"That it be part of the office of the Chairman to take notice of the breach of any of our orders, to enquire of every member how he hath discharged the business that was allotted him at the last meeting, and what difficulties he hath met with, in order to find out proper remedies. To read over the agreement of this Society once a month. To read over the minutes of what hath been resolved upon at the end of every meeting,
and the list of the members; and to go or send to such as have been absent twice successively, without a just excuse known to some member of the Society; and, the next time any such persons shall be present, the Chairman for the time being shall put them in mind of the great importance of the business they are engaged in, and of the obligations they have laid themselves under by their subscriptions to attend the meetings of this Society.
"That we endeavour to find out proper persons to be brought into this Society; and that no member shall be proposed for a member but when four or more of the Society are present; and that none shall be admitted into this Society till he hath been proposed by three several meetings, and are thought to be men of piety and temper; and that after any person hath been proposed a second time for a member, two persons shall be appointed by the major part of the Society to make enquiry concerning his life and conversation.
"That in cases of difficulty that shall occur, we consult the learned in the Law, or other proper persons, that we by no means go further than the Law will warrant us.
"That we keep an exact account of our proceedings in a book kept for that purpose.
"That the debates and resolutions of the Society be kept secret; and, therefore, no person
shall be admitted to be present at any debate, in any meeting, that is not a member, unless upon special occasion, and by agreement of the majority present.
"That we look upon ourselves as under a peculiar obligation to pray for the Reformation of the Nation in general, and to implore the Divine direction and blessing upon this our undertaking in particular[96:A]."
Every man may be considered as included within this class, who hazards a falsehood to forward his views, whether they are in the course of trade, or deviate into cheating. Mr. Sheridan, in the Critick, forcibly exposes the various kinds of puffs used by Tradesmen and Authors; and he classes them very justly into the puff direct, indirect, &c. The first instance which occurs of a case in point, after 1700, is the following from a Hair-dresser, which fraternity is notorious for extreme modesty and truth in their addresses to the publick: "Whereas a pretended Hair-cutter, between the Maypole in the Strand and St. Clement's church, hath, without any provocation, maliciously abused Jenkin Cuthbeartson behind his back, at several persons' houses, and at his own shop, which hath been very much to his disadvantage, by saying that he was a pitiful fellow and a blockhead, and that he did not
understand how to cut hair or shave: I therefore, the said Jenkin Cuthbeartson, think myself obliged to justify myself, and to let the world know that I do understand my trade so far, that I challenge the aforesaid pretended hair-cutter, or any that belongs to him, either to shave or cut hair, or any thing that belongs to the trade, for five or ten pounds, to be judged by two sufficient men of our trade, as witness my hand this 9th day of November, 1702, Jenkin Cuthbeartson, King-street, Westminster[97:A]."