I am one of those unfortunate Men within the City-Walls, who am married to a Woman of Quality, but her Temper is something different from that of Lady Anvil.  My Lady’s whole Time and Thoughts are spent in keeping up to the Mode both in Apparel and Furniture.  All the Goods in my House have been changed three times in seven Years.  I have had seven Children by her; and by our Marriage Articles she was to have her Apartment new furnished as often as she lay in.  Nothing in our House is useful but that which is fashionable; my Pewter holds out generally half a Year, my Plate a full Twelvemonth; Chairs are not fit to sit in that were made two Years since, nor Beds fit for any thing but to sleep in that have stood up above that Time.  My Dear is of Opinion that an old-fashioned Grate consumes Coals, but gives no Heat:  If she drinks out of Glasses of last Year, she cannot distinguish Wine from Small-Beer.  Oh dear Sir you may guess all the rest.  Yours.

P. S. I could bear even all this, if I were not obliged also to eat fashionably.  I have a plain Stomach, and have a constant Loathing of whatever comes to my own Table; for which Reason I dine at the Chop-House three Days a Week:  Where the good Company wonders they never see you of late.  I am sure by your unprejudiced Discourses you love Broth better than Soup.

  Wills, Feb. 19.

Mr. Spectator, You may believe you are a Person as much talked of as any Man in Town.  I am one of your best Friends in this House, and have laid a Wager you are so candid a Man and so honest a Fellow, that you will print this Letter, tho it is in Recommendation of a new Paper called The Historian. [1] I have read it carefully, and find it written with Skill, good Sense, Modesty, and Fire.  You must allow the Town is kinder to you than you deserve; and I doubt not but you have so much Sense of the World, Change of Humour, and instability of all humane Things, as to understand, that the only Way to preserve Favour, is to communicate it to others with Good-Nature and Judgment.  You are so generally read, that what you speak of will be read.  This with Men of Sense and Taste is all that is wanting to recommend The Historian.  I am, Sir, Your daily Advocate, Reader Gentle.

I was very much surprised this Morning, that any one should find out my Lodging, and know it so well, as to come directly to my Closet-Door, and knock at it, to give me the following Letter.  When I came out I opened it, and saw by a very strong Pair of Shoes and a warm Coat the Bearer had on, that he walked all the Way to bring it me, tho dated from York.  My Misfortune is that I cannot talk, and I found the Messenger had so much of me, that he could think better than speak.  He had, I observed, a polite Discerning hid under a shrewd Rusticity:  He delivered the Paper with a Yorkshire Tone and a Town Leer.