- 
 cords, 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 o\vn ex- 
 pense, and proceeded on his voyage, which, 
 from different circumstances that occurred, mis- 
 carried. A similar fate attended two subse- 
 quent attempts, when Sir Humphrey's half- 
 brother, the after-celebrated Sir Walter llaleoh 
 
10 MCOTIANA. 
 
 or Raleigh, as it is now spelt, returned home 
 from the wars in the Netherlands. 
 
 Inspired by a restless ambition that ever dis- 
 tinguished this great man, he succeeded in per- 
 suading the knight to undertake a fourth voyage, 
 offering to accompany him himself. Combining 
 courage, enterprise, and perseverance, with a de- 
 gree of knowledge little known at the period 
 we treat of, few men w^ere 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 renew'al 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, dis- 
 covered Wingandacoa, which he afterwards called 
 Vif'ginia, 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. 
 
NICOTIAN A. II 
 
 In pursuance of some of these, Sir Richard 
 Grenville, another relation of Sir Walter Ra- 
 leigh'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, ap- 
 pointing him at the same time to act as governor ; 
 and promising to return to him before the next 
 spring with stores and fresh provisions. Cir- 
 cumstances, 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 em- 
 barked on board his ships for England, where 
 they arrived in the month of July, A. D. 1686, 
 with their commander, Lane. Among the speci- 
 mens 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 w^as cultivated here in 1570, a state- 
 ment plausible enough, we admit, considering 
 the previous length of time the plant had been 
 known in Spain and Portugal, but yet irre- 
 concileable with the data our own historical re- 
 
12 NICOTIANA 
 
 search gives us. That it might indeed have been 
 introduced from France previous to its importa- 
 tion 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 affirma- 
 tion, Linnaus likewise mentions that the plant 
 became known in Europe the same year the 
 French date from, and Humboldt so far corro- 
 borates him, as to state that seeds of it were re- 
 ceived from Yucatan in 1559. 
 
 That it was known in France, some years pre- 
 vious 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 ambas- 
 sador at the court of Lisbon in the reign of 
 F'rancis 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 re- 
 gain notice in Spain. 
 
 Impressed with the cvirrent account of its pro- 
 perties as a medicine and luxurious stimulant, 
 he sent a portion of it liome, where it arrived, 
 
NICOTIANA. 13 
 
 and under higli 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 hav^e been 
 Sir Walter Raleigh, who is said to have brought 
 it from \'irginia 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 iS'ei'j World in 1570-2-7, ere Raleigh had 
 undertaken his first. This idea is exactly in ac- 
 cordance, too, with the dates furnished us by 
 Lobel, Linnaus and Humboldt. Independent of 
 this strong circumstantial evidence, Bomare* 
 and Camdenf both attribute its first appearance 
 to him, — authority not to be disputed for a mo- 
 ment. 
 
 That Sir Walter was the first distinguished in- 
 dividual that set tlie fashion of smoking, we have 
 
 * M. Valmont de Bomare, formerly director of the 
 cabinets of Natural History, ^ledicine, 6cc. to the 
 prince of Conde. 
 
 t The British Historian. 
 c 
 
14 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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, communi- 
 cated it to Raleigh, who indulged in it greatly, 
 as a pleasant pastime. It was during one of 
 his pleasing reveries under the soothing influ- 
 ence 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 
 sav/ 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 entertain- 
 ments to his friends, in which the fare consisted 
 of pipes of tobacco, and ale seasoned with nut- 
 megs — 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 lov€ of novelty to a great degree, and 
 
NICOTIANA. 15 
 
 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 autho- 
 rity of the Biograplna Britannica^ that the 
 ladies of the court indulged in smoking the fra- 
 grant 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 i/oli, be- 
 sides other barbarous names, probably each ap- 
 pellation 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 sup- 
 posed to have had its derivation from Tobago 
 in the West Indies, while others assert it is de- 
 rived from TohacOy a different place altogether ; 
 which latter, from its closer approximation to the 
 word tobacco, we cannot but imagine correct. 
 
16 NICOTIAN A, 
 
 In botany it is more particularly known under the 
 scientific appellation of Herba Nicotiana, so 
 named on its introduction into France, in com- 
 pliment to her ambassador, Jean Nlcot of Nismes, 
 from whom it was received. It was also well 
 known under the imposing titles of Herba Re- 
 ginee Catharina Medico, and Herba Kegince: 
 the first given in honor of the queen, and 
 the latter of a grand prior of the house of Lor- 
 raine, 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, some- 
 where 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 tlie Holy or the Indiuji Healing 
 Herb — Heilig wundkraut, or Indianisch wund- 
 kraut. 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 
 
NICOTIANA. 1/ 
 
 first to tlie 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 Mus- 
 covy 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. 
 
 c 3 
 
18 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 snujf 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 in- 
 debted to the once celebrated * 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, 
 
 * A well-known perfumer in his day who resided 
 in Beaufort's Buildings, London, A. D. 1740. 
 
NICOTIANA. 19 
 
 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 pro- 
 ducing the sensation of sneezing, which we need 
 not say forms now no part of the design, or ra- 
 ther 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 at- 
 tempts, it was resolved to embark the troops, 
 and set sail for England. But previous to this, 
 the port and several adjacent places were plun- 
 dered. There, besides some very rich mer- 
 chandize, 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 
 snuft^ of the best growth, and of the finest 
 manufacture. 
 
20 NICOTIANA. 
 
 With this plunder on board (which fell chiefly 
 to the share of the land officers), the fleet was re- 
 turning to England; but on the way, it was re- 
 solved 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 de- 
 stroyed 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 pro- 
 digious quantities of gross snuff" from the Ha- 
 vannah in bales, bags, and scrows,* 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 
 
 * Scrows are the unlanned hides of buffaloes, 
 sewed with thongs of the same, and made up into 
 bags or bales for tlie 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. 
 
