Nicotiana; Or, The Smoker's and Snuff-Taker's Companion — John Shaqi
Nicotiana; Or, The Smoker's and Snuff-Taker's CompanionMeller, Henry James
History
Nicotiana; Or, The Smoker's and Snuff-Taker's Companion
Meller, Henry James
Smoking; Tobacco -- Anecdotes; Tobacco -- History
worth of tobacco every year."
This would, doubtless, have been better employed in the hands of the good
promoter of the Missionaries, of whom we now take our leave; and to whom,
we wish no further punishment for his cruel attempt at seeking to banish
the cheerful companionship of the pipe from mansions of peace, than being
compelled to the smoking of a pipe of the oldest shag himself.
In reference to King James' Counterblaste, although, from its antiquity,
as well as the rank and learning of the author, it occupies a serious
claim upon our attention, yet, upon the whole, it may be termed nearly as
ridiculous as the foregoing, although not in its application. It, indeed,
fully bears the stamp of those antipathies that, once conceived, the
monarch was seldom or never known to waive. This is more singular, as they
were formed against a plant, received into the greatest favour and esteem
among all ranks, and, as a medicine, was in far greater request than it
is even now. Facts like these plainly establish, that James' dislike,
however acquired, proceeded from prejudice and _prejudice_ alone.
In the first paragraph, he tells us, that it was first introduced into
England from the Indians, who used it as an antidote against "a filthy
disease, whereunto these barbarous people (as all people know) are very
much subject."
After bestowing a volley of abuse upon smoking, not of the most elegant
description, he refers to the acquiring of the fashion that certainly
generally applies in all things now, as well as it did in his own times.
"Do we not daily see, that a man can no sooner bring ouer from beyond the
seas any new forme of apparell, but that he cannot be thought a man of
spirit that would not presently imitate the same? and so, from hand to
hand it spreads, till it be practised by all; not from any commodity that
is in it, but only because it is come to be the fashion."
Of the popularity of smoking in his time, he says himself, "You are not
able to ride, or walk, the journey of a Jew's Sabbath, but you must have a
reekie cole brought you from the next poor-house, to kindle your tobacco
with?"
"It is become in place of a care, a point of good fellowship, and hee that
will refuse to take _a pipe_ of tobacco among his fellowes, though by his
owne election he would rather not feel the savor of the stinke, is
accounted peevish and no good company; even as they do tippling in the
COLD Eastern countreys."
Of the consequences then often attending the habit of smoking, he
observes, "Now how you are by this custome disabled in your goods, let the
gentry of this land beare witness; some of them bestowing THREE, some FOUR
HUNDRED POUNDS A YEERE upon this precious stinke, which I am sure might be
bestowed upon far better vses."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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