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Our glance at Equipage, we are sorry to say, supplies us with more materiel for caustic animadversion than even our examination of Dress. It is lamentable to reflect, that an equipage whose constituent parts shall form a congruous whole, is but a remove from being a phenomenon.

This Noble's "cattle" are too big for his vehicle, and that family's vehicle too big for their" cattle." The latter seem to be drawn about by rats, and the former by elephants. A vis-à-vis body shall be so remote from its wheels, that one cannot look upon it without the idea of its having shrunk into itself to avoid being crushed; while a carriage-body shall confine upon the spokes, as if undergoing the process of grinding. Harness covered with plating, like a doll's dress with spangles, and panels not capacious enough for the heraldic decorations, are among the least of the sins against good taste. Sometimes the misproportioned elevations of the drivers and their "knights (companions) of the rainbow," destroy the otherwise tolerable tout ensemble." The footmen should neither be able to whisper in the coachman's ear across the carriage roof, nor unable to reach his shoulder with a baton as long as themselves. If the recommendation of being born on the paternal estate, or any other recommendation, must prevail against the proportions of giant or dwarf, a partial remedy is still available in the location of the coachbox or the standing-board. The common run of cabriolets exhibits a machine, now shaped like a C, now like an L. In the one, the occupier must be supposed to sit double; in the other, bolt upright.

We have many remarks to make upon Stanhopes, Tilburies, and vehicles of all shapes and sizes; but these are all in prospect, or perhaps in that strange tense called the "paulo post futurum :" we must, however, here say, that mail-coach" four-in-hands" cause the uninitiated to inquire, if the Post-office has altered its regulations with respect to the road?

We have no patience with dolts, who are paying the price of beauty for worthlessness and deformity. To the account of dupes and rogues will be charged the ill-humour in which they may occasionally plunge us. If purchasers

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would be at the trouble of thinking for themselves, we are confident they would be repaid in curtailed expense and superior show. Granting, for instance, it were a crime worse than witchcraft to change the livery of our forefathers, surely we may meddle with the livery of the harness-makers: there is no law for surrendering into their hands the dress of our horses.

However jocosely we may have spoken of the violations of taste against which we would guard some, and to rectify which we would exhort others, our sample, on due inspection, will turn out by no means deficient in substantial and genuine qualities. The laugh which we direct against the absurdity, inculcates the principle from which it is an aberration. Though grave-natured, the Council of Ten prefer curves to angles, whenever "the human face divine" is concerned. They would, therefore, discompose the features at times with a laugh, for the purpose of rounding lines, that, but for interruption, might go on to rigidity, and altogether and irrecoverably miss the dimple.

That a high degree of importance attaches to the right developement of National Taste, cannot be more forcibly shewn than by the interest which the great Bacon, in his imperishable Essays, takes in the subject. While he revels in his description of what a princely building and gardens ought to be, the detail of his plans proves his conviction how much may be marred by the uncontrolled interference of subordinate agents.

In conclusion we must observe, that, to do with order, continuity and precision, what is now done vaguely, and in a manner least calculated for reference or lasting impression; to keep the tables of the law before the eyes of the public, and administer justice according to their provisions, thereby to establish a reputation which would cause it to be respected, and, being respected, to be consulted, would be the first duty and truest interest of "a Tribunal of Taste."

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A LETTER TO THE COUNCIL,

ON

PAUPERS, VAGRANTS, AND THE LATE ACT OF PARLIAMENT WITH REGARD TO THEM.

