Careless. Gad, Charles, this is lucky, for it will not only ferve for a hammer, but a catalogue too if we should want it.

Charles. True Come, here's my great uncle Sir Richard Ravelin, a marvelous good general in his day. He served in all the Duke of Marlborough's wars, and got that cut over his eye at the battle of Malplaquét He is not dressed out in feathers like our modern captains, but enveloped in wig and regimentals, as a general should be What fay you Mr. Premium?

Mofes. Mr. Premium would have you speak.

Charles. Why, you fhall have him for ten pounds, and I'm fure that's cheap enough for a staff officer.

Sir Oliver. Heaven deliver me! his great uncle Sir Richard going for ten pounds Well, Sir, I take him at that price.

Charles. Careless, knock down my uncle Richard.
Careless. Going, going a going

-

gone.

Charles. This is a maiden fifter of his, my great aunt Deborah, done by Kneller, thought to be one of his beft pictures, and esteemed a very formidable likenefs. There she fits, as a fhepherdels feeding her flock. You shall have her for five pounds ten. I'm fure the Theep are worth the money.

Sir Oliver. Ah, poor aunt Deborah! a woman that fet fuch a value on herself, going for five pounds Well, Sir, The's mine.

ten

Charles. Knock down my aunt Deborah, Careless.
Careless. Gone.

Charles. Here are two cousins of theirs

Moles,

these pictures were done when beaux wore perewigs, and ladies their own hair.

Sir Oliver. Yes, truly head-dresses seem to have been somewhat lower in those days.

Charles. Here's a grand - father of my mother's, a judge well known on the western circuit. What will you give for him.

Mofes. Four guineas.

Charles. Four guineas! why you don't bid the price of his wig. Premium, you have more respect for the Wool-Sack, do let me knock him down at fifteen.

Sir Oliver. By all means.

Careless. Gone.

Charles. Here are two brothers, William and Walter Blunt, Efqrs. both members of parliament, and great speakers; and what's very extraordinary, I believe this is the first time they were ever bought or fold.

Sir Oliver. That's very extraordinary, indeed!I'll take them at your own price, for the honour of " parliament.

Charles, Well faid Premium.

་་.. I

Careless. I'll knock 'em down at forty pounds

Charles. Here's a jolly, portly fellow; I don't know what relation he is to the family, but he was formerly mayor of Norwich, let's knock him down at eight pounds.

Sir Oliver, No. I think fix is enough far a mayor.

Charles. Come, come, make it guineas, and I'll throw you the two aldermen into the bargain.

Sir Oliver. They are mine.

Charles. Careless, knock down the mayor and aldermen...

Careless. Gone,

11

Charles.

Charles. But hang it, we fhall be all day at this rate; come, come, give me three hundred pounds, and take all on this fide of the room in a lump- That will be the best way.

Sir Oliver. Well, well, any thing to accommodate you; they are mine. But there's one portrait

you have always palled over.

Careless.

over the fettee.

What, that little ill-looking fellow

Sir Oliver. Yes, Sir, 'tis that I mean but I don't think him fo ill-looking a fellow by any means. Charles. That's the picture of my uncle Oliver Before he went abroad it was done, and is esteemed a very great likeness.

Careless. That your uncle Oliver! Then in my opinion you will never be friends; for he is one of the most stern-looking rogues I ever beheld; he has an unforgiving eye, and a damn'd disinheriting countenance. Don't you think fo, little Premium?

Sir Oliver. Upon my foul, I do not, Sir; I think it as honeft a looking face as any in the room, dead or alive. But I suppose, your uncle Oliver goes with the reft of the lumber.

Charles. No, hang it, the old gentleman has been very good to me, and I'll keep his picture as long as I have a room to put it in.

Sir Oliver. The rogue's muy nephew after all.. I forgive him every thing. But, Sir, I have some how taken a fancy to that picture.

Charles. I am forry for it, mafter broker, for you certainly won't have it What the devil, haveyou not got enough of the family?

J

Sir Oliver. I forgive him every thing.

Look,

Sir, I am a ftrange fort of a fellow; and when I take a whim in my head, I don't value money: I'll give you as much for that as for all the rest.

Charles. Prythee, don't be troublesome - I tell you I won't part with it, and there's an end on't.

Sir Oliver. How like his father the dog is! I did not perceive it before; but I think I never faw so strong a resemblance. Well, Sir, here's a draft for your fum.

Charles. Why, this bill is for eight hundred pounds.

Sir Oliver. You'll not let Sir Oliver go, then.
Charles. No, I tell you, once for all.

Sir Oliver. Then never mind the difference, we'll balance that some other time. But give me your hand; you are a damn'd honeft fellow, Charles Oh lord! I beg pardon, Sir, for being fo freeCome along, Moles.

Charles. But hark 'ye, Premium, you'll provide good lodgings for these gentlemen.

Sir Oliver. I'll fend for 'em in a day or two.

Charles. And pray, let it be a genteel conveyance: for I affure you, most of 'em have been used to ride

in their own carriages.

Sir Oliver. I will for all but Oliver.

Charles. For all but the honest little Nabob.

I

Sir Oliver. Ah the dear extravagant dog! Good day, Sir. Come, Moses. - Now let me fee, who

dares call hin profligate.

XX:

Mistreß Cowley.

Unter den Schriftstellerinnen, deren England besönders in den lettern Jahrzehenden mehrere besißt, welche sich durch Werte des Wiges, der Kunst und des Geschmacks rühmlich unterscheiden, ist Mistreß Cowley eine der berühmtesten. Ihr Vater war Mr. Parkhouse, von Tiverton in Devont shire, dem sie ihr Gedicht, The Maid of Arragon mit vies len edeln Aeußerungen kindlicher Zärtlichkeit zugeeignet har. Um das Jahr 1772 verheirathete sie sich mit Mr. Cowley, ber gegenwärtig eine Bedienung bei der ostindischen Komi pagnie in Bengalen bekleidet. Als dramatische Schriftftels lerin zeigte sie sich zuerst im J. 1776 durch ihre Runaway, das lehte von Garrick angenommene Stück, welches großen Beifall erhielt. In der Folge schrieb sie noch, außer zwei Trauerspielen, Albina, und The Fate of Sparta, folgende Luftspiele: Who's the Dupe? a Farce The Belle's\' Stratagem The World as it goes, or, a Trip to Montpellier Second Thoughts are best Which A Bold Stroke for a Husband

is the Man?

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More

Unter

Ways than One A School for Grey Beards, Diesen erhielt The Belle's Stratagem vorzüglichen Beifall. Doricourt, ein junger Mann von Vermögen und gutem Hause, ist von seinen Reisen zurück gekommen, und soll jest ein junges Fräulein, Miß Låtitia Hardy, heirathen, für Die er aber, weil sie zu wenig Ausländisches und Modisches In ihren Sitten hat, keine sonderliche Neigung fühlt, då fle hingegen in ihn verliebt ist. Um seine Gleichgültigkeit in Zuneigung zu verwandeln, fållt sie auf einen Kunstgriff, der in folgender Scene mit ihrer Freundin, Mrs. Rackers angelegt und verabredet wird:

Letitia,