Before the year 1702, when we sent out a fleet of ships under the command of Sir George Rook, with land forces commanded by the duke of Ormond, in order to make a descent on Cadiz, _snuff-taking_ was very rare, and indeed very little known in England; it being chiefly a luxurious habit among foreigners residing here, and a few English gentry, who had travelled abroad. Among these, the mode of taking snuff was with pipes the size of quills out of small spring boxes. These pipes let out a very small quantity of snuff, upon the back of the hand, and this was snuffed up the nostrils with the intention of producing the sensation of sneezing, which we need not say forms now no part of the design, or rather fashion of snuff-taking. But to return to our Cadiz expedition by sea. When the fleet arrived near Cadiz, our land forces were disembarked at a place called Port St. Mary, where after some fruitless attempts, it was resolved to embark the troops, and set sail for England. But previous to this, the port and several adjacent places were plundered. There, besides some very rich merchandize, plate, jewels, pictures, and a great quantity of cochineal, several thousand barrels and casks of fine snuffs were taken, which had been manufactured in different parts of Spain. Each of these contained four tin canisters of snuff of the best growth, and of the finest manufacture. With this plunder on board (which fell chiefly to the share of the land officers), the fleet was returning to England; but on the way, it was resolved to pay a visit to Vigo, a considerable port in Spain, where the admiral had advice that a number of galleons from the Havannah richly laden had put in: here, our fleet got in and destroyed the greater part of the Spanish shipping, and the plunder was exceedingly rich and valuable. It now came to the turn of the sea-officers and sailors to be snuff proprietors and merchants; for at Vigo they again became possessed of prodigious quantities of gross snuff from the Havannah in bales, bags, and scrows,[5] which were designed for sale in different parts of Spain. Thus, though snuff was very little known, as we have here remarked at that period, the quantities taken in this expedition, which were estimated at fifty tons weight, plainly show that in the other countries of Europe, snuff was held in great estimation, and that the taking of it was not at all unfashionable. The fleet having returned to England, and most of the ships been put out of commission, the officers and sailors brought their snuff--called by way of victorious distinction--"Vigo snuffs," to a very quick and cheap market: waggon loads being sold at Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Chatham, for not more than 4_d._ per lb. The purchasers were chiefly Spanish Jews, who in the present case, bought up almost the whole quantity at considerable advantage.