The beloved lady is a woman of a sensible mind; but she has confessed to me, that after all her true and solid value for Constant, she had much more concern for the loss of Careless.  Those great and serious spirits have something equal to the adversities they meet with, and consequently lessen the objects of pity.  Great accidents seem not cut out so much for men of familiar characters, which makes them more easily pitied, and soon after beloved.  Add to this, that the sort of love which generally succeeds, is a stranger to awe and distance.  I asked Romana, whether of the two she should have chosen had they survived?  She said, she knew she ought to have taken Constant; but believed she should have chosen Careless.

St. James’s Coffee-house, June 17.

Letters from Lisbon of the 9th instant, N.S., say, that the enemy’s army, having blocked up Olivenza, was posted on the Guadiana.  The Portuguese are very apprehensive that the garrison of that place, though it consists of five of the best regiments of their army, will be obliged to surrender, if not timely relieved, they not being supplied with provisions for more than six weeks.  Hereupon their generals held a council of war on the 4th instant, wherein it was concluded to advance towards Badajos.  With this design the army decamped on the 5th from Jerumena, and marched to Cancaon.  It is hoped, that if the enemy follow their motions, they may have opportunity to put a sufficient quantity of provision and ammunition into Olivenza.

Mr. Bickerstaff gives notice to all persons that dress themselves as they please, without regard to decorum (as with blue and red stockings in mourning; tucked cravats, and nightcap wigs, before people of the first quality) that he has yet received no fine for indulging them in that liberty, and that he expects their compliance with this demand, or that they go home immediately and shift themselves.  This is further to acquaint the town, that the report that the hosiers, toymen, and milliners, have compounded with Mr. Bickerstaff for tolerating such enormities, is utterly false and scandalous.

[Footnote 307:  At the Tower of London.  The Tower menagerie was one of the sights of London until its removal in 1834.  See Addison’s Freeholder; No. 47.]

[Footnote 308:  In Westminster Abbey.]

[Footnote 309:  The Priory of Bethlem, in St. Botolph Without, Bishopsgate, was given by Henry VIII. to the Corporation of London, and was from thenceforth used as a hospital for lunatics.  In 1675 a new hospital was built near London Wall, in Moorfields, at a cost of L17,000.  See Hogarth’s “Rake’s Progress,” Plate 8.  In No. 127, Steele calls Bedlam “that magnificent palace.”]

[Footnote 310:  Drury Lane Theatre was closed on June 6, 1709, by order of the Lord Chamberlain, in consequence of Rich’s ill-treatment of the actors.]

No. 31. [STEELE.

From Saturday, June 18, to Tuesday, June 21, 1709.