NICOTIAKA. 21 
 
 in tlie 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, Ply- 
 mouth, and Chatham, for not more than 4d. 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 diffe- 
 rent snuffs, thus distributed throughout the king- 
 dom, novelty being quickly caught in England, 
 arose the custom and fashion of snuff-taking; and 
 growing upon the nation by degrees, they are now 
 
22 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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, Havan- 
 nah and Brazilian snuffs, LiUie proceeds to de- 
 scribe a snuff he calls ' Inferior Lisbon/ that singu- 
 larly enough, closely approximates to the cele- 
 brated 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 at- 
 tributes our own famous high-dried, called Lun- 
 dyfoot, 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 pre- 
 paring 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, 
 
NICOTIAN A. 23 
 
 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) tliat he 
 liad 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. 
 
24 ^ . NICOTIAXA. 
 
 " 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 de- 
 gree 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, any- 
 thing but disagreeable, and on one of the gentle- 
 
NiCOTIANxl. 25 
 
 men taking a pinch up and putting it to his 
 nose, he pronounced it the best snufF lie 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. Re- 
 serving 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 per- 
 ceived 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 w^as 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 im- 
 mediately, 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 
 
26 MCOTIANA. 
 
 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 raeml)er of the Irish 
 bar, who was a resident in Dublin at the time. 
 
 With regard to the numerous varieties of 
 snuifs 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. 
 
NICOTIANA. 27 
 
 SELECT POETRY. 
 
 TOBACCO. 
 
 IFroin 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 eases. 
 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. 
 
28 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 ciitticke, 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 whyfHer, 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 ! 
 
NICOTIANA. 29 
 
 Most rare Columbus ! thou shalt be, tor tliis, 
 
 The only Christopher in my kalendar. 
 
 Why but for thee the uses of the nose 
 
 AVere 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 civnmon comforts ! to omit 
 Pipe-panegyric and tobacco -praise. 
 Think what a general joy the snuff-box gives 
 Europe, and far above Pizarro's name 
 Vv'^rite 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 tnust be laughed at must proceed. 
 
 Anthologii, Vol. II. p. 115. 
 
30 NICOTIANA. 
 
 THOU ART A CHARM FOR WINTER. 
 
 Nor here to pause — I own tliy 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. 
 
 Uo this, my pipe, and till my sand 's run out, 
 I'll sing thy praise among the sons of wealth, 
 
 Blest weed that bids tlie 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. 
 
NICOTIAN A. 31 
 
 rroni 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,* England's Royal Duke adores. 
 
 The Social Pipe. 
 
 ALL NATIONS HONOR THEE. 
 
 'Tis not for me to sing thy praise alone, 
 
 \\ here'er the merchant spreads his wiud-bleach'd 
 
 sails j 
 Wherever social intercourse is known, 
 
 There too thy credit, still the theme prevails. 
 
 Ihe 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. 
 
 * 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 atten- 
 tive is the prince to this healthy amusement, tint 
 even in his travelling carriage a receptacle is formed 
 for the pipe, the tinder, the flint, and the steel. 
 
3^ NICOTIANA. 
 
 Thy potent chaims delight the nabob's taste, 
 Fixt on his elephant (half reasoning beast) ; 
 
 He twines the gaudy hookah round his waist. 
 And puff's thy incense to the breezy east. 
 
 The grave Bavarian, midst his half year's frost, 
 Deliglits 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* to cheer his friends. 
 
 The Frenchman loves thee la another way, 
 
 He grinds thy leaves to make him scented snuff; 
 
 Boasts of improvements, and prefcumes to say, 
 France still the polish gives and we the i^ough. 
 
 Still let him boast, nor put Jolin Bull to shame, 
 His Gascon tales shall Fr-glishraen divert ; 
 
 France for her trifles /las been dear to fame, 
 From her the ruffle sprung, from* us the shirt. 
 
 The lib'ral Spaniard and the Portuguese, 
 
 Spread richest dainties bi ought from realms afar ; 
 
 Nor think their festive efforts form'd to please, 
 Unless redundant breathes the lioht cigar. 
 
 The Pipe of Peace. 
 
MCOTIANA. 33 
 
 So when our Druids inspiration sougiit, 
 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, 
 1 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 novp 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. 
 
34 NIC'OTIANA. 
 
 WALTON AND COTTON.* 
 
 Our sires o old esteemed this healing leaf. 
 Sacred to Bacchus and his ros}? 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 t 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 two celebrated anglers, 
 t See Walton's complete Angler. Charles Cotton 
 of Beresford Hall, his little Fishing House. 
 
NICOTIANA. 35 
 
 The love-sick Swilzer 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; sfale 
 
 'O 3 
 
 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 fvirrow whittles to his team. 
 
36 NICOTIANA, 
 
 Thus all admire thee : search around the globe, 
 Ihe rich, the poor, the volatile, the grave ; 
 
 Save the swekt fop, who fears to taint his robe, 
 The smock-fae'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, 
 \Vith 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 ! 
 
MCOTIAXA 37 
 
 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. 
 
58 ' NH'OTIANA. 
 
