“Sir,

“As you are both a Knight and a Gentleman (which now-a-days don’t always meet in one Man) I will make bold to Expostulate with you upon a Bill depending in the House of Commons, I mean that against Duelling.  Every good Subject has a right of dissenting to any Bill propos’d, either by petition, or Pamphlet, before it passes into a Law; and this concerns the Honour of all Orders of Men from the Prince to the private Gentleman.  I make free to tell you in a Word, if this passes, there’s an End of good Manhood in the King’s Dominions.  How must all the Important Quarrels, which happen in Life, among men of Honour, be decided?  Must a heedless sawcy Coxcomb frown, or tread upon a Gentleman’s Toes with Impunity?  No, I suppose, the great Cause of Honour must be determined by the womanish Revenge of Scolding; and when two Peers or Gentlemen have had some manly Difference, they must chuse their Seconds from Billingsgate or the Bar—­Consider, Sir, how many brave Gentleman have comfortably kept good Company, and had their Reckoning always paid, only by shewing a broad Blade, and cherishing a fierce Pair of Whiskers.  Good Manners must certainly die with Chivalry; for what keeps all the pert Puppies about Town in Awe, but the Fear of being call’d to Account?  Don’t you know that there are a Set of impertinent Wretches, who are always disturbing publick Assemblies with Riots and Quarrels, only upon a presumption of being hinder’d from fighting, by the Crowd?  There will be no end of such Grievances, if this Law takes Place.  Besides, Sir, I hope it will be consider’d, what will become of us Brothers of the Blade; the Art we profess will grow of no Use to Mankind; and, of Consequence, we shall be expos’d to Poverty and Disgrace.  Consider, Sir, how many bright Qualifications must go to the finishing one of us; we require Parts as elegant, generous, and manly, as any Profession whatsoever; therefore, I hope, that some publick Spirit in the House of Commons, who is a Lover of his Country, and a Friend to Arts and Sciences, will start up and distinguish himself against this Bill.  You know that our Profession is justly call’d the Noble Science of Defence, and makes a considerable Branch of the Mathematicks; if the Ignorant should gain this Point against us, they won’t stop here; no doubt, their Design is to attack all Arts and Sciences, and beat them one by one quite out of the Nation; the Assault, ’tis true, seems only made against us; but wise Men foresee that all Learning is in Danger.  Our Adversaries are upon the Longe with their Swords just at our Breasts, I desire therefore your Advice and Assistance, in what Guard we must stand to parry this fatal Thrust.  Yours,

     “FLANKANADE.”

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Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the Angel in Pater-Noster-Row, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in.