If any Tradesman has been injuriously treated by theStewardor theHouse-keeper, who seldom stand high in the Esteem of these lower Domesticks, the Fees are then dispensed with, and they are admittedgratis, or more properly informa Pauperis, because the Complaint may prove of such a nature, as to bring about a Change in the Ministry of the House, and be the Means of an insolent, haughty, over-bearing Spirit being dismiss'd the Family, andTe Deumsung in theKitchenand the other lower Offices for a Revolutionabove-stairs.
A Man stone-blind may as soon attempt to view the Sun, as aTradesmanor aPauperto attempt the sight of a Great Man without paying the above Dues; for my Lord shall at one time bevery ill, and at anotherjust gone out: one Day he isindisposed, andrested badly, and another Daybetter, butsees no Company; and have these constant regular Intermissions ofSicknessandHealthfor three or four Months together.
SometimesCredithas indeed been given in these Cases, but then they have known, and been pretty sure of their Men. A Gentleman, who had many times met with thesePut-offsat the Door of a Nobleman, came one day to the Porter with two Half-Crown Pieces, chinking them from one Hand to the other, upon which his Lordship happened to beat home. Having got his Pass to him, and done his Business, hereturn'd thro' the Hall with the Money in his Pocket, smiling upon the Porter, who he had thus decently deceiv'd.
A Widow, who had once sold a Fan of Half a Guinea Price to a Person of Quality, the Porter refused to let her go out of the Door without payingher Fee, and kept her in durance. She desired to know his Demands; he told her, a Shilling: Upon this, she gave him a Crown, bidding him give her Change, which he did. It happen'd to be a Brass Piece, which he not perceiving, the Woman got out in haste, to avoid being detected; but when she came to look on her Money, she found the Fellow had given her four Leaden Shillings in the change of it.
The Duties of Tonnage and Poundage, which theUpper Servants, as they call themselves, have imposed upon Tradesmen who serve the Families that entertain them, are very far from being thought sufficient and satisfactory. For besides a Butcher, Poulterer, or Fishmonger's being at the constant beck of the Clerk to a Kitchin, or the Groom of a Chamber, to follow him to a Tavern in the Morning, and bring something that'spretty, to compose a Breakfast for two or three hungry Fellows out of Business, as he shall have in his Company, they must, I say, moreover learn the Art of Brewing, and keep constantly a Cup of good nappy Ale in their Houses, to entertain the Cook, and all the other Gentry of the Kitchen, when they shall please to make aVisit. A Tradesman must lend his Money, pass his Word, stand Bail for Arrests, and Sponsor at Christenings, and now and then be a Surety to the Parish for a Bastard Child. He must do all this, and a greatdeal more, or else every thing he furnishes shall be found fault with: They shall tell him what application has been made by others for the Custom, what pains they have taken to defeat it, and how often they are forc'd to stand in the Gap for him, when his Goods have been complain'd of, and his Discharge actually order'd.
A Coachmaker once assured me, that he seldom made a Coach or Chariot for any Person of great Quality, but that what with the chief of the Men-servants running after himself, and the Women-servants after his Wife, he has been put to such an Expence, as would have fairly bought a pair of Horses to have drawn the Equipage.
Asmanyof our News-Papers are charged with playingTrickswith the Publick, I shall make bold to mention a few of them; and they are chiefly these,Falsity,Absurdity, andTrifling. We are frequently amused with theLivesandActionsof Persons that were neverborn; and with theDeathsof those that neverliv'd; and large Estates devis'd by People that never enjoy'd them, nor indeed ever claim'd any Right so to do.
An Author, in theMorning, gives us an Account of the Death of a Person of Note and Eminence, whose Condition hath entitled him to a Place in his Paper; he tells us the Place, Day, Hour, and the Minute he expir'd, with a long detail of the Fortune and Merit he was possessed of. A Writer for theEveningenters hisCaveatagainst some Particulars of theFact, and declares his Brother hath had anill Information; for that the Party did not depart atthe Time mention'd in his Paper, and that himself only is in possession of the truth; and avers, that it happen'd above half an Hour after that Time, and at a different Place than what the other has reported it. The next Day a Third starts up, with a grievous Complaint of theTown's being impos'd upon, and triumphs in a more genuine and exact Account than either of 'em. He insists upon it, that he did not fairly leave the World till full fourteen Minutes and fifty nine Seconds after the time both the others have brought it down to; and moreover maintains, that the Demise in dispute happen'd at a Seat in the Country, and not at an House in the Town,as has been falsly publish'd in the other Papers.
