INTRODUCTORY yii 



shed on the air a fragrance so delicate that for a time it 

 was quite irresistible. Doubtless many another could, if so 

 minded tell of a similar experience. A good cigar indeed 

 — Havana or Cuban leaf for preference — is an inspiration. 

 A meerschaum pipe when ' mellow, rich and ripe ' is a 

 treasure ; but cigarettes are becoming, if they have not 

 already become, a nuisance. 



Grateful memories of the weed are enshrined in the 

 literature of every language ; and many an old and odd 

 volume have yielded to the gleaner the materials of which 

 the following pages are made up. Some parts have already 

 seen the light in the form of magazine articles, and for 

 permission to republish these the writer tenders his thanks 

 to Sir James Knowles, of the Nineteenth Century Review, 

 to the Editor of Macmillan's Magazine, and to Sylvanus 

 Urban of the Gentleman's Magazine. 



And this may be the fitting place to acknowledge the 

 courtesy and kindness of the principal (Mr. A. C. Wood) 

 of the Statistical Office of H.M. Customs, who has 

 furnished the tabular statement, which appears below, 

 shewing the latest facts and figures on importations of 

 tobacco, on the rate of consumption per head of popula- 

 tion in the United Kingdom, and the revenue derived 

 therefrom. 



Statistical Office, 



H.M. Customs. 



Since the date of your article there have been some 

 considerable changes in the fiscal position of Tobacco and 

 the following are the chief changes in rates of duty per lb. 

 since 1898 : — 



Unmanufactured Cigars. Foreign Other 



Tobacco. Cavendish. Sorts. 



1898 28 503 10 35 



1900 30 5644 3 10 



4 10 Cigar- 

 ettes. 

 1904 |3 li-* 60 44 ^3 10 Other 



Sorts. 



