with pictures by Verrio, Lely, and others, one of them surpassing in size and grandeur almost any other in the kingdom; above all, in the very extent and magnitude of the body to which he belongs, and the consequent spirit, the intelligence, and public conscience, which is the result of so many various yet wonderfully combining members. Compared with this last-named advantage, what is the stock of information (not speaking of book-learning, but of that knowledge which boy receives from boy), the mass of collected opinions, the intelligence in common, among the few and narrow members of an ordinary boarding-school. (To be continued.) HOW TO CUT OUT SHIRTS. Yard-wide Irish. quarter, and a quarter of a nail long. One yard and a half and two nails make the six pair. This exactly uses. all the piece of cloth. Four yards of the Irish cloth make six pair of sleeves, one and a half in the width of the cloth half a yard long, half a yard and half a quarter wide, first taking off a slip a nail wide from the width of the cloth for the eight sleeve-pieces wanting above, which, doubled in eight, makes them half a yard long, and with the four and a half cut out before, completes twelve sleeve-pieces and a half. This half overplus being a quarter of a yard in length, serves to cut out hearts for the bosoms. There are twenty parts in a shirt -the body, two sleeves, two wristbands, two binders, two shoulder-straps, one collar, two sleeve-gussets, two neckgussets, two side-gussets, two wristgussets, one for the bosom, and the frill. All the stitching parts and buttonholes are to be done first; then hem the flaps, measure the length of the arm-holes, baste and fell on the binders, placing the selvage of the bin~ ders next the sleeve; then hem the bosom, and put in the little gusset; next put in the neck-gussets, to do which, turn the shirt down on the right side, and sew in the under side of the neck-gusset; fold the upper side, so that the stitching may be ·upon · the shirt beyond the turning; put on the shoulder-straps, which must be folded in, half the wrong side outwards, and sew it slightly on the middle of the shoulder; then pinch it down flat, and herring-bone it from side to side within the stitching lines, to keep it so. The neck-gusse's are to be cut open at the top, and gathered on the wrong side, and then the whole neck is gathered on the right side: next put on the collar, taking care that the part you are about to gather, is quite straight, and the loose edges cut even; then divide the collar, and the cloth to which you are gathering it in half and quarters, making a Sixteen yards make six shirts. The length for each body is two yards, and the width three-quarters, one nail and a half. Twelve yards make six bodies. Before the lengths for the bodies are cut off, take half a quarter and half a nail off the width of the cloth, which piece furnishes all the parts belonging to the six shirts (except eight sleeve-pieces, which are supplied from the sleeves) and is cut out as follows:-The width makes half a collar, a quarter, half quarter, and half a nail long. Four yards, three quarters, and half a quarter make the twelve half collars. One sleeve-gusset in the width, first taking off the selvage, will be half a quarter, and nearhalf a nail square. One yard and three quarters make the twelve gussets. The cloth is not wide enough for the width of two neck or side gussets; but it will make the width of one, and a slip a nail wide, which will be the width of the piece for the inside of the sleeves. Two yards and a quarter in length therefore will make twenty-four small gussets a nail and a half square, and four sleeve-pieces and a half, half a yard long. The width makes the width of two wristbands or shoulder-mark at cach with a bit of thread, straps, the wristbands one quarter long. One yard and a half will make the six pair. The shoulder-straps one drawing your gathering-thread when you have done a finger's length of work, and changing the gathering thread at the half; when you have done the gathering, draw the gathers pretty close, and then, to keep the thread secure, twist it round a pin; then pull the gathers straight between the thumb and fingers; when the collar is thus put on, her the wrist openings in the sleeves, gather the sleeves, put on the wristband, and sew and fell the gussets on one side; put the other side of the gussets into the sleeves, and sew up the sleeves ; gather the top of the sleeves, and put in the wrist-gussets; sew up the sides of the shirt, and finish the end of the binders. Put in the sleeves and the side-gussets the shirt is made, and only now requires marking, which should always be done neatly, and numbered. And now, Mrs. Meanwell, is it really true, as has been insinuated by Mrs. Tattle, that you do not make your husband's shirts, but pay three shillings and sixpence each for their making. For shame! read the above ten times over; call in your neighbour, Mrs. Allgood; I know she will willingly give you any information on the subject; nor will she reveal or expose your ignorance to others; depend upon it, it is better to own a want of knowledge in any particular matter in order to gain information, than to remain in contented ignorance until we expose ourselves, and sadly lament the many opportunities we have foregone of obtaining the required information. HUMOURS OF HARVEST HOME. The day for the celebration of the Harvest Home had arrived; the bakehouse teemed with joints of beef and plum-puddings; the best white frocks, blue stockings, and leatherbreeches, were looked out; cotton gowns, blue checkered aprons, and the best bibs and tuckers were in requisition. The last load of corn was coming over the bridge, with many a social follower