thority to

say that there any public amusements there, any card-tables, routs, operas or masquerades, race-grounds or stables; but I have the very best authority for asserting, that the time usually consumed on these, must be employed in some other way.

THE PROJECTOR. No 56.

"The screech-owls seem to be settled in an opinion, that the great business of life is to COMPLAIN, and that they were born for no other purpose than to disturb the happiness of others." JOHNSON.

April 1806.

In a late paper (No. XLV.) I adverted, but

in a few words, to the situation and sentiments of Complainers, a description of men who seem to be entitled to a higher degree of respect, and whose good wishes I am desirous of obtaining, that they may forward the principal design of all my lucubrations, namely, to introduce and preserve good humour wherever it can obtain

access. The Complainers, however, are a very peculiar class, and, from the original construction of their minds, are not to be addressed with the freedom we employ in other cases, nor are we perhaps encouraged to form the same hopes of success from our application to them. But as among them there may be some who are not quite irreclaimable, and some who in their lucid intervals are disposed to listen to both sides of a question, I am not without hopes that I may be the happy instrument of lessening the number of professed Complainers, and bring them over to the more tranquil regions of Contentment and Satisfaction.

The Complainers, or, as some have termed them, the Grumblers, are a very numerous class; and there is something in their disposition which is truly Catholic, for we find many choice specimens of them, among all the ranks, professions, trades, and occupations of mankind. Perhaps they are not so equally divided between the sexes; but both, I humbly apprehend, can quote more examples than they could wish. The origin of grumbling I shall not enter upon, because it would lead me into a very wide field of discussion, and into many disputed points. It may be necessary, however, to say, that some mistakes prevail on this subject. It has

been alleged for example, that war and taxes are the principal causes of the increase of Grumblers; but this is true only in a certain degree. War and taxes increase the number of temporary Grumblers; but that is not the class to be considered in this lucubration. Whatever is now advanced regards the race of permanent Complainers, whom no means can soften or satisfy, who add discontent to every morsel, and mix it in every cup of which they partake, and many of whom have much less to do with war and taxes than thousands who fight and pay with great cheerfulness. It has also been asserted, that grumbling arises from excess of necessary labour, and the fatigues of indispensable industry. In answer to this, it be sufficient to announce, that permanent Grumblers are generally found among those who know not what labour or industry mean. As to those who are disposed to confine grumbling to the poor, I shall only say, if I may presume to say so much without mortifying their pride, that they who are of this opinion have not been accustomed to "move in the higher circles."

may

Without, therefore, entering further into the origin or causes of grumbling, I would proceed to some characteristics of the permanent Grum

bler. He may be defined as one who is determined not to be pleased, and whose study it is to find fault, not only with all that exists, but with all that can be proposed by any person but himself. That the genuine Complainer is most conspicuous in affairs of politicks, I am willing to allow; but the reason I apprehend is, that politicks are the more frequent subjects of conversation, and therefore afford the Complainer more frequent opportunities than any other. But, if the political Grumbler be followed from the coffee-house to his family, it will be found that he is as averse to contentment in the one as in the other. The resentment he has begun upon account of a battle, will often be continued upon a wife or a servant; and the disgust he has received by reading of a speech or a treaty, will not be found exhausted when he sits down to a dinner or a

supper. His pleasure is, to pass from one subject of discontent to another; or, if by some chance an incident presents itself with which he can express no dissatisfaction, it is received with a grin very little removed from a sneer, or a look more expressive of wonder than gratification. Of political Grumblers, we had a few years ago a new species, who redoubled all their old complaints, added a great many till then

unheard of, and fancied that all which was wrong in this country might be found right on the Continent. Our laws, government, religion, our trade and commerce, our lands and houses, were so complainable in comparison with those of France, that, had all men been grumblers, an universal emigration might have been expected. Even our follies and vices were not upon the genteel and lively scale of our neighbours, and the influence of the sun, moon, and stars, was contemptible in comparison with the effect they produced in that happy country. By some means, however, this species of grumblers became dissatisfied even with these gay prospects. Either the habit of grumbling was too lively to be blunted by prosperity, or they met with certain awkward disappointments in realizing their visions. It is certain they soon found it necessary to return to their accustomed pleasure of complaining without the hope of redress; and, I am willing to think, have passed their time since in a very discontented and comfortable manner.

This class, however, in common with all permanent Grumblers, seems to labour under a mistake, which it was the special purpose of the present paper to rectify. Averse as I know all the classes of discontents are to any thing in