y of
his faculties. He was blamed by Lord Orrery for turning his mind to such
trifling concerns, and the stricture might have had some weight had not
his primary object been to amuse. That this was his aim rather than mere
correction, is evident from the specious reasons he gives for every one
of his precepts, and he would have found it difficult to choose a
subject which would meet with a more general response.

The following few extracts will give an idea of the work--

"Rules that concern all servants in general--When your master or
lady calls a servant by name, if that servant be not in the way,
none of you are to answer, for then there will be no end of
drudgery; and masters themselves allow that if a servant comes,
when he is called, it is sufficient.

"When you have done a fault, be always pert and insolent, and
behave yourself as if you were the injured person; this will
immediately put your master or lady off their mettle.

"The cook, the butler, the groom, the market-man, and every other
servant, who is concerned in the expenses of the family, should act
as if his whole master's estate ought to be applied to that
peculiar business. For instance, if the cook computes his master's
estate to be a thousand pounds a year, he reasonably concludes that
a thousand pounds a year will afford meat enough, and therefore he
need not be sparing; the butler makes the same judgment; so may
the groom and the coachman, and thus every branch of expense will
be filled to your master's honour.

"Take all tradesmen's parts against your master, and when you are
sent to buy anything, never offer to cheapen it, but generously pay
the full demand. This is highly to your master's honour, and may be
some shillings in your pocket, and you are to consider, if your
master has paid too much, he can better afford the loss than a poor
tradesman.

"Write your own name and your sweetheart's with the smoke of a
candle on the roof of the kitchen, or the servant's hall to show
your learning.

"Lay all faults upon a lap dog or favourite cat, a monkey, a
parrot, or a child; or on the servant, who was last turned off; by
this rule you will excuse yourself, do no hurt to anybody else, and
save your master or lady the trouble and vexation of chiding.

"When you cut bread for a toast, do not s