STRAY LEAVES FROM THE WEED 167 



ledgment of her value to mankind. By-and-by, many an 

 anxious custodian of an empty treasury came to look upon St 

 Nicotine as a divinity 



. that cures, a vapour that affords 

 Content more solid than the smile of lords, 



and as they gathered in their golden harvest of taxation, 

 blessed the name of their benefactress. 



In illustration of this change may be mentioned the action 

 which Peter the Great took with the view of establishing 

 tobacco culture and manufacture in his dominions. In the 

 tenth volume of M. de Martin's magnificent work on the 

 treaties and conventions concluded by Russia with other 

 nations from 17 10 to 1801, there is a paragraph which 

 states that Peter the Great, having determined that tobacco 

 should be cultivated and manufactured in Russia, sought 

 in England the necessary workmen, machinery, implements, 

 etc., for transmission to Moscow. Englishmen knew Uttle 

 at that time of the remote Tsardom of Muscovy, but on 

 learning the wants and wealth of the monarchy, enterpris- 

 ing merchants were not slow to undertake the performance 

 of all that was required of them. Accordingly, a party of 

 skilled workmen, with engineers, was soon on its way to 

 Moscow with all necessary material for setting up and work- 

 ing a tobacco factory. When, later, the English Government 

 was apprised of what had been done, ' Her Majesty, Queen 

 Anne, in Council, was pleased to manifest her profound dis- 

 satisfaction, especially in that they proceeded to the realm 

 of Moscow to the cultivation of the native products of her 

 Majesty's dominions, and in that they have brought to Mos- 

 cow for this purpose the requisite English workmen and 

 material, which is contrary to the interests and usages of the 

 kingdom of Great Britain.' Orders were immediately sent 



