Chair, in general, an article of furniture contrived for the pur-pose of relieving the lower extre-mities from the incumbent weight of the body.

Chairs have been held in great estimation, in all ages and coun-tries. But, instead of recording the flying chairs of the heathen gods and goddesses, or those great arm chairs in which, , according to ancient custom, the successful can-didates, after election, are carried through towns, by certain corporations in England, we shall confine our account to the plain house-chair. — This useful contrivance, for which we are occasionally ridi-culed by the more luxurious Ori-entals, consists, generally, of a square basis, supported by four posts, or legs. Although we are no advocates for innovation, and the quadrangular form appears to be the most eligible for strength and steadiness, yet, in this instance, we venture to pronounce that it is not the most proper.

Square seats are liable to many objections, when considered with respect to their influence on the health of the aged, infirm, and especially persons afflicted with the piles, or troubled with asca-rides. For these, a round, or blunt, triangular form of a chair, resembling the shape of a saddle, would be far preferable, and more conducive to the alleviation of their complaints. The reason is ob-vious ; because the thighs and legs, when compressed, occasion an ad-ditional irritation, on a part which is already in a preternatural state of excitement, or, perhaps, subject to chronic inflammation, as is fre-quently the case in the hemor-rhoids. Nor do we advise those patients to accustom themselves to rest upon very soft cushions, or pillows, except such as are tightly stuffed with horse-hair, dry mosses, or chaff. Hence we are of opinion, that the studious, and all those who are engaged in seden-tary employments, if they regard their health and convenience, should employ either round, wooden chairs, slightly concave, or such as we have before tured to suggest.

A Patent, we understand, has lately been granted to Mr. Butler, of Catherine-street, Strand, for his invention of a chair-bed, of peculiar construction: but, as we have not been favoured with its specification, we cannot com-municate farther particulars.

Sedan-Chairs are vehicles, supported by poles, for carrying single persons, at short distances in town; and borne by two men. Their number in the metropolis, allowed by act of parliament, is four hundred ; and the fare to which the chairmen are legally entitled, ought not to exceed two-thirds of the rate fixed for a hack-ney-coach, driven to the same dis-tance. See 9 Ann, c. 23, sec. 8 ; also 10Ann, c. 10; and 12 Geo. I. c. 12.