Perhaps this query might be preceded by general information as to who the particular "_bonne femme_" (for she must have been a very particular _bonne femme_) was to whom so many dishes are dedicated. [In the Scotch McCookery books, _Broth o' the gude-wife_ would be a national name.] _Answer_.--To make _Eggs à la Bonne Femme_, Mrs. DE SALIS says, "Get as many eggs as there are guests (they should all be the same size)--" Now this is a difficulty. It is not an easy matter to assemble round your table a party of guests "all the same size:" still more difficult is it to get together a lot of eggs all the same size as the guests. But, when this has been got over, read the remainder at p. 55, and then, as _Squeers's_ pupils used to have to do, go and reduce the teaching to practice. The receipt for _Potatoes à la Lyonnaise_ begins with, "Mince an onion, and fry it in hot butter"--O rare! Why do more? Who wants potatoes after this? And, when you've had quite enough of it, smoke a pipe, drink a glass of whiskey-and-water, go to an evening party, and then, if you won't be one of the most remarkable advertisements for _cette bonne femme_ Madame DE SALIS, why I don't live in Baronion Halls, and my name's no longer THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS. P.S.--So many persons have sent in touching requests to the Baron only to notice their books with one little word, that his library table groans under their weight. To about a hundred of them that one little word might be "Bosh!"--but even then they'd be pleased. * * * * * THE NEW STOCKING. [The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER has announced that the Treasury have decided to enable the small investor in Consols, upon a written request to the Bank of England, to have his dividends re-invested as they arise, and thus automatically accumulated without further trouble on his part.--_Times_.] Oh, it was the old Lady of Threadneedle Street, And she held up her Stocking (ne'er used for her feet), And she ups, and says she, "I've an excellent notion; Leastways, 'tis one borrowed from COHEN by GOSCHEN; Which nobody can deny! "The cash that you put in my Stocking, my dears, Will grow by degrees, if you leave it for years. By your dividends? Ah! you draw _them_, girls and boys, And spend 'em, the _Times_ says, in sweets and in toys; Which nobody can deny! "How very much better to let 'em remain; Re-invest 'em, in fact! An original brain Has hit on that capital notion, at length, And I'm game for to back him with all my old strength, Which nobody can deny! "Leave your dividends in my--suppose we say hose-- And the cash, snowball-like, gathers fast as it goes. So my--Stocking (I _must_ use the word) will be seen, The latest and best Automatic Machine, Which nobody can deny!