They are now all together by the ears about settling of theWill, and disposing of theEstate. After a great deal of wrangling upon those Heads, they begin to consider that theCorpsemust have Christian Burial; they turn their Thoughts to that Point, and begin to settle theFuneral. One Author is forits lying in State; another will not come into it, but declares for aprivate Interment. At last a Writerburies it in a most magnificent manner, in a Church some Miles distant fromLondon; and his Antagonist performs theFuneralat another Church fifty Miles farther than that, and in a moredecent way. Next a Paper gives us the Names of those that supported thePall, together with who was thechief Mourner. This is so provoking to him who could not lay hold on thisIntelligence in time, that he is resolv'd to be even with his Rival; so that the next News we hear, are the Heads of theSermonthat was preach'd at theFuneral.
The Friends and Acquaintance of theDeceas'd, that may be remote from the Town, and have nothing else to govern them but theseAdvices, believe the main of them; and notwithstanding their Perplexities and Variation, all credit theDeathof their oldFriend, and begin to descant on the Actions of hisLife, some conjecturing what he must havedied worth, and what a Man he might have been, was it not for such a Failing; and others, how long they had remembred and been acquainted with him,&c.
When the Story has gone this length, and begins to be old, and almost obliterated, the News-Paper that was most forward in publishing it, to the astonishment of all Mankind, cries outpeccavi, and confesses how he wasimposed on; acknowledgeshis Sorrow and Contrition, andheartily begs Pardon of the Publick,and the Person, whom he now maintains to bealive, and in good health; and says, thatthe Report of his Death, as publish'd in his, andother Papers, is entirelyfalse, groundless, and without any manner of Foundation.
There have been Instances of Women who have been frighten'd intoMiscarriages, and some even toDeath, at the unexpected Visits of their Friends, (whom, upon theCreditof the Papers) they have verily believed to have been as really dead as their great Grandmothers were. A Lady of Quality, that is become superannuated, is not to confine herself to Books of Devotion alone; People are not born for themselves only; no, no, as ancient as she is, she must yet do some Service to the Society. Says an Author, what, Shallher Gracefancy herself as hailat Fourscore as she was at Forty? Accordingly, he lends her his Hand, and she is ledvery dangerously illinto his Paper. The next Morning he is obliged to retract it, and so the Publick are GainerstwoParagraphs by it.
Nor shall a LordSpiritualorTemporal, that has attain'd his Grand Climacterical Year, and yet remains in a good state of Mind and Body, lie idle, but must occasionally beextremely ill, attended by sundry Physicians, andgiven over; when a Dearth of Tales and Tidings shall cause a Chasm in the Paper. The Persons so mention'd, read these Relations themselves, and oftentimes with much pleasure, because they receive a real Benefit by 'em: for they divert the Spleen and Vapours, natural to old Age, and so prove a happy Means of preserving them alive, much longer than some People perhaps may care for.
A noble Lord, in a high Station, that is pretty far advanced in Years, never rises from his Bed, but asks,Am I in the Papers?For it has been an Observation made by most People, that his Name has been made use of for beinggreatly indispos'd;finely mended;dangerously relaps'd;in a fair way of Recovery;going to, and returning from the Country; and beingsent for by Expresses to assist at Councils, that have not been held, andBoardsthat have not met,on Business of great Importance, constantlyde Die in Diem, in one Paper or other, for several years together.
A Man may better venture to take a Purse from a Merchant uponChange, than aJudgeto take an airing in his Coach, without being taken intoCustodyof a News-Writer for it. I have known them give such minute Accountsof the times of the Judgessetting outfor this Place and from that Place in their private Capacities, that some of them have actually suspended their Journeys, to prevent Highway-mens taking the Hint, and lying in ambush for them on the Roads.
I am told of a certainGreat Manwho hath been most grosly affronted and vilify'd bycertain Papersfrom Week to Week, Month to Month, and from Year to Year, for a very long Series of Time; and who hath publickly declar'd, that nothing shall provoke him to depart from a Maxim which he has long laid down,viz. That 'tis better one Man be perpetually abus'd, than Thousands perish.
