Queries on Costume

Addison's paper in the *Spectator*, No. 127., seems to be conclusive that hooped petticoats were not in use so early as the year 1651. The anecdote in connection with the subject related in Wilson's *Life of De Foe*, has always appeared to me very questionable, not only on that consideration, but because Charles was at the time a fine tall young man of more than twenty-one years of age, and at the only period that he could have been in the neighbourhood referred to, he was on horseback and attended by at least two persons, who were also mounted. Neither can the circumstances related be at all…