320 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
[2"4S, No 16., Apriz 19, 56. 
SONG ON TOBACCO, 
(24S, i. 115. 182. 258.) 
The subjoined version of this song is from The 
Aviary, or Magazine of British Melody, an ex- 
tensive collection of words of songs, published 
(without date) some time in the latter half of the 
last century. This version must, I imagine, have 
attained some degree of popularity, as I remember 
having heard (in my boyhood) a female relation 
frequently repeat it. The late Samuel Wesley 
set it to music in three parts in June, 1800. His 
composition has not, I believe, been published, 
but a few copies were printed several years ago 
by the then possessor of the manuscript, for 
private distribution. The poem in the Gospel 
Sonnets is included in the collection of Ancient 
Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the English Pea- 
santry, edited by Mr. J. H. Dixon for the Perey 
Society in 1846. It is there entitled “ Smoking 
Spiritualized,” and is treated by the editor as the 
production of Erskine. In an introductory notice 
Mr. Dixon remarks that, “The ‘Smoking Spi- 
ritualized ’ is, at the present day, a,standard pub- 
lication with our modern ballad-printers, but their 
copies are one and all exceedingly corrupt.” I 
join my hopes to those of J. B. and Y.B.N.J., 
that a copy of the song quoted in Rob Roy may 
appear in your pages. 
**Tobacco’s but an Indian weed,* 
Grows green at morn, cut down at eve; 
* It shews our decay, we are but clay. 
Think on this when you smoak Tobacco. 
“ The pipe that is so lilly-white, 
” Wherein so many take delight, 
Is broke with a touch: Man’s life is such. 
Think on this when you smoak Tobacco. 
“The pipe that is so foul within 
Shews how Man’s soul is stain’d with sin, 
It does require to be purg’d with fire. 
Think on this when you smoak Tobacco. 
“The ashes that are left behind 
Do serve to put us all in mind 
That unto dust we must return [sie]. 
Think on this when you smoak Tobacco, 
“The smoke [sic] that does so high ascend, 
Shews that Man’s life must have an end; 
The vapour’s gone: Man’s life is done. 
Think on this when you smoak Tobacco.” 
W. H. Husx. 
“ Content and a Pipe. 
“Contented I sit with my pint and my pipe, 
Puffing sorrow and care far away, 
And surely the brow of grief nothing can wipe, 
Like smoking and moist’ning our clay ; 
For tho’ liquor can banish man’s reason afar, 
*Tis only a fool or a sot, 
Who with reason or sense would be ever at war, 
And don’t know when enough he has got. 
* Wesley’s copy reads: 
“Tobacco is an Indian weed.” 
For tho’ at my simile many may joke, 
Man is but a pipe — and his life but smoke. 
“ Yes, a man and a pipe are much nearer akin 
Than has as yet been understood, 
For, until with breath they are both filled within, 
Pray tell me for what they are good ? 
They, one and the other, composed are of clay, 
And if rightly I tell nature’s plan, 
Take but the breath from them both quite away, 
The pipe dies — and so does the man, 
For tho’, &c. 
“Thus I’m told by my pipe that to die is man’s lot, 
And sooner or later he must; 
For when to the end of life’s journey he’s got, 
Like a pipe that’s smoked out, — he is dust; 
So you, who would wish in your hearts to be gay, 
Encourage not strife, care, or sorrow, 
Make much of your pipe of tobacco to-day, 
For you may be smoked out to-morrow. 
For tho’, &c.” 
I beg to inform your erudite correspondent 
Y.B. N. J. that Erskine only claims the author- 
ship of the second part of ‘Meditations on 
Smoking,” as will be seen by the title which I 
transcribe from the twelfth edition of Gospel 
Sonnets, Kilmarnock, 1782: 
“The following Poem, the Second Part of which was 
wrote by Mr, Erskine, is here inserted, as a proper subject 
of meditation to smokers of tobacco: 
SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED, 
In Two Parts ; 
The First Part being an old Meditation upon smoking 
Tobacco; the Second, a new Addition to it, or Improve- 
ment of it.” 
The variations between the reprint from the New- 
castle Journal and the above copy are very 
trifling. The third line of the fifth stanza shguld 
be, — 
; « That to the dust.” 
In justice to Erskine, who may be convicted by 
the Southron of having a false rhyme in the last 
stanza, I may state that the old Scottish pro- 
nunciation of ‘ towers” is identical in sound with 
“ yours.” A. R. xX. 
Paisley. 
Aubrey, speaking of the fashion of using to- 
bacco, says : — 
“They first had silver pipes, but the ordinary sort 
made use of a walnut-shell and a strawe. I have heard 
my grandfather say, that one pipe was handed from man 
to man round the table. Within these 35 years [ written 
about 1680]’twas scandalous for a divine to take tobacco. 
It was then sold for its wayte in silver. I have heard 
some of our old yeomen neighbours say, that when they“ 
went to market they culled out their biggest shillings to 
lay in the scales against the tobacco; now the customes 
of it are the greatest His Majestie hath.” 
R. W. Hacxwoop. 
aed 
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