Star.
London, England, 1831-05-16 00:00:00

CIGAR SMOKING•

The Surgeon-General of the Forces has recently made public his
belief, that never, till within the last twenty years, did he see so many
young men with pale faces and emaciated figures, and he attributes the,
existence of the evil to the use of Cigars. The unreflecting servility
with which men adopt new and foreign practices, is fully exemplified
in the present case ; it is notorious that the practice of cigar smoking the
modern foppery from Regent.street to Cheapside and Cornhill, was
an importation of the peninsular war ; the imitation having been began
by the Spaniards, whose models are what are usually called the savages
of America. The dietetic mischief, and consequent paleness of com-
plexion and emaciation of muscle, which are attributable to the use of
cigars, belong, no doubt, to an injury inflicted, perhaps, in more ways
than one upon the skis and organs of digestion ; nor is that hypothesis
at all inconsistent with what we hear from so many cigar-smokers,
namely, that their cigar is their dependence for digestion I That after
having impaired the organ, or weakened its tone, or dried up the salival
menstruum, they should needs stimulant, even in the very form of
the bane which injures them, is only of a piece with all that has been
said of drinking, and especially of dram-drinking, with which latter
debauch, the debauch of cigar-smoking, has the closest possible alliance.
We never pass one of those stifling rendezvous •in the metropolis—a ci.
gar-shop, open till the latest hours, without mentally classing it with
the gin-shops, its only compeers.
Reclusive of the low habit of imitation, a dullness and feebleness of
understanding, an absence of intellectual resources, a vacuity of
thought, is the great inducement to the use of this, as .01 all o bet
drugs, whether from the cigar-shop, or the snuff-shop, or the gin.ahopt
or the wine cellar; a truth by no means the less certain, because it hap-
pens that men of the highest powers of mind are drawn into the vice,
land made to reduce themselves, by their adoption and dependence upon
it, to the lowest level of the vulgar ; but at the same time it is not to
be denied, that a great support in defence of cigar-smoking is found in
the medical opinions sometimes advanced as to its salutary influence.
Now if we admit broadly, and at once, that there may be times and dr-
cumstancea in which the inhaling the hot smoke of a powerful narcotic
drug, is useful to the human body, must it follow that the habitual re-
sort to such a practice, and this under all circumstances, is useful also,
and even free from the most serious inconveniences?
It is the admitted maxim, that if smoking is accompanied by spit-
ting, injury results to the smoker; and the reason assigned is, that the
salival fluid, which should assist digestion, is in this manner dissi-
pated,
and taken from its office. But may not the habitual application
of the narcotic influence to the nervous system have its evils also?
May it not weaken or deaden the nervous and muscular action which
is needful to digestion ?
And may not even the excessive quantity of the matter of heat, thus
artificially conveyed into the body, tend to a desiccation of the system,
as injurious under general circumstances, as it may be beneficial under
particular ones ?
Smoking invites thirst, and there is little risk in advlncing, that
whatever superinduce, an unnatural indulgence in the use of liquids is
itself, and without farther question, injurious, even if the liquids re.
sorted to are of the most innocent description ; but in point of fact, the
cigar-smoker will usually appease his thirst by means of liquors in them-
selves his enemies
It is said, however, that the use of cigars is beneficial when we find
ourselves in marshy situations, with a high temperature, and generally
whenever the atmosphere:inclines to the introduction of putridity end
fever into the system. We believe this, and perhaps a useful theory
of the alternate benefit and mischief of cigar-smoking may be offered
upon the basis of that proposition. When and wherever the body re-
quires to be dried, cigar-smoking may be salutary ; and when and
wherever that drying, or desiccation is injurious, then and there cigar.
smoking may be to be shunned. We know that, while surrounded by
an atmosphere overcharged, or even/only saturated with moisture,
moist bodies remain moist, or do not part with that excess of moisture
from which a drier atmosphere would relieve them ; and that living bo-
dies, so circumstanced, are threatened with typhus and typhoid fever.
It is highly probable, therefore, that narcotics, in such cases, may allay
a morbid irritability of the nerves, or effect a salutary diminution of
healthful sensibility; under such circumstances, the desiccating and
sedative effects of tobacco-smoking may prove beneficial; while, in all
ordinary states of the system and of the atmosphere, the same desicca-
dve and sedative influences may produce immediate evil consequences,
more or less readily perceptible, and undermine, however gradually, the
strength of the constitution.
E. A. K.

