"have long been in habits of intimacy"—"live in the same street, or at the next door". "have seen a great deal more than is necessary to be told, although all will come out by and by as clear as the day." And as to flat contradiction, which is the highest pitch of infidelity, the Gossip often feels much mortification that the pains taken have not succeeded better, and determines that the next story shall not be told before people that are so exceedingly unpolite and unbelieving.

And this, indeed, is the way in which Gossips in general wish to avoid falling into such difficulties, namely, by reserving a display of their talents for those families that have a true taste for works of imagination, and whose tables are open to persons pregnant with anecdote. Fortunately for Gossips, such families may be found in every part of the town, and a comfortable livelihood may be picked up by visiting them in turn, big with events, embellished by those pleasing particulars and satisfactory additions which fancy supplies, and which, by often repeating, acquire for a time all the interest and importance that could be wished.

But, notwithstanding the pains that are taken to procure hearers and believers, persons

who will not only give an ear, but a dish of tea, it frequently happens, that time, much of which is consumed in the art of Gossiping, takes its revenge by subverting the whole fabrick of a finely-imagined narrative. It may, therefore, be humbly submitted to the fraternity and sisterhood of Gossips, whether, upon the whole, some regulations might not be introduced in the exercise of their art, in order to render it more safe. And although, after offering this suggestion, I do not think myself obliged to specify what such regulations ought to be, yet, as I am not one of those reformers who complain of abuses without offering remedies, I shall briefly mention, not only as my opinion, but that of many, more judicious persons, that a somewhat greater proportion of truth mixed in their narratives, if it did not enable them to tell better, would at least enable them to keep longer. Every candid Gossip must allow, that it is shocking to think that the best-contrived narrative at dinner may be completely overturned by the time the tea is called for. I have even known an instance, where the entrance of a man in perfect health, who died the preceding night in great agonies, has not only spoilt the effect of a bullet in the lungs, but has rendered unnecessary many

in

teresting anecdotes of his past life, many eager struggles to succeed him in his house and grounds, and much curious information as to what his fine flaunting lady and daughters will do now he is gone!

But if this regulation, the only one I shall suggest, and the only one I think effectual, be rejected, as having a destructive tendency on the trade and mystery of Gossiping, I can only follow it with recommending some other trade in lieu of it; for I have already proved in my last paper that Gossiping was first introduced by persons who had nothing else to do, and has since been perpetuated by those who choose to do nothing else.

THE PROJECTOR, N° 97.

"You hold the word from Jove to Momus given,
That Man was made the standing jest of Heaven;
And gold but sent to keep the fools in play,
For some to heap, and some to throw away." POPE.

July 1809.

THERE is no one subject about which the opinions of mankind are more widely at variance that that of wealth; yet there are few that have been more frequently brought into discussion; and, when we consider the many dissertations which have been published, and the many conversations that are daily held on this topick, it is surely not very unreasonable to wonder, that difference of opinion should yet prevail, and that so few conclusions have been drawn which may be brought into practice.

Of rules and advice, indeed, we are in no want. Moralists and preachers have never failed to repeat, from generation to generation, certain prudential maxims, and to make certain appeals to reason and conscience, which, if duly attended to, might have been productive

of much good. All the consequences of the love of money have been fairly laid before us; and we cannot pretend that we have theory only in favour of the instructions offered, since we cannot look for a moment on the busy world, without finding examples and confirmations that are irresistible. But there is still something in the nature of hard cash, which disposes certain odd nopersons to form tions about it, and to be extremely pertinacious in retaining them; and these notions will, I am afraid, continue to create differences among mankind while there is a guinea left.

very

So obstinate, indeed, are we in our theories on this subject, that perhaps there is no cause of quarrel so very common and predominant, nor any thing that enters so largely into the composition of the human character. One particular may be sufficient to illustrate this assertion: whatever may be the quality of wealth, one might naturally expect that a calculating nation would have long ago acquired some correct notions about its quantity; but, so far is this from being the case, that, during all the centuries in which we have been a commercial nation, we have never been able to ascertain what is enough; and it is very certain, that, until we can come to some conclusion on this