1 76 ST NICOTINE 



In England the paper warfare over the merit or demerit 

 of the ' Indian's weed,' signalized by King James, lasted 

 well through two centuries. Beginning with some slight 

 skirmishing, as in Work for Chimney Sweepers we come 

 to a doughty champion of the royal cause in the person of 

 ' Josuah Sylvester, Gent : ' he who with quixotic valour 

 sent forth a ' Volley of Holy Shot Thundered from Mount 

 Helicon.' In dedicatory lines addressed to George, Duke 

 of Buckingham, he invokes the aid of the royal favourite to 

 enable him to overthrow the 



Proud oppression 

 Of th' Infidel, usurping faith's possession, 



That Indian tyrant, England's only shame 

 Thousands of ours he here hath captive taken, 



Of all degrees kept under slavish yoke 

 Their God, their good, King, country, friends, forsaken, 



To follow follie, and to feed on smoke. 



Scanning the horizon he discovers Satan, enraged, working 

 in short circuit two smoky engines ' guns and tobocco 

 pipes vented from the infernal pit.' In this turgid style he 

 pours out his puerile conceits much in the manner of his 

 royal patron, whose good opinion he won so fully that 

 James made him his Court poet. 



The levy of a duty on tobacco so excessive as that which 

 King James imposed namely, six shillings and tenpence 

 equivalent to about thirty shillings of our present money 

 upon every pound weight imported or grown in the country, 

 coupled with great extravagance in its use brought ruin to 

 many families, just as does over-indulgence in strong drink 

 to those who are not satisfied with the moderation which 

 reason dictates. In the case of tobacco the ruin was in 

 money, whereas with alcohol in excess ruin comes to body 

 and mind as well as purse. Our excellent guide along the 



