O. Doric. So-all in grand style, I see—friends, fidlers, footmen,-crowds, coronets, conftables, pick-pockets, peace-officers—and, tell me, fir, was I infulted by my nephew's orders?

Dorv. Infulted, fir! by whom?

0. Doric. By his conftables-his ftaff-officers from London; for, taking me for an Old Bailey acquaintance, they cock'd their eyes, and bawl'd aloud, "Vy, Dicky, you be'nt expected."-"No," fays I, "nor Toby either; but I warrant we're both of us as good as many of the company"and fo I forced my way, and fo, fir, fhow me to the concert-room, for Jack fhall fign thefe articles directly.

Dorv. Nay, fir, confider-you will be his ruin. 0. Doric. Well let him thank himfelf-he knows he was my favourite, and, now, when building is the firft profeffion,aye, you may ftare, fir-but, are not all men measured by their houfes? Stand they not long or fhort in public estimation, according to the size of their apartments? And don't great rooms make painters, dentists, and e'en furgeons great? for, who will follow genius to a garret? None-fo, lead the way, and quick! dispatch! for if, as partner, I pay half the piper-i'cod! I'll hear fome piping for my money. [Exit with Dorville.

Y. Doric. Wheugh! beat! beat for ever! and, at the very crifis, when, with his friendly aid, I might have fhouted victory! Well, well, I cannot blame him (Mufic within.) Ah! there's Von Rapidotz-Pooh! his famed flourishes are useless now. (More mufic, and cries of "Bravo-Bravif fimo" within) Hark! with what fhouts they hail his firft attempt. I'll roufe! I'll profit by the found; for mufio, that can bend the knotted oak, may foften e'en old Toby's heart.

Re-enter Old Doric, with the Articles.

C. Doric. Sign, fign directly, or we smash to gether-Oh! you're indeed an active partner. I thought at moft it would have coft five pounds; but here to have the first appearance of a player, whofe price, in Ruffia, is two hundred ducats.r. Doric. Who fays fo, fir.?

O. Doric. Who? every public print: and 'tis no wonder, for the whole room was in an ecftacy, almoft before he moved his elbows-Ay, and when, by chance, he dropt his diamond pin, young, old, lame, fplenetick, all tumbled, neck and heels, to have the glory of replacing it.

Y. Doric. (with exultation) Indeed!

0. Doric. And one, a travelling gentleman, who often had been charmed with him abroad, fwore instinct was his mufic-mafter, for that his father was a poor Coffack.

Y. Doric. That's capital! for I'm his father! 0. Doric. You!

Y. Doric. I made, I nam'd—I praised—him, as you heard and fam'd Von Rapidot is Jack's own child.

O. Doric. What! (with astonishment.)

Y.Doric. Mum! he's a poor emigrant from Swifferland, who, having nothing to fupport himself, his children, and his wife, but fome wild talent in the art of mufic, applied, in vain, to get employment-in vain, because he wanted name and reputation-I gave him every thing-I puff'd him, as a prodigy, and all good-naturedly, fo, take my word, that,-ha! ha ha! whilft one hears him, where he never played, others huzza before they hear at all.

O. Doric. (fmiling) Zounds! you most impu

dent

Y. Doric. Why, where's the harm? when thus they're in such ecstacy? (pointing to the room) He came here, express, to tell me, he had glorious offers now, and speak his own, and his lov'd partner's joy-And, fhould it aid my partner-should it but lead to trade and to connection, I may regain an old friend's love, which, on my life, I covet from my heart; for, while yon fenfelefs fhouts afford no blifs, his approbation will fecure my

own.

O. Doric. It will-it will-(tearing the articles.) Y. Doric. What! you are jefting!

0. Doric. No; quite (tearing on) quite the contrary. (Embracing Young Doric.) Dam'me! I'll give another gala myself, and at this villa Dorville fpoke of; and afk a certain perfon, called Olivia-and, name what fettlement you please ; don't ftand upon a thoufand pounds or two-a concert, and a fupper will foon fettle that.

