"We have certainly arrived to great perfection, my dear," said Mr. Durnford, "both in the manufacture of our China, and in the art of painting it, but you must allow me to give the preference to that which is imported from foreign states. Their earth is far superior to ours, so are their colours. Shew me any of our own that can boast the vivid glow of theirs. However we are greatly indebted to Mr. Wedgewood, who was the first to introduce that superior sort of ware, which for neatness and elegance is certainly unrivalled. Painting upon China is become one of the fashionable amusements, like painting upon velvet, but I trust that it will never become so common, as to injure those who get their living by the produce of their industrious exertions." "Mamma," cried Theodore, "look at that lady who is bargaining for a flaxen wig. How anxious she seems to have the opinion of the HAIR MERCHANT, [Illustration: _Hair Merchant_] which will best suit her complexion. Where does all that hair come from which is to be seen in the shops of the metropolis?" "The dark hair is imported from Germany and France, while the beautiful flaxen ringlets of various shades is brought over from the North. We import a vast quantity, as our own country would afford us but little. The hair of horses, besides many other purposes that it is applied to, such as stuffing furniture and saddles, is woven into those coverings for chairs and sofas, that are so durable and look like black satin. Nay, I have seen very lately, the hair of a horse adorn the helmets of our gallant warriors." The next counter was occupied by a SHOE MAKER, [Illustration: _Shoe Maker_ _Published Feb^y 1, 1815, by J. Harris, corner of S^t. Pauls._] where a genteel looking woman was trying on a pair of shoes for her little baby. "Shoes," said Mr. Durnford, "are made of various materials, such as satin, silk, stuff, kid, Spanish leather, seal skin, and morocco. The latter comes from a place in Africa of that name, but we imitate it ourselves, and not badly. The hide of cattle serves for the soles. The silk you know is the produce of the Southern climates, and comes from the silk worm. Vast quantities of raw silk are imported here from Italy and different parts, as well as velvet, of which again we have an imitation. You understand, my children, that our imitations of foreign manufactures come considerably lower than those which we import. Shoe making has also become one of the amusements of the fashionable world, but it gives me infinite pleasure to know that your mother has never adopted this fashion, which, like many others must tend to injure the interests of the industrious tradesman." Their attention was now awakened by a violent scream, which proceeded from a young lady, who, with her brother, was standing at the counter of a GUN SMITH.