410 Details relative to 
very nature of their business, that 
fishermen, their families, their cloaths, 
—even their habitations,—must be so 
highly impregnated with a fishy efflu- 
via, as would almost prevent the ap- 
proach of contagion, without any other 
precaution. No one, 1 think, who has 
been at Billingsgate when there was a 
full market of sprats or mackarel, will 
deny this position; and, certainly, if 
they can escape disease with such a 
vile atmosphere of their own around 
them, they may set every evil at de- 
fiance that is conveyed atmospherical- 
_ly, I should imagine. 
Those who have read well authen- 
ticated accounts of the awful plague 
that once devastated this metropolis, 
will recollect that persons engaged in 
certain trades and occupations entirely 
escaped the dreadful visitation, such 
as tallow-melters, slanghtermen, to- 
hbacconists, nightmen, &c. and I be- 
lieve that money was given at that 
time for the privilege of remaining in 
such establishments till the mischief 
had abated. J. M. Lacey. 
Fr 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
OUR Warminster correspondent, 
H. W. desires, analogically, to 
make a closure of the discussion rela- 
tive to an illustrious defunct and his 
fair Quaker; but I, making use of a 
similar analogy, and dissatisfied with 
his summing up, am preparing to re- 
new the original motion, during this 
the succeeding sessions. 
In the first place, I should state, 
-that the intrigue and abduction in 
question, made so little noise at the 
time, that very few individuals knew 
any thing of it, the town absolutely 
nothing at all. Axford, the grocer at 
the corner of the Old Bailey, with 
whom, in fact, I dealt nearly half a 
century since, a heavy and silent man, 
I understood, would never communi- 
cate a word on the subject. H. W. 
says, ““To put a stop to these visits 
(of the prince,) was the reason of get- 
ting her married to Axford.” This 
appears to me a doubtful solution. 
The greater probability is, that such 
marriage was a matter of arrangement 
between the high contracting parties, 
through the mediation of a certain 
-eminent surgeon of that day, equally 
-eminent also in another, and far more 
lucrative and honourable department. 
This, at any rate, was suspected; and 
the Fair Quaker. [Dec. 1, 
the only objection seems to be, the co- 
habitation after the ceremony, gene- 
rally contrary to royal etiquette. But 
who shall affirm that such cohabitation 
really took place. The presumption 
is strongly against it, and the profound 
silence of all the family seems to jus- 
tify the idea of a regular treaty. Were 
it consistent with good manners, I 
could easily point out some persons 
now living, who had a cotemporary 
acquaintance with this subject, and 
who could explain all the chief parti- 
culars ; the retirement of the lady, the 
children (they were few) whichissued 
from the connexion, and their subse- 
quent destination in life. It was un- 
questionably military with regard to one 
son, but it is denied that he ever 
reached the rank of a general officer. 
He was said to have been seen in com- 
pany with Dr. M at Paris, at 
the commencement of the French 
revolution, the Dr. well knowing him 
and his history. 
These researches I hold not only to 
be curious and amusing, but of a far 
more important character, for reasons 
too obvious to call for detail ; and, far 
from confining our researches to the - 
Quaker part of that ancient privilege 
of which our late good, and gracious, 
and favourite monarch, so extensively 
availed himself, I would wish to ex- 
tend them throughout the whole circle, 
laying hold on his royal example, and 
diverting ourselves thereby. To this 
we can certainly claim some, if not a 
prescriptive right, standing, both our 
fathers and ourselves, in the case, as 
his majesty’s patrons. From such a 
patriarch, no doubt but the history of a 
good round left-handed family, Eng- 
lish and German, may be produced. 
To address such as are qualified to 
become correspondents on this inter- 
esting subject, I would advise that 
some particulars be published relative 
to the affair of that other Quaker lady 
who laid so strong hold on the affections 
of the royal Adonis. It was known in 
several private families, as well as at 
court. That lady’s family was highly 
respectable; and, as I have many 
years since heard it hinted, the attempt 
Was instantly and peremptorily dis- 
countenanced by the lady, although in 
the mild and retiring manner of those 
of her persuasion. Of her subsequent 
condition in life I have never been 
informed. CurIosus. 
Clapham, September 5. 
Toe 
