FINALE.

In order to have a table regularly served, two

things are materially to be attended to; of which, one belongs to the cook, and the other to the housekeeper. The province of the cook, is to dress the meat according to the modern costume, and afterwards to dish it up in an elegant manner.. The housekeeper's province, among other things, is to make out the bill of fare, and afterwards to direct the dishes to be so placed upon the table, as to accord with each other, thereby forming a picture that, by pleasing the eye, may whet the appetite. And here I beg leave to observe, that Van Helmont * confined ARCHEUS to the superintendance of the internal functions of the body; but he did not know, that when he took up his residence in the

*See page 127.

eye, he could view external objects. That discovery was reserved for me, and I confidently assert that at all great tables, ARCHEUS surveys every dish, even before the chaplain has finished his grace. For a proof of this, I appeal to all the thorough-bred Gourmands in every part of the civilized world.

Let us now suppose the dishes to be served up: At this stage, it belongs to the housekeeper to see that the butler has placed them properly upon the table, and here a quick eye to measure distances, and a correct distributive taste, is required towards making the table to represent a well-grouped picture. Dr. King, in his poem. on the "Art of Cookery," in imitation of Horace's Art of Poetry, and addressed to Dr. Martin Lister, has, in a humorous manner, shown the necessity of attending to this display. It constitutes an art so worthy of cultivation, that I mean to recommend it to the consideration of the So

ciety of Incorporated Artists, under the title of

"Crapulary Painting."

Ingenious Lister, were a picture drawn,

With Cynthia's face, but with a neck like Brawn;

With wings of Turkey, and with feet of Calf,

Though drawn by Kneller, it would make you laugh.

Such is (good Sir) the figure of a feast,

By some rich farmer's wife and sister drest:

Which were it not for plenty and for steam,

Might be resembled to a sick man's dream,
Where all ideas huddling run so fast,

That syllabubs come first, and soups the last.

KING ON COOKERY.

After returning thanks to the Ladies, and to some professional persons, for the liberality of their communications, I must not forget my obligations to ARCHEUS, who, in the kindest manner, has expressed his sentiments of almost every dish contained in this collection.

IGNOTUS.

ADDRESS.

Honi. Soit. Qui. Mal. y. Pense.

TO the Ladies who have done IGNOTUS the honour to peruse what, with the best intention possible, has been the amusement of his leisure hours.

After providing the necessary materials to be employed in the management of a family, IGNOTUS would feel himself culpable if he did not endeavour to promote their application, by a few words of advice. And as the season advances when new year's gifts are in general acceptable, he begs leave to offer the following to such Ladies as may not be too proud to accept of a little good advice from a stranger.

The character given of a virtuous woman by the mother of King Lemuel, is perhaps the most perfect picture that ever was drawn ; and though the age, in which it was given, is widely different from that in which we live, yet every attempt to

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come near to it will amply reward the fair imitatrix.

"The price of a virtuous woman is far above "rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely "trust in her, so that he shall have no need of "spoil. She will do him good and not evil all "the days of her life. She seeketh wool and "flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. "She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth "her food from afar. She riseth also while it is "yet night, and giveth meat to her household, "and a portion to her maidens, She considereth

a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth "her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandize is

good: her candle goeth not out by night. "She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her "hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her "hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth

her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of "the snow for her household: for all her house"hold are clothed with scarlet. She maketh "herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is "silk and purple. Her husband is known in the