in its train, and all the villagers seemed happy at the approaching festival. Old Micha and Dame Dorothy, who for the last five years had been inmates of the Parish workhouse, obtained a holiday, and were hobbling side by side along the main street, and chatting about a merry-making, which would make the sixtieth they had enjoyed under the patronage of the family of But although a hundred merry hearts and gladsome visages graced village, which was once a market. town, there were two whose countenances betrayed a different emotion: yes, although husband and wife, they were two, and not unfrequently two odd ones. Madam was determined to be present at the harvest-home, but that both should be there was impos sible; the husband, as determined as his spouse, intended to follow her as soon as she was off. Madam dressed, and so did her good man; he even unshifted his old wooden leg, and prepared to put on his best. But, alas! she was ready first, and snatching up both the poor old man's timber toes, bore them off in triumph to the feast, to the great amusement of the company and discomfiture of ber husband; but it was of short duration; for Will, the ploughman, happening to call, took him on his back, and fairly carried him to the family mansion, and set him at the head of the table, next to the host, unperceived by his loving spousy. The feast was over, and mine host called for a song; but round the call went, without success: all were too sober yet. A few more mugs of home-brewed ale set them: pected visitor had lungs of tolerable all singing at once; but the unex strength, and sung out with such stentorian voice, that his wife recog nized it in an instant, and turning to the end of the room whence it proceeded, went off in strong hysteric fits, believing that she had seen his ghost. She was carried home; but, on coming to herself, she discovered the real state of things, and ran back, pecked husband. vowing vengeance upon her henBut he was too happy to be disturbed; all her scolding and threats were answered by fragments of songs, toasts or sentiments, and the following is but au imperfect picture of the scene between this loving couple :→ Wife.-Where did you come from, you wretch? far away, My parents to Wife. Don't tell me about your parents; curse your parents. Husband." Pray, goody, please to moderate the rancour of your tongue, Why--" Wife. You good-for-nothing fellow, if you don't come home, I'l Husband.- In vain did his wife rage and storm; she could neither stop his singing, nor induce him to move: but being prevailed upon by the company to desist, by repeated offers of the cheerful mug, she at first sat quiet for a few minutes, and no sooner began to resume her grumbling, than a repetition of the dose was offered from all hands, till at length she burst into a love-fit, as ludicrous and extravagant as her hate. She would sit next her husband, who now began to be noisy, and, on his being requested to be a little silent, transferred all her rage to the company, very orderly buckled on his best leg, and, telling the assembly that they did not know how to behave, stumbled out with him to go home, whither they arrived, after sundry falls and rolls about the roads. Joy and festivity was now the order of the evening, and the air ring with the cheers that followed each loyal toast; till, wearied with exertions, satisfied with their entertainment, and having sang and hallooed themselves hoarse, three huzzas, outside the house, were given, with the little voice they had left, previous to their departure. BLESSINGS OF MARRIAGE. Many have disputed whether marriage or single life is to be preferred, and have shown arguments on both sides. Amongst the rest, Jacobus de Voragine, in twelve arguments, pa thetic, succinct, and elegant, has described the benefits of marriage. They are these: 3. Art thou in prosperity? She doubles it. 4. Art in adversity? fort, assist, bear part. She'll com 5. Art thou at home? She'll drive away melancholy. 6. Art thou abroad? She prays for thee, wishes thee at home, welcomes thee with joy. 7. Nothing is delightsome alone. No society is equal to marriage. 8. The bond of conjugal love is adamantine. 9. Kindred is increased, parents doubled, brothers, sisters, families, nephews. 10. Thou art a father by a legal and happy issue. 11. Barren matrimony is cursed by Moses. How much more a single life. 12. If nature escape not punishment, thy will shall not avoid it, as he sung it, that, without marriage, Earth, air, sea, land, oft soon will come to nought, The world itself would be to ruin brought. A HINT TO MAKE A GOOD NEW BUSI NESS IN LONDON. In the city of London, and particularly in the neighbourhood of the 'Change, there is much wanting (what is to be had in every street in Paris) a "cabinet d'aisance." We are convinced that a fortune is to be made by it. This hint may serve well in Edinburgh also. As yet we have not heard of our former hint to make a fortune being profited by; we allude to the establish ing opposition stage-coaches, which will pay all coachmen and guards as well as turnpikes; but we hope both that and the present hint will not long lie unprofited by. GAZETTED, AND IN THE GAZETTE, These terms imply very different things. The son of a nobleman is gazetted as a cornet in a regi ment, and all his friends rejoice. John Thomson is in the Gazette, and all bis friends lament. SUPERFINE RAG-MOPS. An extraordinary mode of making these is as follows:-Buy a new black coat-wear it about three months -wipe your dirty fingers on various parts of it, particularly about the pockets, which will save the expense of towels-be sure to lean on your elbows at table-grease your hair, if not naturally greasy, and let it grow long and bushy over the cape; then, finding that the coat looks shabby, use any of the woollen-cloth " renovators:" wear the coat another month, and you will find it fit to make good ragmops-if not too rotten. 