It may be thought very unaccountable, that I,[372] who can never be supposed to go to White’s, should pretend to talk to you of matters proper for, or in the style of, that place.  But though I do not go to these public haunts, I receive visits from those who do; and for all they pretend so much to the contrary, they are as talkative as our sex, and as much at a loss to entertain the present company, without sacrificing the last, as we ourselves.  This reflection has led me into the consideration of the use of speech; and made me look over in my memory all my acquaintance of both sexes, to know to which I may more justly impute the sin of superfluous discourse, with regard to conversation, and not entering into it as it respects religion.  I foresee my acquaintance will immediately, upon starting this subject, ask me, how I shall celebrate Mrs. Alse Copswood,[373] the Yorkshire huntress, who is come to town lately, and moves as if she were on her nag, and going to take a five-bar gate; and is as loud as if she were following her dogs.  I can easily answer that; for she is as soft as Damon, in comparison of her brother-in-law Tom Bellfrey,[374] who is the most accomplished man in this kingdom for all gentlemanlike activities and accomplishments.  It is allowed, that he is a professed enemy to the Italian performers in music.  But then for our own native manner, according to the customs and known usages of our island, he is to be preferred, for the generality of the pleasure he bestows, much above those fellows,[375] though they sing to full theatres.  For what is a theatrical voice to that of a fox-hunter?  I have been at a musical entertainment in an open field, where it amazed me to hear to what pitches the chief masters would reach.  There was a meeting near our seat in Staffordshire, and the most eminent of all the counties of England were at it.  How wonderful was the harmony between men and dogs!  Robin Cartail of Bucks was to answer to Jowler; Mr. Tinbreast of Cornwall was appointed to open with Sweetlips, and Beau Slimber, a Londoner, undertook to keep up with Trips, a whelp just set in:  Tom Bellfrey and Ringwood were coupled together, to fill the cry on all occasions, and be in at the death of the fox, hare, or stag; for which both the dog and the man were excellently suited, and loved one another, and were as much together as Banister and King.  When Jowler first alarmed the field, Cartail repeated every note; Sweetlips’ treble succeeded, and shook the wood; Tinbreast echoed a quarter of a mile beyond it.  We were soon after all at a loss, till we rid up, and found Trips and Slimber at a default in half-notes:  but the day and the tune was recovered by Tom Bellfrey and Ringwood, to the great joy of us all, though they drowned every other voice:  for Bellfrey carries a note four furlongs, three rood, and six paces, farther than any other in England.  But I fear the mention of this will be thought a digression from my purpose about speech:  but I answer, No.  Since this is