[179] "As for the satirical part of these writings, those against the gentlemen who profess gaming are the most licentious: but the main of them I take to come from losing gamesters, as invectives against the fortunate; for in very many of them I was very little else but the transcriber. If any have been more particularly marked at, such persons may impute it to their own behaviour before they were touched upon, in publicly speaking their resentment against the author, and professing they would support any man who should insult him." (No. 271.)
[180] The story of the capture of Troy through Sinon's treachery, by help of a wooden horse, is told in the second book of the "Æneid." Sinon, as Dryden puts it, was
"Taken, to take--who made himself their prey, T'impose on their belief, and Troy betray."
In the original editions "Sinon" is misprinted "Simon."
[183] There was a public-house called the George and Dragon at Billingsgate.
[184] "Julius Cæsar," act ii. sc. 1 ("Let's carve," &c.).
[185] _Cf._ the story of Mr. Thomas Charlton in the "Memoirs of Gamesters," &c., p. 150. Tickell alludes to this letter in his verses to the _Spectator_, printed in No. 532:--
"From felon gamesters the raw squire is free, And Britain owes her rescued oaks to thee."
[186] The original handbill in the British Museum (Harl. MSS., Badford's Coll. 5996) shows that the real names of the two candidates, called in the _Tatler_ Sir Arthur de Bradly and Sir Humphry Greenhat, were Sir Ambrose Crowley and Sir Benjamin Green. The name of Crowley's agent, and those of his witnesses, are only marked by Steele with their initial and final letters. In every other respect, dates not excepted, the papers are word for word the same. The candidates were Sir Ambrose Crowley and Deputy Gough on one side; and Sir Benj. Green and Deputy Tooley on the other. On Sept. 23, 1709, the majority was declared for the two latter without a poll. (_Post Boy_, Sept. 22-24, 1709.)
[187] John Midgley. The witnesses were James Hallet, Jeremy Gough, and Edward Davis (Harl. MSS., 5996).
From _Tuesday, Sept. 27_, to _Thursday, Sept. 29, 1709_.
The writer of the following letter has made a use of me, which I did not foresee I should fall into. But the gentleman having assured me, that he has a most tender passion for the fair one, and speaking his intentions with so much sincerity, I am willing to let them contrive an interview by my means.