116 ‘WEIGHT OF SMOKE. 
“ *Tis a friend to the distress’d, 
Tis a comforter in need; 
It is social, soothing, blest; 
Tt has fragrance, force, and zest; 
Then hail the kingly weed!” 
While Raleigh * and many of Elizabeth’s courtiers indulged 
frequently in a pipe, some have imagined that even Queen 
Bess herself tested the rare virtues of tobacco. This is 
hardly based upon sufficient proof to warrant a very strong 
belief in it; but the following account of “How to weigh 
smoke” taken from Tinsley’s Magazine shows that the-Queen 
was acquainted at least with Raleigh’s use of the weed: 
“One day it happened that Queen Elizabeth, wandering 
about the grounds and alleys at Hampton with a single maid 
of honour, came upon Sir Walter Raleigh indulging in a 
pipe. Smoking now is as common as eating and drinking, 
and to smoke amongst ladies isa vulgarity. But not so then: 
it was an accomplishment, it was a distinction; and one of 
the feathers in Sir Walter’s towering cap was his introduction 
of tobacco. The all-accomplished hero rose and saluted the 
Queen in his grand manner, and the Queen, who was in her 
daintiest humour, gave him her white hand to kiss, and took 
the seat he had left. 
“Now, Sir Walter, I can puzzle you at last.” “TI suppose 
I must not be so rude as to doubt your Majesty.” “You are 
bold enough for that, but your boldness will not help you, 
Sir Walter, this time. You cannot tell me how much the 
smoke from your pipe weighs.” “ Your Majesty is mistaken. 
I can tell you toa nicety. Will your Majesty allow me to 
call yonder page, and send for a pair of scales and weights?’. 
“ By my honour,” said the Queen, “were any other subject 
in our realm to make request so absurd, we should very 
positively deny it. But you are the wisest of our fools, and, 
though we expect to see but little use made of these weights 
when brought, your request shall be granted. And, suppos- 
ing you fail to weigh the smoke, what penalty will you pay?” 
“T will be content,” said Sir Walter, “to lose my head.” 
“You may chance to lose it on a graver count than this;” 
answered the Queen. “If the head shall have done some 
* It is said that Raleigh ia communicating the art to his friends, gave smoking parties at 
his house, where his fueste were treated with nothing but a Bie & mug 0: fe, and & 
mneneess Says an a vest writer ‘ inh ae me Aa related respecting the weight of 
Le aa: pip ly not throw a cloud over the brilliant wit of the 
e 
