As the axe of reform is just laid to the watching system of London, we may profit by the example of our Northern brethren; for it appears, they not only watch over the temporal, but spiritual concerns of their citizens, and it should seem, with salutary effect:  but the vespers and matins, of a watchman in England, would meet with many unholy interruptions.

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SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

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LONDON CLUB-HOUSES.

Club-houses are by no means a new invention; and yet the improvements upon the old plan, which was itself an improvement upon the former coffee-house, is sufficiently interesting, and sufficiently unknown to the people in general, to render some account of their advantages not superfluous.  The modern club is a tavern and newsroom, where the members are both guests and landlord.  The capital is derived from a sum paid by each member on entrance, and the general annual expenses, such as house-rent, servants, &c. are defrayed by an annual subscription.  The society elects a committee for its execution and government, and meets at stated intervals for legislative measures.  The committee appoint a steward to manage its affairs, and a secretary to keep the accounts, to take minutes of the proceedings of meetings, and transact the business of correspondence.  The domestic servants are placed under the immediate direction of the steward; but above all in the choice of a cook, the discretion of the committee is most especially exerted.  A house being thus established where the society is at home, the rooms are thrown open for their various accommodation.  In the apartments destined for eating, members may breakfast, lunch, dine, and sup, as they list; a bill of fare of great variety is prepared; and the gourmand has nothing more to do than to study its contents, and write the names of the dishes he desires on a bill prepared for the purpose; to mention whether he orders dinner for himself alone, or in company with others; and at what time he chooses to dine, whether immediately, or at some subsequent hour.  At the close of his dinner this bill or demand is presented to him with the prices annexed, and prompt payment is the law.

Wine is bottled in quarts, pints, and even half-pints, and may be had at some institutions even in glasses:  it is not needless to observe, moreover, that there is no necessity either of fashion or regulation to drink it at all.  At an inn, a bottle of wine must be ordered for the “good of the house,” that the waiter may not despise you and be surly:  that, in short, the guest may be tolerably accommodated in other matters; although, perhaps, the wine itself (wretched stuff generally at inns) is his abhorrence—­though he may never drink any thing but water, and may send the decanter away untouched—­the tax must be paid.  Besides this entertainment for the grosser