call a handsome jolly Man; which Appearance can’t miss of Captives in this part of the Town.  Being emboldened by daily Success, he leaves his Room with a Resolution to extend his Conquests; and I have apprehended him in his Night-gown smiting in all Parts of this Neighbourhood.

This I, being of an amorous Complection, saw with Indignation, and had Thoughts of purchasing a Wig in these Parts; into which, being at a greater Distance from the Earth, I might have thrown a very liberal Mixture of white Horse-hair, which would make a fairer, and consequently a handsomer Appearance, while my Situation would secure me against any Discoveries.  But the Passion to the handsome Gentleman seems to be so fixed to that part of the Building, that it will be extremely difficult to divert it to mine; so that I am resolved to stand boldly to the Complection of my own Eye-brow, and prepare me an immense Black Wig of the same sort of Structure with that of my Rival.  Now, tho’ by this I shall not, perhaps, lessen the number of the Admirers of his Complection, I shall have a fair Chance to divide the Passengers by the irresistible Force of mine.

I expect sudden Dispatches from you, with Advice of the Family you are in now, how to deport my self upon this so delicate a Conjuncture; with some comfortable Resolutions in favour of the handsome black Man against the handsome fair one.

  I am, SIR,

  Your most humble Servant_,

  C.

  N. B. He who writ this, is a black Man two Pair of Stairs; the
  Gentleman of whom he writes, is fair, and one Pair of Stairs.

  Mr.  SPECTATOR,

  ’I only say, that it is impossible for me to say how much I am

  Yours,

  Robin Shorter.

  P.  S. ’I shall think it a little hard, if you do not take as much
  notice of this Epistle, as you have of the ingenious Mr. Short’s.  I
  am not afraid to let the World see which is the Deeper Man of the two.

T.

[Footnote 1:  When this was quoted Clarendon had been dead only 38 years, and his History of the Rebellion, first published in Queen Anne’s reign, was almost a new Book.  It was published at Oxford in three folio volumes, which appeared in the successive years 1702, 3,4, and in this year, 1712, there had appeared a new edition of it (the sixth).]

* * * * *

ADVERTISEMENT.

London, September 15.

Whereas a young Woman on horseback,
in an Equestrian Habit on the 13th Instant in the Evening,
met the SPECTATOR within a Mile and an half of this Town,
and flying in the Face of Justice,
pull’d off her Hat, in which there was a Feather,
with the Mein and Air of a young Officer,
saying at the same time,
Your Servant Mr. SPEC. or Words to that Purpose;
This is to give Notice,
that if any Person can discover the Name,
and Place of Abode of the said Offender,
so as she can be brought to Justice,
the Informant shall have all fitting Encouragement.