The odd custom of setting little circular pieces of black silk on various parts of the female face, well known by the name of _Patches_ even in our enlightened days, prevailed to a most extravagant degree at the time I am now treating of: they then, as at present, varied in size, and were supported by their auxiliaries in elegance, frizzed and powdered _false Locks_, and emulated by the men's Sword-knots and black silk facings to their Coats. The Ladies must indeed have exhibited a wonderful appearance in 1709: behold one equipped in a black silk Petticoat with a red and white calico border, cherry-coloured Stays trimmed with blue and silver, a red and dove-coloured damask Gown flowered with large trees, a yellow satin Apron trimmed with white Persian, and muslin Head-cloths with crowfoot edging, double Ruffles with fine edging, a black silk furbelowed Scarf, and a spotted Hood! Such were the clothes advertised as stolen in the Post-Boy of November 15. To cover all this finery from rain the fashionables had Umbrellas. The Female Tatler of December 12 says, "The young gentleman belonging to the Custom-house, that for fear of rain borrowed the _Umbrella_ at Will's Coffee-house in Cornhill of the _Mistress_, is hereby advertised that to be dry from head to foot on the like occasion he shall be welcome _to the Maid's pattens_;" which seems to imply that this useful invention was then considered as too effeminate for Men. Sedans were in use at the same time; but I should imagine not generally, as the same writer describes a _City_ Lady rendered sick, and dislocating her neck, by being carried in one, and rising too suddenly. The ridiculous long Wigs of 1710 were very expensive: one was advertised as stolen in that year, and said to be worth five guineas; and Duumvir's "fair Wig" in the Tatler, No. 54, "cost forty guineas." But, lest it should be supposed that the gentlemen _only_ were extravagant in decorating the _caput_, take the prices from the Lace-chamber on Ludgate-hill: "One Brussels head at 40_l._; one ground Brussels head at 30_l._; one looped Brussels head at 30_l._" The Tatler ludicrously advertises "A Stage Coach as departing from Nando's Coffee-house for Mr. Tiptoe's Dancing-school every evening;" and adds the following: "N. B. Dancing-shoes not exceeding _four inches height in the heel_, and Perriwigs not exceeding _three feet in length_, are carried in the Coach-box _gratis_." Those unfortunate persons who were born with golden tresses, and those who had lived to bear the silver locks of Time, and did not choose to carry the weight of the above tremendous wigs, were not without their _Tricosian fluid_; for Mr. Michon, goldsmith, informed them in 1710, that he had "found out" "a clear water," which would convert them into brown or black locks.