We find by research that smoking was the most general mode of using tobacco in England when first introduced. In France the habit of snuffing was the most popular mode and to this day the custom is more general than elsewhere. In the days of the Regency snuff-taking had attained more general popularity than any other mode of using the plant leaves; the clergy were fond of the "dust" and carried the most expensive snuff boxes, while many loved the pipe and indulged in tobacco-smoking. The old vicar restored to his living enjoyed a pipe when seated in his chair musing on the subject of his next Sunday's discourse, "with a jug of sound old ale and a huge tome of sound old divinity on the table before him, for the occasional refreshment as well of the bodily as the spiritual man." The cultivation of tobacco in Europe was begun in Spain and Portugal. Its culture in these kingdoms as well as by their colonies brought to the crown enormous revenues. In 1626, its culture began in France and is still an important product. A little later it began to be cultivated in Germany where it had already been used as a favorite luxury. From this time its use and cultivation extended to various parts of Europe. The Persecutors whether kings, popes, poets, or courtiers at length gave up their opposition while many of them joined in the use and spread of the custom. It has been said with much truth: "History proves that persecution never triumphs in its attempted eradications. Tobacco was so generally liked that no legislative measures could prevent its use." At first the use of tobacco was confined to fops and the hangers on at ale houses and taverns but afterwards by the "chief men of the realm." Soon after the importation of the "durned weed" from Virginia the tobacco muse gave forth many a lay concerning the custom. The following verses describe the method of smoking then in vogue: Nor did that time know To puff and to blow In a peece of white clay, As they do at this day With fier and coole, And a leafe in a hole; As my ghost hath late seen, As I walked betwene Westminister Hall And the church of St. Paul, And so thorow the citie Where I saw and did pitty My country men's cases, With fiery-smoke faces, Sucking and drinking A filthie weede stinking, Was ne'r known before Till the devil and the More In th' Indies did meete, And each other there greete With a health they desire, Of stinke, smoke and fier. But who e're doth abhorre it. The citie smookes for it; Now full of fier shop, And fowle spitting chop, So sneezing and coughing, That my ghost fell to scoffing. And to myself said: Here's filthie fumes made; Good phisicke of force To cure a sicke horse.