Notes on Books, &c. 248 Books and Odd Volumes wanted 249 Notices to Correspondents 249 Advertisements 250 * * * * * Notes. COWPER AND TOBACCO SMOKING. The following genial and characteristic letter from the poet, having escaped the research of the REV. T. S. GRIMSHAW, may be thought worthy of transference from the scarce and ephemeral _brochure_ in which it has, as far as I am aware, alone appeared, to your more permanent and attainable repertory. The little work alluded to is entitled _Convivialia et Saltatoria, or a few Thoughts upon Feasting and Dancing_, a poem in two parts, &c., by G. Orchestikos: London, printed for the author, 1800, pp. 62. At page 39 will be found "Nicotiana: a Poetical Epistle in praise of Tobacco; intended as a refutation of the ill-founded remarks of William Cowper, Esq. respecting this plant, in his elegant poem on Conversation. By Phil. Nicot. "The man I pity who abhors the fume Of fine _Virginia_ floating in his room; For, truly may Tobacco be defined, A Plant preserving Health and Peace of mind. 1800." Next follows the poem, dedicated "To the Tobacconists in general of England and its colonies," and consisting of some 350 lines, concluding with the following: "Now by way of a Postscript, for I cannot conclude Without _once more_ entreating, that you'll be so good As to favour me with an Epistle, and soon, Which in _my_ estimation will be such a boon That I'll _carefully_ keep it; and dying, take care To enjoin like Respect from my Son or my Heir; And lest He should forget its great Value to ask, Shall say, It was wrote by the Hand, that first wrote out the Task: No more I need mention, its Worth will appear, And be kept as a Relic I _justly_ hold dear." Next comes the poet's kindly response: "Dear Sir, "It is not in my power to send you an epistle that will entitle itself to any of the _honours_ which you are so good as to promise to one from me. My time is not my own, but is partly engaged in attendance on a dear friend, who has long been in a very helpless state, {230} and partly to the performance of what I owe to the public, a new edition of my Homer, and also of the poetical works of Milton.