nitary reform, recipes without number, well chosen moral tales, and information on rumerous domestic matters connected with furnishing, the cutting out and making of clothes, &c., &c. The paper is good, and the type clear and agreeable: in every respect "The Family Economist" may be considered a triumph, and a marvel of cheap literature.

THREE YEARS WITH THE DUKE; OR THE PRIVATE LIFE OF WELLINGTON AT PARIS VIENNA-WATERLOO. By an Ex Aide-deCAMP.-(Saunders and Otley.)-The above work will be read with the deepest interest, and we strongly recommend it to all classes as one that will quite repay them. No memoir of Wellington has given so good a description of the private life of the great warrior.

PROPOSED LONDON RAILWAY AND CENTRAL STATION. By P. M. Parsons, C. E., A.I.C.E. (W. S. Johnson, London.)-This is a gigantic scheme, brought forward with extraordinary care, information, and intelligence, and unlike most gigantic schemes, this one happens to be perfectly practicable, and will very soon

be an absolute necessity. The thriving spirit of the age will not be able to do without it. In a very few words Mr. Parsons' plan may be described as a grand net-work of communication between London and the suburbs, and with all the existing metropolitan railways both north and south of the Thames. The principal part of the railway will be carried along the banks of the river, and the central station will occupy about 18 acres of ground between Hungerford market and Whitehall. The total cost of the entire undertaking would be less than three millions, and the traffic would certainly be enormous. Within the compass of 20 pages Mr. Parsons has left no portion of the arguments both for and against voted to tables and estimates of the plans, workthe scheme untouched, and half his space is deings, outlay and profits, down to the minutest detail. The maps and drawings which accompany the letter-press are very elaborate, and show the great skill and attention with which the whole scheme has been studied. If it were brought into practical operation, the time and labour which it would save in the scramble of life would be of incalculable value.

other season.

THEATRES.

The aspect of a theatre, at this season of the year, possesses to every one who is not a misanthrope, a charm which it scarcely affords at any The Christmas holidays, extending with their usual India-rubber-like elasticity far beyond the space which they formerly embraced, present such a charming picture of a rosy, fairy, joyous audience in the boxes of the theatres, that one cannot help rejoicing when the entertainments they come to witness are such as the small visitors (but by no means dull critics) can really appreciate and enjoy.

Such is, indeed, pre-eminently the character of the burlesque of Leo the Terrible," now in course of representation at the Haymarket. The story, by Messrs. Talfourd and Stirling Coyne, takes us back to the days when animals could speak-as who that is learning Esop's or Gay's Fables doubts that they once could? and the performers being provided with heads to resemble those of the creatures they profess to represent, there is quite sufficient vraisemblance to charm the little visitors and amuse the elder ones. In the Haymarket fable, Isegrim, the Wolf (Mr. Buckstone), having demanded the hand of the Lion's daughter (Miss Rosa Bennett), is refused by the royal animal, (whose part was enacted by Mr. J. Bland); but after various chances and changes is compelled to yield her, Isegrim proving immortal, and leading his hordes on against his enemies, even after being deprived of his head. Mrs. L. S. Buckingham, as a dashing young yachter, takes a prominent part in the burlesque; and Keeley,

as a naval potboy, is drollery itself. Finally the characters regain their human faces, and the piece terminates, according to the good old rule, Faces" continues popular as ever. with a very effective tableau. "Masks and

duced for the first time during several years, At the Adelphi, a pantomime has been introand Nell Gywnne and the Merrie Monarch form the subjects of it. It is extremely well got up, the transformations being managed excelnettle, which, bursting into a splendid car, dislently. Among them we may notice a stingingcloses the Demon Chief, Scorpino, with his Sprites, Malice, Hatred, Calumny, and Scandal, who are bent on injuring Nell and her royal lover. The various adventures of the King (nicknamed Rowley) and the orange girl are very amusing, and were received with thorough le Barr as a Sprite were truly wonderful; and holiday enthusiasm. The performances of M. the dancing of Harlequin and Columbine (Mr. character of the house. Bologna and Miss Mitcheson) maintained the

the first piece. The house is crammed every night, and the applause with which the pantomime is received is both loud and long.

