average, they would keep withdrawing in proportion to their means, till the demand returned to its former standard. If it rose above the average, those who had become independent would return to labour or would remain at it, as the additional remuneration tempted them, till the extra demand ceased, or if permanent, till it was met by increased population; and this is the state in which labour would be the cheapest and most satisfactory.

"Though a provident population must have more resources than an improvident one, yet it will be much more difficult to form or keep up combinations amongst them. The interest of each individual is more distinct, and therefore not so easily drawn into the mass; every man is calculating his own gradual advance, and will not readily make a certain sacrifice for an uncertain benefit; he is in a state of progressive comfort, from which it is difficult to disturb him, and his prudence and constant occupation make him little liable to become the dupe of the designing. The life of the improvident, on the contrary, is an alternation of privation and indulgence, and they are ever ready to undergo the former for the chance of the latter; they listen, and become a prey to the plausible and artful, to whose designs uneasiness and credulity constantly expose them. They have no fixed purpose or ultimate aim to keep them steady, and their individual interest being worth little to them, they are very willing to throw it into the general, and make common cause with those who have as little to lose as themselves. A prudent population is the best calculated to resist unjustifiable aggression, and an improvident one to commence it.

TWOPENNY POST.

The Twopenny Post is a great convenience, and would be a much greater, if it were used without restraint. It is a pity

that in this land of liberty there should be so much tyranny from absurd customs. Why should any one be affronted by the payment of postage, which is to save the trouble of sending a servant, or the expense of a special messenger? Why should a domestic travel a mile, when a few yards would suffice, or a shilling or eighteen-pence be paid instead of twopence? A free use of the post would promote a great deal of easy intercourse, which the trouble or expense of sending entirely prevents; and indeed, to distant parts of the town in different directions, there can be no mode of conveyance at once so convenient and so capable of despatch. It enables communications to be made, and answers to be returned at almost all times, without delay; and, if used to a greater extent, would most probably be rendered still more efficient by an increased number of deliveries. I am happy to say that I have of late perceived a considerable relaxation of former restraint; and for my own part I intend to take the liberty of paying postage, whenever it suits my convenience, assuming that my correspondents are not subject to the vulgar-minded habit of fancying affronts. It has often been suggested, and with great reason, that it would be desirable to have the receiving houses for letters distinguished in such a manner, as to make them easily perceptible, and it appears to me that this object would in general be sufficiently accomplished, if the nearest lamp had some peculiar mark for the day, and a portion of coloured glass for night, with a difference for the two posts, General and Twopenny.

Published also monthly with the Periodicals, stitched in a wrapper.

IBOTSON AND PALMER, PRINTERS, SAVOY-STREET, STRAND.

BY THOMAS WALKER, M.A.

TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

BARRISTER AT LAW, AND ONE OF THE POLICE MAGISTRATES OF THE METROPOLIS.

PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 12 O'CLOCK BY H. RENSHAW, 356, STRAND, NEARLY OPPOSITE WELLINGTON STREET.

No. XVIII.] WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1835. [PRICE 3d.

Contents:

Art of Dinning.

Pauperism.

Self-Discipline.
Imposition.

ART OF DINING.

To those who are the slaves of custom or fashion, or who have never thought for themselves, the doctrines on the art of dining laid down in my last number must appear startling, absurd, or impossible to be carried into practice, except in a limited number of cases. very The simple style I propose is as different from the ornamented and cumbrous one now in vogue, as the present cropped, unpowdered, trowsered mode of dress is from that of a gentleman in the middle of the last century, when bags, swords, buckles, and gold lace were universally in use, and I may be thought as much out of the way in my notions by some, as any one would have been in the year 1750, who should have advocated the dress of 1835. But simplicity and convenience have triumphed in our dress, and I have no doubt they will equally do so in time in our dinners. With respect to the practicability of my system, I lay down rules which I think the sound ones, with a view to their being approached as nearly as circumstances will permit. For in

T

stance, I am of opinion a party, to be the most satisfactory, should not exceed eight persons, and therefore I would keep as near that number as possible. I think it is a very material point to have a dinner served up quite hot, and therefore I would have a kitchen as close to the dining-room as conveniently it could be. I differ from those who like large parties, and who think the kitchen ought to be remote, and I frame my rules accordingly, and would bring my practice as near my rules as circumstances would allow. I should prefer two small parties simply regaled, to one large one with an overloaded repast, and I would make all my arrangements with reference to the style I think best, and keep to it as strictly as I could. As it appears to me that the more intent we are upon what we are doing, the greater is our enjoyment, I have dwelt in the article in my last number upon the means of preventing distraction at the dinner-table-not that I mean all that I have said always to be adhered to, but I give it by way of guide and specimen. I endeavour to exhibit the true philosophy of dining, leaving the practice to be modified according to tastes and circumstances, and as I am decidedly of opinion that the true philosophy of dining would have great influence upon our well-being, bodily and mental, and upon the good ordering of our social habits, I think it well worth serious attention. The above observations apply as well to what I am going to say, as to what I have said; the application of my rules must depend upon circumstances.

I concluded the article on dining in my last number with promising to treat, in the present, of the table, the dinner, and the mode of conducting it. A great deal of the pleasure of a party depends upon the size of the table being proportioned to the number of those sitting at it. The other day, when dining alone with a friend of mine, I could not help being constantly sensible of the unsocial influence of too large a table. The circular form seems to me to be the most desirable, and as tables are now made with tops of different sizes, to put on as occasion requires, those, who think it worth while, can adapt their

table to their party with what precision they please. According to my system of serving the dishes in succession, the only thing to be considered in the size of the table, is convenient room for sitting, so as neither to be crowded nor to be too far apart. For any number not exceeding four, I think a square or oblong table, quite as comfortable as a round one. With respect to setting out a table, every thing should be brilliantly clean, and nothing should be placed upon it except what is wanted; and every thing wanted, which can conveniently be upon the table, should be there, so as to dispense as much as possible with attendance, and thereby avoid the trouble of asking for things, and the frequent occurrence, even with the best arrangements, of having to wait. I rather think the best mode of lighting a table has not yet been discovered. I think it desirable not to have the light upon it, nor indeed anything which can interrupt the freest communication between the guests, upon which sociability greatly depends. The art of throwing the most agreeable light upon a table is well worth cultivating. Instead of those inconvenient and useless centre pieces, which I have already denounced, I would have a basket of beautiful bread, white and brown, in the middle of the table, with a silver fork on each side, so that the guests could help themselves, which would be perfectly easy with a party not exceeding eight, which limit I understand in all I say. I would have the wine placed upon the table in such manner as to be as much as possible within the reach of each person, and I hold stands for the decanters to be impediments, and coolers also, except, perhaps, in very hot weather. If the wine is served at a proper temperature, it will in general remain so, as long as ought to be necessary; but it is often set upon the table before it is wanted, for show. As I am an enemy to a variety of wines, I think one wine glass only most convenient at dinner, nor do I think in general that water glasses for the wine glasses are of much use. I like to simplify as much as possible; and instead of the supernumeraries