DAMASCUS.
Damascus ranks as a city of high antiquity ; indeed, it is one of the
most venerable on the face of the globe, and has experienced many vi-
cissitudes. It is supposei to take its name from the blood of Abel,
Dim signifying in the Hebrew language, blood, and Sack a
righteous person. In the earliest part of the peered volume, we
find it distinguished as a theatre of many extraordinary events ; and
it stands at the head of Syria, of which it is the metropolis. Abraham
repaired to in pursuit of those monarchs who brought his brother in a
st..re of captivity, from which he rescued him. It is also supposed to
have been founded by hint, and it was she birth-place of hut steward
Eliezer. liarrisons were established here by David after he had sub-
dued the Syrians, and had taken a multitude of them prisoners. Arias
King of Israel, offered up sacrifices to the gods of Damaseur, and de-
stroyed the vessels of the house of the Lord. When Solomon went
after other gods he was punished by the revolt of his people, se
that they stirred up Reson against him, win reigned here. From that
period the kingdok of Israel became separate irom that of Judah ; and
was governed by its own monarchs. During the period of harvest, the
King of Assyria, with a powerful army. spread horror over the land by
fire and sword; burning the crops on the fields, destroying the flocks.
devastating the country, end cuttiag off thousands. It must be most.
dered se having been a place of extensive ;rade and commerce. since,
during the flourishing state of Tyre, it is alluded to by different pro-
phets as a distinguished town for merehandtze and riches. Here it war
that Saul, ones the persecutor of Christ and his church, who shed the
blood of his saints, was by a most wonderful act of divine power made
a convert to, and zealous advocate of, the Christian faith. This city
was captured by the Saracen princes, who took up their residence here
till Bsgdad was prepared for them ; and after many revolutions' it was
taken and destroyed by Tamerlane. It was again repaired by thellarne-
lutes, when they obtained possession of Syria, but was wrested
from them by the Turks in the year 1506. Afterwards it was re-
.

