"I suppose you know we women are not too apt to forgive: for which reason, before you concern yourself any further with our sex, I would advise you to answer what is said against you by those of your own. I enclose to you business enough till you are ready for your promise of being witty. You must not expect to say what you please without admitting others to take the same liberty. Marry come up! You a censor? Pray read over all these pamphlets, and these notes[72] upon your Lucubrations; by that time you shall hear further. It is, I suppose, from such as you that people learn to be censorious, for which I and all our sex have an utter aversion, when once people come to take the liberty to wound reputations——"
This is the main body of the letter; but she bids me turn over, and there I find:
"Mr. Bickerstaff,
"If you will draw Mrs. Sissy Trippit according to the enclosed description, I will forgive you all."
"To Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq.
"The humble Petition of Joshua Fairlove of Stepney:
"Showeth—That your petitioner is a general lover, who for some months last past has made it his whole business to frequent the bypaths and roads near his dwelling, for no other purpose but to hand such of the fair sex as are obliged to pass through them.
"That he has been at great expense for clean gloves to offer his hand with.