ower wigs, sitting at a round table, and
voraciously scrambling for mutton chops, dressed by Mary Stedman, who is
seen looking on with supreme satisfaction, while Lady Shuckburgh appears
in the distance, in evident dismay.]

(Copy 4.) "MADAM,--Lady Shuckburgh has directed me to acquaint you
that she declines answering your note, the vulgarity of which is
beneath contempt; and, although it may be the characteristic of the
Sheridans to be vulgar, coarse and witty, it is not that of 'a lady,'
unless she happens to be born in a garret and bred in a kitchen.
Mary Stedman informs me that your Ladyship does not keep either a
cook, or a housekeeper, and that you only require a girl who can cook
a mutton chop. If so, I apprehend that Mary Stedman, or any other
scullion, will be found fully equal to cook for, or manage the
establishment of, the Queen of Beauty.

"I am, your Ladyship's etc.--ELIZABETH COUCH (not Pouch.)"

Even in those days, Newspapers were somewhat given to vaunt themselves as
to their circulation, but they had no need to call in the aid of the
chartered accountant, as they could get their facts from the number of
stamps supplied--the stamp then being of the value of three halfpence per
newspaper, an impost which was not removed until 15 June, 1855, by the
Act 18 and 19 Vict., c. 27. The _Times_ of 5 Aug., 1839, gives us

"A return of the number of Newspaper Stamps issued to the several
Newspapers in London, from 1 Ap. to 29 June, 1839, inclusive;
specifying each Newspaper by name, and the number of Stamps issued
each month during that period to each Newspaper."

April. May. June.
Morning Chronicle 180,000 210,000 140,000
Morning Post 85,000 90,000 80,000
Morning Herald 140,000 175,000 140,000
Times 330,000 330,000 430,000
Courier 29,000 33,000 27,000
Globe 72,000 90,000 72,000
Standard 83,000 80,000 101,000
Sun 111,000 105,000 105,000
Evening Chronicle 30,000 20,000 10,000
Evening Mail 25,000 50,000 35,000
St. James's Chronicle 52,000 58,000 66,000