and sees I at present forbear speaking of it through prudential Regards.  This Respect to her she returns with much Civility, and makes my Value for her as little a Misfortune to me, as is consistent with Discretion.  She sings very charmingly, and is readier to do so at my Request, because she knows I love her:  She will dance with me rather than another, for the same Reason.  My Fortune must alter from what it is, before I can speak my Heart to her; and her Circumstances are not considerable enough to make up for the Narrowness of mine.  But I write to you now, only to give you the Character of Belinda, as a Woman that has Address enough to demonstrate a Gratitude to her Lover, without giving him Hopes of Success in his Passion.  Belinda has from a great Wit, governed by as great Prudence, and both adorned with Innocence, the Happiness of always being ready to discover her real Thoughts.  She has many of us, who now are her Admirers; but her Treatment of us is so just and proportioned to our Merit towards her, and what we are in our selves, that I protest to you I have neither Jealousy nor Hatred toward my Rivals.  Such is her Goodness, and the Acknowledgment of every Man who admires her, that he thinks he ought to believe she will take him who best deserves her.  I will not say that this Peace among us is not owing to Self-love, which prompts each to think himself the best Deserver:  I think there is something uncommon and worthy of Imitation in this Ladys Character.  If you will please to Print my Letter, you will oblige the little Fraternity of happy Rivals, and in a more particular Manner,

  SIR,
  Your most humble Servant,
  Will.  Cymon.

T.

[Footnote 1:  [Mully]

[Footnote 2:  See No. 251.  He was a little man just able to bear on his head his basket of pastry, and who was named from his cry.  There is a half-sheet print of him in the set of London Cries in Granger’s Biographical History of England.]

[Footnote 3:  Who advertised that he attended patients at charges ranging from a shilling to half-a-crown, according to their distance from his house.]

[Footnote 4:  [out-run]]

[Footnote 5:  Estcourt, it may be remembered, connected the advertisement of his Bumper tavern with the recommendation of himself as one ignorant of the wine trade who relied on Brooke and Hellier, and so ensured his Customers good wine.  Among the advertisers in the Spectator Brooke and Hellier often appeared.  One of their advertisements is preceded by the following, evidently a contrivance of their own, which shows that the art of puffing was not then in its infancy: