274 , SNUFF AND SNUFF-BOXES. 



capacious pockets made to his waistcoat, that he might 

 have as little trouble as possible in getting for imme- 

 diate use the largest quantity he could desire. It is 

 said that, unlike the fraternity of snuff-takers, he 

 disliked others to take a pinch from his box, and, 

 once detecting a page doing so from one lying in an 

 adjoining room, exclaimed, "Put that box in your 

 pocket ; it is too small for both of us." * George II. 

 had the same selfish dislike, but expressed it more 

 rudely, when he threw away his box in great anger 

 at a masquerade, because a gentleman took a pinch. 

 Napoleon carried snuff in a similar way ; and many of 

 the sovereign pontiffs of the Eomish Church have 

 been confirmed snuff-takers. 



In the Memoirs of Barre Charles Eoberts, he says, 

 "When my father was at Paris in 1774, he was told by 

 Count Clouard, then an old man, that he remembered 

 a time when persons were stationed on the Pont Neuf 

 at Paris, with boxes of snuff, which they offered to the 

 passengers. This was a scheme of the manufacturers 

 to introduce it into general use. At the time this was 

 told my father, there was no person in France, of 

 whatever age, rank, or sex, that did not take snuff." 



With our brothers of Scotland snuff has found much 

 favour ; they are so far identified with its use, that a 



* During the coronation of his mother, the first Queen of Prussia, she 

 anxiously awaited a chance to get a pinch during the long ceremony. She 

 at last took an opportunity, when the King's attention seemed engaged ; 

 hut he saw the act, and sent one of his gentlemen to ask her, "whether she 

 remembered the place she was in, and the rank she held there." It was 

 at that time considered an act of levity or contempt to take snuff before 

 respectable persons, or during conversation. 



