This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1849 Excerpt: ...it is not an essential in housekeeping. You were so kind as to ask me to dine with you, which I shall do soon, and not unfrequently. But I must make conditions for my doing so on the strictest convention; and on this point I require it, as a duty and a kindness from you, that you comply with my terms, and consider them as binding:--"In the first place, as I am the very plainest of eaters, I must paction that, when I dine with you, I shall have only your plain pot-luck put before me--no variety. I invariably dine on a single meat dish. Now, here I am quite serious. As to puddings and pastry, I hate them; so never set down anything of the sort to me. If you like a little pudding yourselves, pray have it, but don"t press me to it. "Secondly, I shall give up dining with you, if I find that you invite friends to meet me,--unless we fix upon some specified days of exception, but such days must be rare and very few.... My dear young friends! consider that it is easier to begin a friendly dinnering system than to end it; and, for God"s sake, keep in view the dreadful eventuality of living beyond your means. Avoid, I conjure you, allowing social droppers-in to cross your threshold. This may seem cold-hearted counsel, but you will find it safe to follow it. I repeat my request, that I may always dine with you alone, except when we agree mutually to the contrary. "Thirdly, You may drink as much wine as you please, by yourselves, but you must not set wine before me; and here, also, I am quite serious--that is, I wish to see no wine set down before me, except when you have other company. Dr. Beattie persuaded me that I had contracted a liver complaint in Africa; and, in accordance with his advice, I abstained for several months from every beverage but whi... Это и многое другое вы найдете в книге Life and letters of Thomas Campbell Volume 3 (William Beattie)