for a lawgiver, and therefore shall lay down no certain rules,
humbly submitting in all things to the wisdom of our legislature.
What I offer shall be under correction; and upon conjecture, my
utmost ambition being but to give some hints to remedy this growing
evil, and leave the prosecution to abler hands.
And first it would be necessary to settle and limit their wages,
from forty and fifty shillings to four and five pounds per annum,
that is to say, according to their merits and capacities; for
example, a young unexperienced servant should have forty shillings
per annum, till she qualifies herself for a larger sum; a servant
who can do all household work, or, as the good women term it, can
take her work and leave her work, should have four pounds per
annum; and those who have lived seven years in one service, should
ever after demand five pounds per annum, for I would very fain have
some particular encouragements and privileges given to such
servants who should continue long in a place; it would incite a
desire to please, and cause an emulation very beneficial to the
public.
I have heard of an ancient charity in the parish of St. Clement’s
Danes, where a sum of money, or estate, is left, out of the
interest or income of which such maid-servants, who have lived in
that parish seven years in one service, receive a reward of ten
pounds apiece, if they please to demand it.
This is a noble benefaction, and shows the public spirit of the
donor; but everybody’s business is nobody’s; nor have I heard that
such reward has been paid to any servant of late years. A thousand
pities a gift of that nature should sink into oblivion, and not be
kept up as an example to incite all parishes to do the like.
The Romans had a law called Jus Trium Liberorum, by which every man
who had been a father of three children, had particular honours and
privileges. This incited the youth to quit a dissolute single life
and become fathers of families, to the support and glory of the
empire.
In imitation of this most excellent law, I would have such
servants, who should continue many years in one service, meet with
singular esteem and reward.
The apparel of our women-servants should be next regulated, that we
may know the mistress from the maid. I remember I was once put
very much to the blush, being at a friend’s house, and by him
required to salute the ladies, I kissed the chamber-jade into the
bargain, for she was as well dressed as the best. But I was soon
undeceived by a general titter, which gave me the utmost confusion;
nor can I believe myself the only person who has made such a
mistake.
Things of this nature would be easily avoided, if servant-maids
were to wear liveries, as our footmen do; or obliged to go in a
dress suitable to their station. What should ail them, but a
jacket and petticoat of good yard-wide stuff, or calimanco, might
keep them decent and warm.
Our charity children are distinguished by their dress, why then may
not our women-servants? why may they not be made frugal per force,
and not suffered to put all on their backs, but obliged to save
something against a rainy day? I am, therefore, entirely against
servants wearing of silks, laces, and other superfluous finery; it
sets them above themselves, and makes their mistresses contemptible
in their eyes. I am handsomer than my mistress, says a young
prinked up baggage, what pity it is I should be her servant, I go
as well dressed, or better than she. This makes the girl take the
first offer to be made a whore, and there is a good servant
spoiled; whereas, were her dress suitable to her condition, it
would teach her humility, and put her in mind of her duty.
Besides the fear of spoiling their clothes makes them afraid of
household-work; so that in a little time we shall have none but
chambermaids and nurserymaids; and of this let me give one
instance; my family is composed of myself and sister, a man and a