Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/176

 o often remarked, and of which we hall proceed to give an Intance; for it is our Province to relate Facts, and we hall leave Caues to Perons of much higher Genius.

Mankind have always taken great Delight in knowing and decanting on the Actions of others. Hence there have been, in all Ages, and Nations, certain Places et apart for public Rendezvous, where the Curious might meet, and atisfy their mutual Curioity. Among thee, the Barbers Shops have jutly the Pre-eminence. Among the Greeks, Barbers News was a proverbial Expreion, and Horace, in one of his Epitles, makes honourable Mention of the Roman Barbers in the ame Light.

Thoe of England are known to be no wie inferior to their Greek or Roman Predeceors. You there ee foreign Affairs dicued in a Manner little inferior to that with which they are handled in the Coffee-houes; and dometick Occurrences are much more largely and freely treated in the former, than in the latter. But this erves only for the Men. Now, whereas the Females of this Country, epecially thoe of the lower Order, do aociate themelves much more than thoe of other Nations,