 A REVIEW OF THE LAWS AND REGULA- 
 TIONS 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 vacil- 
 lating 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 2d. per lb., and this, 
 by the first law James passed, was increased 
 to Qs. \0d., thus adding the comparatively 
 enormous sum of 6.s. Qd. to the previously existing 
 
NICOTIANA. • • 39 
 
 trifle. In consequence of this, nearly a stagna- 
 tion 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 Vir- 
 ginia, 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 cul- 
 tivate it at home. The latter alternative was 
 adopted, and till the year 1620, the tobacco- 
 plant was cultivated to a very considerable ex- 
 tent. 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. De- 
 terminmg 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 6s. \0d. duty should be 
 levied on all tobaccoyrom 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 Por- 
 
40 NICOTIANA. 
 
 tuguese districts, and the consequence was an 
 influx of the favorite herb at the old duty of 2d. 
 The only real sufferers through adopting this 
 new channel of commerce, were the planters of 
 A'^irginia, who made a representation of their loss 
 to the throne, when another law was passed, 
 lessening the duty and prohibiting the importa- 
 tion 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 w^ithout holding letters patent from 
 himself. A blow so sudden and unexpect- 
 ed, 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 
 
NICOTIANA. 41 
 
 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 to- 
 bacco from the kingdom. An act was made 
 12th Car. II. cap. 34. This law, embracing the 
 prohibitory portions of the preceding acts, con- 
 fiscated the tobacco so found, with a fine of 1 00 
 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/. for every 
 rod. By this we may infer, that the former of 
 these acts had not, in the estimation of the legis- 
 lature, 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 en- 
 lightened 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 3s.* per lb. on the importation 
 
 * Except from British possessions in Ameiica, and 
 then it is 2s. M. 
 
 E 3 
 
42 XICOTIANA. 
 
 of the raw material ; a sum that forms no less 
 ih^njifteen times its prime cost in the countries 
 where it is produced. On the leaf manufac- 
 tured it is immense, the duty on cigars being 9s. 
 the lb. (5th Geo. IV. cap. 48,) and on snuff 6s. 
 
 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 
 5s. 6d. the wine-gallon down so low as 2s., 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 lis. 5^d. down to 6s. 
 the gallon, a reduction that also greatly tended 
 to increase the amount of the year's revenue. 
 
NICOTIANA. 43 
 
 The duty on coffee is another proof we shall cite : 
 in 1823 it was Is. per lb. and the goverment de- 
 rived from it that year 393,708/. Whereas when 
 half of the amount levied was taken off, leaving 
 it but 6d., in 1825 the gross receipt amounted to 
 426,187/. Thus may we see, with very nu- 
 merous 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 legis- 
 lature. What we allude to is, the glaring im- 
 policy of obliging our merchant service to tra- 
 verse different portions of the globe, at a conse- 
 quently 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 
 
44 NICOTIANA. 
 
 serious amount of 3,310,375/. 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 pro- 
 duction of the West Indies or the continent of 
 America, belonging to any foreign European 
 state, may be imported into certain ports speci- 
 fied 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 
 
NICOTIANA. 46 
 
 West Indies, or of the United States of Ame- 
 rica. 
 
 By the 49 Geo. III. c. 25, unmanufactured 
 tobacco may be imported from any place in 
 Britisli 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, lobacco-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 
 
46 NICOTiANA. 
 
 take out a licence from the officers of excise, for 
 which he shall pay, if the quantity of tobacco 
 and snufF-work weiglied by him for manufacture 
 within the year ending the 10th of October, pre- 
 vious to his taking out such licence did not ex- 
 ceed - - - - 20,000 lbs. £.200 
 
 I 20,000, and 
 
 under 30,000 
 
 3 
 
 30,000 - 
 
 - - 40,000 
 
 4 
 
 40,000 - 
 
 - - 50,000 
 
 5 
 
 50,000 - 
 
 - - 60,000 
 
 6 
 
 60,000 - 
 
 - - 70,000 
 
 7 
 
 70,000 - 
 
 - - 80,000 
 
 8 
 
 80,000 - 
 
 - - 90,000 
 
 9 
 
 90,000 - 
 
 - - 100,000 
 
 10 
 
 100,000 - 
 
 - - 120,000 
 
 12 
 
 120,000 - 
 
 - - 150,000 
 
 15 
 
 150,000 - 
 
 _ 
 
 20 
 
 Every person who shall first become a ma- 
 nufacturer of tobacco or snuff, shall pay for every 
 such licence 2/., and within ten days after the 
 10th of October next, after taking out such 
 licence, such further additional sum as, with the 
 said 2/., shall amount to the duty hereinbefore 
 directed to be paid, according to the quantity of 
 tobacco and snuff-work weighed for manufac- 
 ture. 
 
NICOTIANA. 4/ 
 
 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 5s. ^ elsewhere 2s. 6d. (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/,, and if a dealer 50/. 
 
 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 sell- 
 ing tobacco or snuff, three days previous to his 
 beginning, on pain of forfeiting 200/., 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. 
 
48 NICOTIAN A. 
 
 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 victory smiles upon our naval band 1 
 
 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 1 — M. S. 
 
 " For the taking of fum.es 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 
 
XICOTIANA. 49 
 
 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 excel- 
 lence ? Are ye not, most sublime of pleasures, 
 independent of your other numerous claims 
 upon public and private favour — are ye not im- 
 mortalized 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,* to 
 smoke them to defiance, or a pinch of ' high 
 dried,' to father a witty reply. 
 
 Much-injured and defrauded of habits — friends 
 
 * A short pipe smoked by the lower orders, and 
 generally rendered black by time and the frequent use 
 of the commonest shag tobacco. 
 
 F 
 
50 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 tliat 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 as- 
 sociated 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 ima- 
 gination, 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.* Methinks, 
 indeed, we now see ye together in the little 
 
 * Sterne's Tristram Shandy. 
 
NICOTIAN A. 51 
 
 cottage parlour, lighted up by the cheerful fire, 
 tliscoursingof 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 kin- 
 dred souls. And thou, too, poor monk,* off- 
 spring of the same pervading mind, yet picturing 
 many a sad reality, must thou be forgotten, ab- 
 sorbed as thou art from all the grosser passions 
 of our nature? Our memory paints thee, im- 
 pelled 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 thy- 
 self, from the sneers of the affluent, seekest con- 
 solation in — a pinch of snuff! 
 
 Good Mcar of Wakefield ! t 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. 
 
