Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-11-26
GARNETT,S J.ECTUREs.

male instruction., and acknowledged the pleasure
we had derived from its perusal. We are pleased
TO see that II has already through edition,
and that another has been furnished the public,
''with corrections and additions by the author."-
we have been presented with copy by MIR. White,
The publisher; and have read the "adoitions" with
peculiar satisfaction The most important of these
IS an ironical chapter, dcnominated the 'Gossip's
Manual containing twenty mine maxims, for the
benefit of that aiabie class of society, called in
differently, Gossips aud Tatters. If any of that
diabocal race should chance 10 see these remarks,
we hope they may be induced by them, to obtain,
and to read, the "Gossips Manual" 1t will either
reform, or perfect them in their professions: they will
either shrink with horror fom the faithful reflection
OIL their detestabe features, or learn modes of
desolatng the peace and happiness of society. If
they are not too far gone in misa nthropy, the first
will be the effect. We extract several of these
maXims as Il sample of the whole.
"Set it down as a cardinal point, ALWAYS 10
make your neighbours failings or~vices the to-
pick of conversation, rather than their good
QUALITIES or virtues. Take it for granted too,
that their atnirs are generally more interesting,
and OF course, more an object of your concern,
than yOur OiCn. You are but one; your neigh
bours and acquaintance, comparatively speak,
ing, constitute a multitude. From these two CEN
tres, the radii Of ciit chat are SO numerous that
the presence of 4 single, thorough going Gossip,
or only two or three amateurs, will always
prove an eifectual bar to that most appalling
thing,-a dead-silence in full company"
eAs the practice of speaking well of friend
or acquaintance, or suffering others TO do it,
wit,ou: adding great many qualifying circum-
stances, is altogether without precedent in your
you must studiously avoid being the
hrst to violate law in regard to the antiquity of
which we may truly say, las of the common layv,)
'that the memory ofman runneth not To the con-
trary.' This violation too would he the more
when IT is easy to throw in dam.
per TO the applause, IN the ready form Of some
such inundo as the foliowing;-'Ify you had heard
all that have, you would not think so highly of
this person. Or else, 'what think you Of such
and such faults and vices'-(h here name some of
the worst you can think of,)-sSuppose could
satisfy you, that your ftcourite was guilty of Ell
Their of thesc;-wliat would you say n.rn2 But
say no more Iii my rule never to speak i'll Of
people behind their backs.'
sis an individual to be made an object of de-
rIslon, contempt, or hatred, never commence
with open, direct attacks supported by plan
narrative OF facts: your oblique hint BY way of
aperient for the auditory organs, is your true re-
cipe. Our curiosity being first awakened BY oh
scure lnuendoes, pride of oninion, uniting with
the love of what moraiists call defamation has
the best possible opportunity for qualification bv
guessing even worse, than the reality In this
mode the useful work is more than half accom-
particulars, whch-besides the Inconvenience
of requiring rather closer adherence to truth
produces that delay in accom-. fishing thc object
of demolition, (which like sl,o;e deferred, max
eth the heart sick.'
"NeVcr suffer good tale of scandal to die in
your hands, but pass it TO YOUR next neighbour
with the rapidity of an expert hand going thro,
the manual exercise; children do the burg
ing straw in their play of .Robin's alive and
49,
interest, and viVacity to game which other
wise might soon become, las Hamlet say of the
uses of this world,) weary, stale, fiat, and un-
profitable"
elias any unpleasant or painful occurrence
happened within the circle of your intimate ac-
quaintance and connexions, instead of vaiuIy
endcavouring, like. some silly, misunderstanding
people, to cOniinc the knowledge of it to the
immediate and only wtnesses,-especially, when
no duty urges the INSTRUMENTATION as if YOU
were running from the pesilence to relate it to
the first friend you meet, lest some one more
alert and less Ietcntive, should get the start OF
yon. This ranks you at once very high in the
scale of his or her friendship: because to repose
confidence IN another, respecting those things
usually called secrets, particularly where they
concern other people, being one of the greatest
proofs Offender regard the individual first put
in possession ofthe fact, through your kindness,
wish for SO judicous a choice of Il con:idant.
You should by no means neglect to throw in,
EN- PEASANT, such interesting embellishments as
occur TO you on the spur of the occasion; be-
cause it being no less Il physical law of rumour
than it is of a SNOWFALL to gnt!ter as IL rolls
along; the neglect to add your part, as il goes
through your hands, would evince deficiency
III moral duty, as much as the refusal to cont,-
butte TO an object great publicL utility, would
show want of patriotism. To repeat nothing
rthoW necessity, tchich can gice needkess paip 10
Others is The marin Of yo,r ultra cautious pco-
Ple To relate all, whether agreeable, or the
reverse,-taking care always to do il in strict
confidence, is an essential part of the true illus
tratioD, and developement of the social compact.
Another incalcuablc advantage in this proce-
dure is that in addition to your ocn sympathy
with the sufferers, you and your assistant circu-
lators Of the interesting intelligence, (f YOU are
all as active as the nature of the case requires
will certainly enlist many efficient auxilaries,
whose united sympathies,-lilke the dispensing
power of the Roman Catholick Priesthood, will
not only greatly alleviate the mental dispute
tude of the parties Immediately concerned; but
may remove all the culpability of the act, or
acts, which may have been committed"
''is neighbour acquaintance, but especial
ly friend, reported to be embarrassed in his
circumstances let 1t be your special care to pre-
vent the publiCk from undertaking his niisfor-
tune, lest you deprive him oftbeir very salutary
pity. Speak of his debts in general, as too nu-
merous, and considerable TO be- either reckon
ed or paid; and upon each particular one, never
fail TO lay on large per centage of gratuitous
commscratIO1. You will thus have had hard
luck, if you do not soon realize to him, a situa-
ton which might have been in great measure