ENQUIRE WITHIN

UPON

EVERYTHING.

"WHETHER YOU WISH TO MODEL A FLOWER IN WAX; TO ORNAMENT A VASE BY THE ART OF POTICHOMANIE; TO SERVE UP A RELISH FOR BREAKFAST OR FOR SUPPER; TO SUPPLY A DELICIOUS ENTREE FOR THE DINNER TABLE; TO PLAN A DINNER FOR A LARGE PARTY OR A SMALL ONE; TO CURE A HEAD-ACHE; TO GET MARRIED; TO BURY A RELATIVE; TO ESTABLISH ACQUAINTANCES ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF ETIQUETTE; WHATEVER YOU MAY WISH TO DO, MAKE, OR TO ENJOY, PROVIDED YOUR DESIRE HAS RELATION TO THE NECESSITIES OF DOMESTIC LIFE, I SHALL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU, AND THEREFORE, UPON ALL SUCH OCCASIONS, I HOPE YOU WILL NOT FAIL TO ENQUIRE WITHIN.'"-Extract from the First Advertisement of the Work.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND GREENING, 4 AND 5, GRAYSTOKE PLACE, FETTER LANE.

PREFACE.

IF THERE be any among my readers, who, having turned over the pages of " ENQUIRE WITHIN," have hastily pronounced them to be confused and ill-arranged, let them at once refer to THE INDEX, or for ever hold their peace.

The INDEX is, to the vast congregation of useful hints and receipts that fill the boundary of this volume, like the DIRECTORY to the great aggregation of houses and people in London.

No one, being a stranger to London, would run about asking for "Mr. SMITH." But, remembering the Christian name, and the profession of the individual wanted, would turn to the DIRECTORY, and trace him out.

Like a house, every paragraph in "ENQUIRE WITHIN," has its number, and the INDEX is the DIRECTORY which will explain what Facts, Hints, and Instructions inhabit that number.

For, if it be not a misnomer, we are prompted to say, that " ENQUIRE WITHIN" is peopled with thousands of ladies and gentlemen, who have approved of the plan of the work, and contributed something to its store of useful information. There they are, waiting to be questioned, and ready to reply. Only a short time ago, the facts and information, now assuming the conventional forms of printing types, were active thoughts in the minds of many people. Their fingers traced those thoughts upon the page, for the benefit of whomsoever might need information. We must not separate the thought from the mind which gave it birth; we must not look upon these writings as we should upon the traces left by the snail upon the green leaf, having neither form nor meaning. Behind each page some one lives to answer for the correctness of the information imparted, just as certainly as where, in the window of a dwelling, you

see a paper directing you to "ENQUIRE WITHIN," some one is there to answer you.

Old Dr. KITCHENER lives at No. 41; Mrs. HITCHING lives at 161; Mrs. CHILD lives at 203; Dr. BREWER lives at 291; Dr. STENHOUSE at 320; Dr. BURGESS at 324; Dr. ERASMUS WILSON at 399; Dr. SOUTHWOOD SMITH at 401; Dr. BLAIR at 446; M. SOYER at 765; Dr. BABINGTON at 1287; Dr. CLARKE at 1291; Dr. Scorт, at 1296; the gentleman who lives at 343, has requested us (because of the delicacy of the communication), not to publish his name; a DOCTOR lives at 906; a GARDENER at 1021; a SCHOOLMASTER at 1323; a DANCING MASTER at 1678; an ARTIST at 1851; a NATURALIST at 1925; a MODELLER at 1931; a Cook at 1972; a PHILANTHROPIST at 2006; a LAWYER at 2047; A SURGEON at 2186; a CHESS PLAYER at 2354; a CHEMIST at 2387 ; a BREWER at 2559; and so on.

Well there they live-always at home-knock at their doorsENQUIRE WITHIN, NO FEES TO PAY !!

We have taken so much care in selecting our information, and have been aided by so many kind friends in the production of our volume, that we cannot turn to any page without at once being reminded of the GENEROUS FRIEND WHO ABIDES THERE.

To some extent, though in a far less degree, we have been indebted to the authors of the following useful books. In the first place we must express our chief obligations to "Dr. KITCHENER'S COOK's ORACLE," to "THE COOK," in "Houlston and Stoneman's Industrial Library;" to "THE SHOPKEEPER'S GUIDE," to "Mrs. RUNDELL'S COOKERY," to "HOME TRUTHS, FOR HOME PEACE," and also to "THE FAMILY FRIEND," "TREASURES IN NEEDLEWORK," "THE PRACTICAL HOUSEWIFE," and to "THE FAMILY TREASURY." We now invite the thousands who may " ENQUIRE WITHIN" to our future monthly INTERVIEW, wherein we will endeavour to supply whatever ENQUIRERS may not find by ENQUIRING WITHIN. Our INTERVIEWS will be varied, genial, and entirely original in their arrangement. "The pleasure of your company is earnestly solicited."