 * Sterne's Sentimental Journey, 
 t By Goldsmith. 
 
52 NICOTIANA, 
 
 Without them, indeed — with such a true know- 
 ledge 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* 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 perni- 
 cious 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 pro- 
 
 * Smollett's Peresfrine Pickle. 
 
NICOTIANA. 53 
 
 ceeding 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 suscep- 
 tibility 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 commit- 
 ting 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 understand- 
 ings 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. 
 
 r 3 
 
54 NICOTIANA. 
 
 Reader, if thou should'st chance to be a mar- 
 ried man, when thy rib — so vulgarly called in 
 epitome, though perchance the better half of thy- 
 self — rails against thy only consolation in do- 
 mestic broils, — smoking — answer not, we be- 
 seech thee. No, not a word of the volume 
 of eloquence we fancy rising indignantly in 
 thy throat, against the cruel calumnies level- 
 led at thy favorite Virginia, as thou valuest 
 the safety of thy tube, whether Dutch or Mer- 
 schaum. The voice of an angel would not avail 
 thee in thy cause. 
 
 With reference to ihe 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 any- 
 thing 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 snuft'-box, justly vain, 
 And the nice conduct of a clouded cane." 
 
NICOTIANA. 55 
 
 Well, and what do the faculty say with re- 
 ference 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 in- 
 fluence of the herb in grain, they are running it 
 down in another and not less delightful prepara- 
 tion and form. Then, by way of conclusion, like 
 a crier of last dying speeches, comes to be re- 
 lated 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 con- 
 sumption. So if a man habituated to the plea- 
 sures 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 v^rould 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 
 
56 MCOTIANA. 
 
 which vvG candidly admit may slightly impair 
 some peculiar constitutions, — where is the re- 
 creant 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 de- 
 serted 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 ap- 
 prenticeship to it. Once more, taking the most 
 
XICOTIANA. 57 
 
 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 yt;ar presents us with 
 numerous deaths in every department of re- 
 creation, 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 ive 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 
 
58 NICOTIAN A, 
 
 could never sustain the delightful fumes, with- 
 out 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 me- 
 taphysics, 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 occa- 
 sionally 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 
 
NICOTIAN A. 59 
 
 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 con- 
 vert our ' heathen brethren.' 
 
 Such is the benevolent object of this bar- 
 barian 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 power- 
 ful and charitable arguments he uses, the na- 
 tional 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 agree- 
 able 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 
 
60 NICOTIANA. 
 
 patiently with him ; but to seek, — to conceive,— 
 to attempt, banishing one of the most soothing, — 
 sympathising, and truest friends from the man- 
 sions of John Bull, is an atrocity we scarcely can 
 credit ; did not the identical barbarous proposi- 
 tion glare us in the face in good long-primer. 
 Write of the heathen, indeed ! he wants convert- 
 ing 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 — " What- 
 soever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 
 (J 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 
 
MCOTIANA. 61 
 
 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 so)ne cases it is sinful,' {us cases 
 are in italics we should feel happy to know whether 
 they are of tin or composition he alludes to, hut to 
 proceed.) At this, the lady expressed great sur- 
 prise {us well she might) and would not be satis- 
 fied, unless I \vould assign some reason for 
 thinking that snuff-taking was sinful. At length, 
 for she teazed me, I said to her, ' Pray ma'am, 
 {cunnot he drop the field-preucher and write 
 Madam) how much in the w^eek may you spend 
 in snuff?' ^ Perhaps 7d.' '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/. ' You surprise me, — you must be 
 mistaken, Sir.' ' No, Ma^am,' said I, ' I am 
 not mistaken.' It amounts to more than 60/. 
 
 G 
 
62 NICOTIANA. 
 
 without the interest {profuund calculuiion /) 
 Now, do you think that God will reward you 
 for taking snufF V ' Reward me for taking- 
 snuff!' said she, ' No, Sir, I do not expect that.' 
 ' But suppose, instead of spending this 60/. 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 fol- 
 lowing is another specimen of his Jigurative 
 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 
 
NICOTIANA. 63 
 
 that Id. 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 to- 
 bacco an ounce V (ignoramus ! — we thought he 
 knew 7iot the value of what he attempts to depre- 
 ciate). ' Four-pence/ said he. ' Four-pence 
 an ounce, and an ounce in the day, that is 
 2s. Ad. per week, and 52 weeks in the year will 
 be the sura of 6/. and Ad. 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 oc- 
 casion 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 oppor- 
 tunity of knowing him as a truly pious, and use- 
 ful 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 en- 
 veloped in smoke. ' Now, Sir,* said he, * can 
 
64 NICOTIANA. 
 
 you smoke any, will you have a pipe V No, 
 Sir,' said I, ' I never smoked a pipe in all my 
 life ;' — (^miserable man ! this he sai/s 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 V ' 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' — 
 {woj'thy 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 wan !) — ' Perhaps,' said I, ' he's sick, 
 and smokes for his healtli.' ' 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, 
 
NICOTIANA. 65 
 
 he must have his pipe — he can't do without his 
 pipe — sin in it ! nay, surely it cannot be sinful.' 
 {He concludes ivtt/i his favorite computation). 
 Upon inquiry, 1 found, that though the only 
 smoker in the family, yet at a moderate reckon- 
 ing, he contrives to consume about 5/. worth of 
 tobacco every year." 
 
 This would, doubtless, have been better em- 
 ployed 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 cheer- 
 ful 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 re- 
 
66 NICOTIANA. 
 
 quest than it is even now. Facts like these 
 plainly establish, that James' dislike, however 
 acquired, proceeded from prejudice and preju- 
 dice 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 dis- 
 ease, 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 cer- 
 tainly 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 commo- 
 dity 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 /" 
 
NICOTIANA. 67 
 
 " It is become in place of a care, a point of 
 good fellowship, and liee 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 upou 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 todisplay James's exaggeration, which 
 actually here can only be considered hyperbo- 
 lical. 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 oc- 
 currence. King James concludes his Counter- 
 blaste in the following piece of declamation. 
 
