“But what I here present the world with
is the product of my own experience, and
that for the space of thirty years and upwards ;
during which time I have been constantly
employed in fashionable and noble families,
in which the provisions ordered according to
the following directions, have had the general
approbation of such as have been at many
noble entertainments.
“ These receipts are all suitable to English
constitutions and English palates, whole-
some, toothsome, all practicable and easy to
be performed. Here are those proper for a
frugal, and also for a sumptuous table, and
if rightly observed, will prevent the spoiling
of many a good dish of meat, the waste
of many good materials, the vexation that
frequently attends such mismanagements,
and the curses not unfrequently bestowed
on cooks with the usual reflection, that
whereas God sends good meat, the devil
sends cooks.
Cookery Books.
95
“ As to those parts that treat of confec-
tionary, pickles, cordials, English wines, &c.,
what I have said in relation to cookery is
equally applicable to them also.
“ It is true, I have not been so numerous in
receipts as some who have gone before me,
but I think I have made amends in giving
none but what are approved and practic-
able, and fit either for a genteel or a
noble Table; and altho’ I have omitted
odd and fantastical messes, yet I have
set down a considerable number of re-
ceipts.
“ The treatise is divided into ten parts :
cookery contains above an hundred receipts,
pickles fifty, puddings above fifty, pastry
above forty, cakes forty, creams and jellies
above forty, preserving an hundred, made
wines forty, cordial waters and powders above
seventy, medicines and salves above two
hundred ; in all near eight hundred.
“ I have likewise presented you with schemes
engraven on copper-plates for the regular
disposition or placing the dishes of provi-
sion on the table according to the best
96 Cookery Books.
manner, both for summer and winter, first
and second courses, &c.
“ As for the receipts for medicines, salves,
ointments, good in several diseases, wounds,
hurts, bruises, aches, pains, &c., which
amount to above two hundred, they are
generally family receipts, that have never
been made publick ; excellent in their kind,
and approved remedies, which have not been
obtained by me without much difficulty ; and
of such efficacy in distempers, &c., to which
they are appropriated, that they have cured
when all other means have failed ; and a few
of them which I have communicated to a
friend, have procured a very handsome live-
lihood.
“ They are very proper for those generous,
charitable, and Christian gentlewomen that
have a disposition to be serviceable to their
poor country neighbours, labouring under
any of the afflicted circumstances mentioned ;
who by making the medicines, and gene-
rously contributing as occasions offer, may
help the poor in their afflictions, gain their
good-will and wishes, entitle themselves to
Cookery Books.
97
their blessings and prayers, and also have the
pleasure of seeing the good they do in this
world, and have good reason to hope for a
reward (though not by way of merit) in the
world to come.
Page 30
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
“But what I here present the world with is the product of my own experience, and that for the space of thirty years and upwards ; during which time I have been constantly employed in fashionable and noble families, in which the provisions ordered according to the following directions, have had the general approbation of such as have been at many noble entertainments.
“ These receipts are all suitable to English constitutions and English palates, wholesome, toothsome, all practicable and easy to be performed. Here are those proper for a frugal, and also for a sumptuous table, and if rightly observed, will prevent the spoiling of many a good dish of meat, the waste of many good materials, the vexation that frequently attends such mismanagements, and the curses not unfrequently bestowed on cooks with the usual reflection, that whereas God sends good meat, the devil sends cooks.
Cookery Books.
“ As to those parts that treat of confectionary, pickles, cordials, English wines, &c., what I have said in relation to cookery is equally applicable to them also.
“ It is true, I have not been so numerous in receipts as some who have gone before me, but I think I have made amends in giving none but what are approved and practicable, and fit either for a genteel or a noble Table; and altho’ I have omitted odd and fantastical messes, yet I have set down a considerable number of receipts.
“ The treatise is divided into ten parts : cookery contains above an hundred receipts, pickles fifty, puddings above fifty, pastry above forty, cakes forty, creams and jellies above forty, preserving an hundred, made wines forty, cordial waters and powders above seventy, medicines and salves above two hundred ; in all near eight hundred.
“ I have likewise presented you with schemes engraven on copper-plates for the regular disposition or placing the dishes of provision on the table according to the best
96 Cookery Books.
manner, both for summer and winter, first and second courses, &c.
“ As for the receipts for medicines, salves, ointments, good in several diseases, wounds, hurts, bruises, aches, pains, &c., which amount to above two hundred, they are generally family receipts, that have never been made publick ; excellent in their kind, and approved remedies, which have not been obtained by me without much difficulty ; and of such efficacy in distempers, &c., to which they are appropriated, that they have cured when all other means have failed ; and a few of them which I have communicated to a friend, have procured a very handsome livelihood.
“ They are very proper for those generous, charitable, and Christian gentlewomen that have a disposition to be serviceable to their poor country neighbours, labouring under any of the afflicted circumstances mentioned ; who by making the medicines, and generously contributing as occasions offer, may help the poor in their afflictions, gain their good-will and wishes, entitle themselves to
Cookery Books.
their blessings and prayers, and also have the pleasure of seeing the good they do in this world, and have good reason to hope for a reward (though not by way of merit) in the world to come.