I allow, however, that it is very easy to talk about Economy; and I and my family talked so long about" it, that, at length, we began in good earnest to try what could be done, to lessen the enormous weight of household expenses, taxes, and other notorious' grievances. I began with suggesting, that, as Londou, in consequence of the many spirited improvements carried into execution by the corporation, was now become a tolerably healthy place, we might give up our country-house, and thereby nearly save one half of our domestic expenses.-Negatived unanimously, 1. Because nobody now lived in London; 2. Because every body had a country-house; and, lastly, in the shape of an interrogation, "What would the world say ?" I next hinted, that as carriages pass our door at least a dozen times a-day, and we might have hackney-coaches when we pleased, the expense of the chariot might be saved.-Negatived unanimously,__ 1. Because stage-coaches linger on the road; 2. Because my wife and daughters are always sick in stagecoaches; 3. Because positively there is no riding in stage-coaches; and, 4. Because one cannot always get a hackney-coach without a deal of waiting.These resolutions were also flanked by the awful interrogatory, "What would the world say?" I then tried some other articles; but as they were all voted necessary, nem. con. I need not trouble you with the recital, nor with the learned debates which followed each of my propositions. But as I continued to express my dissatisfaction, and frequently to hint, that I must and would begin a system of Economy, I was at length assured that something effectual should be done to silence my clamours; and accordingly we have gone on for a considerable time, pursuing a system of Economy, which, I am confidently assured, is that practised in higher places, and by by greater personages. It would fill your whole paper were I to give you all the particulars in which we have been so saving; but a few items may be quite sufficient to instruct your Readers how to husband their finances in dear times. : The first remarkable effort, I remember, was locking up the small beer cellar, by which means two important points were gained: first, the servants could not drink the beer, when the door was locked and secondly, they would not drink it when the door was opened, as it happened to turn sour. I remember I was one day told we had saved in the course of a month three shillings and sixpence by this contrivance, and the same night I paid three guineas for tickets to Signor Squallini's concert. Another time, a prodigious saving, amounting, in six weeks, to above half-a-crown, was introduced in the consumption of tens candles, for the kitchen and nursery; and my bill for wax-lights for two routs in that time, did not exceed five pounds sixteen shillings sterling. Much about this period I was told of the expense of job-horses, and therefore gave 160l. for a pair of greys, both of which died within half a year, although they were kept at the same livery-stable from which I had my jobs. Some of my family were annual guinea subscribers to a Dispensary; but it being strongly surmised, that public charities are grossly abused, and one's money absolutely thrown away, it was unanimously agreed to retrench this superfluity; and the same day, one of my annual subscribers gave thirty-five guineas for a small suit of lace to Mrs. Mechlin, the great milliner of Bond Street. Another very notable saving, the fruit of honest industry and ingenuity, was, that my females learned to make up a great many articles of dress, formerly given out for that purpose-caps, shoes, and other articles were were so neatly made, or mended, last summer, preparatory to our annual visit to Brighton, that it was clearly demonstrated to me, upon black and white, that the same things made in the shops would have come to three or four pounds-and that summer, I well remember, the house at Brighton cost me nine guineas a week rent, and was so convenient, that, in consequence of the above savings, we continued there a month longer than usual. As I believe it is universally agreed that the necessaries of life are scandalously wasted, I assure you there is no such waste permitted in my family; no bread used that is not three days old, which all allow to be an admirable expedient; and while I can congratulate myself on a saving, in the course of a year, of nearly twelve, or perhaps fourteen shillings, by this expedient, you will not think me a miser when I tell you that my pastry-cook's bill for desserts, during the same time, exceeded 641. sterling. Sometimes, however, these systems of Economy are not carried, in my family, without considerable debating. I remember, on one occasion, when the payment for water was called for, I was told it would be a very great saving to lay in the water instead of that which we found upon the premises. I hesitated about this, and very warm words followed, which might have produced rather awkward effects, had I not asked their opinion of a pipe of port, for which I gave that morning the sum of 1287. and which was unanimously voted to be reasonable. I might instance in many other cases the very great savings which I have been enabled to make by this excellent system; but what are already noticed may be sufficient to explain the nature of the system, and to enable your Readers to judge whether they have ever seen any thing like it, either in public or private affairs. If they have, or if they give me credit, they I 2 will will at once perceive all that I have been labouring to prove the difficulty of economizing. One gentleman, indeed, to whom I showed a rough draught of this letter, affected to treat it as a matter of very great facility. He had even the assurance to tell me, that all the difficulty I complained of, and all the difficulty complained of in higher places, arose from Economists not knowing which end to begin at.— "Your Economists, now-a-days," said he," are a set of chandler's-shop politicians; they can reckon, and they can save the farthings and fractions on pennies and two-pences, while they lavish pounds without any reckoning at all. And for one penny saved in necessaries, a pound at least goes for luxuries.-There is for example, Mr." But here, as he was going into what I deem personal scandal, I interrupted him, by saying, that I was determined to stick to my argument; and all the allowance I would make to his, would be, that I should conclude my letter with this position, namely, that much of the difficulty of public or private Economy arises from not knowing which end to begin at -or-always beginning at the wrong end. I am, Sir, yours, A DOMESTIC STATESMAN. SPORTING SALE EXTRAORDINARY. [From the Morning Herald, March 10.] Pack of Fox-Hounds. Το be sold, in One Lot, to clear the Kennel, the most noted Pack of Fox-Hounds ever known by the oldest Sportsman in England. A high price was offered, but refused, for one or two couple of them, to form a new Royal Pack, They were bred from different strains of high blood, and though a few of the the Puppies are rather lively tongued, most of the old Hounds run mute. They are, at this time, become somewhat low in condition, from the scarcity of flesh; but regular boilings would soon fine their skins. They are remarkable for fine noses, and will run a drag keenly the coldest scenting day. They are parted with for no other reason than that Will GREENFIELD, the Huntsman, has unfortunately quarrelled with the Country, which, on that account, will not stop for him. Will's noted Hack, GREY Fretful, which has carried him several seasons to cover, will be sold with the Hounds: though disqualified for a King's Plate, having once bolted, he would train well for the Yeomen Prickers' Plate at Ascot: he is remarkably fulk of bone, and, though he tosses up his head awkwardly in a curb, rides well in a snaffle. Would make a famous teaser to a brood stud.-Also, a Couple of Terriers, that have run some time with the Pack: they are thorough vermin, and famous for lying at a Fox as long as he lived. Catalogues, with Pedigrees of the Hounds, will be given in a few days. BLUE AND BUFF. [From the Morning Chronicle, March 11.] PENCER! 't is strange and odd enough, To see you clad in Blue and Buff, SPEN The badge of those who tried to save In War, Exclusion, Discontent, Ashes to ashes, dust to dust! The late Mr. Py-1. No |