G8 NICOTIANA. 
 
 '* 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 ; in- 
 stead of this long tirade against the most cheer- 
 ful 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 apipe. 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 
 
NICOTIANA. 69 
 
 mischiefs ascribed to it, then could we have ex- 
 cused 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 nytice and use, than the 
 
70 NICOTIAN A. 
 
 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 coftee-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 scep- 
 tics, as opponents, to contend with ; but we are 
 sanguine from the facts we shall clearly esta- 
 blish, 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 con- 
 siderable power upon the mind, more espe- 
 cially 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 
 
MCOTIANA. 71 
 
 species of delirium the Turks so vividly de- 
 scribe, %vhen labouring under the effects of 
 opium. The intellectual senses, more parti- 
 cularly that part of them forming the imagina- 
 tion, become so much more powerful and per- 
 vading, 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 ex- 
 cite 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 
 
i'2 MCOTIANA. 
 
 parent of Locke's philosophy, the profound 
 philosopher Lord Bacon, the most illustrious 
 mathematician and philosopher, Sir Isaac New- 
 ton, 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 Ilobbes, 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, think- 
 ing 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 in- 
 fluence in Loudon 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 con- 
 sidered 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 in- 
 fluence and invigorating aid, exciting the ima- 
 
XICOTIANA. /3 
 
 gination 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 sub- 
 ject :— 
 
 " 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 entibled, 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, ' Xo 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 conse- 
 quence in regard to these first great discoverers 
 in science, the only proofs that exist of its repu- 
 
 H 
 
74 NICOTIANA. 
 
 tation ; successive generations, under the weed's 
 cheering auspices, have but continued what they 
 so ably began. 
 
 Dr. Johnson,* Dr. Thorious, Dr. Aid rich. 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 in- 
 debted 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 genera- 
 tive powers became quickly visible : the minds 
 of men, though previously barren, became fruc- 
 tified 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 diff'used, 
 with knowledge, we are now a nation of smokers 
 
 * 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. 
 
NICOTIANA. /D 
 
 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 snafFs ; from t?ie cobler, whose 
 " soul on higher things is bent," that composes a 
 ditty to the measure of some admired produc- 
 tion gracing his stall, to the peer of the realm, 
 who, lounging on an ottoman under the inspira- 
 tion 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 w^onders in the promotion and promul- 
 gation of knowledge, we flatter ourselves we have 
 plausibly shown ; that it is equally distinguished 
 in diplomaci/ and w«/-, is a fact we shall now pro- 
 ceed to demonstrate. To commence then : who 
 ever knew or heard of a plenipotentiary w^ithout 
 his jewelled smiff-hox? — The thing were out o^ 
 nature : without it, indeed, he were but an au- 
 tomaton— 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, — con- 
 cealing their own, and, in a word, never be de- 
 
/() NICOTIANA. 
 
 serted at a Pixcii. Nay, so much is snuff the 
 fasliion, that a courtier in most European coun- 
 tries 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 num- 
 ber ; he (acute and penetrating) 2vas 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 witli 
 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 uf coffee, and a warm 
 bath i^ 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 
 
NICOTIANA. TJ 
 
 ordered its use throughout the whole of the 
 French army. The immediate consequence was, 
 that under his influence and that of tlie stimu- 
 lating weed, they conquered all before them, aivd 
 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 suc- 
 cess to be attributed ; but deprive them of these, 
 and you take the spirit of the men away. Im- 
 mortal, godlike pigtail ! And well too does go- 
 vernment 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 ihe 
 H 3 
 
7S NICOTIAN A. 
 
 locker. Go seek the man, whether topman, 
 afterguard, or idler, wlio has ever been upon a 
 seven or three years' station, and ask him v^rhence 
 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 yester- 
 day 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 
 
NICOTIANA. 79 
 
 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 Tliursday. 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 con- 
 clusion, what can we say more for thee, omnipo- 
 
80 NICOTIAN A. 
 
 tent, 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 ^V'apping 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 ? 
 
MCOTIANA. » 81 
 
 THE MEDICAL QUALITIES OF TOBACCO. 
 
 Of the properties attributable to the plant in 
 the j\Iatcria Medica, a variety of opinions pre- 
 vail, and have done, indeed, since its tirst ap- 
 pearance 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 sera, that some medical men 
 should be found to ascribe every bad and per- 
 nicious 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 lament- 
 able difference of opinion among the facult 
 
82 NICOTIANA. 
 
 existed only in reference to our present sub- 
 ject. 
 
 We shall now, however, proceed to note some 
 of the ideas of the learned that have been ex- 
 pressed 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, 
 
 Soie 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 caseth 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; 
 
NICOTIANA. 83 
 
 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 nunciature expir'd) 
 Back from the court of Poitugal 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 re^ 
 spect 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 quan- 
 tities, so as to produce little effect by its action 
 on the stomach, has been found a very useful and 
 powerful diuretic. 
 
84 NICOTIANA. 
 
 Dr. Fowler published some cases of dropsy 
 and dysury, in which its application was at- 
 tended with the best effects, and this has been 
 confirmed by the practice of others. Beaten 
 into a mash with vinegar or brandy, it has some- 
 times proved highly serviceable for removing 
 hard tumours of the hi/podiondres. Two cases 
 of cure are published in the ' Edinburgh Es- 
 says/ 
 
 Considerable reliance has also been placed 
 upon it, by some of the most eminent practi- 
 tioners, as an injection by the anus of the smoke, 
 in cases of obstinate constipation, threatening 
 Ileus, oi incarcerated hernia, of spasmodic asthma, 
 and of persons apparently dead from drowning 
 or other causes. 
 
