ROUND ROBIN.

It was customary among the ancients to write names, whether of the gods,

or of their friends, in a circle, that none might take offence at seeing

another’s name preferred to his own. The Cordeliers have formerly been

known to have paid the same attention to delicacy, and when a pope has

demanded the names of some priests of their order, that one might be

raised to the purple, they have sent those names written circularly,

that they might not seem to recommend one more than another. The race of

sailors are the only people who preserve this very ancient custom in its

purity, for when any remonstrance is on foot among them, they sign it in

a circle, and call it a _round robin_.

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