The Beginning of Smoking 17 



and Barlow on Raleigh's first expedition in 1584. 

 A year later Lane, acting under Raleigh's orders, 

 attempted to establish a settlement there. He was 

 presented with the pipe of peace by the natives, and 

 brought back with him to England two Indians. 

 One of these died, to whom Trinculo in 'The 

 Tempest ' refers, complaining, ' When they will not 

 give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out 

 ten to see a dead Indian.' 



The sailors of Hawkins', Drake's, and Grenville's 

 expeditions — for each of whom the introduction is 

 claimed — were probably the first people to smoke 

 tobacco in England, but inferences, as well as direct 

 assertions, point to Lane as being the one who 

 actually brought tobacco into this country. The 

 popular transference of the honour is easily explained. 

 Virginia, whence the first tobacco was brought, was 

 founded by Raleigh, Lane being his lieutenant or 

 deputy. Thus indirectly Raleigh introduced tobacco 

 into England, and he certainly made its use common 

 and fashionable. 



But these questions are minor considerations ; it is 

 sufficient to know that tobacco was introduced into 

 England about 1585. The weed of wondrous feature 

 appeared at the psychological moment. The mind 

 of Europe was thrilling with the afterglow of the 

 Renaissance when tobacco came to soothe and to 

 stimulate. Truly, as Charles Lamb wrote : 



' The Old World was sure forlorn 

 Wanting thee !' 



Before proceeding to sketch the progress of tobacco 



2 



