trades will exert themfelves, it cannot but produce a new field of diverfion; and inftruction more agreeable than has yet appeared. T N° 429 Saturday, July 12. Vocibus Populumque falfis dedocet uti Hor. Od. 2. 1. 2. v. 19. CREECH. From cheats of words the croud the brings Mr. SPECTATOR, S' INCE I gave an account of an agreeable set of company which were gone down into the country, I have received advices from thence, that the in⚫ftitution of an infirmary for those who should be out of humour has had very good effects. My letters mention particular circumftances of two or three perfons, who had the good fenfe to retire of their own accord, and notified that they were withdrawn, with the reasons of it to the company, in their refpective memorials. The Memorial of Mrs. Mary Dainty, Spinster, Humbly fheweh, T HAT confcious of her own want of merit, accompanied with a vanity of being admired, the had gone into exile of her own accord. She is fenfible, that a vain perfon is the most insufferable creature living in a well bred affembly. That he defired, before the appeared in public again, he might have affurances, that tho' fhe might be thought hand fom, there might not more addrefs of compliment be paid to her, than to the reft of the company. That the conceived it a kind of fuperiority, that one perfon fhould take upon him to commend another. Laftly, Laftly, That he went into the infirmary, to avoid a particular perfon who took upon him to profess an ad• miration of her. She therefore prayed, that to applaud out of due place might be declared an offence, and punished in the fame manner with detraction, in that the latter did but report perfons defective, and the former made ⚫ them fo. All which is fubmitted, &c. There appeared a delicacy and fincerity in this memorial very uncommon, but my friend informs me, that the allegations of it were groundlefs, infomuch that this declaration of an averfion to being praised, was underftood to be no other than a fecret trap to purchase it, for which reason it lies still on the table unanswered. The humble Memorial of the Lady Lydia Loller, Sheweth, T HAT the Lady Lydia is a woman of quality; married to a private gentleman. That the finds herfelf neither well nor ill. That her husband is a clown. That Lady Lydia cannot fee company. That the defires the infirmary may be her apartment during her stay in the country. That they would please to make merry with their ⚫equals. That Mr Loler might stay with them if he thought fit. It was immediately refolved, that Lady Lydia was fill at London. The humble Memorial of Thomas Sudden, Efq; of the Inner-Temple, Sheweth, T HAT Mr. Sudden is confcious that he is too much given to argumentation. • That he talks loud. • That That he is apt to think all things matter of debate. That he ftayed behind in Westminster-ball, when the late shake of the roof happened, only because a counsel of the other fide afferted it was coming • down. • That he cannot for his life confent to any thing. That he ftays in the infirmary to forget himself. That as foon as he has forgot himself, he will wait on the company. His indifpofition was allowed to be fufficient to require a ceffation from company. Sheweth, TH The Memorial of Frank Jolly, HAT he hath put himself into the infirmary, in regard he is fenfible of a certain ruic mirth which renders him unfit for polite converfation. That he intends to prepare himself by abftinence ◄ and thin diet to be one of the company. That at prefent he comes into a room, as if he were an exprefs from abroad. That he has chofen an apartment with a matted anti-chamber, to practise motion without being heard. That he bows, talks, drinks, eats, and helps him⚫ felf before a glafs, to learn to act with moderation. That by reafon of his luxuriant health he is oppref five to perfons of compofed behaviour. That he is endeavouring to forget the word phaw, •pfbaw. That he is alfo weaning himself from his cane. That when he has learnt to live without his faid cane, he will wait on the company, &c. The The Memorial of John Rhubarb, Efq; Sheweth, TH HAT your petitioner has retired to the infirmary, but that he is in perfect good health, except that he has by long ufe, and for want of dif courfe, contracted an habit of complaint that he is fick. • That he wants for nothing under the fun, but what to fay, and therefore has fallen into this unhappy malady of complaining that he is fick. That this cuftom of his makes him, by his own • confeffion, fit only for the infirmary, and therefore he • has not waited for being fentenced to it. That he is confcious there is nothing more improper than fuch a complaint in good company, in that they muft pity, whether they think the lamenter ill or not; and that the complainant muft make a filly figure, • whether he is pitied or not. Your petitioner humbly prays, that he may have ⚫ time to know how he does, and he will make his appearance. The Valetudinarian was likewife eafily excufed: and this fociety being refolved not only to make it their bufinefs to pass their time agreeably for the prefent feafon, but also to commence fuch habits in themfelves as may be of ufe in their future conduct in general, are. very ready to give into a fancied or real incapacity to join with their measures, in order to have no humourist, proud man, impertinent or fufficient fellow, break in upon their happinefs. Great evils feldom happen to difturb company; but indulgence in parlicularities of humour, is the feed of making half our time hang in fufpence, or waste away under real difcompofures. Among other things it is carefully provided, that there may not be disagreeable familiarities. No one is to appear in the public rooms undreffed, or enter abruptly into each other's apartment, without intimation. Every one has hitherto been fo careful in his behaviour, that there has but one offender in ten days ⚫ time been fent into the infirmary, and that was for throwing away his cards at whift. He has offered his fubmiffion in the following terms. The humble Petition of Jeoffry Hotfpur, Efq; Sheweth, "TH HOUGH the petitioner fwore, ftamped, and threw down his cards, he has all imaginable refpect for the ladies, and the whole company. That he humbly defires it may be confidered, in the cafe of gaming, there are many motives which provoke to disorder. That the defire of gain, and the defire of victory, are both thwarted in lofing. That all converfations in the world have indulged human infirmity in this cafe. Your petitioner therefore moft humbly prays, that he may be restored to the company, and he hopes to bear ill fortune with a good grace for the future, and to de" mean himself fo as to be no more than chearful when he wins, than grave when he loses. Τ S you are a Spectator general, you may with A authority cenfure whattoever looks ill, and is offenfive to the fight; the worst nufance of which kind, methinks, is the fcandalous appearance of poor in all parts of this wealthy city. Such miferable objects affect the compaffionate beholder with difmal |