112 



POPULAR USE OF TOBACCO. 



then put into the pipe, so peculiar, that we cannot possibly 

 derive all this from America by way of Europe ; especially 

 as India, (where the habit of smoking is not so general,) inter- 

 venes between Persia and China. May we not expect to find 

 traces of this custom in the first account of the Voyages of 

 the Portugese and Dutch to China ? To investigate this 

 subject, I have indeed the inclination but not sufficient 

 leisure." 



"We find by research that smoking was the most general 

 mode of using tobacco in England when first introduced. 

 In France the habit of snuffing was the most popular mode 



and to this day the cus- 

 tom is more general 

 than elsewhere. In the 

 days of the Regency 

 snuff-taking had attained 

 more general popularity 

 than any other mode of 

 using the plant leaves; 

 the clergy were fond of 

 the " dust " and carried 

 the most expensive snuff 

 boxes, while many loved 

 the pipe and indulged in 

 tobacco-smoking. The 



old vicar restored to his living enjoyed a pipe when seated 

 in his chair musing on the subject of his next Sunday's dis- 

 course, " with a jug of sound old ale and a huge tome of 

 sound old divinity on the table before him, for the occasional 

 refreshment as well of the bodily as the spiritual man." 



The cultivation of tobacco in Europe was begun in Spain 

 and Portugal. Its culture in these kingdoms as well as by 

 their colonies brought to the crown enormous revenues. In 

 1626, its culture began in France and is still an important 

 product. A little later it began to be cultivated in Germany 

 where it had already been used as a favorite luxury. From 

 this time its use and cultivation extended to various parts of 

 Europe. The Persecutors whether kings, popes, poets, or 

 courtiers at length gave up their opposition while many of 



TOBACCO AND THEOLOGY. 



