serving. One young man I knew well, who was just married, when he received a summons to attend at the Court-house in Wellclose Square, to shew cause, if he had any, why he should not be sworn in; and, as he had very considerable objections to serving His Majesty in the Tower Hamlets' Militia, he hit upon the following expedient to avoid it. He went home, and feigned to be extremely ill; sent for the doctor, and made a variety of complaints; took all the physic that was sent him, laid in bed, and let his beard grow until the time came for his appearance, when, borrowing a pair of crutches, he hobbled along to the Court-house; and on presenting himself before the magistrate, his reply to the usual question, as to what objection he had to serve, was, that he had been very ill, and was very poor, but if they would give him a ticket for the hospital, as soon as he was recovered he would be at their
service. The fellow's appearance was altogether so emaciated and miserable, that the worthy and sagacious functionary at once