lit Arad towhee by the Emperor Timur. Baldwin, the 2d of that name, a
Warder, and highly distinguished by acts of heroism, fell upon Jerusa-
end beat the King of Damacus. In 1709, three thousandof the
tents were destroyed by an earthquake.
- city is situated in a valley, called by the Arabs El Shaw,
and famous among oriental' under the name of Gloutch Demesk, or
the of Damascus, and watered by the Chryzoorhoes, or
den stream, now Barad' ; and infidels entertain an idea that it was
the original paradise. It is two miles in length from northeast to
soodt-west; but its breadth is not in proportion to it, being ez.
treacly narrow, and it is divided into twenty-three districts. The
circumference of the whole is calculated at about twenty miles,
and it appears to have formerly been inclosed within three
strong Walls. The first, or innermost, was the greatest in point of
tirades, between which and the second was a ditch ; and the
third, or exterior wall, which was the lowest. These had towers.
some In • circular form, and whets in the shape of a square. The first
Is the only perfect wall at this moment ; the others are broken down,
and the ditches full of rubbish. During the crusades, the eastern
• wan accounted impregnable. The place is beautifully situated in
Say bosom of gardens, which contribute highly to its ornamat.
The number of its population was greatly increased on the destruction
of Tyre and Sidon, Coutes, and other adjacent cities, whose inhabi.
task retired up the country from the coast.
The air is pure, though the streets are narrow, perhaps with the
view of shading its inhabitants from a hoe sun. The present dewrip-
don of materials and mode of building, I have no doubt, must have
continued from the very earliest period of time ; the houses are of the
colour of clay, resembling the meanest cottages in Britain, and
built, after the form of those I had occasion to speak of at
Jerusalem, of the most perishable materials, viz. bricks which have
been dried not by fire, but the heat of the sun. During wet weather,
the slough arising from them renders the streets almost Impassable;
and it may be added, that rain falls here more than elsewhere along the
sea coast between Joppa and Tripoli. Babylon also being in a
, situation where no stones can be got for building nature supplies
this defect by an inexhaustible store of clay for making bricks, which
were either dried in the sun or burnt. Those I have seen were
hardened in the former mode, and were three inches in thickness by
twelve in breadth, many of them being covered over with arrow-
headed characters. Of these was constructed the famous Tower of
Babel. This mode of making bricks is clearly referred to by Pha-
raoh, in his command to the taskmasters of the people and their of-
ficers. Few of the houses have floors of wood. In building,
the plan is to fix nails or pins of wood in the walls while still soft,
to suspend such domestic articles as are required, since, consist-
ing altogether of clay, they are too frail to permit of the operation of
a hammer. It is to these apparently that reference is made by the
prophets. There are few windows. The houses are est on the roof
like a terrace, which is spread over with a kind of plaster,•and made
I arm with a roller. Many of these are surrounded with mad walls or
battlements, 4 feet high, to prevent accidents. Several domestic offices
are performed on these roofs' such as drying linen and lax, SEC. Indeed
a person who was disposed to make his escape from any pursuit
might, by stepping from house to house, reach the walls of the city.
Such roots were recommended. as the most elevated and proper places,
to sound alarms, in order to be heart; at a distance, which may explain
an expression made use of by the evangelist. It Is scarcely necessary
to observe. that the walls of such superficial houses are liable to crack ;
and crumble by the heat of summer, which creates a most offensive
dust, especially when rain is followed by wind, which occured one day
in particular when I was here. This kind of weather is also most
injurious to such buildings, the wet penetra.ing and soaking into them,
by which the materials become loosened, and, being suddenly dried by
the sun and the breeze, peel off in large f..tkes and pulverise, so that
great quantities of rased are collected -in the streets, rendering them a
perfect quagmire, which it is almost impossible for the pedestrian to
move in; and, as I found, my slippers became absolutely useless. To
such effects of thew winds and rains reference is made by a prophet and
an evangelist.
The apartments in houses of a superior class are in the back part,
where the inmates are in a state of complete seclusion, and effectually
guarded from all Invasion. There is a large quadrangular court within,
open at the top, and finely spayed with marble, having pillars of
marble, and ornamented with plants and fountains of water; in.
deed scarcely one house in the place is without a marble basin
and whir, ao that each occupier may literally be said to " drink the
waters of his own cistern." During great heats, a kind of awning or
veil Is spread over the top of these count. The floors of the apartments
are covered with carpets, with large couches like woolsacks, and pil-
lows, where the Turks are seen reclining at their ease, smoking the
finest tobacco, and indulging in every sensual gralVestion. In front
o f the streets the houses have kw or no windows, but appear like blank
walls, similar to those in Jerusalem, in which there is a gate or wicket,
so small as to require those who enter to stoop very low. Such narrow
entries must have been alluded to in the expression used by our Lord,
in answer to a question put to him regarding the number of those
who should be saved. They me secured with wooden bolts and keys,
also of the same form with those at Jerusalem. It is impossible, how-
ever, to determine if these trete the particular kind of locks and keys
in use anciently, although them is certain evidence that the
doors of houses and other places were secured in this way. Before
these were known it was the custom to :secure things by a knot, and
some of these were so difficult, that he alone who posseaed the secret
could unrcvel them.
The gardens are numerous, but no order appears to be
observed in the planting of trees. There are fruit trees of
different kinds; one of these bears the damson or damas-
cene plum, which takes its name from this city. Oranges, citrons,
apricots, and roses, are in great abundance, and from the last of these
perfumes are extracted. There are besides vegetables of enormous size.
The dry fruits exported to the Ottoman capital amount to the enor.
mous sum of one hundred thousand pounds sterling yearly. It short
the place appears to be rejoicing in the abundance of its wealth.

It Is a goodly sight to see
What heaven bath done for this delicious land ;
What fruits of fragrance blush on every tree,
What goodly prospects o'er the bills expancL—Ree Wil-
son's Travels in the Holy Land.

