To a people who dwell so much in their homes as the English, any information which can tend to make those seats of domestic life happier, more comfortable, brighter, and more attractive, should be welcome; and that it is so, the success of most of the popular home literature bears evidence.

There are numerous works on the subject of housekeeping, but every day modern Science adds to our knowledge of facts tending to improve domestic comfort, and to promote health. Lectures on cookery, schools for instruction in it, the Food Gallery of the South Kensington Museum, offer us a surprising amount of information as to the most nourishing diet and the best mode of preparing it; while the secrets of chemistry and the principles of art and of good taste are placed freely before us, to assist us in cleansing and adorning our dwellings. To gather up some crumbs from this banquet of knowledge has been our endeavour in this volume, which, though not exclusively designed for the mistress of the household (the stable-yard, etc. being exceptions) will still, we trust, prove most acceptable to those in whom the "rightful sway and due supremacy" of home is centred - the "housemother," as the Germans expressively style her.

It is not too much to say that the welfare - present and future - of the family depends chiefly on the manner in which the Mother sways the domestic sceptre. Freedom from painful pecuniary anxieties, comfort, health, peace, and joy all depend mainly on her wise use of the power entrusted to her. Even future generations may be influenced for good by her care, or for evil by her indolence and neglect. For executing so great a trust, knowledge is imperatively necessary. The tenderest and best-meaning ignorance often injures where it would fain serve; and modern education has been somewhat to blame in not blending more of domestic training with the accomplishments which would well harmonize with it. Artistic taste has a wide field for its exercise in the home, and music is one of its best relaxations; the arts need not be abandoned for the scientific knowledge which is so important, nor for household duties, which when well and regularly performed occupy no great deal of time. We believe, as education takes a higher and more thorough tone, domestic knowledge will advance with it.

Every little aid which can be given on the subject should meantime be afforded; and it is in order to add our mite to the general attempt in this direction that we have collected from many sources, and gathered from the memoranda of old families numerous recipes for domestic needs, and have also attempted to offer some popular hints on Science in its connexion with daily life, and on the constituents of the food which supports our existence. To give the analysis of every article of it was not possible in a volume of this size, containing so much also of other matter; we have contented ourselves, therefore, with presenting a general idea of the constituents of animal and vegetable substances, to guide the housekeeper in judiciously assorting the materials which spread her table.

The article on the Dairy is from the pen of a writer practically and thoroughly acquainted with the subject; the same may be said of those on the Stable-yard and Poultry-yard.

The prescriptions for slight family ailments; the hints of what should be done in case of accidents or poisoning; the articles on ventilation, the sick room, climate, sleep, diet in relation to disease, etc. etc., have been contributed by a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, and may therefore be entirely relied on.

Neither have we forgotten the speechless (we cannot say mute) friends who often share our dwellings; some knowledge of their ways and wants cannot fail to be useful, and the experience of the accomplished writer on Domestic Pets assures the excellence of her instructions.

One thought has forcibly presented itself to the Editors mind while she has been occupied with her task, - namely, how wonderfully the wisdom and goodness of the Creator are displayed in the system by which all his creatures are fed; and by the adaptation of different kinds of food to their need and comfort. How marvellous is that great chain of being by which animals depend on vegetation for existence; man on animals with vegetation, and vegetation itself on the breath of animal life; - all in the first place nourished by the bounteous earth, and her mantle of air - for the analysis of food might go far deeper than the constituents given in our tables, and be traced back to the gases themselves.

We believe that even so superficial and popular a sketch as we have given of this subject - we trust it may lead to real study of the matter -can scarcely fail to impress the mind with awe, and gratitude to Him who "openeth His hand and filleth all things living with plenteousness".