TOBACCO. 337 



their dinner." There is no doubt but that 

 it was first used medicinally, and, like other 

 intoxicating and stupifying medicines, which 

 revive and enliven the senses for the mo- 

 ment, it became by degrees almost one of 

 the necessaries of life ; and thus it seems or- 

 dained by Nature, that one man should 

 create wants, in order that his fellow may 

 be employed in supplying them. 



This plant, which affords medicine to 

 some, and amusement to others, has by 

 fashion, or its supposed luxury, seduced all 

 nations to spread it, from America to Japan ; 

 and it is become the poor man's opium, from 

 the burning sands of Africa to the icy shores 

 of the North. 



Locke says, " Bread or tobacco may be 

 neglected; but reason at first recommends 

 their trial, and custom makes them plea- 

 sant." 



Tobacco was first discovered by the Spa- 

 niards in South America, and in a province 

 of Yacatan, called Tobacco, from whence 

 it obtained the name, and not from the 

 Island of Tobago, as several authors have 

 stated. Its first introduction to Europe 

 was about the year 1560, when Hermandez 

 de Toledo sent it into Spain and Portugal. 



VOL. II. Z 



