XX 
MEMOIR OP 
“ As youth is the most favourable time to establish 
a man’s good fortune in the world, and as his success in 
life depends, in a great measure, on his prudent endeavours, 
and unwearied perseverance, I have resolved to make one 
bold push for the united interests of pack and poems. 
Nor can any one justly blame me for it, since experience 
has now convinced me, that the merit I am possessed of 
(which is certainly considerable) might lie for ever buried 
in obscurity, without such an attempt. I have, therefore, 
fitted up a proper budget, consisting of silks, muslins, 
prints, &c. for the accommodation of those good people 
who may prove my customers, — a sufficient quantity of 
proposals for my poetical friends ; and, to prevent those 
tedious harangues, which otherwise I would be obliged to 
deliver at every threshold, I have, according to the custom 
of the most polite pedlars, committed the contents of my 
pack to a handbill, though in a style somewhat remote 
from any I have yet seen : — 
ADVERTISEMENT EXTRAORDINARY. 
Fair ladies, I pray, for one moment to stay, 
Until with submission I tell you, 
What muslins so curious, for uses so various, 
A poet has here brought to sell you. 
Here’s handkerchiefs charming ; book-muslins like ermine, 
Brocaded, striped, corded, and check’d ; 
Sweet Venus, they say, on Cupid’s birth -day. 
In British-made muslins was deck’d. 
If these can’t content ye, here’s muslins in plenty, 
From one shilling up to a dozen, 
That Juno might wear, and more beauteous appear, 
When she means the old Thunderer to cozen. 
Here are fine jaconets, of numberless sets. 
With spotted and sprigged festoons ; 
And lovely tambours, with elegant flowers. 
For bonnets, cloaks, aprons, or gowns. 