 Dr. Strotlier 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 Stid)h 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. 
 
NICOTIANA. 85 
 
 Boyle asserts the juice and the plant to be 
 very excellent in curing ulcers and mortifica- 
 tions, although its operation, in this respect, is 
 stated by numerous other authorities, to be dele- 
 terious 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 ex- 
 pressed 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. 
 
 Kevenus and Chemt likewise wrote against 
 the habit of smoking; but like more modern 
 I 
 
86 NICOTIANA. 
 
 writers, among whom may be named D/\ 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 an- 
 tidote against contagion, its inestimable efficacy 
 was never better proved, than in the period of the 
 plagues* 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 sliops of the tobacconists re- 
 mained quite uninfected. 
 
 It is also very favourably mentioned by 
 Kichard 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 some- 
 times clap it to the temples for some few minutes 
 
 * We more particularly refer to this fact from the 
 reports concerning the Cholera Morbus that are now 
 in circulation. 
 
NICOTIANA. 87 
 
 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 againbt the poisonous influence of the 
 plague, may be mentioned Gideon Bovey, M.D.,* 
 Dr. Foivler,f and Diemerbroek, a distinguished 
 Dutch medical practitioner; besides numerous 
 pamphlets that have been published on the sub- 
 ject 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 X or tobacco, is 
 an excellentdefence against bad air, being smoked 
 
 * Discourse od the Plague, A. D. 1678 — recom- 
 mends tobacco smoked in a pipe. 
 
 t Physician to the General Infirmary of the county 
 of Stafford, A.D. 1785. 
 
 J At that time frequently so called. 
 J 2 
 
»» NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 va- 
 pour ; 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 con- 
 stitutions, young and old, men and women, the 
 sanguine, the choleric, the melancholy, the 
 phlegmatic, take it without any manifest incon- 
 venience ; 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 sub- 
 lunatory, are voided and spitted out." 
 
NICOTIAN A. 89 
 
 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.* 
 
 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 cor- 
 ruptive 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 efHuvia arising at 
 times from the breath that, in some constitu- 
 tions, so quickly brings about a corrosion of the 
 outer surface or enamel. The benefits that have 
 
 * Vide Experiments on the Effects of Oil of 
 Tobacco on Pigeons, 6:c.<Scc. — Phil. Trans. Vol. xx. 
 Part I. Append, p. 38. Fonbinc sur les poissons, 
 Florence. Quarto. 
 
 1 3 
 
90 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 Scot- 
 land, 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. 
 
NICOTIANA. 91 
 
 BOTANICAL HISTORY AND CULTURE OF 
 THE TOBACCO PLANT. 
 
 Tobacco is a genus oHheclsiSspentandria. Order 
 monogynia; natural order of luridae (solaneae, 
 Juss,) — Generic characters — Calyx; perian- 
 thium one-leafed, ovate, half five-cleft, perma- 
 nent. Corolla : one-petalled funnel-form. — Es- 
 sential 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, termi- 
 nating in long acute points. 
 
92 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 na- 
 turally 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 an- 
 nual 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 
 
NICOTIAN A. 93 
 
 are mure tlian 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 branch- 
 ing 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. 
 
94 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 pliwibaginifolia, 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 ; seg- 
 ments of the calyx deep, spatulate. Gathered 
 by Commerson at Monte Video, and communi- 
 cated 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. 95 
 
 Nicotiana trisfis, 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 ob- 
 tuse. 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 liere, and being 
 much more hardy than the other sorts, inso- 
 much that it has become a weed in many 
 places. 
 
 Nicotiana riigosa of Miller, rises with a strong 
 stalk near four feet high; the leaves are shaped 
 like those of the preceding, but are greatly fur- 
 rowed 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 di- 
 
96 NICOTIAN A. 
 
 rected one way and revolute, with bell-shaped 
 corollas, and cordate leaves like those of Nico- 
 tiana rustica; but crenate, and the whole tree 
 prickly. Native of South America. 
 
 Nicotiaiia 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. 
 
 Nicotianapusilla, 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 pro- 
 bably another species, or perhaps the same. 
 
 Culture. — Tobacco thrives best in a warm, 
 
NICOTIANA. 97 
 
 kindly rich soil, that is not subject to be over- 
 run with weeds. In \'irginia, the soil in which 
 it thrives best is warm, light, and inclining to 
 be sandy ; and, therefore, if the plant is to be 
 cultivated m 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 in- 
 tend 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 some- 
 times 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 pur- 
 pose, of such soil that has been already de- 
 scribed, mixed with some warm rich manure. 
 In a cold spring, hot beds are most eligible 
 for that purpose ; and gardeners imagine that 
 
 K 
 
98 NICOTIANA. 
 
 they are always necessary : but Mr. Carver* 
 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 at- 
 tained 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 re- 
 moval is, when the fourth leaf is shrouded, and 
 the fifth just appears. Then take the opportu- 
 nity of the first rains or gentle showers to trans- 
 plant them into such a soil and situation as 
 before described ; which must be done in the 
 
 * Treatise on the Culture of Tobacco. 
 
NICOTIANA. JO 
 
 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 re- 
 markably 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 fin- 
 gers 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 con- 
 tinually springing up at the junction of the 
 leaves with the stalks. This is termed succour- 
 
lOQ NICOTIANA. 
 
 ing 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 trans- 
 ferred, and hung some time, 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 da- 
 mage will be occasioned by it. \Vlien 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 
 
NICOTIANA. 101 
 
 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 hundsy 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. 
 
 K 3 
 
102 N I COT I AN A. 
 
 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. 
 
NICOTIANA. 103 
 
 Ami though a man, both short and stout, 
 
 All knew iiim in a crowd ; 
 For oh, he never mov'd, without 
 
 His head was in a cloud : 
 In pris'n he met a friend lie'd known 
 
 Full many years ago, 
 In ' four in hand ' his cash had flown. 
 