"Uncle Tom's Cabin" still continues to be

ing-room or spare-room, and important above THE GENTLEMAN'S ROOM.-Far beyond drawalmost every other arrangement in your domestic establishment, is the consecration of one room to the especial use of the master of the house, should his pursuits be such as to render occasional solitude

and quiet needful, or merely pleasurable to him. A sound and a lovely policy is that which secures to a husband, in his own family, certain privileges and comforts that he can never find elsewhere, and that are calculated to counterbalance the weight of the many other attractions which his immediate circle cannot offer. A room to himself-a home within his home-is such a privilege, and few sacrifices are too great, if they may procure it for him; few advantages are great enough, if they must take it from him; it will keep him from clubs and card parties abroad, or from being "always about" at home; it

The expense to which people go at present for dress is perfectly astonishing; the materials are magnificent; brocades, gold and silver tissues, gold and silver leaves in the coiffures, and the immense quantity of trimmings, make the toilette a most expensive affair.

And this is not merely for going to Court, which one could understand, but for the balls and soirées of general society this style of dress is adopted by all who can afford it, and perhaps also by those who cannot; the only resource for the prudent is to take refuge in extreme simplicity; and this is not so difficult as some may imagine.

Fortunately for des demoiselles, simplicity is not merely permitted, but positively de rigueur in France, though foreigners are allowed more latitude than the inhabitants. Almost all the gowns now are made with flounces; double skirts are still worn; sometimes small ruches of ribbon are placed between the flounces; nothing can be prettier than the gowns of tulle, with flounces bordered with several rows of narrow satin ribbon: this kind of trimming produces a great effect, and is not very expensive-it looks youthful and fresh.

For young ladies, the style of dress is very simple: gowns in muslin, or in white tarlatane, gauze, or in light-coloured plain taffetas. In the way of trimmings, the bands of velvet decoupées, which I described in my last letter, are generally adopted.

In artificial flowers for evening parties, and balls,

violets are the favourite flowers. This is in compliment to the Emperor; unfortunately, they lose very much by night; in order to relieve them the foliage is sometimes in gold; and purple, grey, and white violets are grouped together; occasionally you see them made in velvet; but though rich and beautiful in themselves, they are not becoming, nor suited to evening dress.

Corsages are still made with revers, ornamented with ribbons; this mode, though by no means new, has the advantage of being becoming to many per

FEBRUARY.

sons, which is a good reason for its having lasted so long. Gilets have not lost their vogue; with robes de funtaisie in light-coloured silks I have seen some of black velvet, which looked very well. In spite of the grace and elegance of the sleeves of the time of Louis XV., bouffantes sleeves, or manches à ballon, as they are called, are coming into fashion; these sleeves, which are made tight from the elbow, finish where the bracelet comes, just above the manchettes. Already these sleeves are being adopted by some of our elegantes.

Here is a description of a dinner-dress, which I think you cannot fail to adinire: it consists of black moire, trimmed with velvet and with black lace; the corsage is decolleté, made en cœur in front, and rounded behind, with rather a long point; a berthe of velvet forms the point in front, and which becomes wider on the shoulders, where it is divided slightly, with the edges rounded; this berthe is continued behind rounded, and encadré with a narrow black lace; the lower part of the corsage is formed of a false basquine, which takes the hips and forms a point, disappearing in that of the corsage. The skirt is very full; the trimming of it consists of twelve large leaves of velours decoupées sewed on the moire, and surrounded with a

narrow lace.

The sleeve is about nine inches long, rather large, and open all the way; it is ornamented all round with velvet leaves, smaller than those on the skirt j white moire, the second of which passes the elbow, the under-sleeve is made of two large bouillons of and is finished by a handsome black lace à dents. The waists are very little, if at all shorter. There is no change in the mode for bonnets; those in plush, which imitate beaver, have not so much vogue as had been expected.