AboutMichaelmas, an Author has told us inPrint, he wasassuredthatChristmas-Day would be on the 25th ofDecemberfollowing. If the Man has not been starv'd before the time, but surviv'd to St.Stephen's Day, and seen his wonderful Prediction happen and come to pass; 'tis pleasant to observe, how he glories and exults in his next Paper, telling us,It is agreeable to what was formerly publish'd in his, and in no other Paper; and sets a high value on his Judgment for anticipating his Brethren, the other Writers, who look like Fools at one another, to see themselves thus jockey'd out of soremarkablea piece ofIntelligence.
One Day we are told of aReformof theArmy, and the next of aPromotionofGeneral Officers. 'Tis merry enough to see a Colonel of a Regiment in a Coffee-House, reading a News-Paper, that informs him of a Gentleman being madeLieutenant-Colonel to a Company of Foot; and of aGeneralofHorsebeingpromoted to the Rank ofCaptain-Lieutenantin his own Regiment; of which the Papers extant have afforded us numberless Instances. We often read of someDuke, who is called eldest Son and Heir apparent to aViscountorBaron, going to, or returning from his Travels.
A dignify'd Clergyman, who had given a few Sacks of Coals amongst some poor People in hard Weather, happen'd to come intoBrown's Coffee-House inSpring-Garden, where some of the Gentlemen cry'd out,Doctor, you're in the Papers. The Gentleman seem'd to be greatly surprized at the thing:What impudent Rascal has made free with my Character?answers the Priest. Upon which one, with an audible Voice, read out the Paragraph, which contained nothing more than a fine Encomium on his Charity. The Doctor said, indeed there was someTruthin it; but then,how impertinent it was in any Fellow to make such a trifling Affair the Burden of his Paper. This gave occasion for various Reflections on the Papers in general. ThePrinterhappen'd to be present, and heard himself, and others of his Fraternity abused, in this manner for some time. Several Gentlemen that were his Acquaintance, thought it far better to be silent, than to interfere in his favour, because that might tend to expose him to the Doctor's farther Clamour and Resentment. After theDivinehad harangued the Company with a longDiscourseupon the Insolence of Authors, Printers, and Publishers; thePrinterpull'd out of his Pocket theCopyfrom which thisinjurious Articlehad been printed, and which appear'd, to the entire Satisfaction of every one present, to be the Doctor's own Hand-Writing. The Printer further declar'd, that he knew no more of the matter, than that his Servants, in his absence, receiv'd the usual Price of three Shillings and Six-pence, for its being inserted in his Paper.
The Tricks which have been put upon the weak and credulous part of Mankind during the Drawing of the late State-Lottery by letting out what were calledHorsesandChancesto Women and Children, are wonderful. There was a Gentlewoman, not far from St.Dunstan's Church inFleet-Street, who having the Misfortune to fall in with the Opinion of many, that the Tickets would still come down toPar, had therefore neglected to provide herself till the Premiums were got so high that she chose rather than purchase aTicket, to put herselfin Fortune's WaybyRiding. Being recommended to thehonestest Brokerin theAlley, she gotmountedupon a veryodd Number, and one which had been successful in a former Lottery. She grew more familiar with Morning and Evening Prayers than ever. One day she fasted, another day feasted, and when a sturdy Beggar ask'd her Assistance, they were not put off withYou're able to work, but were sure of Relief. Her Maids were treated as though they had been her nearest Relations, and her Children could do nothing to ruffle her Temper. In a word, she declared for nothing but Acts of Charity and Piety, and never had such a Harmony been seen before in the Family. If anyone knocked at the Door in haste, she grew pale, and was all over in a Trembling, expecting it to be thejoyful News; and, by way of Precaution, she had spoke to aSurgeonto beready upon a short Notice, because she intended to losea few Ounces, to prevent the Consequence of aSurprize. She keptde die in diemrenewing her Ticket, upon the Information of a little blind Office whither the Broker carried her, that it remain'dundrawn. Three Weeks past, and she could hear no Tales or Tidings of either of theTen Thousands, notwithstanding the many thousand good things she vow'd to do, if MadamFortunewould but for once vouchsafe to become her humble Servant; resolving not to be discouraged, because herDreamsstill assured that there was some good thing in store for her in theWheel. She continued renewing her Ticket till the last Week of the Drawing, when being advised to consult the Register at the Lottery-Office inWhitehall, she had the sorrowful Satisfaction to find how she had been abused, theTicketwhich she had hired for thirty-two Days at the different Prices theHorsesbore, having been drawn aBlankthe second day of theLottery.
