THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

IT was long the wish of the late respected Mr. LoNomare to see the valuable part of what had been written on domestic economy con- densed into a single volume : but this was easier talked about than done. The task was not only difficult, from the extent of the ma- terials and their scattered condition, but it was found, on trial, that their worth was out of date, and that little had been published suited to the advancing state of science, which is now so usefully occupied in turning to account the truths of abstract reasoning and experiment. The enterprising publisher, however, did not abandon his plan for producing a circle of science on domestic economy ; and the execution was intrusted to Mr. WEBSTER. Lest it be inquired how one who is chiefly known as a geologist should be selected for such a task, Mr. WEBSTER announces that he was educated as an architect, and was intimate besides with the celebrated Count RUMFORD, who initiated him, then young WEBSTER, into all his views upon domestic economy, and procured him the first appoint- ment that was made in the " Royal Institution of Great Britain for the application of Science to the common purposes of Life." Whilein

that office, Mr. WEBSTER " designed and superintended the build- ing of the theatre for lectures and the chemical laboratory ; and it was his province to occupy himself with the subject of warming buildings by the best construction of chimney-fire-places, stoves, and other methods, as well as with ventilation, lighting, and the application of the principles of Count Rumford to the improvement of various useful kinds of apparatus." Rich in the knowledge derived from this training, Mr. WEBSTER was ready with all that applied to the " house " in its widest extent : the site ; what architects call the plan—meaning the proposed rooms and their arrangements ; the subsequent erection ; and all the out-of-sight means that contribute to comfort. This, however, was merely his professional business ; the mind of RUMFORD possessed him with the opinion, that warming, ventilating, and lighting, were important features in a house, at least to those who live in it ; as his prin- ciples enable his pupil to " effectuate " such matters. Furniture, to a certain extent, is the proper business of the architect to design and superintend: Mr. WEBSTER had only to go a little further in practical details, and he was ready to handle, for the Encyclopedia of Domestic Economy, " the various articles of furniture, with the nature of their materials," even if the Rumfordian disposition had not turned his mind to them before. How or where he picked up his knowledge of wheel-carriages, horses, and the economy of their management in the stable or on the road, does not appear. His op- portunities at the Royal Institution, and his studies as a geologist, -may have acquainted him with chemistry enough to master its principles as applied to the useful arts of cooking, brewing, wine- snaking, and cosmetics. Clothing, with a general view of woollen, cotton, silks, and linen fabrics—jewellery, with its branches of precious stones, and their imitations—are to the inquisitive mind connected with our daily life, or the study of chemistry and geology ; though probably other encyclopaedias have furnished some pretty full hints for these, and other portions of the Encyclopedia of Do- mestic Economy. Mr. WEBSTER, however, does not wholly rely upon himself. The late Mrs. PARSES, known as the authoress of Domestic Duties, has furnished the whole of the elaborate series of chapters on the duties of household servants, and on French and English cookery ; whilst her son, Mr. PARSES, a surgeon, has principally supplied the book on the preservation of health, with hints on domestic medicine.

This is one of those works that induce a longing in the reader to live up to their precepts. In looking at the elaborate table of con- tents, following out to their minutest detail the general subjects we have slightly indicated, or turning to the full expositions of the text and its illustrative cuts, the wish of trying this or that luxury naturally rises to the mind,—excepting analogous experiments to those described in the chapter on home-made wines. It is, how- ever, but fair to add, that Mr. WEBSTER seems to have no very inordinate faith in them himself; making the late Dr. M'CULLOCH do the part of panegyrist upon British. The general object of the book is to exhibit an entire view of household economy in its most extensive sense, and in all its phases, from the establishment with its house-steward, company of attend- ants, and almost garrison-discipline, down to the humble domicile with its " 150/. per annum " and its maid-of-all-work. The basis of many parts must consequently be common knowledge to persons engaged in superintending any particular branch of economy treated of: but, collecting, as the book does, very wide experience into a focus, perhaps no person can peruse that portion which relates to his or her own department without deriving from it some useful hints ; whilst a reference to other sections will en- large the mind by exhibiting a view of the whole. The main utility of the book, however, will be to the younger heads of establishments,

large. or. qm.all: not by teaching them how to do every sroul'is---"Tv

but by indicating how things should be done, as well as by in- culcating the grand law of order, and then in succession the more technical principles of domestic economy. It will also indicate what they have a right to expect, and enable them to establish that well-ordered house and that middle state which philosophy and poetry have inculcated.

" Mundus erit, qui non offendit sordibus, atque In neutram pencil colitis miser. Hic neque 'Jervis, Albuti genie exemplo, dum munis didit, Stems erit ; neque, sicnt simplex Nevins, unctam Convivis prabebit aquam."

