my Fortunes.  Under this Difficulty I now labour, not being in the least determined whether I shall be governed by the vain World, and the frequent Examples I meet with, or hearken to the Voice of my Lover, and the Motions I find in my Heart in favour of him.  Sir, Your Opinion and Advice in this Affair, is the only thing I know can turn the Ballance; and which I earnestly intreat I may receive soon; for till I have your Thoughts upon it, I am engaged not to give my Swain a final Discharge.

Besides the particular Obligation you will lay on me, by giving this Subject Room in one of your Papers, tis possible it may be of use to some others of my Sex, who will be as grateful for the Favour as, SIR, Your Humble Servant, Florinda.

  P. S. To tell you the Truth I am Married to Him already, but pray say
  something to justify me.

Mr.  SPECTATOR, You will forgive Us Professors of Musick if We make a second Application to You, in order to promote our Design of exhibiting Entertainments of Musick in York-Buildings. It is industriously insinuated that Our Intention is to destroy Operas in General, but we beg of you to insert this plain Explanation of our selves in your Paper.  Our Purpose is only to improve our Circumstances, by improving the Art which we profess.  We see it utterly destroyed at present; and as we were the Persons who introduced Operas, we think it a groundless Imputation that we should set up against the Opera in it self.  What we pretend to assert is, That the Songs of different Authors injudiciously put together, and a Foreign Tone and Manner which are expected in every thing now performed among us, has put Musick it self to a stand; insomuch that the Ears of the People cannot now be entertained with any thing but what has an impertinent Gayety, without any just Spirit, or a Languishment of Notes, without any Passion or common Sense.  We hope those Persons of Sense and Quality who have done us the Honour to subscribe, will not be ashamed of their Patronage towards us, and not receive Impressions that patronising us is being for or against the Opera, but truly promoting their own Diversions in a more just and elegant Manner than has been hitherto performed. We are, SIR, Your most humble Servants, Thomas Clayton.  Nicolino Haym.  Charles Dieupart. [1]

There will be no Performances in York-buildings till after that of the Subscription.

T.

[Footnote 1:  See No. 258.]

* * * * *

No. 279.  Saturday, January 19, 1712.  Addison.

  Reddere personae scit convenientia cuique.

  Hor.

We have already taken a general Survey of the Fable and Characters in Milton’s Paradise Lost.  The Parts which remain to be considered, according to Aristotle’s Method, are the Sentiments and the Language. [1]