The advertisements in Houghton’s _Collection_ may appear strange to the reader accustomed to rounded sentences and glowing periods, but in the reign of William III. the general absence of education rendered the social element more unsophisticated in character. In those old days the advertiser and editor of the paper frequently speak in the first person singular; also the advertiser often speaks through the editor. A few specimens taken at random will give the reader a tolerably good idea of the style then prevalent:-- ----A very eminent brewer, and one I know to be a very honest gentleman, wants an apprentice; I can give an account of him. ----I want a house keeper rarely well accomplished for that purpose. ’Tis for a suitable gentleman. ----I know of valuable estates to be sold. ----I want several apprentices for a valuable tradesman. ----I can help to ready money for any library great or small or parcels of pictures or household goods. ----I want a negro man that is a good house carpenter and a good shoemaker. ⁂ I want a young man about 14 or 15 years old that can trim and look after a peruke. ’Tis to wait on a merchant. ----I want a pritty boy to wait on a gentleman who will take care of him and put him out an apprentice. ----If any gentleman wants a housekeeper, I believe I can help to the best in England. ----Many masters want apprentices and many youths want masters. If they apply themselves to me, I’ll strive to help them. Also for variety of valuable services. By reason of my great corresponding, I may help masters to apprentices and Apprentices to Masters. And now is wanting Three Boys, one with £70, one with £30, and a Scholar with £60. ----I know of several curious women that would wait on ladies to be housekeepers. ----Now I want a good usher’s place in a Grammar school. ----I want a young man that can write and read, mow and roll a garden, use a gun at a deer, and understand country sports, and to wait at table, and such like. ----If any young man that plays well on the violin and writes a good hand desires a clerkship, I can help him to £20 a year. ----I want a complete young man, that will wear livery, to wait on a very valuable gentleman, but he must know how to play on a violin or a flute. ----I want a genteel footman that can play on the violin to wait on a person of honour. ----If I can meet with a sober man that has a counter tenor voice, I can help him to a place worth £30 the year or more. This continual demand for musical servants arose from the fashion of making them take part in musical performances, of which custom we find frequent traces in Pepys. Altogether the most varied accomplishments appear to have been expected from servants; as, for instance,--