One of Mr. WEBSTER'S objects is also to inculcate some idea of the science of the subjects which form the aggregate of domestic economy—as chemistry in its relation to cookery, brewing, wine- making, architecture in its relation to house-building, and so forth : a purpose which is accomplished, though occasionally with some- thing of an encyclopaedic formality. To be extensively useful to the class of servants, however, the sections relating to them ought to be separately printed ; as the book is too large, too expensive, and too formidable-looking for them to peruse in its present form. In quoting from the Encyclopedia of Domestic Economy, we ought perhaps, in justice, to avoid a class of extracts, as not coming under that knowledge which adds to the recipient's advantage with- out taking any thing from anybody else, and which the ancient poets illustrated by the images of letting the benighted light his torch at yours and showings stranger his way. This, for instance, is useful direction about choosing a house. " Not only the width of the atreet, but its direction is hnportant : one running East and West _must have one front of the houses looking to the North, and de- prived of the sun almost the whole of the day, while the other is =posed to its full radiance." As many streets are in this predi- cament, the man who can thus box the compass has a special advantage over others; for which he ought to pay by the pur- chase of the Encyclopedia of Domestic Economy. Of that general knowledge which gives no special advantage beyond what know- ledge always gives, we will take a few illustrative specimens, both scientific and practical. NATURE OF INDIA RUBBER.

Caoatchouc, or India rubber, (the latter name having been given to it from the application we have just alluded to,) is originally a white milky juice of certain trees or plants, found abundantly in the Brazils, and Quito, in South America, and also in several parts of Asia and Africa. The chief plants which produce it are Heves guianensis, Jatropha elastics, and Urceola elastics, but particularly the first. These plants grow so extensively in some places, that hundreds of miles are covered with them in a wild state; thus there is no fear of the material falling short of the demand. The juice is procured by making incisions in the tree. For a short time it continues liquid, but soon becomes solid by exposure to the air; and this is the condition in which we usually re- ceive it. The South American Indians prepare of it a variety of useful articles, as water-bottles, shoes, boots, &c., by making moulds of clay, and of the shapes required. These they fix to the orifice made in the stems of the trees, so as to permit the juice to flow out and cover them all over with a thin coat. In this state it is held over the fire to dry, and hence its black colour, from the smoke. When it is dry, it is covered with another coat of the juice, which is also dried, and so on, till sufficient thickness is obtained. The clay is then removed from the inside by breaking it into fine powder, or moistening it, and permitting it to pass out of the neck of the bottle. In this way are made the small India rubber bottles which we see in the shops.

PRIVILEGE OF THE SECOND TABLE.

Where the steward's table is yet extant in the houses of the nobility, the housekeeper and house-steward preside at it; and none of the domestics but lady's-maids, valets, butlers, and head-gardeners, are admitted to it. In the housekeeper's room, the same party take their breakfast, tea, and supper ; at the last of which the head nurse has a place, when she can leave the nursery without neglecting her charges.

ETIQUETTE OF THE COURTS BELOW.

In all large establishments of servants one rule invariably prevails : the men and women servants, during the intervals in their employments, are never allowed to sit together in the same room. Each, men and women, have their respective places of resort. At dinner and supper time only do tbey assemble together. This regulation it is the duty of both the steward and housekeeper to see observed, as experience has proved it to be favourable both to the morals of the individuals of establishments and to the proper fulfilment of each branch of household work.

To the housekeeper's room, lady's-maids repair for breakfast, tea, and supper, and at all other seasons of leisure. Here also butlers and valets are admitted to tea and breakfast, but not at other seasons. The still-room maid waits upon the housekeeper, and those in her room. The steward's or butler's room is the place of resort for the upper men- servants ; and in houses where a second table is still allowed, the dinners and suppers of the chief members of the establishment are served in the steward's room, the steward's boy waiting at table. The still-room, formerly the place in which waters of various kinds were distilled for domestic use, and where the housekeeper still prepares confectionery, and all the sweetmeats requisite for desserts, is also the place appropriated tik the use of the female servants who rank below lady's-maids. In this room they breakfast and have tea ; and to this room, after dining in the servant's hall, they withdraw ; and, under the superintendence of the housekeeper, the housemaids occupy themselves there in repairing or making the household linen.

The servant's hail, in which both men and maid servants have dinner and supper, is also the place to which all the men below the butler repair when disengaged from their several occupations. In this place, the kitchen-maid, and the boy who cleans the servants' knives and forks, wait at table. After each dinner and supper the parties separate, and adjourn, as above-mentioned, to the several places appointed for them.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LADY'S-MAIDS.

Her taste in dress should be cultivated, or she will be unable to judge of the effect which the tout ensemble of her lady's costume will have in the drawing-room. She should acquire a knowledge of the most agree- able combinations of colours, and of the effect these produce on different com- plexions. If she have also a ready perception of the proper set (to use a tech- nical expression) of each part of a lady's attire, and have the art of giving this effect or air to the dress of her employer, she may be regarded as a skilful tire- woman. It is this art which gives more style and elegance to dress than the costliness of the materials; it is the finishing-stroke, without which the chefs- d'oeuvre of the dressmaker and milliner would be incomplete : for the proper set in dress is usually more apparent in a Frenchwoman than in that of an Englishwoman, and thence the more frequent admiration of the dress of the one than of the other.

The use and mode of applying rouge and cosmetics should also be understood by the lady's-maid. CO lye, Mrs. Psases !]

In applying cosmetics, it is requisite that every. lady's-maid, as well as every lady, should know how far they are innocent or injurious. Ignorance of the nature of these external applications may be fatal, both to the complexion they are intended to improve, and to the health, the state of which has more effect upon the skin than any cosmetic whatever. It is probable that there are many situations as lady's-maid in which the use of cosmetics and rouge is unknown; but whenever they are employed, the knowledge here recommended should be acquired. (See " Business of the Toilet," Book XIX.)