" IRISH BLACKGUARD." 283 



It is known as Lundyfoot, or Irish Blackguard. The 

 first name is from that of the maker Luncly Foot, who 

 resided at the entrance of Essex Bridge, Dublin ; the 

 second, from its being highly approved of by the lower 

 classes of Irish to whom it was given as spoiled 

 material, or from the blackguard who had spoiled it. 

 Tradition is not clear on this point.* The popular 

 story of its origin is, that it was the neglect of a man 

 who had gone to sleep while the snuff was drying in 

 the kiln, that burnt the snuff, and induced the proprie- 

 tor to put it in a tub at the door for all poor passers 

 by to help themselves, and so rid him of his waste. 

 Another version of the story is, that Foot bought a large 

 quantity of tobacco, from the ruins of a tobacco ware- 

 house in Dublin, and ground the charred material into 

 snuff, which was sold very cheaply to the poorer 

 classes of Irish ; until its pungency and flavour became 

 gradually known to the middle and upper classes, and 

 similar snuff demanded. f Foot never forgot the poor, 

 who helped to make his fortune ; and a keg of black- 

 guard was always placed at his door for all comers ; a 

 custom continued by his descendants. 



An Irish clergyman celebrated the pleasures of 

 pinch in a poem, which a few private friends knew, but 



* One version of the story is, that the snuff was so called because it was 

 made for the poor of Dublin of the stalks and refuse part of the tobacco. 



+ This part of the story is also differently told. A messenger had been 

 sent from the Castle to Foot's shop for snuff, and he tried a pinch of the 

 over-dried article, which Foot had on his counter to get rid of to the poor in 

 " ha'porths," and was lamenting his loss ; when the " correct nose" of the 

 messenger appreciated the flavour, took some to the Castle, and made it 

 famous. 