Y. Doric. Thanks-Thanks! and for my villa, confider it, at least, as half your own.

0. Doric. Half! we're partners, Jack—and, as I long to fee it, and there's that old fiery, bullyloving Major, now brandifhing his cane about the concert-room-come, I'll be off.

Y. Doric. Do; and my chariot, which now waits to take home vifitors, fhall inftantly convey you-and, when the concert's over, we'll have a quiet fupper by ourfelves, and drink fuccefs to harmony, Von Rapidotz and trade-come!

Enter Dorville, with a Servant, from Concert-Room.
Dorv. Stay, fir-one word.

Y. Doric. I can't-I must attend my uncle.
Dorv. What! to fign articles of diffolution?
Y. Doric. No: quite the contrary.

[Exit arm in arm with Old Doric. Dorv. Bravo! that's excellent-and, William,

fince the Major cannot guess why Mifs Tornado is detained fo long, go fee if the be coming.

Will. Lord, fir, there are fuch crowds of carriages and people, that 'tis impoffible to fee, or hear, or

Doru. No matter; he is fo vexed at her delay, that I defire you'll obey him.

[Exit William.

Re-enter Young Doric, laughing.

What! what adventure now!

r. Doric. Oh! the beft yet-the night's fo dark, and there is fuch confufion 'mongft the carriages, that my ftunn'd uncle, in his fright and buftle, feeing the door of a brown chariot open, coolly whips in, and, thinking it is mine, orders the coachman to drive home directly.

Dorv. 'Slife! and whofe chariot was it?

Y. Doric. I know no more than he does; but this I know, the fervants were fo drunk, that they miftook him for their master; for they all bow'd, and drove him off in ftyle-and, let them land him where they will, be it a palace, or a private gentleman's, he'll fwear it is his partner's villa, and call for half of every thing he likes. But come-ere this Olivia is arrived.

Doro. No; and I guess the caufe-she is detained by this Mifs Stoic;-and, now I recollect— what colour is the Major's chariot?—don't it refemble your's?

Y. Doric. It does; and fhould they drive him to the Hermitage!-Mum! we'll afk directly-and, as 'tis clear fhe'd part me from Olivia, may honeft Toby take her house for mine! for he's fo hafty, and fo obftinate, that fhould they charge him to decamp, I fhou'dn't wonder if he charged her too, and boldly march'd the hermit to the roundhoufe. [Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE II.-Infide of the Hermitage.

Enter Nicholas, drunk, with a Tankard.

Nich. So! fuccefs to folitude! for the Major's gone to the concert, and Mistress and Mifs Olivia are gone-and Mrs. Aubrey ;-no, fhe's not gone, because she's locked up in that Sanctum Sanctorum there. I believe fomehow, I'm gone. (loud knocking.) Now, for a guinea, that's the Major in his chariot (going towards door). They fay that too much ale, (pointing towards tankard) makes one fee double; but, faith, for my part, I can't fee at allyes, I can; (looking out) I fee, 'tis the Major.

Enter Old Doric.

Oh! your honour! (bowing and reeling.)

0. Doric. What! you're as fober as the reft, Why, zounds! they reel'd Jack's chariot thro' the air; but, pheugh! (puffing himself) I'm fafe at home at laft-and, as I live, (looking round) our villa is a pretty partnership concern-fo fnugfo tafty. Supper, Sirrah! (very loud and authoritatively.)

Nich. Supper! Why, Major!-
O. Doric. Major! begone!

[Exit Nicholas. The Coachman call'd me Major too: but 'tis their drunken folly-And, now as fenior Co. to pop on the beft chamber, and beft bed, (going to the door) Why this door's lock'd-and, as it feems, infide, (looks through the keyhole) What! a white petticoat! Oh, Jack! now, is this fair, and equal by your partner? But I'll be quits with you, for, as I'm first, and this, perchance, may prove

the