servants in a voice and tone which
convince me that he has my interest
at heart, as well as the expantion of
her lungs. We live, in fort, very
happily; keep a decent plain table,

feveral is none of

correfpondents, I muft occafionally

deviate from my family and perfonal

labours, to introduce fome of theirs.

The following appears to me de-

ferving of a place.

To the Author of the INDEX.

SIR,

AS you feem poffeffed of a very

fenfible woman for a wife, and ap-

pear yourself to be one of those com

municative kind of people who are

neither averse to talk, nor flow to

hear, will you permit me to relate

certain of my family-affairs, for the

amufement, if not the benefit of

your readers?

I am a tradesman in a tolerable

good line of bulinefs, as we fay, and

though I cannot boat of opulence.

and have very little ambition in my

compofition yet I poffefs as much of

the former as is fully fufficient for

my wants; and of the latter, juft as

much as prompts me to industry to

preserve my stock. My wire, with

all refpect be it ment ned, is fully

as induftrious in her way as myfelt

fuperintends my houfehold affairs

with conftant care, and fcolds the

want of any neceffay appears. Our

bufinefs lately has been on the in-

creafe-and our affairs very profper-

ous-every thing to our with--and

fomething at the year's end to lay

by.

But within thefe few weeks, I

don't know how it is, that my wife
has taken it into her head that we
live extravagantly, and that it will
be neceffary to curtail many family-
expences. Why he thinks fo, I
never could find out, until the other
day, that I difcovered the had pur-
chated a vile book, a very vile book,
fir, called The Housekeeper's Book-
a fort of book to put down every
thing bought for the ufe of the fa-
mily. And the confeffed to me that
having ufed this book for fome time
it has, as fh calls it," awakened
her confcience," to many flocking
initances of extravagance we have
been often guly of. Who first
contrived fuch bocks I knew not,
but be who he may, I cannot help
being uncharitable enough to fay,
that I ove him a grudge for it.

Toaft and burer, in a morning,
is no longer to be feen at our break-

ainum.

or 4.

But, fir, it is not "in meats and drinks" only that this fpirit of reformation has committed its ravages. If I ring my bell for coals, he runs up to my room with a "La! Mr. Simeon, how could you think of coals? Let me stir the fire for you :" and then he covers what little fire is left with a heap of duft and afhes from under the grate; however, this does not much aufwer her purpofe, for I am determined to have coals, if I fteal them, a thing not uncommon with me, fince the "kept a book"-I mentioned the other day that I fhould foon have occafion for fome new stockings-upon which my whole cargo were ordered out for infpection; and fuch darning and botching work fet on foot, that I am almoft afhamed to take a long walk leaft my exercise unrip the new ftitches.

faft table; because Mrs. Simeon (for | finished fooner than the year 1793 that is her name) has found out that we confume "a matter of half a crown in butter weekly," and by having no toast and butter in the mornings, he has calculated that one filling of that may be faved, which, The adds, amounts to £2:12:0 per -Befides he has fome how difcovered that butter is not wholefon, and that people are much better without it. As to our tea, befides being abridged in the article of fugar (two pounds of which we ufed in a week) the water bears fuch a heavy proportion, that, to ufe a favourite phrafe of her's, it is no het. ter than water got damaged."As to the bread, I have no complaint to make; it lafts pretty long, indeed, but beides the teftimony of the Book to the expence of bread per week, my wife affares me that bread is very unwholefome, unlefs it be kept fome time- and I am cerrain, if this be true, we have the molt wholesome bread in the world. Heaven preferve our teeth!

Before this abominable book came into our house, Mrs. Simeon ufed now and then to accompany me to a play, although feldom, and as befitting our station. But the now positively objects to any thing of the kind; for

At dinner, this vile Book has made frange alterations. Porter, being a beady liquor, is difcharged; and our ale is too new to be u'ed-imall-adds the "there is no column in the beer in fimal quantities is fubflitut- book for plays, and one might spend ed-and, if I request a pint of Tru- a deal of money that way without man by way of luxury, my wife is being able to keep an account. No, fure to filence me with my no, Mr. Simeon, a penny faved is dear! confider, I keep a book now." a penny got; and what do we get In meat, her economy has done by plays? Three fhillings for you . wonders. The beef that enters on and as much for me make fix fhilSunday rarely takes it leave till lings, befides coach-hire: why, hufThurfday and we last week had band, it would keep the houfe for a a piece of veal, that came fo often week!"-And fo, indeed, it is likely to the table that I verily believe it to do, if we go on as we are doing. would have come on calling, without giving the fervant the trouble of fetching it. As to fuppers, they are entirely ftruck off the lift.-A cheese as big as a millstone, but not quite fo foft, was lately purchafed, and from the quantity we are allow ed (which, to do her juftice, is more than we have inclination to eat) I am of opinion this chec.e will not be

