The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON.

To the Printer:

It is with great concern, that I find the late truly patriotic and public spirited attempt of our oppressed peruke-makers, in endeavouring to restore the general use of perukes treated with so much levity and contempt. These worthy friends of their country have been esteemed on this account as a people without heads, or with heads no better than the blocks they make use of; whereas it is demonstrable, that not only the civil liberties, but even the religion of the people depend upon their wearing perukes.

If we look into the history of former times, we shall find that England never flourished more than when perukes were in fashion. The distractions in the reign of King Charles the First, we all know, were occasioned by Round-Heads, who wore their own hair cropt. The Son, upon his restoration, to prevent faction and rebellion, wisely wore a large peruke; and the glorious King William, who brought about the Revolution, did the same. History is silent whether Queen Anne wore a tete or her own hair, but we need only to go into Westminster-Abbey to be satisfied, that that great and good minister, Lord Godolphin, wore a most ample peruke, the very cutting of which in time only must have cost a prodigious sum. Those indeed were most glorious times in comparison with these, when the perukes of our prime ministers, admirals and generals, could not have been made for less than fifty guineas. I am unwilling to draw invidious comparisons: I shall only observe, that far from wishing to see Lord Bute's naked head upon Temple Bar, I wish to see it in a full-bottom; and I am confident, that the Marquis of Granby, as well as Caesar, would have been still greater heroes, had they covered their bald pates.

The influence which perukes have with respect to religion, is evident to any one who considers that it is to the reformation we owe the orthodox feather top of our clergy. The superstition of our Roman Catholic priests obliges many of them to shave the crowns of their heads, and go bare-pated. The Pope wears his own grey hair; and I should be sorry ever to see an Archbishop of Canterbury look like the Pope. The most like one was Archbishop Laud, who we know was popishly affected, and wore his own hair, for which he deservedly lost his head.

Our Right Reverend and most of our reverend dignified clergy, are truly orthodox in this respect: but it is lamented, that Infidelity has prevailed amongst us ever since the introduction of bag-fronts, scratch-bobs and naturals into some of our pulpits.

I could bring many more instances, were they requisite to show the use and benefit of perukes. Since the discarding of these distinguishing signs (as it were) upon the pent-house of the body, all rank and order has been destroyed or confounded amongst us. It is now hard to distinguish the servant from the master, or the peer from the mechanick. Nine hairs on a side, and a black bag, or a quarter of a yard of ribbon behind, at once dubs a man a gentleman; whereas formerly the quality of the wearer was measured by the length, and computed by the fulness of his peruke. The three professions, it is true, of law, physick and divinity, still retain their ancient honor in this particular: the graver sort too of the citizens of London have not been corrupted; but, excepting in these instances, how has the whole nation been degenerated. I am Sir,

Your humble Servant,

A Friend to Perukes.