Letter No. 429. Saturday, July 12, 1712. Steele.
'--Populumque falsis dedocet uti
Vocibus--'
Mr. SPECTATOR,
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Accord, and notified that they were withdrawn, with the Reasons of it,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 publick again, she might
have Assurances, that tho' she might be thought handsome, there
might not more Address or 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 another.
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
declar'd 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 her self neither well nor ill.
That her Husband is a Clown.
That Lady Lydia cannot see Company. That she desires the Infirmary
may be her Apartment 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 the Inner-Temple,
Sheweth,
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 Council 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 rustick Mirth which renders him unfit for