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which the Ambaffador refufed, as being an article for which he 
had no ufe’*. 
Paiasdtiglacanne tedkapheesbieeed tbo Europe by the Dutch 
Eaft India ‘Company, very early in the laft century; and a 
quantity of it was brought over from Holland about the year 
1666’, by Lord Arlington and Lord Offory. In confequence 
of this, Tea foon became known amongft people of fafhion, and 
its ufe, by degrees, fince that period, has become general. 
~ It is, however, certain, that before this time, drinking Tea, 
even in public coffee-houfes, was not uncommon ; for, in 1660, 
a duty of four-pence per gallon was laid on the liquor made and 
fold in all coffee-houfes *. 
So 
* Fifcher’s Libirifche Gefchichte, Vol. II. p. 694—697- Monthly Magazine, 
Vol. VI. p. 60 
* Hanway’s Jeuveal of Eight Days Sista: Vol. Il. p.21. The fame author 
obferves, that ‘Tea fold at this time for fixty fhillings a pound. Anderfon, in his 
‘** Chronological Deduction of Commerce,” remarks, that the firft European 
author that thentions Tea wrote in the year 1590. However, by the preceding | 
catalogue, it will appear, that this fubjeét had been confidered much earlier. 
In Renaudot’s anciennes Relations, Paris, 1718, p. 31, mention is made of two 
Arabian travellers who vifited China about the year 850; and related, that the in- 
habitants of that empire had a medicinal beverage, named chah or fah, which was 
' prepared by pouring boiling water on the dried leaves of a certain herb, which i in- 
fufion was reckoned an efficacious remedy in various difeafes. . 
> By an act made this year, the duties of Excife on malt liquor, cyder, perry, 
mead, fpirits, or ftrong waters, coffee, tea, fherbet, and chocolate, were fettled 
on the King during his life. ‘Then it was that Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, were 
firft mentioned in the ftatute book. Noorthouck, in his Hiftory of London, 
remarks, that King Charles II. iffued a proclamation for fhutting up the coffee- 
houfes, &c. about a month after he had dined with the Corporation of London, at 
_ Guildhall, on_ their pre oe day, O&. 29, 1675. At this feaft the King af- 
: forded 
