View source for A Counterblaste to Tobacco

'''''A Counterblaste to Tobacco''''' is a [[treatise]] written by [[British monarchy|King]] [[James I of England|James VI of Scotland and I of England]] in 1604, in which he expresses his distaste for [[tobacco]], particularly [[tobacco smoking]]. As such, it is one of the earliest anti-tobacco publications. 

== Style and content ==
It is written in [[Early Modern English]] and refers to medical theories of the time (e.g. the [[four humours]]).<ref name=counterblaste>[http://www.laits.utexas.edu/poltheory/james/blaste/ ''A Counterblaste to Tobacco'' (retrieved February 22, 2008)]</ref> In it, James blames the "[[Native Americans in the United States|Indians]]" for bringing tobacco in Europe, complains about [[passive smoking]], warns of dangers to the [[lung]]s, and decries tobacco's odour as "hatefull to the nose."<ref name=counterblaste/>

== Effects and legacy ==
James's dislike of tobacco led him to authorize [[Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset]], to levy an [[excise tax]] and [[tariff]] of six [[shilling]]s and eight [[pence]] per pound of tobacco [[import]]ed,<ref>[http://www.laits.utexas.edu/poltheory/james/blaste/blaste.app.html''Commissio pro Tobacco'', James I, 1616]</ref> or £1 per three pounds, a large sum of money for the time.

150 years later, [[United Kingdom|British]] [[utilitarianism|utilitarian]] [[philosophy|philosopher]] [[Jeremy Bentham]] would cite ''A Counterblaste to Tobacco'' as an example of [[antipathy]] run wild.<ref name=counterblaste/>

== Quotation ==
{{quotation|Have you not reason then to bee ashamed, and to forbeare this filthie noveltie, so basely grounded, so foolishly received and so grossely mistaken in the right use thereof? In your abuse thereof sinning against God, harming your selves both in persons and goods, and raking also thereby the markes and notes of vanitie upon you: by the custome thereof making your selves to be wondered at by all forraine civil Nations, and by all strangers that come among you, to be scorned and contemned. A custome lothsome to the eye, hatefull to the Nose, harmefull to the braine, dangerous to the Lungs, and in the blacke stinking fume thereof, neerest resembling the horrible [[Styx (mythology)|Stigian]] smoke of the pit that is bottomelesse.|James 1604<ref name=counterblaste/>}}

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==

{{Wikisource}}

* [http://www.laits.utexas.edu/poltheory/james/blaste/ Full text of ''A Counterblaste to Tobacco'']

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[[Category:Works by James I of England]]
[[Category:Tobacco control]]
[[Category:Medical manuals]]
[[Category:1604 works]]
[[Category:2Fix]]