man-like to challenge a Woman to fight, as to talk obscenely in
her Company, especially when she has not power to stir. Pray let me
tell you a Story which you can make fit for publick View. I knew a
Gentleman, who having a very good Opinion of the Gentlemen of the
Army, invited ten or twelve of them to sup with him; and at the same
time invited two or three Friends, who were very severe against the
Manners and Morals of Gentlemen of that Profession. It happened one of
them brought two Captains of his Regiment newly come into the Army,
who at first Onset engaged the Company with very lewd Healths and
suitable Discourse. You may easily imagine the Confusion of the
Entertainer, who finding some of his Friends very uneasy, desired to
tell them a Story of a great Man, one Mr, _Locke_ (whom I find you
frequently mention) that being invited to dine with the then Lords
_Hallifax, Anglesey_, and _Shaftsbury_; immediately after Dinner,
instead of Conversation, the Cards were called for, where the bad or
good Success produced the usual Passions of Gaming. Mr. _Locke_
retiring to a Window, and writing, my Lord _Anglesey_ desired to know
what he was writing: _Why, my Lords_, answered he, _I could not sleep
last Night for the Pleasure and Improvement I expected from the
Conversation of the greatest Men of the Age_. This so sensibly stung
them, that they gladly compounded to throw their Cards in the Fire if
he would his Paper, and so a Conversation ensued fit for such Persons.
This Story prest so hard upon the young Captains, together with the
Concurrence of their superior Officers, that the young Fellows left
the Company in Confusion. Sir, I know you hate long things; but if you
like it, you may contract it, or how you will; but I think it has a
Moral in it.

But, Sir, I am told you are a famous Mechanick as well as a Looker-on,
and therefore humbly propose you would invent some Padlock, with full
Power under your Hand and Seal, for all modest Persons, either Men or
Women, to clap upon the Mouths of all such impertinent impudent
Fellows: And I wish you would publish a Proclamation, that no modest
Person who has a Value for her Countenance, and consequently would not
be put out of it, presume to travel after such a Day without one of
them in their Pockets. I fancy a smart _Spectator_ upon this Subject
would serve for such a Padlock; and that publick Notice may be giv