A LECTURE ON TOBACCO. 



Mr. Mayor and Friends : 



T T might seem a trivial subject on which to lecture — 

 -^ a weed. But tobacco claims to be the weed, just as 

 the trade in intoxicants claims to be the trade ; and the 

 weed, like the trade, is of great importance to the public 

 revenue and affects the national character. The customs 

 paid on tobacco, in the year ending March 31, 188 1, 

 amounted to ;^8,658,947; so that, if this luxury is an 

 innocent one, it may be viewed with complacency. The 

 sale of it gave some employment to 303,816 dealers, who 

 paid ;£79,893 for the privilege, — to say nothing of the 

 thousands engaged in 597 manufactories. If, then, it is 

 attacked, there is a great host to defend it. IMuch has 

 been written respecting it ; but I am not aware that either 

 its merits or demerits have met with any systematic 

 examination in Bridport. Like alcohol it is an intoxicant, 

 or poison ; but while Temperance organizations have been 

 active in assailing hquid intoxicants, they have left intoxi- 

 cating fumes pretty much to themselves. In this country, 

 at least, far more poverty and crime are chargeable on 

 drink than on smoke ; and those who think it too much 



