The Editor knew a justice of the peace in Ireland who had such a
dread of HAVING IT ALL LEFT TO HIS HONOUR, that he frequently gave the
complainants the sum about which they were disputing, to make peace
between them, and to get rid of the trouble of hearing their stories
OUT OF THE FACE. But he was soon cured of this method of buying off
disputes, by the increasing multitude of those who, out of pure regard
to his honour, came 'to get justice from him, because they would sooner
come before him than before any man in all Ireland.'

GLOSSARY 25. A RAKING POT OF TEA.

--We should observe, this custom has long since been banished from the
higher orders of Irish gentry. The mysteries of a raking pot of tea,
like those of the Bona Dea, are supposed to be sacred to females; but
now and then it has happened that some of the male species, who were
either more audacious, or more highly favoured than the rest of their
sex, have been admitted by stealth to these orgies. The time when the
festive ceremony begins varies according to circumstances, but it is
never earlier than twelve o'clock at night; the joys of a raking pot of
tea depending on its being made in secret, and at an unseasonable hour.
After a ball, when the more discreet part of the company has departed to
rest, a few chosen female spirits, who have footed it till they can foot
it no longer, and till the sleepy notes expire under the slurring hand
of the musician, retire to a bedchamber, call the favourite maid, who
alone is admitted, bid her PUT DOWN THE KETTLE, lock the door, and
amidst as much giggling and scrambling as possible, they get round a
tea-table, on which all manner of things are huddled together. Then
begin mutual railleries and mutual confidences amongst the young ladies,
and the faint scream and the loud laugh is heard, and the romping for
letters and pocket-books begins, and gentlemen are called by their
surnames, or by the general name of fellows! pleasant fellows! charming
fellows! odious fellows! abominable fellows! and then all prudish
decorums are forgotten, and then we might be convinced how much the
satirical poet was mistaken when he said--

There is no woman where there's no reserve.

The merit of the original idea of a raking pot of tea evidently belongs
to the washerwoman and the laundry-maid. But why should not we have LOW
LIFE ABOVE STAIRS as well as HIGH LIFE BELOW STAIRS?

GLOSSARY 26. WE GAINED THE DAY BY THIS PIECE OF HONE