Doctor.  They were marked at the bottom Nathaniel Henroost, Alice Threadneedle, Rebecca Nettletop, Tom.  Loveless, Mary Meanwell, Thomas Smoaky, Anthony Freeman, Tom Meggot, Rustick Sprightly, &c. which have had so good an Effect upon me, that I now find my self chearful, lightsome and easie; and therefore do recommend them to all such as labour under the same Distemper.

Not having room to insert all the Advertisements which were sent me, I have only picked out some few from the Third Volume, reserving the Fourth for another Opportunity.

O.

[Footnote 1:  Sir William Read, a doctor who could hardly read, was one of the most pertinacious advertisers of his time.  He advertised in the Tatler that he had been 35 years in the practice of

  ’couching cataracts, taking off all sorts of wens, curing wry necks
  and hair lips without blemish, though never so deformed.’

His wife assisted him, and after his death carried on his business, advertising that,

’The Lady Read, in Durham Yard, in the Strand, having obtained a peculiar method of couching cataracts and curing all diseases of the eyes, by Sir William Read’s method and medicines, and having had above 15 years’ experience ...  Note.  Sir William Read has left only with his lady the true receipt of his Styptich Water,’ &c., &c.

Dr. Grant was another advertising oculist, illiterate and celebrated, originally a tinker or cobbler, afterwards a Baptist preacher in Southwark.

Mr. Moore sold a powder which, according to his advertisements, brought off worms of incredible length.]

* * * * *

No. 548.  Friday, November 28, 1712. [1]

  ’—­Vitiis nemo sine nascitur, optimus illo
  Qui minimis urgetur—­’

  Hor.

  Nov. 27, 1712.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

’I have read this Day’s Paper with a great deal of Pleasure, and could send you an Account of several Elixirs and Antidotes in your third Volume, which your Correspondents have not taken Notice of in their Advertisements; and at the same time must own to you, that I have seldom seen a Shop furnished with such a Variety of Medicaments, and in which there are fewer Soporifics.  The several Vehicles you have invented for conveying your unacceptable Truths to us, are what I most particularly admire, as I am afraid they are Secrets which will die with you.  I do not find that any of your Critical Essays are taken Notice of in this Paper, notwithstanding I look upon them to be excellent Cleansers of the Brain, and could venture to superscribe them with an Advertisement which I have lately seen in one of our News-Papers, wherein there is an Account given of a Sovereign Remedy for restoring the Taste of all such Persons whose Palates have been vitiated by Distempers, unwholesome Food, or any the like Occasions.