272 SNUFF AND SNUFF-BOXES. 



Snuff- takers could boast at this time a large array of 

 important persons in Church and State, who indulged 

 in the practice, from royalty to curacy. Indeed, Church- 

 men of all denominations were great patrons of snuff — 

 none more so than the Roman Catholic clergy, whose 

 love for induging in a pinch had made St. Peter's echo, 

 and excited the ire of Pope Innocent the Twelfth, 

 who solemnly excommunicated all who should dare 

 to do it after the " year of grace," 1690, when he 

 denounced the pious snuff-takers. The priests mo- 

 destly excused the custom, on the plea of its anti- 

 aphrodisiac virtues ; and its social qualities might also 

 be pleaded, for the offer of a pinch was a civility few 

 could resist. Sterne has noted, in his Sentimental 

 Journey, the effect of the offer when made by the poor 

 Monk after an uncharitable tirade against " the cloth." 

 It has been a silent mode of friendship in travel, fre- 

 quently adopted between foreigners who know not 

 each other's language ; and the heart opens to the 

 open box of a true gentleman, of whatever country he 

 be, or however humble be his station. 



In Eead's Weekly Journal for Feb. 21, 1761, is given 

 the following — 



SIX REASONS FOR TAKING A PINCH OF SNUFF. 

 When strong perfumes, and noisome scents, 



The suff'ring nose invade, 

 Snuff, best of Indian weeds, presents 



Its salutary aid. 



"When vapours swim before the eyes, 



And cloud the dizzy brain, 

 Snuff, to dispel the mist, applies 



Its quick-enliv'ning grain. 