'TIS-BUTS. If you are out with a party, and have guzzled three or four glasses of grog, 'tis but sixpence more to have another, and only a shilling to have two-thus getting comfortably drunk. If you go to the pit of the theatre, and find that your new suit would better suit the elegance of the boxes, why 'tis but two shillings more to go there-thus to see and be seen.. If your circumstances will afford you the luxury of a cob-horse, price 15., why 'tis but five or ten pounds more to have a proper sized horsethus you appear in style. If you give a dashing dinner, which costs you twenty or thirty pounds, why 'tis but now and then it happens -thus you get a good name, and grow fat. Save the 'tis-buts of a year, and see what a sum you shall have. Which is it better to dine at, an eating-house, or at your own lodgings? Which, of black, blue, grey, or drab trowsers, shall wear the longest, and look best in the end? A VORACIOUS COD. A few days since, a gentleman sent a fine cod-fish, with a suitable number of oysters for sauce, all packed in one basket, to his friend in the country, and advised him, by letter, of the present. Now the coachman who took the parcel, loved oysters too, and eat them all on the journey: the cod arrived safe, and the gentleman who received it, thanked his London friend. for the handsome fish, but observed, it was the most voracious cod he had, ever seen, for he had eaten up all the. oysters in his passage. [The following is a translation of Mr. Stove's letter: it gave us some trouble. The printer said he would. rather study Chaldaic than rectify Mr. Stove's orthography.] SIR; To the Editor of The Economist. by letter, you know, about the mock -According to my promise auction, I now inform you that the house in the Adelphi is taken by a man in the Strand, who, with all the speed he could, furnished it. He generally. advertises a sale, but never makes any show of goods the day before, like any other auctioneer, for fear.. people should find out all the things are new. On the day of sale the door opens about 10 o'clock, by which time the puffers have all arrived. As soon as the place appears full, the auctioneer learns from the puffers which gentlemen are likely to become buyers: he then mounts the rostrum, and commences selling, but never reads the rules of the sale, for fear the company should find out that the duty is paid by the buyer. The auctioneer's name is always W. on the first sale at a new house: his proper name is Joseph Walker; he lives in a garret at Somers Town, and has only 10s. 6d. per day for selling, and the men in attendance have 2s. 6d. per day; they never sell more than two days a week. The auctioneer always takes his duty for all that is sold, to clear the expense of his catalogues; and should any of the puffers happen to buy for any gentleman (which is sometimes the case), or sell any goods after the sale is over, the duty is charged to the buyer; the auctioneer pockets all that duty, and cheats the crown out of it: you will find that he sells every week under different names-Jos. Work, Lithel Pratt, &c. Joseph Walker is cousin to a man who belonged to Lime-street, Mark-lane, and Yorkstreet; he lives in -street, and will sell the house in Duke-street next Monday or Tuesday, as he cannot hold it any longer than next Michaelmas (quarter) day: the landlord and neighbours will not let them have any longer lease: they should serve them as the agent to the Cabinet Makers' Society did-post up. on the day of sale, a large bill, with these words: "Beware of Mock Auctions." In a few days I will give you a further account of this sale, and all the names connected with it: this horde owe me 12/. which they cheated. me out of through my not taking a receipt for the delivery of my goods; for they swore they never received them, though I delivered them my-, self, but I had no witness to prove it; however, I will attend every sale to injure them all I can, for they are a bad set. If you inquire, you will find all I have stated is true. After the sale is over, you may see all the puffers come out together, like a parcel of thieves.-I hope you have found out your mistake respecting the Cabinet Makers' Society; in justice to that body, you cannot do less tharr ask their pardon, knowing you were MOCK AUCTION IN THE STRAND. We again revert to the plundering practices of mock auctions, from a communication which we have received, that imperatively calls our attention to the subject. Two gentlemen were passing by that well-known gulling shop in the Strand, not far from St. Clement's church, and, from motives of curiosity, which were excited by some observations made in our publication upon this shop, they were determined to be present at the sale, in order to judge of the truth of our assertions. It was about half-past five in the evening; the shop was well lighted up, and displayed the various baits, which were tastefully arranged to the best advantage. The mock auctioneer, a big, half-stupid-half-rogue-looking fellow, and by his accent a west of England man, was mounted above the pile, with a hammer in his hand; his complaisant wife, a shrewd-looking ginbibbing dame, sat hands across at one side of the shop, eyeing the gulls that came in a little Jewish whippersnapper-looking-hat-o'-one-side sort. of a fellow strutted about, examining every article, and seemed to be the only buyer or bidder in the shop; for, besides the two gentlemen we have mentioned, the auctioneer and his wife, there was not another being in the shop, excepta porter, who showed |