PORTSM OU TH- SAT u RDA!.
The sanguine hopes we indulged in last week, of his Majesty's ho
mouring this port with a visit on the 7th of June, will not be realised.
His Majesty has caused it to be communicated that he has abandoned
that intention, and it is reported for the same reason (one deeply de.
plored by his loyal subjects) which induced his Majesty to decline his
visit for the present to the Lord Mayor and the good citizens of Loodon
—via. his state of health. Considering his Majesty's affection for the
sea, and the estrangement for so many months of our sailor King from
that element in uhich he so much delights, a visit of his Majesty to
his fleet would greatly (we think) contribute to restore him to strength
and health. We earnestly hope his Majesty's medical advisers will re-'
commend the quarter-deck as one of the means to this anziouslywished
for end. It is surmised that the King will visit the fleet on its return
front the summer's cruise.
Itznuertons.—Tbe situations held by Conunissioner Ascoogh and
Mr. Hepburn, of the Jamaica dock-ya 4 are done away with. The
Master Attendant, Master Shipwright, and Chaplain of Bermuda dock-
yard, are also reduced; and the Naval Hospital of the Cape of Good
Hope is to be dispensed with; Mr. S. Swayne, the Surgeon, will be
appointed to the Ordinary at this port.
By a recent Treasury Order, passengers coming from France are
permitted to land at Portsmouth, with their baggage, and the duty for
any customable articles can be now taken at our Customhouse, without
delay or trouble. We make this fact public with some satisfaction, as
a contrary regulation last reason was the cause of much inconvenience
and annoyance.
A report has been prevalent that the African squadron is to be with-
drawn ftoin the coast. Although we think this to he unfounded, we
regret that lice exertions of the squadron are greatly paralysed. if not
entirely remit:red useless, by the tact that the French flag covers this
nat.:ions traffic, for under the protection of that flag, chips are de. lirited of the right of serge!). For the sake of boint.nity we trust the
Itt•eral tior.mment of France will interfere, and inteidiet this trade in
vuntan St sh ; indeed, we are given to understand that Lafayette and
Admiral de Rigny both glee it as their opinion that our ships should
i hare the right of twarch on the African coast.
N'ice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Henry Hotham, K.C. 11. arrived here yes-
urthiy, and hoisted his flag (red at tile tote) on board his Itlajesty's ship
St. Vivant, 120, Capt. Senhouse, with the customary salutes. She was
paid alleattet wage's today, and will sail on Tuesday for the Mediter-
ranean, Where Sir Henry elhl assume the command.
The Yacht Club vessels wail have a fine opportunity of displaying
thews, lees before King Philip of France in a few days, as that Mo-
narch is to visit the town of. Havre-de.Gram on Friday The 20th inst.
The Pluto stram-vessel, of 800 tons, recently launched at Woolwich,
was commissioned yesterday for the wart cat Africa.—Hompshire
e.'egraph.

OXFORD, I:ar 13
This day the following degre.z en enr fart d
MASTERS OF Aars.—James Henry Hughes, Yet,
Wm. Pilkington, Demy of :Magdalen ; Rev. C. Whit,
BACRILORS or ASTS.—Thomas Green Simeox, 11,
Compounder ; George B Moore, Christ-church, Grand
Philip James Hooywood, Trinity, Grand Compounder
Brazen-nose ; George Clark, University ; Wm. Boyd,
Latimer, Lincoln ; Edward Welwyn Foley, Scholar
James Heal; Wadham ; Thomas Dyke Acland,
Kynaston, Student of Christ-church; Wm. Williall's,
John Richard Errington Worcester; Charles F..,11
Worcester ; Henry Hebron, Queen s ; Charles ('a
Henry Goldney Randall, Queen's ; Thomas Legh Claughton, &WOW'
of Trinity ; Walter Kitson, Scholar of Rao! ; Archibald Allen Ca-
meron, Pembroke ; Robert M 'llium Browne, Fellow of St. JOiesl.6;
Charles Spencer Bunyon, New College.
The examinations of the candidates fur the Mathematical Scholarship
will be holden on the 26th inat. and following days, in the Convocation
House.
The Mathematical examinations for B.A. degrees commence on the
31st instant.

PREFERMENTS.
The Rev. Henry Hugh Way, of Merton College. to the Viz./wage of
Henbury, near Bristol, on the joint prerisitation of Sir Jahn Smith,
Bart. and the Rev. C. Gore.
The Rev. Mason Anderson has hien institu:ed by the Lord Bishop
of Bath and IVella to the Rectory of sherrirgtoli, Someraeuditre, void
by the resignation of the Rey. Thomas Davies, o:i the prtsenta.ion of
Aylmer Burke Lambert, Esq. of Boyton House. Somerset.
The Bey. J. Cuttingbam, B.A. of Clare Hall, Cambridge, to the
Perpetual Curacy of Shotwiek, Cheshire ; parrots, the I)setai and Chap-
ter of Chester.
The Rev. H. B. Owen, M.D. of St. John's College, lti cior of Si.
Mayes, Hart-street, to the Rectory of Throcking, Herts.
His .Majesty has been pleased to appoint the Rev. Benjamin &Bei,
M.A. Senior Colonial Chaplain of the island of Ceylon, in the room of
the Hon. and Rev. Edward Finch, deceased.

•
oteN
Tee
•••
*.. •
• -
;.:
-•% "44."
'%! •.• • ~/p
L'eu.ena".• •
the born replaced by
Gus•d• (nT
1 Colonel Hay ; two
id the beau quarters
has bArn ectacherl to
°v..' which has been
of the Ginh itegisti..it
nand of Major Chi..
route to Newea,ll..
;uordsit 6•
Fellow of 31agdaien ;
Vhitefooni. Qwecti•b.
nr, Wsdham, Grand
Grand Compounder;
under ; Geo. t
loyd, University , D. •
ar of Wadhani ; W.
, Christ-church; H.
WOICO•ter ;
Edward Arnistionts,
Cameron, Queen':.;