in his dealings. For he has told us that
"Packwood's pride is in having customers
of respectability. No matter how pressing
they are for the goods, even the offer of ready
cash on receipt will avail nothing except
they are of good fame and character. The
publication of a letter addressed to him by
one more elevated in the world than the
generality of mankind, is a convincing proof
of this truth.

"WIMBLEDON COMMON, May 11,1796.
"J. Abershawe presents his compliments to Mr.
Packwood; would be obliged to him to send, as soon
as possible, half-a-dozen razor-strops, with a couple of
razors, &c. &c.

"To Mr. Packwood, No. 16, Gracechurch Street,
"London."

On the Tuesday following Mr. Packwood
went with the order down to Wimbledon in
due form, and took other goods with him,
that the gentleman might have his choice.
He inquired the gentleman's abode, and was
informed his station was on the common, but
his character not the most respectable.
Hundreds were ready to wait upon him on
his first coming there, but his behaviour was
so abominable as to shock all beholders, and
very few of his friends visited him afterwards,
except out of curiosity. Mr. Packwood took
disgust, and refused to pay the intended visit
on account of his ill-fame, and returned home
with his goods for the comfort of a more
worthy customer. After the expense of his
journey, he found to his cost, that J.
Abershawe was no other than a daring and most
infamous character, gibbeted last summer on
Wimbledon Common.

This was a pleasant device, and proves
that Mr. Packwood could turn the topics of
the day to account, as he before did the tunes
of Mr. Haydn. But Packwood was an artist.
Who could now-a-days improvise so startling
a bit of news as what appeared in the
Telegraph of June the first, seventeen hundred
and ninety-six?

"ELECTIONEERING INTELLIGENCE!!"

The Quidnunc turns eagerly to see who is
the new made knight of the shire, and reads
greedily, that—

"George Packwood, we hear, is returned for the
County of Strop, with very little opposition!"

But it is when Packwood's muse comes to
his aid that his merits shine out most
resplendent. He has sung razors and the man
with transcendent success; and in a happy
vein which those of modern time—who are
supposed to have had poets on their staff and
have chartered bards—cannot so much as
approach. Packwood's muse can shape herself
all measures; even to the majestic Miltonian
blank verse, or rather approaching that
of the late Mr. Akenside. With what
dignity flows on the verse in the following
lines:

"In ev'ry effort to enliven, ev'ry effort to attract,
Serious, powerful, soft'ning soap must be applied;
And the happy lucid lather, fascinatingly fair form'd,
Snow-white slop, enliv'ning first each dimple,
Sleek or smiling muscle of the pleased enraptured
countenance,
Convinced, superior, happy, and benign!"

Not less successful is the impromptu of a
certain lady, whose name is not given,
and which appeared in the Oracle of July
the sixth, seventeen hundred and ninety-six:

"EXTEMPORE.

"By a Lady, while drinking tea at the Bush Inn, on
Epping Forest.

"While beards do grow,
Thy fame will flow—
Be war or peace,
Beards will increase:
To mow the crop,
Use razor-strop!"

It is unusual to find ladies singing the
praises of such articles, or to give up their
tea-drinking hours, whether at the Bush or
other house of entertainment, to such
recreation.

Better than all is that little conceit which
came forth about the merry, merry time of
Christmas. It breathes a savour of that
jocund and inspiring season:

"Under the misseltoe, the maid was led,
Although she said No, she held up her head
To obtain the kiss: yet a sigh was heard.
The reason why,—Tom rubbed her with his beard.
Ah, witless Tom! her anger you might stop,
Use Packwood's razor, whetted on his strop!"

There is a portrait of Packwood now
extant, presenting a shrewd, intelligent face,
with a singularly benign expression. Packwood
is attired in the coat fashionable in
his day, with the Sir Joshua collar, and holds
in his hand the famous strop. He looks
like a man with a purpose written in his face:
a man who might have done great things
in the diplomatic line, had Fate so cast his
lot.

Now ready, price Five Shillings and Sixpence, neatly
bound in cloth,

THE SIXTEENTH VOLUME
OF
HOUSEHOLD WORDS,

Containing the Numbers issued between the Fourth of
July and the Twelfth of December, Eighteen Hundred
and Fifty-Seven.