The Public Advertiser, London, May 4, 1758

To every Benevolent Reader

The humble Petition of a young Man and his Wife who, with two Infant Children, are reduced by the fatal Necessity of unavoidable Misfortunes to extreme Poverty; the Terror of perishing for Want in a Gaol forces the unhappy Man to confine himself; a tender Education, for they were both well introduced in the World, prevents his being capable of acting in a low laborious Station, a View not very distant may relieve them but immediate Want depends for Relief on public Charity, for private Friendship is exhausted. May the reader, whose Humanity feels for this miserable Family, be ex(?)ed to enquire the Truth of what is here said, and leave their Donations as they please with Mr. Smith, Perfumer, in Norris-street, St. James’s Market; and at Mr. Harrington’s, Fishmonger, at Charing Cross. They gratefully acknowledge the Reception of 15 by Mr. Smith, and 1l. 1s. 6d. by the Hands of Mr. Harrington, which has enabled the industrious Wife to being a little Business, but without some additional Charity, the Profits must be inadequate to their Wants.

I wonder about this part: “tender Education, for they were both well introduced in the World, prevents his being capable of acting in a low laborious Station”. Could he not or would he not?