for eating; to which is added a new song on that barbarous and bloody murder."

238. AN ACCOUNT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S INTENTION FOR THE FINAL EXTIRPATION OF THE BLACK-STOOL OF REPENTANCE AND THE SACKCLOTH GOWN OUT OF THE KIRKS OF SCOTLAND: proposing a new and easy method of punishing sporting ladies. 12mo. Printed in the year 1776. The Stool of Repentance was an ecclesiastical engine, of Popish extraction, for the punishment of immoralities, whereby the delinquent publicly took shame to himself, and received a solemn reprimand from the minister of the parish. The present tract is in verse, and although curious, will scarcely bear a quotation. It concludes with "Maggy Beath's verdict of the original, and the dangerous tendency of the black-stool and sackcloth gown, giving an account how narrowly she escaped them, and her earnest desire to have them burnt."

239. THE CUPBOARD DOOR OPEN'D, OR JOYFUL NEWS FOR APPRENTICES AND SERVANT MAIDS, being a merry dialogue that passed between a master and mistress concerning locking the cupboard door. 8vo. Aldermary Churchyard, n.d. A metrical dialogue, and apparently of some antiquity. The following is one of the husband's speeches: Yes, yes, much good may do them with their meat; I never care how fast my servants eat:

Speedy at victuals, quick at work, an old
Proverbial saying, we have oft been told,
I've found it true, and therefore do not grudge
Their eating nimble, tho' 'tis e'er so much.

I'll warrant you'd have them loyter at meals,
Feed like sick patients dieted by quacks,
And look like hide-bound tits that carry packs:
Work, too, like those that raise the wooden walls
Of the king's ship, or lazy rogues in Paul's.
No, no, my master's method I'll pursue,

That feeds them well, and makes 'em work so too;
For he that stints his servants in their food
Makes the bad worse and irritates the good;
That what he thinks he saves they cast away,
And make their pinch-gut money pay.

240. A CHOICE AND DIVERTING DIALOGUE BETWEEN HUGHSON, THE COBLER, AND MARGERY, HIS WIFE, which happened about twelve o'clock, at his arrival home from the ale-house. Aldermary Churchyard, n.d.

Wife. So you old sot, is this an hour

To be heard rapping at your door?

Must all the neighbours break their rest
To humour you, a drunken beast?
Is't not a shame at twelve o'clock
To rise me starving in my smock?
Well may I cough, you ugly cur,

Like an old grannum of fourscore,

When I'm thus forc'd to come down barefoot,

From my warm bed to the stair-foot.

Husband. You maundering devil, hold thy tongue,
Next time I'll tarry all night long,
If you can't open the door without
All this confounded noisy rout:
What's that to you how long I stay;
My time's my own by night or day,
And as I please will always use it,
When I've a fancy to abuse it.
Therefore go up to bed I bid you,

Lest something worse than words betide you;

8vo.

For you shall get more good by holding
Your rattle, then by all your scolding, &c.

241. A NEW AND DIVERTING DIALOGUE, BOTH SERIOUS AND COMICAL, THAT PASSED THE OTHER DAY BETWEEN A NOTED SHOEMAKER AND HIS WIFE LIVING IN THIS NEIGHBOURHOOD: taken down in short-hand by a nimble penman, one of his boon companions. 8vo. Bow Churchyard, n.d. Husband. Good wife, be pacified; don't expose yourself and me before company. These are all my customers: I work for them daily, and they help me to business.

Wife. Out, you silly oaf! They'll speak you fair whilst you treat them, and laugh in their sleaves at your folly when they leave you.

Husband. Pray, wife, sit down; we'll have but one pot more. It was Robin, Tom, and Harry brought me here, to spend three farthings a-piece, and so away.

Wife. A curse on them and you together! those pretences have ruin'd many families :

Three farthings is the challenge of many an idle sot, Till thrice three shillings will scarcely pay the shot. Husband. Pray, my dear, be good-natured: the landlord and landlady are civil obliging people.

Wife. The de'il give them thanks for their civility, if they give you fine words for your good money. Do but ask them to trust you, and see how they'll change their looks, and their tone too.

THE END.