50 A LECTURE ON TOBACCO. 



indulge in the weed must not expect boys to abstain 

 from it. 



Let us now inquire whether the 7vealth of the country 

 is increased by the use of tobacco ; because we do not 

 regard health as everything. In this town, as in most 

 others, there are occupations which shorten Hfe, but 

 which seem to be necessary. Men must get a Hving — 

 though it is sad if they get a dyi?ig instead. In these 

 cases we advise deHcate persons to take to other emjDloy- 

 ments, even at lower wages ; and we urge manufacturers 

 to adopt plans to make the work more healthful, but we 

 do not wish it stopped. Now is the ?iation the richer for 

 tobacco? The government seems to be — it gets more 

 than eight millions a year by it; but the gain to the 

 exchequer may be a far greater loss to the people. Its 

 income from beer, wine, and spirits is more than three 

 times as much ; but no one now doubts that the nation 

 would be far richer if it spent its money more wisely. 

 Government is to secure good order, and it cannot really 

 benefit by that which promotes disorder or idleness ; 

 though as long as these practices continue, it is fair that 

 they should be restrained by taxation. As to the growth 

 of tobacco, since it is not permitted at home,^ whatever 

 profit comes from it goes to the foreigner. The tobacco 

 consumed in the United Kingdom in 1880 was 49,323,- 

 769 lbs. or I lb. 6}^ oz. a head'-^ — men, women, and chil- 

 dren, smokers and non-smokers. The duty on a pound 



1 It is prohibited by statutes. Quantities not exceeding half a 

 pole in extent may, however, be grown in gardens, for scientific 

 use. — " Monthly Letters," p. 204 



2 See the " Twenty-fourth Report of the Commissioners of Her 

 Majesty's Inland Revenue, for the year ending 31st March, 1881," 

 Appendix, p. xxv. In 1841 the consumption was 23,096,281 lbs.. 



