THE PROJECTOR. N° 96. "Fill'd up at last with interesting news; COWPER. June 1809. In my last Paper, I entered upon the consiIN deration of the HISTORY, TALENTS, and USEFULNESS of GOSSIPS, a class of persons who are very much censured, at the same time that they are very much encouraged, and whose character consequently cannot be well unvery derstood. In that Paper I gave a short sketch of the first two branches of this important subject, namely the HISTORY and TALENTS of the Gossips; and concluded with a few remarks on their persons, as a prelude to the third and last branch, namely, the USEFULNESS of Gossips. That they are useful will require little proof, if we appeal only to the favour that is generally shewn to them, the welcome with which they are received, and the patience with which they are heard. It would be impertinent, therefore, after such proof, to inquire, as some fastidious persons may be inclined to do, of what use are they? But, as we cannot be certain that such a question will not be put, it may be proper to answer it by stating, that, in this world, some persons seem born to be curious, and others to gratify curiosity, and that the junction or meeting, whether designed or accidental, of these two classes, necessarily must produce Gossiping; one great use of which is, to satisfy the hearer as to all matters which he would wish to know. Another very important use of Gossiping is, to supply the defects of those records which we call History, Annals, Journals, and Newspapers, as to domestic events, which every one must confess are of more near importance than the fate of kingdoms and states, the issue of wars and battles. It is true, indeed, that the much ennewspapers of late years have very larged their plan, by penetrating into the secrets of families, and recording, with minute fidelity, the progress of a dinner, a rout, or a ball, insomuch, that many have conceived that these papers, after having been unsuccessfully conducted by politicians, have at length fallen into the hands of Gossips, assisted by their usual aid-de-camps, ladies-maids and valets, in or out of place. But, minute as the papers have lately become, they are but partially entitled to the merit of affording a full gratification to curiosity, in those points of which they profess to have a complete knowledge. Instead, for example, of telling us what was said, what reports were circulated, what intrigues begun or continued, what money lost or won, what tempers softened or irritated, they content themselves with telling us how the rooms were illuminated and the floors chalked, what geraniums ornamented the grand staircase, and what Bow-street officers dignified the principal entrance. Instead of the mischief threatened to the reputation of a lady, we hear only of the damage done to the glasses of a chariot, and instead of the information which precedes a meditated elopement, we hear of nothing but the confusion and faintings of ladies in getting to their carriages; nay, so far are we from learning the precise hour when Lord B. prevailed over the marriage vows of Lady C. that the parties have been allowed to become notoriously guilty, before one syllable of the matter has transpired. One principal branch, therefore, of the USEFULNESS of Gossips, is, to fructify this barrenness of intelligence, and that, by a method of therefore, after such proof, to inquire, as some fastidious persons may be inclined to do, of what use are they? But, as we cannot be certain that such a question will not be put, it may be proper to answer it by stating, that, in this world, some persons seem born to be curious, and others to gratify curiosity, and that the junction or meeting, whether designed or accidental, of these two classes, necessarily must produce Gossiping; one great use of which is, to satisfy the hearer as to all matters which he would wish to know. Another very important use of Gossiping is, to supply the defects of those records which we call History, Annals, Journals, and Newspapers, as to domestic events, which every one must confess are of more near importance than the fate of kingdoms and states, the issue of wars and battles. It is true, indeed, that the much ennewspapers of late years have very larged their plan, by penetrating into the secrets of families, and recording, with minute fidelity, the progress of a dinner, a rout, or a ball, insomuch, that many have conceived that these papers, after having been unsuccessfully conducted by politicians, have at length fallen into the hands of Gossips, assisted by their usual aid-de-camps, ladies-maids and valets, in or out of place. But, minute as the papers have lately become, they are but partially entitled to the merit of affording a full gratification to curiosity, in those points of which they profess to have a complete knowledge. Instead, for example, of telling us what was said, what reports were circulated, what intrigues begun or continued, what money lost or won, what tempers softened or irritated, they content themselves with telling us how the rooms were illuminated and the floors chalked, what geraniums ornamented the grand staircase, and what Bow-street officers dignified the principal entrance. Instead of the mischief threatened to the reputation of a lady, we hear only of the damage done to the glasses of a chariot, and instead of the information which precedes a meditated elopement, we hear of nothing but the confusion and faintings of ladies in getting to their carriages; nay, so far are we from learning the precise hour when Lord B. prevailed over the marriage vows of Lady C. that the parties have been allowed to become notoriously guilty, before one syllable of the matter has transpired. One principal branch, therefore, of the USEFULNESS of Gossips, is, to fructify this barrenness of intelligence, and that, by a method of |