The cuftom of fmoaking this plant, which ftill prevails, is of antient date : Pliny directs the dried leaves and 

 root of Coltsfoot to be burned, and the fmoak drawn into the mouth through a reed and iwallowed, as a remedy for 

 an obftinate cough ; the patient hpping fome raifin wine with each draught of the fmoak : " Hujus arida cumradice 

 " fumus, per Arundinem hauflus et devoratus, veterem fanare dicitur tujfim ; fed infngulos haujius paffum gufandum eft." 

 This is the only account amongft the antlents, that we have hitherto been able to difcover, which tends towards 

 the practice offmoaking: but we cannot acquiefce in the common opinion, that fmoaking of Tobacco, or at lean: 

 fome kind of plant, was unknown in the old word 'till Sir Walter Raleigh brought it from America. Is it 

 probable that the inhabitants of Africa mould fo foon have univerfally adopted a cuftom from Europe that was unknown 

 two centuries ago ? Or that the Ajiatics, fo tenacious of their own manners, cuftoms and habits, mould in fo fmall 

 a time, have agreed to extend this uncouth kind of luxury over a vaft continent, from the confines of Conftantinople 

 to the extremities cf China ? 



Countries thinly inhabited are much molefted with Gnats. Travellers tell us, that the Northern Afiatic 'Tartars 

 conftantly carry on their arms, during the Summer, a pot of burning Touchwood, fometimes prepared from the 

 root of this plant, to defend themfelves by the fmoak, from the annoyance of thefe infects. It is probable one more 

 ingenious than the reft contrived to keep this fire alive, by a communication with his breath ; and this expedient by 

 degrees produced a Tobacco-pipe. A propensity to intoxication, fo natural to mankind, would give a preference to 

 Tobacco before moft other vegetable fubltances ; and thus acuftomthat in the beginning was taken up for felf- defence, 

 at laft might become a luxury. 



The firft difcoverers of America probably found the natives fmoaking Tobacco : but might they not bring this 

 practice with them from the northern parts of Europe or Afia, which were never penetrated by the Roman arms ; from 

 whence it appears probable that America was peopled ? 



A room or bed-chamber may at any time be cleared from Gnats, by fetting the windows open, and fmoaking or 

 burning fome Tobacco, from which the infects are obliged immediately to efcape. Thofe that are offended by its 

 fmell, may fubftitute this plant in its ftead. But cultivated and inhabited countries are in a great meafure defended 

 from infupportable fwarms of Gnats by a provifion of nature little attended to. Of the four kinds of Swallows which 

 frequent this ifland, whofe food confiirs intirely of flying infects, three of them are domeftic, and could with diffi- 

 culty find fuitable conveniencies for building their nefts, without attaching themfelves to the habitations of men, 

 around which they are perpetually hawking for their prey : hence it is apparent why deferts particularly abound 

 with Gnats. 



The Poet obferves that the Martin or Martlet, one fpecies of fwallow, choofes a delicate air for its refidence. 

 Who then can fufFer its neft to be difturbed after reading the following lines ? efpecially fince this bird pays fucha. 

 compliment to the fweetnefs of the fituation ? 



This gue/i of fummer, 



" The temple-haunting Martlet, does approve, 



ct By his lov'd manfionry, that heavens breath 



" Smells wooingly here: no jutting frieze, 



ei Buttrefs, nor coigne of vantage, but this bird 



" Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle. 



" Where they mofl breed and haunt, I have obfervd 



*- The air is delicate." 



Although we have wandered from our fubject, the candid and humane will forgive our interceding for a vifitor, 

 who claiming the rites of hofpitality, places unreferved confidence in us, and feems directed by providence to attend 

 on mankind for purpofes the moil friendly and beneficial. 



