First. In magnificent town-houses we expect a suite of rooms, opening by folding doors, for the reception of those large parties for assemblies, when the proprietors are driven out of house and home, to make room for more visitors than their rooms can contain. A provision in the country for such an overflow of society can seldom be required; and, except for an occasional ball, the relative dimensions of the rooms should bear some proportion to the size of the dining-room, and the number of spare bed-rooms. The most recent modern costume is, to use the library as the general living-room; and that sort of state-room, formerly called the best parlour, and, of late years, the drawing-room, is now generally found a melancholy apartment, when entirely shut up, and only opened to give the visitors a formal cold reception: but, if such a room opens into one adjoining, and the two are fitted up with the same carpet, curtains, &c., they then become, in some degree, one room; and the comfort of that which has books, or musical instruments, is extended in its space to that which has only sofas, chairs, and card-tables; and thus the living-room is increased in dimensions, when required, with a power of keeping a certain portion detached, and not always used for common purposes.
