creased to such a degree in England, that we import none of the lower sorts from abroad, and make them all ourselves; but if the French duties be taken off, undoubtedly most of the mills which are employed in the making of white paper, must leave off their work, and 30 or 40,000l. a year be remitted over to France for that commodity.

XII. The last article concerns the silk manufacture. Since the late French wars, it is increased to a mighty degree. Spitalfields alone manufactures to the value of two millions a year, and were daily improving, 'till the late fears about lowering the French duties. What pity! that so noble a manufacture, so extensive and so beneficial to an infinite number of people, should run the hazard of being ruined! It is however to be feared, that if the French can import their wrought silks upon easy terms, they outdo us so much in cheapuess of labour, and they have Italian and Levant raw silk upon so much easier terms than we, besides great quantities of their own in Provence, Languedoc, and other provinces, that in all probability half the looms in Spitalfields would be laid down, and our ladies be again clothed in French silks. The loss that would accrue to the nation by so great a mischief, cannot be valued at less than 500,000l. a year.

To sum up all, if we pay to France yearly

And they take from us in lead, tin, leather, alum, copperas, coals, horn, plates, &c. and plantation goods to the value of

Great Britain loses by the balance of that trade yearly

200,000

1,450,000

All which is humbly submitted to your conside

ration by,

Sir, your most humble servant,

GENEROSITY THRIFT,'

ADVERTISEMENT,

For the Protection of Honour, Truth, Virtue, and In

nocence.

"Mr. Ironside has ordered his amanuensis to prepare for his perusal whatever he may have gathered from his table-talk, or otherwise, a volume, to be printed in twelves, called, The Art of Defamation discovered. This piece is to consist of the true characters of all persons calumniated by the Examiner; and after such characters, the true and only method of sullying them, set forth in examples from the ingenious and artificial author, the said Examiner.

"N. B. To this will be added the true characters of persons he has commended, with observations to shew, that panegyric is not that author's talent."

N° 171. SATURDAY, SEPT. 26, 1713.

Fuit ista quondam in hâc republicâ virtus, ut viri fortes acrioribus suppliciis civem perniciosum, quàm acerbissimum hostem

coercerent.

CICER. in Catilin.

There was once that virtue in this commonwealth, that a bad fellow-citizen was thought to deserve a severer correction than the bitterest enemy.

I HAVE received letters of congratulation and thanks from several of the most eminent chocolatehouses and coffee-houses, upon my late gallantry and success in opposing myself to the long-swords. One tells me, that whereas his rooms were too little before, now his customers can saunter up and down from corner to corner, and table to table, without any let or molestation. I find I have likewise cleared a great many alleys and by-lanes, made the public walks about town more spacious, and all the passages about the court and the Exchange more free and open. Several of my female wards have sent me the kindest billets upon this occasion, in which they tell me, that I have saved them some pounds in the year, by freeing their furbelows flounces, and hoops, from the annoyance both of hilt and point. A scout, whom I sent abroad to observe the posture, and to pry into the intentions of the enemy, brings me word, that the Terrible club is quite blown up, and that I have totally routed the men that seemed to delight in arms.

My lion, whose jaws are at all hours open to intelligence, informs me, that there are a few enormous weapons still in being; but that they are to be met with only in gaming-houses, and some of the obscure retreats of lovers in and about Drury-lane and Covent-garden. I am highly delighted with an adventure that befel my witty antagonist Tom Swagger, captain of the band of long-swords. He had the misfortune three days ago to fall into company with a master of the noble science of defence, who taking Mr. Swagger by his habit, bis mien, and the airs he gave himself, to be one of the profession, gave him a fair invitation to Marrow-bone, to exercise at the usual weapons. The captain thought this so foul a disgrace to a gentleman, that he slunk away in the greatest confusion, and has never been seen since at the Tilt-yard coffee-house, nor in any of his usual haunts.

As there is nothing made in vain, and as every plant and every animal, though never so noisome, has its use in the creation; so these men of terror may be disposed of, so as to make a figure in the polite world. It was in this view, that I received a visit last night from a person, who pretends to be employed here from several foreign princes in negociating matters of less importance. He tells me, that the continual wars in Europe have in a manner quite drained the Cantons of Swisserland of these supernumerary subjects, and that he foresees there will be a great scarcity of them to serve at the entrance of courts, and in the palaces of great men. He is of opinion this want may very seasonably be supplied out of the great numbers of such gentlemen as I have given notice of in my paper of the 25th past, and that his design is in a few weeks, when the town fills, to put out public

advertisements to this effect, not questioning but it may turn to a good account: that if any persons of good stature and fierce demeanour, as well members of the Terrible club, as others of the like exterior ferocity, whose ambition is to cock and look big, without exposing themselves to any bodily danger, will repair to his lodgings; they shall, provided they bring their swords with them, be furnished with shoulder-belts, broad hats, red feathers, and halberts, and be transported without further trouble into several courts and families of distinction, where they may eat and drink and strut at free cost.' As this project was not communicated to me for a secret, I thought it might be for the service of the abovesaid persons to divulge it with all convenient speed; that those who are disposed to employ their talents to the best advantage, and to shine in the station of life for which they seem to be born, may have time to adorn their upper lip, by raising a quick-set beard there, in the form of whiskers, that they may pass to all intents and purposes for true Swissers.

INDEFATIGABLE NESTOR,

GIVE me leave to thank you, in behalf of myself and my whole family, for the daily diversion and improvement we receive from your labours. At the same time I must acquaint you, that we have all of us taken a mighty liking to your lion. His roarings are the joy of my heart, and I have a little boy, not three years old, that talks of nothing else, and who, I hope, will be more afraid of him as he grows up. That your animal may be kept in good plight, and not roar for want of prey; I shall, out of my esteem and affection for you,