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190...ANNUAL REGISTER
the hour, and has Joe Miller constantly at his fingers ends, should be obliged to read it all the days of his life in his own closet.
The great misfortune in conversation is, that few men speak to much to instruct or entertain, as to shew their superior knowledge or genius. In many companies there is a leading man, whose assertions, however vague, carry with them every possible testimony of authority; whose observations, however erroneous, are all assented to, and whose jokes, however flat, are sure to create a general laugh. His jealousy generally keeps pace with his importance; and if any other obtains the least applause, he immediately endeavours to prove it was ill bestowed. Thus by constantly depreciating the humour and judgment of the rest of the company, he ingrosses it all to himself, and is, in his own opinion at least, the paragon of cleverness.
The regulation at the Robinhood of everyone who chuses[[chooses]] speaking five minutes, was well devised, and would be of utility, if no one spoke but he who said something to the purpose: as the cafe stand, most of one's time is taken up in hearing nothing. Methinks the president should be authorized to form a judgment on the merit of the speaker after the first minute, and put it to the majority of voices, whether he should proceed: if the president were judicious, by this means the effusion of much nonsense might be prevented.
A regulation somewhat fimilar [[familiar]] in most general companies, would be of great service, for at the present they generally all talk together, or are all silent. It would perhaps be though presumptuous in me to venture a hint to the ladies upon this occasion; it may however be observed to their credit, that they are seldom all silent.
As this subject, Sir, seems immediately to come within your province, I have sent you this letter, in hope of exciting you to give us your sentiments relative to so universal and interesting a topic.
I am, Sir, your's, &c.
LOTHARIO.
On New Words; from the same.
SIR,
I Doubt not, as you appear to be a very intelligent person, that you have observed there is a set of beings in this metropolis, without any characters whatever: they are a kind of amphibious animals, between fools and wits, fops and slovens, rakes and enthusiasts. They have not the invention to form any opinions of their own, and are the mere echoses of coffee-houses, news-papers, and play-houses. No sooner does Foote give us a bon mot at the Hay-Market, but is is hackneyed upon every occasion, or indeed without any occasion, the these animals in all quarters of the town. Down an anecdote of any celebrated person transpire through the news-paper, it serves them for conversation for a week. Your Magazine is an ample field for them for the whole month, and every coffee-house in London re-echoes with your tete-a-tetes and oddities, till the first day of the appearance of a fresh number. These gentleman can feed upon a pun from London to Canterbury, a new word is ammunition.