Such, fir, are fome of the confequences of keeping this Vile BookWhat would you advife me to do? Mr. Maftix-you are a fenfible man. and have got a notable wife, but I will be fworn fhe keeps no pinching books to ftarve her family-Some people fay," Mr. Simeon why do you allow all this? Why do not you fpcnd what money you pleafe?"

Mrs. Malix and family, and am, worthy fir,

Your humble fervant,

SAMUEL SIMEON.

I have referred the above letter

to Mrs. Maflix, who is to take it into confideration, as it belongs to Domeftic Concerns, a province I ne

Ah! Mr. Maftix, you and I know better than that comes to. We know that wives are not fo eafily contradicted. They will have their way, Mafter Maftix, they will have their way; and really for my part, I have no objection to let mine have her Eaft Cheap, Jan, 15, 1790. way that is to fay - any thing fhort of starvation-for if I am to be kept hungry, naked, and cold, I really do not fee, why I fhould not pluck up a fpirit, and burn the caufe of all this mischief-I mean the book-ver invade. Sue, as fhall ferm good only that in this cafe I am afraid the to her wisdom, will afford an answer would go and buy another, and to in due time and place convenient. prevent a fimilar accident perhaps keep a duplicate of her accounts. To give you just one more anecdote that proves the pernicious tendency of fuch books, I will mention what happened on Monday laft-you must know it was our anniversary weddingday, and according to annual cuftom, I expected a bit of extra-fupperwhen, to my utter aftonifhm:ntwhat do you think our bill of fare

confifted of one pound of tripe boil ed-three eggs ditto-and a red herring-all which were duly poftes into the book after fupper that the might fhow me how expenfive good living was. I infifted, indeed, on a little tiff of punch, but did not at tain it until after much altercation, for "fugar was a fhilling a pound, brandy up to half a guinea a gallon, lemons at a monftrous rate, and fhe paid a matter of forty fillings a year for water; who do you think can ftand it ?"

LETTER to HENRIETTA, on the Exhibition of Portraits,

N° I.

[See our Dec. Mag. Vol. XX p. 627.]

Dear Henrietta,

N

reading, your elegant letter

to your friend, upon Portraits, I could not help reflecting upon the juft characters, you had drawn, and muft affure you, that your fe: timents, upon public life, are very

accurate. No one could have drawn

lady L's character, more nobly, nor have made jufter obfervations. Your thoughts upon the pharo table are fublime; for indeed, it is far from being any rational amufement: you must excufe me for taking your letter in pieces, but there is fo much good fenfe fcattered into it, that I In your next paper, or when con- muft lay a greater firefs upon the venient, I fhould be happy to hear more deferving part. more deferving part. Eafy is the your opinion of these matters, and defcent from virtue to vice; lady if you can perfuade my wife that the L's character, by your own retrue ufe of a book is to fhew how flections, has given you fufficient much she does spend, and not how little proof. The effects of gaming are The can, you will confer a very laft-evident from your own thoughts on ing obligation on me.-You will, indeed, feed the hungry and clothe the naked, as well as provide for the approaching inclement season.Mean time, I beg my refpects to

the fubject, and happy am I to fee. you are a girl of fpirit, to fhun the contagion. It would be a leffening to your merit, to fay, you did not approve of reading, as by your let

any Bay, the fubject of our plate is a part, is the largest ind Our fettlers there had not, when in the known world, being declared the laft accounts came away, been equal in ex-ent to all Europe. It is able to form an intimacy with the fituated in the Eaftern or Indian natives-but, it is generally fupOcean, extending from nine degrees pofed, that the colony in time will to forty-four South latitude, and be very flourishing, provided the from one hundred and ten to one poor wretches can be made induf. hundred and fifty-four degrees Eaftious, and to forget their vicious longitude from London. The wef habits.