A little Lotteryof all Prizes and no Blanks, for disposing of a few Trifles, being put up by a Tradesman in the City, the highest Prize was aPint Silver Mug: any one might become an Adventurer for Six-pence, and the Adventurers were to put their Hands in the Glass, and draw the Tickets themselves. A Sharper having got amongst the Croud, contrived a Ticket like those in the Glass, and wrote upon it aPint Silver Mug, and then dextrously concealing it in the Palm of his Hand, put in to draw the Lot: the Ticket being opened, the Master of the Lottery called him all the vilecheating Rogues, saying, he would go before a Magistrate, and make Oath, that the Prize of theSilver Mughad never been put into the Glass.
There are many Persons subsisted merely by frequenting the most notedOrdinariesandEating-Houseswhere the second-hand sort of Gentlemen resort; and there, when they find a better Sword, Hat or Cane, than their own at leisure, make no scruple to bring them away, and are oftentimes so ungenerous as not to leave their old ones in lieu of them. The Persons who fall into thisWay of Life, I have observed, are for the most part of pretty voluble Tongues, and are generally well versed in the Politicks and Histories of their own Times, so as to be able to harangue a Company into a good opinion of their Parts and Capacity; so that when they are taking Leave, to go away, the Company may not regard the Pegs on which those Moveables hang. They also appear decently dress'd, so as to avoid being suspected of making aTradeinstead of aMistakewhen they are detected in these Practices. I have known a large Number of People, after they have heartily filled their Bellies with Beef and Pudding, do notable Services to their Country; two or three have made Reprisals upon theSpanish Guard la Costa'sin theWest-Indies. Others have reduced the Army, and added to the Sinking-Fund. Some have made a safe and honourable Peace, and brought us all to rights at last; and after all this Merit, be rewarded with the loss of their Hats, Canes and Swords, and be forced to march out of a Cook's Shop like a Garrison that has surrendred Prisoners at Discretion, when some of theGentlemenof thisProfessionhave been amongst them.
A Gentleman-like Person being on aChristmas-Daytaking a Walk inQueen-SquarenearOrmond-Street, and observing a handsome Table decked out with the best Damask Linnen, and a Side-Board richly cover'd with Plate,&c.he concluded that an elegant Dinner must not be very distant from those Preparations. Immediately a Coach, containing two Ladies and a Gentleman, stopt at the Door: with an Air of Vivacity he steps forward, and assists the Ladies in coming out of the Coach, and after the mutual Civilities, they all enter the House together, and are received and conducted by the Gentleman of the Family into the Dining-Room; his Lady, Sisters, Daughters, and Nieces are saluted by theGentlemenin the usual manner. Dinner is called, and served up; and theStrangercalls about him for Water, Wine, and every thing he wanted, as though he had been intimately acquainted with the Table. From the Discourse which passed, he became Master of every one's Name present, and made use of them on proper Occasions; and then by a short Story relating to a Rencounter, which he said he was engaged in atParis, the Company laid hold of his Name likewise, and every one became jocose, free, and obliging to each other. When he was called upon for his Toast, he named the most celebrated Beauties of the Age, and the Healths of such Gentlemen as he found were agreeable to the Ladies. In a word, he acquitted himself as became a Man of Mode,and one who kept the best Company. Towards the Evening the Conversation breaks up, and the Gentlemen with the two Ladies take Leave, after a great many Compliments for their Entertainment; and the strange Gentleman having helped to conduct the Ladies into their Coach in the same manner as he had handed them out of it, they in Civility desire to set him down, which he accepted of, and they heard no more of him till they went again to dine at their Friend's House inQueen's-Square, when the Gentleman of the House and all the Ladies roundly rallied them for not bringing their Friend, the well-bred Mr. —— with them to Dinner. They were more surprized, as supposing him to have been an Intimate of the Family's, and had not seen him before the time he had imposed himself upon all the Company for a Dinner.
