that glees were fung from the Woolfack, and catches from the Cabinet.

Lord far. Who have we amongst us, Colonel? Col. I'll tell you First, there's Duke Duett playing on the violin---then there's Gene ral Grig blowing the trumpet, Judge Jerk blowing the baffoon, and Bishop Bravo banging the kettle-drums!-But what's better, there's Signor Uniquo, who pats them all familiarly on the back, and fays, "braviffimo, my Lord Judge! Encora, Signor Bishop!" Then, the one looks as pleafed as if he'd got the Chancellorship, and the other, as if he was preferred to an Archbishoprick!-Pray is your lordship fond of mufic?

Lord Jar. Me! I hate, I deteft ic!

Lady A. Hate mufic, my Lord! Dear! I always thought it was one of your favourite amufe

ments.

Lord far. What, mufic! Oh, certainly — I love it of all things.

Col. Well; for my part I fhall not liften to their lordships till Uniquo gets them engaged at the opera As to you, Lady Acid, I know your sense and virtue defpises this trifling folly, and you only promote it to amufe your friends.

Lady A. I do indeed, Colonel-(ftrumming of inftrumemts within.) I must go and look at themCome, my Lord.

Lord Jar. (taking her hand.) With pleasure!Colonel, is my friend Nominal amongst them? Col. My ward! Zounds! don't talk of him --but go, and if you wish for fiddling preferment, pay your respects to the Grand Signor.

[Exeunt Lord and Lady. MyWard, indeed! Oh that ftupid ftudious puppy! I know what it will end in-He'll go fneaking on in his profeffion, till he gets into the Upper

G

House,

House, then he'll be laid on the fhelf, and go out like the fnuff of a candle - As to that ruffian, and the affault, I'll be reveng'd on Clairville ftill

For Sophia, the dear creature feems fonder of me than ever, fince laft night's riot-The women do love a little rudenefs now and then.

Enter JAMES.

James. Sir, Mifs Sophia's maid is below, and defires to fee you.

Col. There! I faid fo-Oh, I and my Epaulette play the devil with the women!

James. She has a letter for you, Sir.

Col. A letter ! Ah! I must-poor Sir Andrew! he wou'dn't believe I was her darling hope."

James. That he will deliver to nobody but yourself, Sir.

Col. Well; if it must be fo-It's very strange what can make the fex adore me fo paffionately! -It must be my manners, my tender, graceful, infinuating manners! Shew me to her, James; and while their Lordships are fiddling for the good of the nation, I'll amufe myfelf for the benefit of Sophia, poor Sophia! -Oh, Colonel ! Colonel! what fools do you make of the women!

[Exit, followed by James.

SCENE-SIR ANDREW ACID's Garden.

Enter SAUNTER.

Saun. Where can my coufin Sophia be loitering! This is the place of affignation, and 1 fee neither her nor the Colonel, nor Sir Andrew-I

hope

hope there's no mistake, for on their expofition depends her future happiness.

Enter SOPHIA, baftily.

Sophia. Oh coufin! my dear coufin, I'm undone ! ---As much ruin'd as if I'd never been an authorefs, or an actress, or a painter, or a

Saun. Why, what has happen'd?

Sophia. Lady Acid, unknown to Sir Andrew, has read the affignation you made me fend him. ----She is now convinced the love is on my part, and is pursuing me here to be revenged.--- Dear me, I wish I had not written to him.

Saun. Not written to him! Unless you'd put a ftop to his and the Colonel's vanity, you know you'd have been fent in the country---nay, loft your character, and never fhewn your face in fashionable life again.

Sophia. Never fhewn my face! Lord! it rather helps one, and, in fashionable life, lofs of character makes one's reputation; but what is to become of me! If I'm fent to the country, I fhall die, I I know I fhall, and fo fuddenly, I shan't have time to write my own life, and run down half my acquaintance.

LADY ACID (without.)

Lady A. Where is the Jezabel! I'll make an example of her.

Sophia. Here fhe comes, and I fhall be lock'd up in an old country caftle, where there's a conftant knocking at the gates to fee the apartments; but not a perfon to enquire after poor I, the prisoner.

1

Enter LADY ACID.

Lady A. So Mifs, notwithstanding the warning I gave you, you have been writing an affignation to my hufband -and this is the place-look at me-answer me-do you deny it?

Sophia. No, Madam; I own that I wrote fuch affignations to both the Colonel and Sir Andrew.

Lady A. The Colonel too! mercy on me! wou'dn't one content you?

Sophia. Yes, Madam; but I did it to bring them together, and laugh at them; for indeed they have fo teiz'd me

Lady A. They teiz'd you? here's effrontery! look ye, I know they hate and defpife you, and they have both told me a thousand times that your love was troublefome and difgufting.

Saun. Your Ladyfhip, I can contradict that ---for I have now in my pocket both their anfwers to Sophia's affignation --each accepts her invitation, and will be here at the time appointed ---befides, you must be fenfible that her loving them is a joke.

Lady A. Joke! don't talk to me of jokes, Sir.-I never made one in my life; and I know she loves them as much as they deteft her—and it's all owing to her romantic turn of mind, her acting, her writing

Sophia. Nay, my Lady, don't abufe my talents -Didn't my laft production go through four editions?

Lady A. Yes; and why did it ? because it was patronized. And now-a-days, it is not the book itself, but the name of the perfon who writes it.

While the woman of fashion fhall write a bad work, and have a thousand fubfcribers, a poor neglected man of genius fhall write a good one, and not have a fingle patron! if indeed, you had fol low'd my advice written fentimentally and morally

Sophia. I did, Madam-I did write morally, and what was the confequence? I had made a fum of money by a Novel call'd "Seduction"

-and loft it all by writing an "Effay on Charity;" but indeed, Sir Andrew and the Colonel are to blame, and if you'll wait a moment, you'll fee them come to the affignation.

Lady A. They come ! they know better-befides defpifing you, they value my good opinion too highly to trifle with it in this manner-fo, retire to the country. [Laying bold of her. Saun. Pray hear reafon, Madam.

Lady A. I'll hear nothing, fhe shall be punished! the fhall! (Jees SIR ANDREW without) Blefs me! what do I feel my husband capering and fmiling!

Sophia. Ay; there's one of them—and tee, Madam-yonder's the other.

Lady A. The Colonel, as I live! This is amaz ing! ftand back and let's obferve them.

Enter SIR ANDREW, with a letter in his hand. Enter COL. HUBBUB, with a letter in his hand.

Col. "Thou dear perfidious !"

Sir Andrew." Thou gay deceiver!"

Col. "I idolize you as much as I defpife Sir Andrew."

Sir Andrew, "I adore you as much as I abhor the Colonel."

Sophia.