ted to receive from time to time the
overtures of the enemy. During the whole winter, the Ministers of France
have used their utmost skill in forming such answers as might amuse the
Allies, in hopes of a favourable event; either in the north, or some
other part of Europe, which might affect some part of the alliance too
nearly to leave it in a capacity of adhering firmly to the interest of
the whole. In all this transaction, the French king's own name has been
as little made use of as possible: but the season of the year advancing
too fast to admit of much longer delays in the present condition of
France, Monsieur Torcy, in the name of the king, sent a letter to
Monsieur Petticum, wherein he says, that "the king is willing all the
preliminary articles shall rest as they are during the treaty for the
37th."

Upon the receipt of this advice, passports were sent to the French
Court, and their Ministers are expected at Moerdyk on the 5th of the
next month.

_Sheer Lane, February 20._

I have been earnestly solicited for a further term, for wearing the
farthingale by several of the fair sex, but more especially by the
following petitioners:

"The humble petition of Deborah Hark, Sarah Threadpaper and Rachael
Thimble, spinsters, and single women, commonly called
Waiting-maids, in behalf of themselves and their sisterhood;

"SHEWETH,

"That your Worship hath been pleased to order and command, that no
person or persons shall presume to wear quilted petticoats, on
forfeiture of the said petticoats, or penalty of wearing ruffs,
after the 17th instant now expired.

"That your petitioners have time out of mind been entitled to wear
their ladies' clothes, or to sell the same.

"That the sale of the said clothes is spoiled by your Worship's
said prohibition.

"Your petitioners therefore most humbly pray, that your Worship
would please to allow, that all gentlewomen's gentlewomen may be
allowed to wear the said dress, or to repair the loss of such a
perquisite in such manner as your Worship shall think fit.

"And your petitioners," &c.

I do allow the allegations of this petition to be just, and forbid all
persons but the petitioners, or those who shall purchase from them, to
wear the said garment after the date hereof.

[Footnote 107: Nichols suggests that this paper may be by Addison, and
it is certainly not unlikely that he was