ſo often remarked, and of which we ſhall proceed to give an Inſtance; for it is our Province to relate Facts, and we ſhall leave Cauſes to Perſons of much higher Genius.
Mankind have always taken great Delight in knowing and deſcanting on the Actions of others. Hence there have been, in all Ages, and Nations, certain Places ſet apart for public Rendezvous, where the Curious might meet, and ſatisfy their mutual Curioſity. Among theſe, the Barbers Shops have juſtly bore[errata 1] the Pre-eminence. Among the Greeks, Barbers News was a proverbial Expreſſion, and Horace, in one of his Epiſtles, makes honourable Mention of the Roman Barbers in the ſame Light.
Thoſe of England are known to be no wiſe inferior to their Greek or Roman Predeceſſors. You there ſee foreign Affairs diſcuſſed in a Manner little inferior to that with which they are handled in the Coffee-houſes; and domeſtick Occurrences are much more largely and freely treated in the former, than in the latter. But this ſerves only for the Men. Now, whereas the Females of this Country, eſpecially thoſe of the lower Order, do aſſociate themſelves much more than thoſe of other Nations,our
