A PINCH OF SNUFF. 177 



the leaf that Raleigh imported and Santa Croce patro- 

 nized is cherished and beloved. 



If we confine our observation to individuals immedi- 

 ately around us, we shall see that snuff and cigars, 

 pigtail and bird's-eye afford luxury and comfort to the 

 duchess in her boudoir, and the fishwoman in her stall, 

 the dandy on his lounge, and the charlie on his beat, 

 the prince at his levee, and the pick-pocket at his crib, 

 the statesman in the cabinet, and Sally in the suds : 

 observe the physician, with his silver hair and rosy 

 visage, portly belly and solemn step as he moves across 

 the sick man's chamber, how elegantly his black coat 

 is variegated with high-dried Scotch, see how methodi- 

 cally he draws forth his silver-lidded shell, and with 

 what epicurean gusto he inspires a huge pinch before 

 his pronounces on the condition of his patient. Note 

 the young surgeon about to perform his first oper- 

 ation, he has screwed on the tourniquet, the sponges 

 and hot water and bandages are ready, and the poor 

 devil who is about to be disarmed awaits with horror 

 the first jar of the knife; the man of Galen feels his 

 nerves give way a very leetle, something gets amiss 

 with his organ of firmness, then out comes the box 

 and in goes a charge of " thirty-seven ; " his eyes 

 sparkle, his foot is firm, his hand is steady, and he 

 who began to grow womanish is now assured that he 

 could skin a rhinoceros alive. 



Take a glance at the unfledged barrister about to 

 make his first speech in defence of a bad case, after his 

 learned friend on the side of the crown has concluded 

 an energetic and brilliant oration, in stating the charge 

 against the prisoner at the bar the young lawyer rises, 

 the eyes of a crowded assembly are rivetted on him, 

 his heart begins to jump about like a vigorous rat just 

 caught in a live-trap, he feels as sick as a Frenchman who 

 had lost his last dollar at hazard, and would fain sit 

 down again, but stand he must and speak too, for he 

 has pocketed the fee and spent the brass; a good 

 natured friend hands him his snuff box how he feeds 

 upon the powder! takes Seven pinches, absolutely 



VOL. i. 1833. Y 



