"Sir,

"As you are both a Knight and a Gentleman (which now-a-days don't
always meet in one Man) I will make bold to Expostulate with you
upon a Bill depending in the House of Commons, I mean that
against _Duelling_. Every good Subject has a right of dissenting
to any Bill propos'd, either by petition, or Pamphlet, before it
passes into a Law; and this concerns the Honour of all Orders of
Men from the Prince to the private Gentleman. I make free to tell
you in a Word, if this passes, there's an End of _good Manhood_
in the King's Dominions. How must all the Important Quarrels,
which happen in Life, among men of Honour, be decided? Must a
heedless sawcy Coxcomb frown, or tread upon a Gentleman's Toes
with Impunity? No, I suppose, the great Cause of Honour must be
determined by the womanish Revenge of Scolding; and when two
Peers or Gentlemen have had some manly Difference, they must
chuse their _Seconds_ from _Billingsgate_ or the _Bar_--Consider,
Sir, how many brave Gentleman have comfortably kept good Company,
and had their Reckoning always paid, only by shewing a _broad
Blade_, and cherishing a fierce Pair of _Whiskers_. Good Manners
must certainly die with Chivalry; for what keeps all the pert
Puppies about Town in Awe, but the Fear of being call'd to
Account? Don't you know that there are a Set of impertinent
Wretches, who are always disturbing publick Assemblies with Riots
and Quarrels, only upon a presumption of being hinder'd from
fighting, by the Crowd? There will be no end of such Grievances,
if this Law takes Place. Besides, Sir, I hope it will be
consider'd, what will become of us Brothers of the Blade; the Art
we profess will grow of no Use to Mankind; and, of Consequence,
we shall be expos'd to Poverty and Disgrace. Consider, Sir, how
many bright Qualifications must go to the finishing one of us; we
require Parts as elegant, generous, and manly, as any Profession
whatsoever; therefore, I hope, that some publick Spirit in the
House of Commons, who is a Lover of his Country, and a Friend to
Arts and Sciences, will start up and distinguish himself against
this Bill. You know that our Profession is justly call'd the
Noble _Science_ of _Defence_, and makes a considerable Branch of
the _Mathematicks_; if the Ignorant should gain th