A certain small Portion of the People obtain Food and Raiment by plying closely the Avenues that lead intoSt. James's Park, and the other privileged Places within the Verge of the Court; they appear like Porters and Chairmen, and some like Operators for the Feet; and have had such Experience in their Business, and are so well skill'd in Physiognomy, that they know aninsolvent Personupon the first sight. The severe Usage his Apparel has met with from the Bristles, or else his conscious Countenance in the shy and suspicious Look he casts over his Shoulder upon every one he hears treading behind him, are the infallible Tokens by which they form their Judgment. Having pitch'd upon their Man, theypursue him at a proper Distance, till they find an Opportunity to speak with him alone, and then tell him a Person has hired them to watch diligently the Route he shall take for that Day, and upon giving notice thereof, they are to be rewarded; but that, being an unfortunate Man himself, and owing much Money, he would not for his Right-hand set a Gentleman into the hands of a Bailiff. The Information carrying such an honest Face with it, cannot fail of being received with due Gratitude. The Insolvent is now obliged to look to himself, and instead of stealing toChelseaorKensingtonfor a little Air, is forced to confine himself to bad Punch and worse Wine at some blind Hedge Coffee-house or Tavern within the Verge of the Court. The Rascal by whom he has thus been impudently imposed upon and terrified, never meets him but begs a Shilling or Six-pence; and having brought, perhaps, a dozen unfortunate Gentlemen more under the same Apprehensions, makes a comfortable Livelyhood of them.
Sometimes they are really employ'd by the Bailiffs to keep a Look-out upon a Gentleman that is appointed to be unharboured; then they betray their Masters by giving him timely Notice of what is intended, and so get more by the Discovery than the Officer would have done by executing the Writ.
A Gentleman had once taken Sanctuary in the Verge, but such pressing Importunities were made to theGreen-Cloth, that he was left to the Mercy of his Creditors, if they could get him into their Power: As his Debts were large, so large Rewards were offered toany Officer who should undertake his Reprizal. A Bailiff for the Sum of Twenty Guineas at last undertook the Job. The Insolvent confined himself close to his Chamber, and had all his Eatables dressed at a Tavern: Having one Night ordered an elegant Supper for a few Ladies at his Lodgings, the Bailiffs got Intelligence of the Hour it was directed to be ready; and having equipp'd himself with a black Callimanco-Waistcoat and Napkin-Cap like a Cook, and his two Followers like Drawers, and furnish'd themselves with cover'd Dishes, Plates, and every thing necessary for Eating: A few Minutes before the time appointed they were all admitted into the Chamber, the Ladies were all in a Hurry to get themselves seated, cryingSupper was come; but the Gentleman perceiving the Cheat, was for taking to his Pistols, but they secured and brought him off Prisoner to the County-Jayl immediately.
A Foreigner of Distinction, who had formerly made the Tour ofEngland, and during his Stay, had contracted very large Debts with several Trades-People, happened a few Months since to return toLondon: he chose to lodge privately, and seldom appeared abroad; but, having purchased some Tickets in the State-Lottery, and entered them at an Office in the City for an Account of their Success to be transmitted to him; his Creditors got knowledge of his Arrival, and the Place of his Abode. One Morning, when he was in aDishabilié, and playing with his Dog, a Sheriff's Officersans Ceremonieentered the Room, and taking a Writ out of his Pocket, shew'd it totheCount, telling him,he arrested him in an Action for Five Hundred Pounds. TheForeignerunderstanding but very littleEnglish, fell to hugging the Bailiff in his Arms, and thrust eight Guineas into his Hand as a Reward, thinking he had brought him the News of a Five Hundred Pound Prize in the Lottery; and then capered about the Room like a Dancing-Master, calling inFrenchto hisValetandInterpreter, who were in an adjacent Room, to come to partake of his Joy. By this time three dirty Ruffians like Street-Robbers were at the Chamber-door, and the whole House in an Uproar. TheCountwas soon convinced of his Error, and obliged to find Bail to the Action; and there being none in the Room but the Bailiff and himself when the Writ was executed, the Rascal absolutely denied the Present ofEight Guineas, and got three more for hisCivility, in not carrying him out of the House.
