REMARKS ON TOBACCO. 
351 
was common in Persia long before the discovery of America, and that it 
is a native of that country, or at least was naturalised there as early as 
1260. Furthermore, Liebault asserts that one species (his “petit tabac 
sauvage ”) is a native of Europe, and that it was found wild in the 
forest of Ardennes previous to the discovery of the New World. This 
assertion seems, however, to be deficient in proof, and its correctness is 
doubted by most naturalists. 
The history of tobacco is one of peculiar interest. It was first intro¬ 
duced into Europe about 1560, seeds being sent by Jean Nicot, from 
whom it derives its generic name, to Catherine de Medicis; but it was 
not till 1586 that the use of the herb became generally known, and the 
practice of smoking introduced into England by Sir Walter Raleigh 
and the settlers who returned from Virginia. Hariott, who accom¬ 
panied the expedition which was sent out to attempt to found a colony 
in Virginia, gives, along with a description of the tobacco plant, an 
account of the manner in which it was used by the native Americans, 
and adds, that the English, during the time of their stay abroad, and 
since their return home, were accustomed to smoke it after the fashion 
of the Indians, “ and found many rare and wonderful experiments of 
the virtue thereof.” 
Like coffee and Peruvian bark, tobacco encountered violent opposi¬ 
tion, when its half-inebriating and soothing influence recommended it 
to popular use. Many governments attempted to restrain its consump¬ 
tion by penal edicts. The Sultan Amurath IV. forbade its importation 
into Turkey, and condemned to death those found guilty of smoking, 
from a fear that it produced barrenness. The Grand Duke of Moscow 
prohibited its entrance into his dominions. The Shah of Persia, and 
other sovereigns, were equally severe in their enactments; and Pope 
Urban VIII. anathematised all those who smoked in churches. But 
not only legislators, but philosophers, or at least book-makers, entered 
into a crusade against tobacco. Upwards of a hundred volumes, the 
names of which have been preserved, and the titles catalogued, were 
written to condemn its use ; and amongst these, not the least singular, 
was the “ Counter Blaste ” of our pedantic James I. His vituperations 
are, indeed, most amusing, and the language gross ; but the tenor of 
them may be judged of from the banquet which he proposed for the 
devil, viz. “ a loin of pork, a poll of ling, and a pipe of tobacco .” 
Of the sincerity of the royal anti-tobacconist there can be no doubt, 
if any reliance may be placed on energy of expression, and on his almost 
unequalled force of language. But, notwithstanding all opposition, 
smoking and snuffing prevail, not only through polished, but savage 
