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N° 429. SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1712.

- Populumque falsis dedocet uti

Vocibus

HOR. Od. ii. 1. 2. ver. 19.

From cheats of words the crowd she brings
To real estimate of things.

MR. SPECTATOR,

CREECH.

SINCE 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 institution of an infirmary for those who should be out of humour has had very good effects. My letters mention particular circumstances of two or three persons, who had the good sense to retire of their own accord, and notified that they were withdrawn, with the reasons of it, to the company, in their respective memorials.

"The Memorial of Mrs. Mary Dainty, Spinster,

"

Humbly sheweth, "THAT, conscious of her own want of merit, accompanied with a vanity of being admired, she had gone into exile of her own accord.

"She is sensible, that a vain person is the most insufferable creature living in a well-bred assembly. "That she desired, before she appeared in public again, she might have assurances, that though she

! See N° 424,

might be thought handsome, there might not more address of compliment be paid to her, than to the rest of the company.

"That she conceived it a kind of superiority, that one person should take upon him to commend ano

ther.

"Lastly, That she went into the infirmary, to avoid a particular person, who took upon him to profess an admiration of her.

"She therefore prayed, that to applaud out of due place, might be declared an offence, and punished in the same manner with detraction, in that the latter did but report persons defective, and the former made them so.

"All which is submitted, &c."

• There appeared a delicacy and sincerity in this memorial very uncommon; but my friend informs me, that the allegations of it were groundless, insomuch that this declaration of an aversion to being praised was understood to be no other than a secret trap to purchase it, for which reason it lies still on the table unanswered.'

"The humble Memorial of the Lady Lydia Loller, " Sheweth,

"THAT the Lady Lydia is a woman of quality; married to a private gentleman.

"That she finds herself neither well nor ill.

"That her husband is a clown.

"That Lady Lydia cannot see company.

"That she desires the infirmary may be her apart

ment during her stay in the country.

"That they would please to make merry with

their equals.

"That Mr. Loller might stay with them if he thought fit."

' It was immediately resolved, that Lady Lydia was still at London.'

"The humble Memorial of Thomas Sudden, Esq. of

" Sheweth,

the Inner Temple,

"THAT Mr. Sudden is conscious that he is too much given to argumentation.

"That he talks loud.

"That he is apt to think all things matter of debate.

"That he stayed behind in Westminster-hall, when the late shake of the roof happened, only because a counsel of the other side asserted it was coming down.

"That he cannot for his life consent to any thing. "That he stays in the infirmary to forget himself. "That as soon as he has forgot himself, he will wait on the company."

• His indisposition was allowed to be sufficient to require a cessation from company.'

"The Memorial of Frank Jolly,

" Sheweth,

"THAT he hath put himself into the infirmary, in regard he is sensible of a certain rustic mirth which renders hinı unfit for polite conversation,

"That he intends to prepare himself, by abstinence and thin diet, to be one of the company.

"That at present he comes into a room as if he were an express from abroad.

"That he has chosen an apartment with a matted anti-chamber, to practise motion without being heard. "That he bows, talks, drinks, eats, and helps himself before a glass, to learn to act with moderation. "That by reason of his luxuriant health, he is oppressive to persons of composed behaviour.

"That he is endeavouring to forget the word 'pshaw, pshaw.'

"That he is also weaning himself from his cane. "That when he has learnt to live without his said

cane, he will wait on the company, &c."

"The Memorial of John Rhubarb, Esq.

" Sheweth,

"THAT your petitioner has retired to the infirmary, but that he is in perfect good health, except that he has, by long use, and for want of discourse, contracted an habit of complaint that he is sick.

"That he wants for nothing under the sun, but what to say, and therefore has fallen into this unhappy malady of complaining that he is sick.

"That this custoin of his makes him, by his own confession, fit only for the infirmary, and therefore he has not waited for being sentenced to it.

"That he is conscious there is nothing more improper than such a complaint in good company, in that they must pity, whether they think the lamenter ill or not; and that the complainant must make a silly 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 likewise easily excused: and the society, being resolved not only to make it their business to pass their time agreeably for the present season, but also to commence such habits in themselves as may be of use 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 ınan, impertinent, or sufficient fellow, break in upon their happiness. Great evils seldom happen to disturb company; but indulgence in particularities of humour, is the seed of making half our time hang in suspense, or waste away under real discomposures.

• Among other things it is carefully provided, that there may not be disagreeable familiarities. No one is to appear in the public rooms undressed, or enter abruptly into each other's apartment without intimation. Every one has hitherto been so careful in his behaviour, that there has but one offender, in ten days time, been sent into the infirmary, and that was for throwing away his cards at whist.

'He has offered his submission in the following terms:

"The humble Petition of Jeoffry Hotspur, Esq.

" Sheweth,

"THOUGH the petitioner swore, stamped, and threw down his cards, he has all imaginable respect for the ladies, and the whole company.

"That he humbly desires it may be considered,

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