18 JULY 1925, Page 17

THE "FIVE ALLS" [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—I

think it will be found that the first reference to the "Five Ails" is contained in John Kay's Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings, published in 1838, where they are set out as follows : 1. "I pray for all," depicting Dr. Andrew Hunter of the Tron Church. 2. "I plead for all," the illus- tration being that of the Hon. Henry Erskine, the friend of Burns and known generally as "the poor man's lawyer." 3. "I maintain all," showing James Rocheid (pronounced Roughead) of Inverleith, an enthusiastic agriculturist, who brought his lands to a high state of perfection. 4. "I fight for all," showing Quartermaster Taylor, one of the famous defenders of Gibraltar. 5. "I take all "—his Satanic Majesty, supposed to have reference to the numerous trials for witchcraft with which the records of the Court of Justiciary are disgraced.—I am, Sir, &c., Oxford. DUDLEY WRIGHT.