Hold the great end to your tongue;

if it feels warm, it is new; if cold, bad;

and so in proportion to the heat or cold is the goodness of the egg.

Another way to know is to put the egg in a pan of cold water.

The fresher the egg the sooner it will fall to the bottom;

if rotten it will swim to the top.

-Roberts Guide for Butlers and Other Household Staff, 1827-