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Prospects of Suicide." In other cases there seems a waggish allusion which will be more easily forgiven. It is to this frolick some disposal of Fortune's favours that we must ascribe so many duplicates of Teniers' Larder," "The Kitchen,” "The Smokers," "The Topers," &c. which have been very liberally dispersed among the members of the Corporation; although some have been better pleased with

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Whittington and his Cat," "The Industrious Apprentice," and "The Roast Beef of Old England."

But, in the distribution of so many thousand articles of this kind, we are not to wonder if many persons complain that Dame Fortune has made her usual mistake, in sending them what they did not want, and in disappointing them in their fondest wishes. The clamours of these ladies and gentlemen were to be heard in every company for some weeks, until an ingenious dealer in prints in the West end of the town gave public notice that he would, on certain easy terms, exchange their lots for other prints from his own collection which they might prefer. The success of this scheme corresponded with its wisdom and liberality: all the mal-contents flocked to the shop, and endeavoured, however difficult the attempt, to

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please themselves. Curiosity, or rather the duty of my profession, led me to attend this contrivance for correcting the blunders, and rectifying the judgment of Dame Fortune; and I must confess I was frequently struck with the whimsical exchange which some of the parties thought proper to make. In a few instances they appeared to understand their own characters rather better than the fickle goddess. Some, for instance, who had " Conjugal Felicity," were bartering it for "The inside of a Stable;" and others, to whom Messrs. Boydell had given Simplicity" and "Meditation," were wonderfully eager to exchange them for "The Rake's Progress" and "The Race-ground at Newmarket." One grave-looking gentleman, who, I was told, was a member of parliament for a Cornish borough, slyly unfolded "Contentment and Independence," and begged to have a "Perspective of the Treasury in St. James's park ;” while another very eloquent member of the Opposition, who had got Patience and Hope," complained that the impressions were worn out, and too long for the only frame he had, and begged to have a proof of the "Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes."

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But what vexed me most was the strange caprice displayed in the exchange of portraits.

Some very pious prelates were given up for foxhunters and noted game-keepers; learned judges were exchanged for jockies and bloodhorses; and not a few wealthy merchants and patriotic citizens were bartered for players, dancers, and opera-singers. The clergy, however, acted with a prudence highly characteristic, and pregnant with foresight. Those of them who had got the "Welch Curate" exchanged it for the "Rectory-house;" and those who had the "Rectory-house" generally commuted it either for a view of the "Deanry" or "The elevation of a Cathedral;" and some wished to have "A View of Lambeth from the top of the House of Lords," which, I think, shewed that their taste was not confined. general, indeed, I observed, much to the honour of their predilection for Gothic architecture, that they uniformly esteemed the outside of the oldest Cathedral more ornamental than the inside of the newest Church.

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With respect to many country gentlemen of good families and great estates, I was sorry to witness an eagerness to exchange "The Farmyard" for "The Drawing-room;" and some even gave the fine print of "The happy Peasants" for the disgusting subject of the “Welch Main at the Cockpit." Military gentlemen, I

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know not why, but I hope it is a sign of peace, seemed very generally tired of " War's alarms." Several Volunteer officers exchanged Foote's "Major Sturgeon" for "Views of the Royal Exchange ;" and not a few Officers of the Line were glad to procure "Country seats" in lieu of "Battle pieces."

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In general there appeared but little taste for Scripture-prints. Holy Families" were in no repute. "The Woman taken in Adultery,” however, seemed to suit some gentlemen; and the "Golden Calf" was too great a favourite to be parted with. I may also mention that the large print of "Ananias and Sapphira," which fell to the lot of one of the commissioners of income, has been by him hung up in the office of appeals.

But while this ingenious course of exchange is going on, it has been announced that persons who, by accident, have got duplicate prints may have them exchanged from the proprietor's vast collection. This will, no doubt, afford another opportunity of displaying characteristic taste; as the display, however, will not be publick, I shall not have it in my power to entertain my readers with the result. All I know is, that many persons have got more "Innocence," Temperance," and "Domestic Happiness,"

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than they incline to keep; and I am sadly afraid the worthy Alderman mistook the taste of the times very much, in wishing to give the publick so many excellent impressions of " Conjugal Felicity."

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As I observe that you sometimes interrupt your own lucubrations by complying with the wishes of certain correspondents, I hope you will admit this short epistle from one who is a constant reader, but not vain enough to think he can be an assistant in

portant degree.

any very im

"Happening, a few days ago, to look into the

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