vigour. Who has not seen parallel instances of discrepancy, between sayings and doings, on subjects, too, where consistency was more required? Pope Urban VIII., A.D. 1624, anathematised all snuff-takers, who indulged in the habit in any church; but, in the year 1690, it was announced that excommunication would follow any pinch taken within the sacred walls of Saint Peter's; such being the christian-like mandate of Innocent, who then sat in the papal chair. As snuff keeps the attention awake, it may certainly be permitted in church, during a long sermon on the "Soothing System." The return of Charles II., and the cavaliers who had lived with their exiled monarch, is calculated as the period when snuff-taking was first introduced in England. It made but a slow progress, till the throne was filled by Mary Stuart and William of Nassau; then it rapidly increased in vogue amongst the higher classes of society; so that, in fact, scarcely a man of rank in the time of Anne but carried about him the insidious dust; some in boxes of porcelain, agate, ebony, and tortoise-shell; others, in the hollow head of the cane, at that time as indispensable an appendage as the sword. In the reign of our second George, the delight of snuff-taking was not confined to the aristocracy, but extended through all classes of respectable life. As a proof of its rapidly increasing popularity, we quote the observation made by the learned Chambers, the compiler of the first Cyclopædia, which bears date 1727. "Ordinarily, tobacco is the basis of snuff; other matters being only added to give it a more agreeable scent, &c. The kinds of snuff, and their several names, are infinite; and new ones are daily invented; so that it would be difficult, not to say impossible, to give a detail of them. We shall only say, that there are three grand sorts the first granulated; the second an impalpable powder: and the third, the bran or coarse part remaining after sifting the second sort." Queen Charlotte, though only seventeen when she was married, was a confirmed snuff-taker. Need we say that, with such an example, the custom was soon followed by courtiers, male and female. Her Majesty was remarkable for a fine arm, and delicate, elegantly formed hand; these were brought into observation by their frequent approaches to her face; but we acquit the Queen of all coquettish policy in this, for the more lovely the finger-post, the more visible, from contrast, the unclassic outline of the place to which it pointed. Truth is truth, but "equally it true is" that the royal "pug" was surmounted by eyes full of intellect and goodness. When Princess Charlotte was a child, at a ball given by her Majesty to the juvenile nobility, her Royal Highness being advised to call a dance, bade the musicians play, "What a beau my granny was." Which old song proceeds, "What a beau was she! She took snuff, and that's enough, And that's enough for me." The dear old lady took this kindly, and enjoyed it as much as any of its other hearers. That George IV. took snuff, the mixture which bears his Princely title sufficiently proves ; and daily experience shews us that, since the demise of that monarch, snuff has increased-is increasing in popularity. Having now given a brief sketch of its rise and progress, we will speak more fully than we have yet done on some of its effects. |