Allusion has been made to the prevalent use of tobacco, both in smoking and as snuff; and, perhaps, at no time in the century was there a larger consumption. The habit of meeting convivially at the coffee-houses, and taverns, favoured the practice of smoking among the men. Ward, who disliked smoking, gives the following account of a famous tobacco shop in Fleet Street. Speaking of the company assembled, he says: 'There was no Talking amongst 'em, but _Puff_ was the Period of every Sentence; and what they said was as short as possible, for fear of losing the Pleasure of a Whiff, as _How d'ye do?_ Puff. _Thank ye._ Puff. _Is the Weed good?_ Puff. _Excellent._ Puff. _It's fine Weather._ Puff. _G--d be thanked._ Puff. _What's a clock?_ Puff, &c. Behind the Counter stood a Complaisant Spark who I observ'd show'd as much Breeding in the Sale of a Pennyworth of Tobacco, and the Change of a Shilling, as a Courteous Footman when he meets his Brother _Skip_ in the Middle of _Covent Garden_; and is so very Dexterous in Discharge of his Occupation, that he guesses from a Pound of Tobacco to an Ounce, to the certainty of one single Corn. And will serve more Pennyworths of Tobacco in half an Hour, than some Clouterly _Mundungus Sellers_ shall be able to do in half Four and Twenty. He never makes a Man wait the Tenth part of a Minute for his Change, but will so readily fling you down all Sums, without Counting, from a Guinea to three Pennyworth of Farthings, that you would think he had it ready in his Hand for you before you ask'd him for it. He was very generous of his Small beer to a good Customer; and I am bound to say thus much in his behalf, That he will show a Man more Civility for the taking of a Penny than many _Mechanicks_ will do for the taking a Pound.' 'Tobacco is very much used in England. The very Women take it in Abundance, particular'y in the Western Counties,' writes Misson, and Brown also mentions the practice; but, although Jorevin reports that in Charles the Second's time, in Worcestershire, it was not only usual for the women to join the men in smoking, but that the children were sent to school with pipes in their satchels, and the schoolmaster called a halt in their studies whilst they all smoked--he teaching the neophytes--yet Thoresby runs him very hard. '20 Jan. 1702. Evening with brother &c. at Garraway's[281] Coffee House; was surprised to see his sickly child of three years old fill its pipe of Tobacco and smoke it as _audfarandly_ as a man of three score; after that, a second and a third pipe without the least concern, as it is said to have done above a year ago.' [Footnote 281: At Leeds.]