 And now he'd come to avoe. 
 
 Poor Brown, alas ! he had been green, 
 
 And so his hopes had marr'd j 
 But thought it strange in turn, I ween. 
 
 He should be driven hard. 
 Now he took snufF, in quantum sitff,, 
 
 He thought it calm'd his woes, — 
 ^Vhile one friend blew the light cigar. 
 
 The other blew his nose. 
 
 " As we have bask'din fortune's calm, 
 
 Now squalls come we 'II not flinch," 
 Thus spoke the tar, and gave his arm. 
 
 And Brown gave him a pinch. 
 " Now, Fire, all snufis 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." 
 
NICOTIANA. 
 
 Of future scenes of happiness. 
 
 The tar he often spoke j 
 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 ail thy magic tell : 
 Who can paint the soft entrancing, 
 
 All thy virtues who can know 1 
 Moving visions, sweetly glancing. 
 
 Giving joy and calming vvoe. 
 
 Tell me, do the proud ones scorn ye, 
 
 Does the monarch on his throne. 
 In liie 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. 
 
NICOTIANA. 105 
 
 True, there are some soft ones ever, 
 
 Like a drop within the sea ; 
 \Veak in nerves, yet vastly clever, 
 
 Wlio 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 * 
 
 STANZAS TO A LADY. 
 
 IN DEFENCE OF SMOKING. 
 
 What taught me first sweet peace to blend. 
 With liopos and fears that knew no end. 
 My dearest, truest, fondest friend ? 
 
 My pipe, love ! 
 
 W^hat 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 I 
 
 What still upheld me since the guile, 
 Attendant on false friendship's smile, 
 And I in hope, deceiv'd the while 1 
 
 My pipe, love ! 
 
 * 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. 
 
106 NICOTIANA. 
 
 What cheer'd me when misfortunes came, 
 And all had flown me 1 — 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 'f 
 
 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 1 
 
 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 ! 
 
NICOTIAN A. 107 
 
 I've borne all weathers, wind and rain, 
 
 And patiently I bore — 
 When shall 1 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. 
 
108 NICOTIANA. 
 
 ANECDOTES. 
 
 The Precious Pipe. — Napoleon greatly pa- 
 tronized the habit of smoking in the French 
 army, so that it soon became actually indis- 
 pensable for the continnance of that gaite du cceur, 
 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 for- 
 titude and philosophy, remarkable in the an- 
 nals of military record. During the latter end 
 of their march to Moscow, and after the burn- 
 ino- 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 ge- 
 neral state of the army, when a private of the 
 Garde Imperiale, being out with a detachment 
 
NICOTIANA. 109 
 
 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 ne- 
 cessities, he stove in the door with the butt end 
 of his musquet, and instantly commenced a 
 scrutiny, to see if anything had been left be- 
 hind 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 me- 
 lancholy 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 
 
 L 
 
110 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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, whif- 
 fing the grateful fumes from my short pipe. 
 Indulging in visions that for a long time had 
 been a stranger to me, the much-boasted plea- 
 sures of the opium eaters, were nothing in 
 comparison to mine. — I seemed in heaven, sir." 
 After having regained the camp, it soon be- 
 came a subject of remark and discussion, how 
 Faucin (the soldier's name) got his tobacco to 
 smoke, and looked so cheerful, when his com- 
 rades would have given all they were worth for 
 the same luxury. Knowing his extreme dan- 
 ger if it should be discovered he had any quan- 
 tity 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 applica- 
 tions that were made him for portions, how- 
 ever small. At length, as his short pipe was 
 still perceived week after week, emitting its sa- 
 voury steam, on their toilsome march home- 
 wards, it was generally suspected, and he was 
 openly told, he had plenty of tobacco in his 
 
NICOTIAN A. Ill 
 
 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 confers the secret 
 to two corporals and a serjeant, and divide a 
 quantity among them. While their line of 
 march was daily and nightly strewed wuth 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 cer- 
 tain public law-ofiice 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 de- 
 ficiency 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 
 
112 NICOTIAN A. 
 
 of the ' rainy day.' He frequently got drunk 
 but never forgot the nfiseries of the ' long va- 
 cation/ and accordingly acted upon the follow- 
 ing 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 men- 
 tioned, 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. Aldrkh. — His excessive love for smoking 
 was well known to his associates ; but a young 
 student of his college, finding some difficulty 
 
NICOTIANS. 113 
 
 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 In- 
 dies, there being little apprehension of rain to 
 injure the leaves when plucked. Thus the Chi- 
 nese grow tobacco enough for their own con- 
 sumption, and will not allow any to be im- 
 ported, so as to discourage their own cultiva- 
 tion. This prohibition, which has long existed 
 in that country, was some years ago notified to 
 iVtr. Wilkodes, the American consul, then at 
 Canton, in the following manner : 
 
 " May he be promoted to great powers ! 
 We acquaint you that the foreign ojiium, the 
 L 3 
 
114 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 coun- 
 try of the circumstance, and to make it known, 
 that the dirt used for smoking is an article pro- 
 hibited in the celestial empire. — Pannkhyquia 
 Mowqua, (5"C- -Koi Hiiig, 12nd year, 5th Mont/i, 
 22nd day, Canton, May 22nd, 1818. 
 
 Sir Isaac Neivton. — This illustiious 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 
 
NICOTIANA. 115 
 
 sitting, challenged the room to produce his equal. 
 Mr. Boivlell, the proprietor of the great boot- 
 shop, Skinner-street, and remarkable for smok- 
 ing " 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, daunt- 
 lessly 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 ! 
 
