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sporting250Suffolk: A gentleman with a small independent fortune was surcharged for keeping a livery servant and not giving in a proper return to the assessors; but he appealed, and positively swore that he neither kept nor employed any male servant, except a laborer who sometimes came for a day to clean his garden. However, the surveyor soon after, feeling himself better informed, surcharged him a second time, with the addition of an indictment for perjury. The gentleman appeared before the commissioners with his servant in livery with him, but to the no small disappointment of Mr. Inspector, he proved his servant to be a female in male attire. As their Worships knew of no law to prevent a man putting his maid into livery if he so chose, the gentleman was immediately dismissed.”

The Sporting Magazine, March 1805

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