1827.J Letter on Affairs in genera* 30 1 



Bar. It would be thought very strange in England if we were to designate 

 every man by his calling : and direct two penny-post letters to " Tailor 

 Weston!" " Barber Truefit!" " Perfumer Gattie!" &c. &c. It seems to 

 be a sort of insane appetite craving for imaginary distinctions the straw 

 crown of the naked Emperor of Bedlam. But I'll consider of it more 

 maturely, and take up the subject at some other time. 



Talking of Insanity I am very curious to know what the Coroner's 

 verdict will be in the case of the Coffee-man in Smithfield, that killed him- 

 self (because he was out argued about political economy,) with his carving 

 knife. I think it must be " Insanity. The man had probably been 

 mad for some time, and it had not been perceived. I recollect a commis- 

 sion upon the case of a gentleman who was a considerable epicure ; and 

 whose first symptom of insanity had been the eating some cold Fricandeau 

 at a public dinner. A friend who was a man of observation -had 

 noticed the fact, notwithstanding its apparent slightness ; and the Jury 

 found the lunacy commencing from that day. The theory of mind, and 

 its operations, are abstruse, and little understood ! 



The Morning Herald newspaper, a few days back, tells the following 

 story, under the title of HONESTY REWARDED. " A young girl, who keeps 

 a stand at the Bazaar, in Soho-square, found a 20 note on the ground 

 some time back ; and, according to the rule of the house, carried it imme- 

 diately to Mr. Hopkinson, the steward. Notices were put up of the money 

 having been discovered, but no claimant appeared ; and, a few days since, 

 six months having expired since the youg woman found the note, Mr. Hop- 

 kinson returned it to her /" This is a very praiseworthy arrangement on 

 the part of the keeper of the Bazaar; but, for the 4< Reward " it is some- 

 thing like " Rewarding " a man, by giving him two farthings for a half- 

 penny. 



Johnson, the celebrated informer, is plaguing the pawnbrokers unmerci- 

 fully just now. The position of the pawnbroker is an offence. His trade 

 implies that he has money to lend ; for which all who are like to be 

 borrowers naturally hate him. But in general, informers are so detested 

 by the English, that I have often thought it would be curious matter of 

 inquiry where such a man as Johnson or the common hangman any 

 body whose sight would be abhorrent to all the world, and who could not 

 easily conceal his real character (one would think) could live? Now the 

 hangman, on consideration, has his natural gite his home is the prison. 

 But still I cannot conceive where a man who is known as a common in- 

 former contrives to live ; and I dare say there is some very cunning and 

 peculiar arrangement connected with it. 



The third volume of M. le Comte de Chabrol's " Recherches Statis- 

 tiques^ contains some curious information as to the arrangements of the 

 city of Paris. The following points are collected from the chapter upon 

 " Burials." 



The funerals of Paris are all performed, most people are aware, by a 

 Licensed company ; a privileged body of undertakers, who enjoy a mono- 

 poly of the trade, and account to (Government for a share of their profits. 

 The charges of these people, however, are regulated, and they have six 

 different scales of magnificence for funeruls ; above the highest of which, 

 or under the lowest, nobody can go ; the price of each being fixed by 

 Government, and liable to no variation. It is curious to observe-^-according 

 to M. de Chabrol's tables how the comparative average of burials stands, 

 with reference to the different characters pr degrees of price. 



