with their right at Oisy, and their
left towards Arras, and, according to our advices, will pass the
Scarp to-morrow, and enter on the plains of Lens, though several
regiments of horse, the German and Liege troops, which are destined
to compose part of their army, have not yet joined them. If they
pass the Scarp, we shall do the like at the same time, to possess
ourselves with all possible advantage of the field of battle: but
if they continue where they are, we shall not remove, because in
our present station we sufficiently cover from all insults both our
siege and convoys.

Monsieur Villars cannot yet go without crutches, and it is believed
will have much difficulty to ride. He and the Duke of Berwick are
to command the French army, the rest of the marshals being only to
assist in council.

Last night we entirely perfected four bridges over the _avant
fosse_ at both attacks; and our saps are so far advanced, that in
three or four days batteries will be raised on the _glacis_, to
batter in breach both the outworks and ramparts of the town.

Letters from the Hague of the 27th, N.S., say, that the Deputies of
the States of Holland, who set out for Gertruydenburg on the 23rd,
to renew the conferences with the French Ministers, returned on the
26th, and had communicated to the States-General the new overtures
that were made on the part of France, which it is believed, if they
are in earnest, may produce a general treaty.

[Footnote 269: See Nos. 125, 127, 175.]

[Footnote 270: Two of the numerous astrologers who lived in Moorfields.]

[Footnote 271: During the first half of the eighteenth century the walls
of Bedlam were made use of by dealers in second-hand books.]

[Footnote 272: The waiter; see No. 1.]

[Footnote 273: Douay capitulated on the 25th of June, after a fifty-four
days siege, which cost the Allies eight thousand men. Two English
regiments were cut to pieces at a sortie made by the besieged French
troops. Two years later Douay was recaptured by Villars.]

No. 175. [STEELE.

From _Saturday, May 20_, to _Tuesday, May 23, 1710_.

* * * * *

_From my own Apartment, May 22._

In the distribution of the apartments in the new Bedlam, proper regard
is had to the different sexes, and the lodgings ac