The charity of the club, is also extended beyond the grave, and terminates with a present to the widow.

The philosophers tell us, “There is no good without its kindred evil.”  This amiable body of men, therefore, marshalled to expel disease, hath one small alloy, and perhaps but one.  As liquor and labour are inseparable, the imprudent member is apt to forget to quit the club room when he has spent his necessary two-pence, but continues there to the injury of his family.

Another of these institutions is the rent club, where, from the weekly sums deposited by the members, a sop is regularly served up twice a year, to prevent the growlings of a landlord.

In the breeches club every member ballots for a pair, value a guinea, promised of more value by the maker.  This club dissolves when all the members are served.

The intentions of the book club are well known, to catch the productions of the press as they rise.

The watch club has generally a watchmaker for its president, is composed of young men, and is always temporary.

If a taylor be short of employment, he has only to consult a landlord over a bottle, who, by their joint powers, can give birth to a cloaths club; where every member is supplied with a suit to his taste, of a stipulated price.  These are chiefly composed of batchelors, who wish to shine in the eye of the fair.

Thus a bricklayer stands at the head of the building club, where every member perhaps subscribes two guineas per month, and each house, value about one hundred pounds, is balloted for, as soon as erected.  As a house is a weighty concern, every member is obliged to produce two bondsmen for the performance of covenants.

I will venture to pronounce another the capital club, for when the contributions amount to 50_l_. the members ballot for this capital, to bring into business:  Here also securities are necessary.  It is easy to conceive the two last clubs are extremely beneficial to building and to commerce.

The last I shall enumerate is the clock club:  When the weekly deposits of the members amount to about 4_l_. they call lots who shall be first served with a clock of that value, and continue the same method till the whole club is supplied; after which, the clockmaker and landlord cast about for another set, who are chiefly composed of young house-keepers.  Hence the beginner ornaments his premises with furniture, the artist finds employment and profit, and the publican empties his barrel.

Thus we have taken a transient survey of this rising colony of arts, uniting observation with fact:  We have seen her dark manufactures, in darker times:  We have attended her through her commercial, religious, political, and pleasurable walks:  Have viewed her in many points of light, but never in decline; ’till we have now set her in the fair sunshine of the present day.