Introduction of T E A into England. 215 
in a declining condition. I know of a lady or two, who make 
ufe of their own underftandings, without regard to fafhion or cu- 
ftom, and find themfelves much the better for it. The Chi- 
nese never drink their tea fweet ; indeed, they fometimes hold 
a bit of fugar-candy in their mouth whilft they are drinking it, 
which is a cuftom I can by no means recommend, as it hurts 
the teeth. Farewell. I am yours, &c. 
LETTER III. 
To the fame . 
Madam, 
B EFORE we proceed to enquire into the pernicious effects 
of tea in this ifland, as I have given you fome lights into 
its growth, and alfo the manner of ufing it in china, in oppo- 
fition to our cuftom, perhaps you will be glad to know when 
this intoxicating liquor came firft in fafhion in this country. 
I do not mean, that it makes people drunk, but it certainly 
has turned our brains, and. fo far it is intoxicating. 
Lord Arlington and lord ossory, were the perfons who 
brought it from Holland in 1666 : their ladies then became 
paflionately enamored with it as a new thing : their example 
recommended it to the fine women of thofe days, and yours 
muft put it out of countenance. The price it then fold for, was 
no lefs than fixty (hillings the pound. One would imagine, that 
a pound of fine bohea tea, which coft the dutch, at batavia, 
four or five (hillings, would foon find its way into Europe by 
other channels, if it could be fold for three pounds ; and this 
was the price fo late as about the year 1707 ; and we were not 
then fo univerfally luxurious, nor fo vigilant as we are now ; 
