[136] Howell's State Trials, vol. i., p. 1343. [137] Todd's edit. of Spenser, vol. i., p. cxli. [138] Godwin's History or the Commonwealth, vol. i., p. 410. [139] Boswell, vol. iv., p. 276. [140] Trivia; or the Art of Walking the Streets of London, book iii. Of a similar, and more perplexing facetiousness was the trick of extracting wigs out of hackney coaches. "The thieves," says the _Weekly Journal_ (March 30, 1717), "have got such a villanous way now of robbing gentlemen, that they cut holes through the backs of hackney coaches, and take away their wigs, or fine head-dresses of gentlewomen; so a gentleman was served last Sunday in Tooley Street, and another but last Tuesday in Fenchurch Street; wherefore this may serve as a caution to gentlemen and gentlewomen that ride single in the night-time, to sit on the fore-seat, which will prevent that way of robbing."--Malcolm's Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London during the Eighteenth Century, second edit., vol. i., p. 104. [141] Londinium Redivivum, vol. ii. [142] Second Part of Henry IV. act 3. sc. 2. [143] Birch's Negotiations, pp. 206, 207, quoted in the work above mentioned, p. 189. Whenever we quote from any authorities but the original, we beg the reader to bear in mind, first, that we always notice our having done so; and, secondly, that we make a point of comparing the originals with the report. Both Monmouth and Birch, for example, have been consulted in the present instance. [144] We allude to the celebrated saying of Gibbon respecting the Fairy Queen. [145] In his Letters on the English Nation. But we quote from memory. [146] We conclude so from our authorities in both instances. Mr. Malcolm's Londinium Redivivum, vol. iii., p. 398. [147] See his life in Chalmers's General Biographical Dictionary, vol. v., p. 280. [148] General Biographical Dictionary, 8vo., 1812, vol. vii. [149] Letters on the English Nation. [150] Life, in Chalmers's English Poets, p. 26. [151] Spence's Anecdotes, p. 376. [152] Idem, p. 46. [153] Memoirs of the Life, Writings, &c., of William Congreve, Esq., 1730, p. xi. Curll discreetly omits his name in the titlepage. [On reconsidering this interview (though we have no longer the book by us, and therefore speak from memory) we are doubtful, whether the lady was not Mrs. Bracegirdle, instead of the duchess.] [154] Lives of the Poets, &c., by Mr. Cibber and others, 1753. [155] Pennant's London, _ut supra_, p. 124. Swift's Letters to Stella. The particulars of the case are taken from Howell's State Trials. vol. xii., p. 947.