A noted Town-Sharper being in Company with others of his Acquaintance, and tossing about his Purse with Fifty Guineas in it, swore he must make them an Hundred between Sun and Sun, or else he must be liable to an Arrest, and go to Jayl for the Money. He went to his Lodgings inWestminster, and taking off his Coat and Neckcloth, put on his Night-Gown, and stuck a Pen under his Perriwig, and laying aside his Hat, ordered a Hackney-Coach to be called to the Door; his Order was to be set down atStocks-Market, from thence he walked into a Banker's Shop inLombard-Street, and pointing towards one of the neighbouring Lanes, said, there was an oldwhimsical Lady at his Shop just come to Town, who had required him to get her fifty ofQueen Anne's Guineas in Change of others to carry home with her into the Country; and that, being an extraordinary good Customer, he could not fail obliging her. The Banker's Servant answered, they had, no doubt, a good number of them, but it would give him a great deal of Trouble to tumble over the Cash to find 'em. Upon this the Sharper threw him down three Half-Crowns as a Gratuity, and then several Bags of Gold opened their Mouths upon the Compter: while the Servant was busy in looking them out, the other was as busy to assist him, and every Minute was darting his Hand upon the Heaps, crying,Here's one: there's another, &c. and by the help of some Wax in the hollow of his Hand, he drew away several Guineas every time, which he conveyed into a Handkerchief he held in his Left-hand. When the Number was compleated, they parted, with much Complaisance on each side: but when the Banker came the next Morning to settle the Account of his Cash, he found in hisGolda Deficiency ofSixty Guineas.
A most satyrical Pamphlet against some Persons in Power, having been ushered into the World by an unknown Hand, and being wrote with much Spirit and Vehemence, the Thing had a prodigious Run upon the Town, so that the Profits arising from the Sale were very considerable. ABooksellerin the City, who happened to be the Proprietor of thisLucky Hit, being at his Shop-door one Evening, a Gentleman pretty humbly habited accosted him,and desired leave to exhibit to him aCopyupon a curious Subject, which, he said, was his own Performance, and which he believedwou'd do; he told him of whatUniversityhe was, and by what Means his Merit had miss'd of it's Reward: He was going to apologize for the meanness of his Apparel, when the Bookseller interrupted him with a great Oath, and pointed to a Warehouse of Waste-Paper, which he said was, to his sorrow, the Production of Beaus and Blockheads of Quality; adding, it was a Maxim held by the whole Trade, thata bad Coat always betoken'd a good Poet; and that if he approv'd of hisWork, hisDressshould be no Obstacle to a Bargain: but that withal he seem'd to be Master of too much Modesty, he fear'd, to undertake the Business of his Shop; but if he turn'd out otherwise, and had any tolerable hand at Defamation, he had aFifth Floor, with other Favours at his Service. The Shopkeeper said it was not customary to treat of these Matters at home, and having carried him to his Tavern, he enquir'd the Hour of thePoet's Appetite. A Bottle, with a monstrous Beef-Stake, were soon upon the Table. They now come to Business; the Bookseller was ask'd,If he was a Man of Honour, and could keep a Secret?No Man,he thank'd God, could say otherwise, for that he always endeavour'd to preserve the Character of as honest a Man as the Trade and Business would admit of. The Poet then assur'd him, he was the real Author of that severe Pamphlet against the M—n—ry, which had made such a noise in the World. The Bookseller had not been acquainted with Books alone, he knew something of Men also, and hadtherefore the Presence of Mind to conceal his Surprize at the monstrous Impudence of the Fellow; and giving him a fast squeeze by the Hand, says,Sir, you're my Man:and being willing to have some other Witness of this extraordinary Event, said, Then I must let you into another Secret; and gave him to understand that there was a private Contract between him and another Bookseller in the same Street, by which both their Interests were so consolidated, that the one durst not engross or monopolize to himself any Copy or Author, without the Knowledge and Consent of the other; and so desired he would give leave for his Partner to be sent for, which was readily comply'd with. The poor Man had now two upon his hands; the Bottle went briskly about, and the more merry, the more unmerciful they grew, for the Room was soon fill'd with more Booksellers, Printers, and Stationers, to see this Prodigy of Wit and Satyr: who were all recommended to him asFriends, andWell-wishers to the Cause. He became more unguarded, till at last they extorted from him the Profits accruing by the ingenious Pamphlet, for the writing of which he had set so high a Value upon himself. He was very particular and prolix on that Head, and so soon as he had ended his Relation, the first Bookseller produced, before all the Company, a Receipt, under the Hand of the true Author, for the Money he had paid him for the Copy.