66

WE publish the following letter, as we have received it from a correspondent, because it contains an account of a transaction, similar to many, of which ourselves, and the greater part, probably, of our readers, have been witnesses; and may contribute to prove, that some new and better regulations with respect to paupers, beggars and vagrants, are absolutely necessary. At the same time, we feel it our duty to tell the writer, that his communication is not in the very best taste; and that, in two or three instances, his feelings of humanity have betrayed him into a needless intemperance of language. We are always friends to the fortiter in re," but should like to see a little more of the "suaviter in modo." It is rather too much, in addition to the hard names of "wretch" and "ruffian," to call the unfortunate beadle "tiger" and "blood-hound," in the same sentence. Yet, we know well how difficult it is for a man of spirit and good-nature to be exactly guarded and moderate in his expressions, while he has the recollection of such an occurrence as the one described immediately before him. The fault, however, is rather with the law, than with him who merely puts it into execution. To an individual who happens to have a low purse and a harsh disposition, the sum of five shillings is no small temptation; nor ought we to expect that the beadle of Leamington should have more humanity than the legislature of Great Britain. Beggars, too, it must be recollected, are often a real nuisance in the streets, and some means must be taken to stop the increase of their numbers, and the importunity of their demands. We are quite sure, that some plan, at once more lenient and more efficacious than the present system, might be adopted; and pledge ourselves that this subject shall not escape the notice of our Council.

SIR,

To the President of the Council of Ten.

I have read with great pleasure your constitutional observations upon "The Abuses of the Police." How such an Act as that which you allude to could pass in a Legislature representing free men, is to me incomprehensible.

A short time since, during a short stay at Leamington, in Warwickshire, I had an opportunity of witnessing the arbitrary and cruel operation of this Act.

Three poor Irishmen, driven by famine from their own country, just at the commencement of our harvest, were seeking for, employment. Unable to succeed, and without the means of purchasing food, they committed the heinous sin of asking charity, which being observed by the beadle of the place, (who, in a scarlet costume and ponderous goldlaced hat, struck terror into the unhappy strangers as he approached,) demanded them as his prey, and with the ferocity of a tiger seized the weakest of the three, who, during the struggle, was deserted by his companions, and left at the mercy of this blood-hound. At the moment, I was ignorant of the power vested in this man, until the cry of " Shame, shame-infamous Act-despotic Bill!" rung in my ears. "This wretch," said a man standing by me, "takes up all the poor people he meets withcarries them to the black-hole-locks them up for the night—and has five shillings for each, when carried before the justice!" I was at first unwilling to interfere with the arm of power, except by expostulation; upon which the ruffian told me, with a sneer, "he did not mind what I said, and he'd be damned but he would do his duty." The poor fellow was dragged to the black-hole, where, shortly after, I conversed with him through the grating of the door, and revived his drooping spirits by saying, I would see justice done to him. I lost not a moment, and instantly communicated to a respectable inhabitant what I had witnessed, who accompanied me to one of the overseers, remarking as he walked with me, "that he was very glad the matter had been taken up by a spirited gen

tleman, for it was really shameful that such power should be vested in the hands of such men, whose only object was blood-money. A meeting was immediately called, and the result was-the liberation of the poor unoffending Irishman; his sickle (which had been wrested from him) was restored, and he went in search of his frightened companions.

Can such things be,

And overcome us like a summer cloud,
Without our special wonder?

By exposing these iniquitous practices, strengthened by the observations of your powerful mind, you" will do the state some service," and deserve the thanks of your country.

I remain, Sir,

Your constant reader,

LETTER TO THE COUNCIL.

SEARCH AFTER A WIFE:-LIFE OF WATERING-PLACES.

GENTLEMEN,

You held out a promise in the First Number of your publication, that you would devote a portion of your pages to the state and progress of society; or attending to what you chose to denominate by the high-sounding title of social philosophy." This promise, it appears to me, you have not hitherto fulfilled. Yet surely, gentlemen, you cannot consider it as derogatory from your dignity, or incompatible with your other objects, to open new scenes of many-coloured life, to trace the different forms and stages and gradations of society, with a philosophical and moral pencil; "to shoot folly as it flies ;" and to expose those private vanities and inconsistencies of behaviour, which often make men miserable, and more often ridiculous. Your Censorial duties will be most incompletely performed, unless you penetrate the interior of life, and enter within the veil which is drawn down before the "sanctum

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