PREEACE. 



TT is an aphorism of Brillat Sl,variii, the intelligeni; writei 

 on the pleasures of the palate, that in inviting a person 

 to your house, his comfort and happiness are in your hands so 

 long as he remains under your roof. No Englishman, unless 

 he is undeserving of the hospitable character our nation pos- 

 sesses, win hesitate to indorse the Frenchman's nreoept, and 

 carry out with all earnestness the duties of a generous host, 

 The admission made, that we ought to care for the well-being 

 of our equals who are with us as visitors only, and for a short 

 space of time, it wiU easily be allowed that to the humbler 

 creatures who are to pass their lives with us, we are Sound to 

 be so much the more attentive, kind, and indulgent. For no 

 one, upon whose cranium the bump of benevolence asserts 

 itself ever so modestly, will deny that we should be at least 

 as watchful to supply the wants of the little chirping chicken, 

 or the blind kitten, as to see that our human guest has his 

 hot water and slippers at the proper momert. 



Believing that an acquaintance with the characters of those 

 you entertain is necessary to your fulfilling, with the happiest 

 effect, your devoir as host or keejDer, we have, in this volume, 

 not contented ourselves with writing bare instructions as to 

 the practical treatment of the moulting hen or distempered 