One of the latest inventions for trimmings of ball dresses and for coiffures, is the mixture of real foliage with artificial flowers; the leaves of the lilac, the rose, the lily of the valley, and the beautiful camellia, produce a charming effect.

CONSERVATORY.

Every week will add fresh attractions to this structure. The Chinese Azalea will become more

plentiful, and, as a contrast to these, the various forms of the Acacia will come prominently forward, while Hyacinths and other bulbs, which before the new year usually present very short stems, will now show their full-sized blooms, supported the proper height above the pot or other article it may be growing in; while several species of the Cytisus and Coronilla will vie with the Camellia in the display they make. Certainly they cannot equal the handsome foliage and gay colours of the latter flower, but they all tend to the general blaze of beauty which the early spring months treat us to. If the house admits of a choice of station, let the stove plants have the warmest end; the Begonias and other plants from them will be too tender to endure a temperature below 45 degrees; consequently the house must be kept up to that height if there be any important plants of the above section there. Water will have to be more freely administered, and byand-by some slight syringing of the foliage of Orange and other trees when not in flower. The aphides, which breed so rapidly when there is a warm congenial atmosphere and suitable food, for which the tender young shoots of the Orange form a ready and agreeable repast-whenever these pests show themselves, fumigating with tobacco must be had recourse to, and, as the season advances, this must be frequently done, otherwise much injury will be caused. Remove from this house all plants becoming unsightly, and replace them by others coming into bloom in the other structures subsidiary to this one; and maintain that neat, clean appearance, which is in itself no bad substitute for floral display. Fires will be constantly wanted now, and admissions of air on all favourable occasions, in order that the interior may be kept as pure as possible; at the same time avoiding all cold currents, which the tender foliage of many of the occupants here will be unable to bear. Water sparingly in dull weather, except over the heating places, but let nothing suffer for want of it; and New Holland plants in pots require a good deal of water even in winter.

MRS. NEWTON CROSLAND.

modified by placing iron trays, pans, or boxes, on its top, to be filled with water; even a series of flower-pans may do as well as anything, the object being to have a large surface of water for the heated air to act on. Fermenting matter inside the house is also useful, and many other contrivances may be adopted with more or less success. See to vines full exposure, unless in very severe weather, which that are intended for the last crop; let them have seems unlikely to come. Let all, however, that are be done in the wet days we have been so liberally empty have a thorough good cleaning, which may treated with lately. Vines in pots will require water as they progress in growth, and occasionally liquid manure may be applied in a clean state.

FRAMING DEPARTMENT.

In dull weather everything must be done to prevent the ravages of damp destroying young seedlings where the heat supplied is from dung or similar fermenting matter. Keeping the glass perfectly clean, having the inside of the frame, especially the under-side of the lights, smooth and clean, so as to allow the condensed vapour to flow evenly down the bars to the bottom, and thence out, will prevent drip in a great measure, which is one of the greatest enemies we have to tender seedling plants from tropical climes. Keep up a lively heat by lining, to such Cucumbers and Melons as were planted out some time ago, and are now progressing, and turn and prepare dung and leaves for making fresh beds, as well as soil and compost for the same; the latter ought to be kept in the dry, and ought to be taken there some time before using-in fact, all composts for the potting-bench or hotbeds ought to be kept in winter in some airy place, where the wind-and it might be the frost-might have access to them, but not the wet. Make up fresh beds for such aftercrops as require attention now, and put in a succession of French Beans to second those now advancing -about four seeds in a 9-inch pot is sufficient; or they may be struck all together in a pan or box, and planted out into pots afterwards when they get their first rough leaf. Sew pans of Celery for early use, and where there is convenience of glass a slight bed might be made up for Carrots, and other crops wanted early, which, though not often allowed the luxury of a glass covering, are yet nevertheless much

benefited by it.

STORE PITS.

In these we suppose the most of flower garden plants to have been stowed away, and although we are all aware of the destructive effects of damp, we seldom allow ourselves to think that the absence of water is sometimes nearly as fatal even at this untoward season. Plants potbound early in autumn,