Chapter CXXXIII: Letter CXXXI: For the +General Advertiser+

August 29, 1780.

FRIEND EDITOR,

“IN the multitude of Counsellors there is wisdom,” sayeth the preacher--and at this present crisis of national jeopardy, it seemeth to me befitting for every honest man to offer his mite of advice towards public benefit and edification.--The vast bounties offered for able-bodied men sheweth the zeal and liberality of our wise lawgivers--yet indicateth a scarcity of men. Now, they seem to me to have overlooked one resource (which appears obvious); a resource which would greatly benefit the people at large (by being more usefully employed), and which are happily half-trained already for the service of their country, by being _powder-proof_, light, active, young fellows:--I dare say you have anticipated my scheme, which is to form ten companies at least, out of the very numerous body of hair-dressers:--they are, for the most part, clean, clever, young men--and, as observed above, the utility would be immense:--the ladies, by once more getting the management of their heads into their own hands, might possibly regain their native reason and œconomy--and the gentlemen might be induced by mere necessity to comb and care for their own heads;--those (I mean) who have heads to care for.--If the above scheme should happily take place, among the many advantages too numerous to particularize, which would of course result from it, one not of the least magnitude would be a prodigious saving in the great momentous article of time; people of the _ton_ of both sexes (to speak within probability) usually losing between two or three hours daily on that important business.--My plan, Mr. Editor, I have the comfort to think, is replete with good;--it tends to serve my king and country in the first instance--and to cleanse, settle, and emancipate from the cruel bondage of French, as well as native frizeurs, the heads of my fellow-subjects.

Yours, &c.

+Africanus.+