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Smoking pipes & cheroots and snorting snuff


 Posted by P. Bingham on February 21, 1998 at 15:45:18:


In response to Smoking among gentlemen, written by Woodhouse on February 20, 1998 at 11:54:02


To L and T indexDear Woodhouse:
From what I've read on this subject, and smoking is generally mentioned only in passing, I have the understanding that smoking (I have seen no information with regards to the military but I see that Captain Everett has) is not common in the Regency.  If they did smoke they likely used a clay pipe and this they enjoyed outside, perhaps in a garden?  It would have been more fashionable for the socially elite to take snuff and this, I'm sure you know, was taken extensively.  Snuff probably would not be embibed by a debutant, but several ladies way up that social scale were known to have practiced the habit socially.  I would think that snuff might be too expensive for the lower classes to enjoy but I cannot say that is certain as I've not seen any references to that.  The older, more eccentric crowd of men might take a pipe, just as they might still boast a wig or even a tricorn if they were really stubborn. (this would depend on where in the Regency we are talking about, of course).
As far as smoking jackets, because smoking was not so prevelent as it would later certainly be (the Victorians smoked like the Regents took thier snuff), I don't believe that a specific name was given to a jacket yet, or rather I don't believe that the smoking jacket had yet evolved.  
I have seen mid or late 18th century references to smoking in which the gentlemen might retreat into the gentlemen suite of rooms which would have been made up of the billiard room, the library, the study, etc.  I don't recall there being a smoking room yet, as they had during the Victorian era.  I can't remember If they were said to be smoking cheroots or cigars or pipes, however.  
Also, as far as smoking, this would depend on how accessible tobacco was and I believe that tobacco was expensive as it had to be imported.  Tobacco was not cultivated (or rather, companies were not making tobacco products) in England until the 1820's I believe.  I can get back to you on that I have a book that covers that part quite well.
Patricia





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