It is mentioned as an objection to our climate, that we have frequently the extremes of weather in the space of twenty-four hours, and that more agreeable appointments, and projected jaunts and walks, are spoiled in Great Britain than in any part of the world. But yet even for this we have some remedy; our thermometers give us warning, and our habitations afford shelter: but what is our misery when we have no such helps? when we are doomed to the alternations of storm and sunshine, of fury and quiet, of war and peace, without warning, and without refuge? Disease may make slow advances; symptoms may announce the approaching evil; poverty may creep on by obvious and remediable causes ; death itself may be foretold from inward decay and feelings; but who can foresee the crash of china, and the tearings of laces and silks; who can foretell that the soup may be thin, and the fowls raw; that the coach may have lost a wheel, and the chimney may fill the room with smoke? Who can order the spider not to build on the cieling, or the dust not to fall on the sideboard? A debtor may give notice that he is unable to take up his bills: but who can foresee that his dinner shall be put off till he is unable to eat? that the stage-coach is ar rived without the turkey, or that the sauce-boat has been dashed in pieces on the staircase? every Yet such are the vicissitudes which are made to excite the bitterness of resentment, while all that might be expected to provoke it is tolerated with calmness. The philosophy, indeed, of some persons is very remarkable, in bearing misfortune which they may happen to have brought upon themselves. I would, therefore, recommend, as the conclusion of this paper, that anger, which properly employed is a very noble passion, and in poetry rises almost to the sublime, should be no longer wasted on trifles; and that it should be removed from the kitchen and stables to the drawing-room and parlour, where it may be restored to its pristine dignity, or moderated by etiquette. But as to those who are still indisposed to take this advice, and who love to fritter away their passions on brooms and brushes, saucepans and skillets, on burnt steaks and watery custards; and who would sooner pardon a flaw in a character than a hole in a table-cloth; I would only recommend to them to be exceedingly thankful that they can never be without such misfortunes, while servants stumble, or cats leap. Yet it appears very inconsistent in persons of this description to complain, at the same time that they feed on the luxury of complaint, and to declare that they are unhappy from the very circumstances which seem to afford them the greatest pleasure. Whatever other indulgence may be allowed, this wayward disposition certainly ought to be checked; nor ought they upon any account to be permitted to complain that they are exposed to laughter or pity, since one or other of these emotions is inseparable from the lot of all who are so happy as to experience none of the real calamities of life, and so miserable as to substitute petty vexations and ridiculous distresses. THE PROJECTOR. No 80. "Qui timet his adversa, fere miratur eodem Quo cupiens pacto: pavor est utrobique molestus.” HOR. "If weak the pleasure that from these can spring, POPE. February 1808. PEOPLE EOPLE OF FASHION, is a title given to few, arrogated by many, and envied by all. There is, however, a considerable and an acknowledged difficulty in understanding precisely what it means, and who are the happy persons thus separated from the majority of their fellowcreatures. Many attempts indeed have been made, to draw a line of circumvallation around them, by means of such a definition as shall secure their privileges, and exclude all pretenders. But although no combination of words has yet been formed that can render the matter so plain to the meanest capacity, as to prevent mistakes and disputes; we all are apt to think that we know People of Fashion when we see them and have the still greater presumption to think we know what we mean when we speak of those beings whom Nature or Art has placed beyond our reach, and only occasionally within our horizon. There are many grounds for supposing that in both cases we should be very much perplexed to explain our meaning, and to make that known to others, which, until the question is put, we think so familiar to ourselves. One reason for this loose species of incommunicable knowledge is, that we have lately taken it into our heads, that People of Fashion are become exceedingly numerous, and that their numbers may be at all times easily increased. Hence we no longer think it neces sary to retain in our memories those nice distinctions which indicate a more confined sect. We fancy that it would be quite superfluous to explain what is obvious to the senses; and that to ask what is a Person of Fashion would be as childish as to ask what is an Englishman, or to what country Frenchmen, Germans, or Italians, belong. People of Fashion is almost the only combination in which the word People is used in a superior, genteel, and commanding sense. other people are those "whom nobody knows," All |