A certain Gentleman, who seems to write with a great deal of Spirit, and uses the Words Gallantry and Gentleman-like very often in his Petition, begs that (in Consideration of his having worn his Hat for ten Years past in the Loyal Cavalier-Cock, to his great Danger and Detriment) he may be made a Captain of the Guards.

I shall close my Account of this Collection of Memorials, with the Copy of one Petition at length, which I recommend to my Reader as a very valuable Piece.

  The Petition of E. H. Esq., humbly Sheweth,

  ’That your Petitioner’s Father’s Brother’s Uncle, Colonel W.  H. lost
  the Third Finger of his Left Hand at Edge-hill Fight.

’That your Petitioner, notwithstanding the Smallness of his Fortune, (he being a younger Brother) always kept Hospitality, and drank Confusion to the Roundheads in half a Score Bumpers every Sunday in the Year, as several honest Gentlemen (whose Names are underwritten) are ready to testifie.

  ’That your Petitioner is remarkable in his Country for having dared to
  treat Sir P.  P. a cursed Sequestrator, and three Members of the
  Assembly of Divines, with Brawn and Minced Pies upon New Year’s Day.

’That your said humble Petitioner hath been five times imprisoned in five several County-Goals, for having been a Ring-leader in five different Riots; into which his Zeal for the Royal Cause hurried him, when men of greater Estates had not the Courage to rise.

’That he, the said E.  H. hath had six Duels and four and twenty Boxing-Matches in Defence of his Majesty’s Title; and that he received such a Blow upon the Head at a Bonfire in Stratford upon Avon, as he hath been never the better for from that Day to this.

’That your Petitioner hath been so far from improving his Fortune, in the late damnable Times, that he verily believes, and hath good Reason to imagine, that if he had been Master of an Estate, he had infallibly been plundered and sequestred.

’Your Petitioner, in Consideration of his said Merits and Sufferings, humbly requests that he may have the Place of Receiver of the Taxes, Collector of the Customs, Clerk of the Peace, Deputy Lieutenant, or whatsoever else he shall be thought qualified for.

  And your Petitioner shall ever Pray, &c.

* * * * *

No. 630.  Wednesday, December 8, 1714.

  ‘—­Favete linguis—­’

  Hor.

Having no spare Time to write any thing of my own, or to correct what is sent me by others, I have thought fit to publish the following Letters.

  Oxford, November 22.

  SIR,