coat; but fince they have been inέfashion, she has always had twenty-two, which is ten extraordinary. And, may it please your ladyfhips to observe, Ten yards of filk extraordinary, at twenty fhillings per yard, is And, Ten yards a piece for each of my fix daughters (for they are now grown as big as their mother, and fhe will have them cloath'd in the fame manner) makes fixty yards at twenty fhillings per yard, which is And again, Before these hoops were in fashion, no aprons were worn, or if at any time a lady did put on one, it was very small. I am therefore to reckon forty fhillings a piece extraordinary upon seven aprons, which is And then, Gowns, petticoats and aprons, as well as underpetticoats and stockings, are fooner wore out with hoops than without them; for which I may reasonably reckon thirty fhillings to each perfon, which is And befides, I am to confider the cafualties which will arise from large hoops banging against new painted pofts, chimny-fweepers facks, fhoe-blackers ftools and brushes, lamp-lighters oil kettles, &c. &c. at forty fhillings each (for filks, when ftain'd and dirty, must be fcower'd) and seven times forty fhillings is And let it be remember'd, that Formerly a woman's time was of fome value to. a man in trade, and I am fure a great deal of 108 10 0 Brought over 108 10 0 time is wasted on account of these hoops, which it would be an ill compliment to the fair fex to suppose of less value than twenty fhillings per year each, and that is And, 'Tis impoffible either for madam or miss, when furrounded with a huge hoop, to walk any diftance, unless the weather be very fair, and the ftreets extremely clean, which so seldom happens in London, that I can't (confidering our acquaintance, and the number of vifits we have had to make) reckon less than three pounds per annum each for coaches, chairs, &c. and three times feven is 7 21 0 0 136 10 0 I might here also reckon the spoiling my own cloaths, when walking with my wife, or daughters; for with these great hoops a man is always thrust against the posts, or into the kennel; but as this only happen'd when I had my liberty, and could walk abroad with fafety, I fhall omit that in the account; for I would not have any thing appear like an exaggeration: befides, ladies, upon cafting up the other articles, which are no more than what are common and confequent to the hoops, you'll find the annual fum of 1367. 105. a fum too large to be expected from a manufacturer of boots and fhoes! My creditors, when provoked, have often cry'd, why don't you marry your daughters? Why fo I would, if I could; but I can't. What young fellow in his fenfes, do you think, would marry a girl trick'd out in this manner, who has not a penny to fupport it? For heaven's fake, ladies, or for my fake, or (if neither of these will prevail) for the fake of your own fex, drop this ridiculous fashion; for while a man fees he is to be at fuch expence, 'twill be impoffible for me to get my daughters difpos'd of, and they, you must imagine, tho' citizens, want husbands as well as you ladies at court. Ladies, I humbly rely on your great goodness and mercy, and reft affur'd that your foftnefs, fweetness, clemency, and good nature will induce you to weigh well and confider, and pity a poor old man's misfortunes, and remove the immediate caufe of his ruin. And your poor petitioner, as in duty bound, Shall for ever pray, &c. P. S. To my petition it may perhaps be objected, that large hoops and other extravagancies of this kind encourage trade. But I fay, no, ladies, no; and to justify this truth, I fhall produce the certificates of fome confiderable traders in and about London, which, I doubt not, will weigh with your wisdom, and have the defired effect, WE E whofe names are hereunto fubfcribed do certify, that tho', upon examining our respective books, it appears, that we have fold twice the quantity of goods fince the large hoop came in vogue that we did before, yet, to our great misfortune and mortification, it also appears, that we have not cleared fo much money as when our trade was not half fo confiderable. And this we apprehend is due and owing to the great number of bad debts which we have contracted. And the cause of thefe bad debts we alfo apprehend is owing to the extravagancy of the times. And we do agree, and allow, and acknowledge, and lay it down as a maxim, that 'tis better for us, and more to our emolument and advantage, to fell (as heretofore) twelve yards of filk and be paid ready money for it, than to fell twenty-two yards of the the fame filk and never be paid at all. Wherefore we hope your ladyfhips will in your abundant goodness take our cafe alfo into your confideration. J. STAMP, Mercers. S. JENNINGS, R. GROVES, HE above cafe is exactly fimilar to ours, and we da Tacknowledge, agree, and allow the above maxim to be orthodox, juft, and good; and we do alfo pray for redress. T HE following curious anecdote was found indorfed on a paper fign'd ALG. SIDNEY. The PPOTECTOR's advice to me, when I went from him to the king of Sweden in Poland; which I writ from his own dictating, and the alteration in the second particular is his own band. I. IF you would not miscarry in this bufinefs, know firft, that all publique businesses, and private too, profper and fuçceed only as God is pleafed to determine them. that II. And therefore the greatest wisdom in them that are employed about businesse lies in this, that they feek feek to be accepted with God, which noe man is, but by Jefus Chrift. III. That there be a deniall of a man's owne abilities, and that worke be undertaken with humility and meekness of fpirit, and that one be swift to heare, and flow to speake, well understanding before he answer. IV. That a man in his converfations, as he would have a bleffing, abftaine from all manner of evil, and doe conftantly, with all earnestness and truth of heart, crye to God for a bleffing, feeing he difpofes the iffue of all bufineffes as he pleases. A paffage in SHAKESPEARE corrected. The object, and the pleasure of mine eye, Was I betrothed ere I Hermia fsaw ; But LIKE A SICKNESS did I loath this food; MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Act iv. Scene 2. DEMETRIUS in the beginning of this play is represented as entirely devoted to HELENA; but by the charms of fairies he is made to flight his former love, and to be as much enamour'd of HERMIA. These charms being removed, he returns to his former miftrefs, as we learn by his declaration in the above-quoted fpeech. But the latter part is certainly corrupt; the allufion is plainly to a fick man's appetite being depraved, and therefore loathing that very food which in health he was fond of. We must therefore undoubtedly read, But like IN fickness did I loath this food; That |