272 SNUFF AND SNUFF-BOXES. 



Snuff- takers could boast at this time a large array of 

 important persons in Church and State, who indulged 

 in the practice, from royalty to curacy. Indeed, Church- 

 men of all denominations were great patrons of snuff — 

 none more so than the Roman Catholic clergy, whose 

 love for induging in a pinch had made St. Peter's echo, 

 and excited the ire of Pope Innocent the Twelfth, 

 who solemnly excommunicated all who should dare 

 to do it after the " year of grace," 1690, when he 

 denounced the pious snuff-takers. The priests mo- 

 destly excused the custom, on the plea of its aL*,- 

 aphrodisiac virtues ; and its social qualities might also 

 be pleaded, for the offer of a pinch was a civility few 

 could resist. Sterne has noted, in his Sentimental 

 Journey, the effect of the offer when made by the poor 

 Monk after an uncharitable tirade against " the cloth." 

 It has been a silent mode of friendship in travel, fre- 

 quently adopted between foreigners who know not 

 each other's language ; and the heart opens to the 

 open box of a true gentleman, of whatever country he 

 be, or however humble be his station. 



In Bead's Weekly Journal for Feb. 21, 1761, is given 

 the following — 



SIX REASONS FOR TAKING A PINCH OF SNUFF. 



When strong perfumes, and noisome scents, 



The suff'ring nose invade, 

 Snuff, best of Indian weeds, presents 



Its salutary aid. 



• When vapours swim before the eyes, 

 And cloud the dizzy brain, 

 Snuff, to dispel the mist, applies 

 Its quick-enliv'ning grain. 



