been in use among the Americans, and was called yoli on the islands, and potun on the continent. The Spaniards, the first importers of it into Europe, discovered it about the year 1560, and sent it into Spain from Tabaco, a province of Yucatan, whence it derives its common name. We have seen how far Ralegh was instrumental in introducing it into England. He was fond of smoaking it himself," and probably contributed materially in propagating the novelty among his countrymen. We are told, that when first he grew fond of a pipe, his servant one day brought his tankard of ale and nutmeg into his study, where Ralegh was reading and smoaking. Seeing the smoke reek from his mouth, the man threw down the ale in a fright, and ran down-stairs to alarm the family, crying, his master was on fire; and would be burned to ashes if they did not make haste to his assistance."

It is also related, that Queen Elizabeth one day conversing with Ralegh on the virtues and properties of the new plant, he happened to observe, that he knew the exact weight of the smoke which would

P

Among Thoresby's artificial curiosities, we have Sir Walter Ralegh's tobacco-box, as it is called, but is rather the case for the glass wherein it was preserved, which was surrounded with small wax candles of various colours. This is of gilded leather, like a muff-case, about half a foot broad, and thirteen inches high, and hath cases for sixteen pipes within it. Ducatus Leodiensis, fol. 1715, p. 485.

My only authority for the truth of this story is the British Apollo, 12, 1740, II, 376.

VOL. I.

F

3

be produced by any given quantity. Her Majesty, dwelling on the idea of bounding the smoke in a balance, suspected that he was playing the traveller, and laid him a wager he could not fulfil his words. Ralegh weighed the tobacco, smoked it, and then weighed the ashes. The Queen did not deny, that the difference had evaporated in smoke; and added, many labourers in the fire turn gold into smoke, you have turned smoke into gold.

Sir Walter was now very high in her Majesty's favour, and about this time was appointed by her seneschal of the duchies of Cornwall and Exeter, and lord-warden of the stannaries in Devonshire and Cornwall.

The earl of Leicester, notwithstanding the great defects, or rather odious vices, of his character, had at this period of Ralegh's life been for above twenty years in the good graces of Queen Elizabeth, and was now her greatest and most powerful favourite. In 1585, he had been sent to Holland at the head of the auxiliary forces, with which her Majesty supplied the States, in consequence of the league we have already noticed; and he carried in his splendid

See an allusion to this anecdote in Howell's Letters, book III, letter 7. An opinion prevails that we are indebted to Sir Walter also for the useful potatoe, his ships having touched at Ireland on their return from Virginia, and left some roots in that kingdom, whence it found its way hither. By the best accounts, however, it was introduced into Ireland in 1565, when the knight was only thirteen years of age.

retinue the young earl of Essex, now become his son-in-law by a second marriage. The States, desirous of engaging the Queen still farther in their defence; and knowing Leicester's interest with her Majesty, conferred on him the title of governor and captain-general of the United Provinces, appointed a guard to attend his person, and treated him in some respects as their sovereign. Elizabeth, on the contrary, was displeased with the artifice of the States, and the ambition of Leicester; she severely reprimanded both, and was not appeased without many humble submissions. Moreover the advantages which the prince of Parma gained, were not attributed to the superior bravery and discipline of the Spaniards, but solely to the misconduct of Lei

cester.

The States were greatly discontented with his management of the war, and with his arbitrary and imperious conduct. He was afterward suspected by the Dutch of a design of usurping upon their liberties, and the jealousy entertained against him began to extend toward the Queen herself, which led to his recal in 1587.*

The following letter, addressed to him by Ralegh during this service, has been preserved in the Harleian Collection," and is, I believe, now printed for the first time.

'Camden's Elizab.; Bentivoglio, part II, lib. 4; Strype, vol. IV, No. 246; Rymer, tom. XV, p. 66.

u No: 6994, ii.

SIR WALTER RALEGH TO THE EARL OF LEICESTER.

My very good Lord,

• You wrote unto me in your last letters for pioneers to be sent over : whereupon I moved her Majesty, and found her very willing, insomuch as order was given for a commission; but since, the matter is stayed, I know not for what cause. Also, according to your Lordship's desire, I spoke for one Jukes for the office of the Back-house, and the matter well liked. In aught else your lordship shall find me most assured to my power to perform all offices of love, honour, and service, toward you. But I have been of late very pestilent reported in this place to be rather a drawer-back, than a fartherer of the action where you govern. Your Lordship doth well understand my affection toward Spain, and how I have consumed the best part of my fortune, hurting the tyrrannous prosperity of that estate; and it were now strange and monstrous that I should become an enemy to my country and conscience. But all that I have desired at your Lordship's hand is, that you will evermore deal directly with me in all matter of suspect doubleness, and so ever esteem me as you shall find my deserving, good or bad. In the mean time I humbly beseech you, let no poetical scribe work your lordship by any device to doubt, that I am a hollow or cold servant to the action, or a mean well-willer and follow

er of

your own.

And even so I humbly take my

leave, wishing you all honour and prosperity. From the court, the 29th of March, 1586.

Your lordship's, to do you service,

W. RALEGH.'

The Queen is on very good terms with you, and, thank be to God, well pacified, and you are again her sweet Robin.

"To the right honourable, my singular good Lord, the earl of Leicester, governor of the Low Countries for her Majesty.'

It is difficult to trace the intrigues of court-favourites to their true sources; yet while Leicester's reputation was, as we have seen, suffering abroad, it may not be totally unreasonable to suppose, that reflecting on Ralegh's acknowledged talents, and his influence at court, and combining these advantages with the reports which Ralegh alludes to in his letter, he might be led to view the rising favourite with a jealous eye; and that these circumstances might determine him, as has been conjectured, in opposing the dawning talents of his son-in-law, afterward so celebrated and so unfortunate, to Sir Walter's growing influence with the queen.*

* See Sir Henry Wotton's parallel between Essex and Buckingham in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ. Tarleton, the best comedian of these times, when a pleasant play was acting before her Ma