He approached several groupes of gentlemen who seemed, by their voice and gesture, to be discoursing upon some important subject; […]
1807, [Germaine] de Staël Holstein, translated by D[ennis] Lawler, “[Book. IX. [The popular Festival, and Music.]] Chap[ter] III.”, in Corinna; or, Italy. […], volume III, London: […] Corri, […]; and sold by Colburn, […], and Mackenzie, […], page 18