A new system of practical domestic economy.

Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new system of practical domestic economy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    420/508 (page 404)
    OBSERVATIONS. It is obvious that the scales of living given in this and the two preceding Estimates are more immediately ap- plicable to persons residing in the country, than to those in the metropolis. We beg leave, however, to impress strongly on the minds of all, and particularly of those who live in London, (to whom many eligible opportuni- ties are presented for Jiving within bounds) that frugality and a steady adherence to the rule of government laid down in this and the foregoing Estimates are necessary; and it is a maxim universally admitted, that “ he who does not early learn to manage a little, will never be able to do with a great deal.” In proportion as the income increases, some trivial demands will naturally arise, even beyond those enu- merated in the several items before us; in which case, a reduction to the amount thereof must be made in such articles as will best bear it; as we consider that it would be highly imprudent to go beyond the net sum proposed to be expended, in any case, unless it be one of absolute necessity. To H. H. of the Isle of Wight we are much indebted; his whole letter is highly satisfactory, as it corroborates and illustrates our system, and affords much practical in- formation. Such a document speaks whole volumes, and we regret that we are not at liberty to insert it. This gentleman is an officer on half pay, which is 4s. per diem, and produces him exactly 701. per annum, exclusive of agency, &c. His family consists of himself, his wife, two children, and a maid-servant. The account was kept for six months, when the youngest child was frrm twelve to eighteen months old, and the other a girl about five years of age, who is half her time at school, as a weekly boarder; these children, and the servant, who is an adult, he considers as equivalent, in the computation, to three children. When his memorandums were made, he had not seen these Estimates, but kept the account