window, (by the
light of which she is examining her valuable acquisition, and against
which she had hung her old hoop-petticoat in order to keep out the
cold,) and the rat's running across the floor, are just and sufficient
indications that misery and want are the constant companions of a guilty
life.

[Illustration: INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS.

PLATE 7.

THE IDLE 'PRENTICE RETURNED FROM SEA, AND IN THE A GARRET WITH A
PROSTITUTE.]

INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS.

PLATE VIII.

THE INDUSTRIOUS 'PRENTICE GROWN RICH, AND SHERIFF OF LONDON.

'With all thy gettings get understanding. Exalt her and she shall
promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace
her.' Proverbs, chap. iv. verse 7, 8.

From industry become opulent, from integrity and punctuality
respectable, our young merchant is now sheriff of London, and dining
with the different companies in Guildhall. A group on the left side are
admirably characteristic; their whole souls seem absorbed in the
pleasures of the table. A divine, true to his cloth, swallows his soup
with the highest _gout_. Not less gratified is the gentleman palating a
glass of wine. The man in a black wig is a positive representative of
famine; and the portly and oily citizen, with a napkin tucked in his
button-hole, has evidently burnt his mouth by extreme eagerness.

The backs of those in the distance, behung with bags, major perukes,
pinners, &c. are most laughably ludicrous. Every person present is so
attentive to business, that one may fairly conclude they live to eat,
rather than eat to live.

But though this must be admitted to be the case with this party, the
following instance of city temperance proves that there are some
exceptions. When the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Aldermen, Chamberlain, &c. of
the city of London were once seated round the table at a public and
splendid dinner at Guildhall, Mr. Chamberlain Wilkes lisped out, "Mr.
Alderman B----, shall I help you to a plate of turtle, or a slice of the
haunch,--I am within reach of both, sir?" "Neither one nor t'other, I
thank you, Sir," replied the Alderman, "I think I shall dine on the
beans and bacon which are at this end of the table." "Mr. Alderman
A----," continued the Chamberlain, "which would you choose, sir?" "Sir,
I will not trouble you for either, for I believe I shall follow the
example of my brother B----, and dine on beans and bacon," was the
reply. On this second refusal the old Chamb