and one of them, "The Cocoa Tree," early the headquarters of the
Jacobite party, became subsequently recognised as the club of the
literati, including among its members such men as Garrick and Byron.
White's Cocoa House, adjoining St. James' Palace, was even better
known, eventually developing into the respectable White's Club, though
at one time a great gambling centre.[19]

[Illustration--Black and White Plate: White's Club, on left of St.
James's Palace. (_From a Drawing of the time of Queen Anne._)]

A little later the "Indian Nectar," recommended by a learned doctor on
account of "its secret virtue," was to be obtained of "an honest
though poor man" in East Smithfield at 6s. 8d. a pound, or the
"commoner sort at about half the price," so that it was getting within
more general reach. Subsequently the following advertisement appeared
regarding a patented preparation of cocoa "now sold at 4s. 9d. per
pound."

"N.B.--The curious may be supplied with this superfine chocolate, that
exceeds the finest sold by other makers, plain at 6s., with vanillos
at 7s. To be sold for ready money only at Mr. Churchman's Chocolate
Warehouse, at Mr. John Young's, in St. Paul's Churchyard, London, A.D.
1732."

The opportunities of increasing the revenue from the growing
favourite were not lost sight of, and till 1820 its spread was checked
by a duty of 1s. 6d. a pound, collected by the sale of stamped
wrappers for each pound, half-pound, or quarter-pound, "neither more
nor less," just as in the case of patent medicines at present.