42 The Soverane Herbe 



;^i, 100,000 a year. The sympathy of France with 

 the American settlers fighting for their liberty against 

 English tyranny was expressed in two practical forms : 

 not only did they send Lafayette and men, but 

 France began to smoke American tobacco. The 

 increase of smoking in France during the fifty years 

 before the Revolution was very great. It was con- 

 fined, however, to the lower and middle classes, who 

 finally arose and overthrew the despotism under 

 which they had been so long labouring. There is 

 indeed much truth in the saying that the French 

 Revolution was the outcome of smoking. During 

 the cholera plague of 1S31 France smoked and snuffed 

 as a prophylactic. Now all France smokes. Since 

 1864 the average consumption of tobacco per head 

 of the population has increased from i8| ounces 

 to 34 ounces per annum. The sincerity of France's 

 devotion to Nicotia is proved by the fact that last 

 year she consumed eighteen million pounds' worth of 

 the article sold as tobacco by the R6gie. A greater 

 test than this of smoking affection no one can de- 

 mand. The cigarette is universal in France ; it not 

 only befits Gallic gaiety and lightness of temperament, 

 but French tobacco is too utterly vile for a pipe. 



Tobacco appears to have been introduced early into 

 Holland. Nicot bought his plants from a Dutch 

 merchant. The people accorded tobacco a welcome 

 even warmer than it received in England. No re- 

 strictions whatever were placed upon its use or im- 

 portation ; it was, and still is, largely cultivated in 

 Holland, despite the dampness of the climate. The 

 Dutch are literally a nation of smokers. ' The pipe 



