An advertisement which appears in the same paper, of the date of August 11th, 1659, gives us the first notice we have yet found of the service of negro boys in this country. From this period, however, as we shall presently show, England, at least the fashionable part of it, seems to have swarmed with young blackamoors in a greater degree than we should have imagined even from the familiar notice made of them in the pages of the "Tatler" and "Spectator." These early negroes must have been imported from the Portuguese territories, as we did not deal in the article ourselves till the year 1680. The amusing point of the following advertisement, however, is the assurance it gives us that the Puritans "polled" their negroes as well as themselves. A Negro-boy, about nine years of age, in a gray Searge suit, his hair cut close to his head, was lost on Tuesday last, _August 9_, at night, in _S. Nicholas_ Lane, _London_. If any one can give notice of him to Mr. _Tho. Barker_, at the Sugarloaf in that Lane, they shall be well rewarded for their pains. About this time we find repeatedly advertised the loss of horses. It is observable that during the "troubles" such things as highwaymen were unknown. The bold, unruly characters, who at a later date took to the road, were then either enlisted under the banners of the state or had gone over the sea to Charlie. The great extent to which horse-stealing prevailed during the Commonwealth period, and, indeed, for the next half-century, might possibly be ascribed to the value of those animals consequent upon the scarcity produced by the casualties of the battle-field. We cannot account, however, for one fact connected with the horse-stealing of the Commonwealth period, namely, that when at grass they were often kept _saddled_. The following advertisement, which is an illustration of this singular custom, is very far from being an uncommon one:-- A small black NAG, some ten or eleven years old, no white at all, bob-Tailed, wel forehanded, somewhat thin behind, thick Heels, and goeth crickling and lamish behind at his first going out; the hair is beat off upon his far Hip as broad as a twelvepence; he hath a black leather Saddle trimmed with blew, and covered with a black Calves-skin, its a little torn upon the Pummel; two new Girths of white and green thread, and black Bridle, the Rein whereof is sowed on the off side, and a knot to draw it on the near side, Stoln out of a field at _Chelmsford_, _21 February_ instant, from Mr. _Henry Bullen_. Whosoever can bring tidings to the said Mr. _Bullen_ at _Bromfield_, or to Mr. _Newman_ at the Grocer's Arms in _Cornhil_, shall have 20_s._ for his pains.--_Mercurius Politicus_, February 24, 1659.