2 1 6 IntroduSiion of TEA into England. 
at leaft this was not the pleafure in general vogue at that time ; 
and if it had always remained facred to ladies of quality, it had 
been happier for us. The ufe of tea defcended to the plebeian 
order amongft us, but about the beginning of this century : but 
it was not before the year 1715, that we began to buy large 
quantities of green tea of the Chinese, having been till then 
contented with bohea. In 1720, the confumption was fo much 
augmented, that the french, who had hitherto brought home 
only raw-hik, porcelain, and lilken manufactures from china, 
began to import conhderable quantities of tea into France ; and 
by eftablifhing the trade of running it into this ifland, have found 
their profit in our folly ever fince. From 1717 to 1726, 
we imported annually about 700,000 pounds. The quantities 
run in upon us, however, muft have been prodigious, for it was 
calculated in 1728, that 5,000,000 pounds were imported into 
Europe, of which we were much the greateft confumers. Our 
own importation increafed, infomuch that from 1732 to 1742, 
I find 1,200,000 pounds annually imported into London; and 
now the quantity is 3,000,000. 
As the demand for tea in china increafed, fo was this fafhi- 
onable drug adulterated, and continues to be mixed with 
leaves of other fhrubs. Indeed I have often obferved, that what 
has palled with the vulgar, even the modish vulgar, under 
the name of tea, neither in tafte, fmell, nor lize of leaf, feemed 
to have any tea in it. And as to fine teas, lince there has been 
fo vaft a demand for Europe, the Chinese hardly ever pick the 
leaves with any delicacy, except for the confumption of their 
own fovereign and his grandees, and confequently it is difficult 
to meet with very choice tea. Farewell. I am yours, Me, 
LET- 
