glad to find you have given over your face painting for some
time, because, I think, you have employed yourself more in
grotesque figures, than in beauties; for which reason, I would
rather see you work upon history pieces, than on single portraits.
Your several draughts of dead men appear to me as pictures of still
life, and have done great good in the place where I live. The
squire of a neighbouring village, who had been a long time in the
number of nonentities, is entirely recovered by them. For these
several years past, there was not a hare in the county that could
be at rest for him; and I think, the greatest exploit he ever
boasted of, was, that when he was high sheriff of the county, he
hunted a fox so far, that he could not follow him any farther by
the laws of the land. All the hours he spent at home, were in
swilling[21] himself with October, and rehearsing the wonders he
did in the field. Upon reading your papers, he has sold his dogs,
shook off his dead companions, looked into his estate, got the
multiplication table by heart, paid his tithes, and intends to take
upon him the office of churchwarden next year. I wish the same
success with your other patients, and am, &c."

_Ditto, January 9._

When I came home this evening, a very tight middle-aged woman presented
to me the following petition:

"_To the Worshipful Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq., Censor of Great
Britain._

"The humble petition of Penelope Prim, widow;

"Sheweth,

"That your petitioner was bred a clear-starcher and sempstress, and
for many years worked to the Exchange; and to several aldermen's
wives, lawyers' clerks, and merchants' apprentices.

"That through the scarcity caused by regraters of bread-corn (of
which starch is made) and the gentry's immoderate frequenting the
operas, the ladies, to save charges, have their heads washed at
home, and the beaus put out their linen to common laundresses, so
that your petitioner hath little or no work at her trade: for want
of which she is reduced to such necessity, that she and her seven
fatherless children must inevitably perish, unless relieved by your
worship.

"That your petitioner is informed, that in contempt of your
judgment pronounced on Tuesday the third instant against the
new-fashioned petticoat, or old