16 MCOTIANA. 
 
 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 re- 
 marked of late years the change that has gra- 
 dually 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 in- 
 centives 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 
 
NICOTIANA. 11/ 
 
 more properly speaking, Diwan, by some wri- 
 ters is said to be of eastern origin, and the 
 plural of diic, a devil. The appellation, says 
 a Persian lexicograplier, 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." Mu- 
 tato nomine de tefabula narratur, may be per- 
 tinently applied, in this instance, to the coun- 
 cils 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 coun- 
 cillors assembled smoke their chibouques dur- 
 ing 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 
 
118 MCOTIANA. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Walsh says, in his Travels in Turkey, 
 speaking of tobacco, ^nd in whose judicious 
 remarks we cannot but concur, " I do not 
 wonder at the general use of this most indis- 
 pensable of Turkish luxuries ; it is always the 
 companion of coffee (mocha), and there is some- 
 thing 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 refresh- 
 ing 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 num- 
 bers since their first adoption here. 
 
 At the present period there are no less than 
 six popular divans (independent of several ob- 
 scure ones) in London. 
 
 These are, — 
 
 The Oriental Divan, Regent-street. 
 
 The Private Subscription Divan, Pall Mall. 
 
 The Royal City Divan, St. Paul's Church- 
 yard. 
 
NICOTIANA. I1J> 
 
 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 pro- 
 duces to the uncultivated eye a very novel and 
 pleasing effect ; while, upon a closer examina- 
 tion, 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 de- 
 lightful sohxes; 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 
 
J20 NICOTIAN'A. 
 
 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 in- 
 terior our frontispiece engraving presents so cor- 
 rect a view, we can only say that its allurements 
 are peculiarly attractive. In the first place, the 
 saloon has an advantage in being situated — un- 
 like all the other divans — on the first-floor, and 
 is fitted up in a very superior manner. It like- 
 wise possesses, from the extent and spaciousness 
 of the premises, the additional advantage of pri- 
 vate 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 tliey have furnished 
 their different saloons ; while, from the extreme 
 moderation of their charges, they cannot but 
 have strong claims to the patronage of a dis- 
 cerning public. 
 
NICOTIANA. 121 
 
 MEMS. FOR SMOKERS. 
 
 CiGArxS. — 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, varie- 
 gated 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 com- 
 mon 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 
 
 M 
 
122 NICOTIAN A. 
 
 superseded the cigar, are in the greatest request. 
 These vary in color from black to brown, ac- 
 cording to the strength or age of the leaf; and like 
 the Woodville, are also distinguished when pro- 
 perly seasoned, and kept by mildew spots, though 
 of a darker hue. 
 
 The tobacco of the Cubas growth is very fre- 
 quently made up into cheroots, a form some pre- 
 fer to the cigar, and are sold under the denomi- 
 nation of Manilla. 
 
 Without entering into a description of the nu- 
 merous kinds of cigars vended in the United 
 Kingdom, we can only remark, as a fact well au- 
 thenticated, 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 ofT 
 under the names of Hamhro\ Maryland, and Vir- 
 ginia. The same deceptions may be said to exist, 
 in respect to the small cheroots, whether scented 
 or not : th-ey are, with comparatively trifling ex- 
 ceptions, nearly all of British make. 
 
 The reason is obvious, why these deceits are 
 practised : in a former part of this little w^ork, 
 we stated the duty on the imported raw leaf of 
 tobacco to be three shillings per lb., while on 
 
NICOTIANA. 123 
 
 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 im- 
 plies, is manufactured uncut; its excellence may 
 always be told by a shining cut and an agree- 
 able smell. Besides these, we have tobaccos 
 under an infinite number of appellations, wuth 
 all the variations in their nature, incident to 
 M 2 
 
124 XICOTIANA. 
 
 climate, growth, age, and method of being pre- 
 pared for use. 
 
 The tobacco held in the greatest esteem in 
 the East, is the Persian. The Turks, notwith- 
 standing their own excellent growth of the plant, 
 give very high prices to possess it ; especially 
 that which comes from, Shiraz. This is account- 
 ed 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 unprac- 
 tised 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 Kapuda 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 con 
 sumed. 
 
 Besides the tobacco of the West Indies, Per- 
 sia and Turkey, considerable quantities are cul- 
 
NICOTIANA. 125 
 
 tivated 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 manu- 
 factured, yet murderous tomahawk, bears the 
 tube of comfort ; while in England — liappy 
 England — all, or any of these, are attain- 
 able. 
 
 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 
 
126 NICOTIANA. 
 
 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 apart- 
 ment 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 Ecwne 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. 
 
NICOTIANA. 127 
 
 Tubes, when they are used for cigars (whose 
 flavour we think they greatly tend to spoil) should 
 be siiort, and composed of amber. 
 
 Lights for Smoking. — Tlie advantage of ob- 
 taining 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 wiiich 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 instanta- 
 neous light. 
 
 The Promethean is composed of a small bulb 
 of glass, hermetically sealed, containing a small 
 part of sulphuric acid, and surrounded by a com- 
 position of chlorate of potash and aroniatics. 
 This is enclosed in paper prepared for the pur- 
 pose. The light is simply effected by giving 
 the promethean a smart tap that breaks the bulb, 
 when the acid, coming in contact with the com- 
 position, causes instant ignition. It must be re- 
 marked however, the Lucifers or chlorate 
 matches that ignite, by drawing the match 
 
128 NICOTIANA. 
 
 through sand paper, introduced by the same in- 
 ventor, is decidedly bad for a cigar ; the fumes 
 aiising from the combustion being offensive, are 
 too apt to spoil the flavour of the leaf. 
 
 In divans, burners called Jos-sticks, are gene- 
 rally used for lighting cigars, as they smoulder 
 in their light, like the promethean. 
 
 riNis. 
 
 London : Printed by Littlewood and Co. Old Bailey. 
 
/m *^^ '^' 
 
 ^C" 
 
 N. MANCHESTER. 
 INDIANA