wi' my lord, this I think is the proper juncture | public business has twa consciences; mind, Sir, till feel the political pulse of my spark, and yance for aw till set it to the exact measure that I would ha'e it constantly beat.

Enter EGERTON.

Come hither, Charles.

Eger. Your pleasure, Sir?

Sir P. About twa hours since I told you, Charles, that I received this letter express, complaining of your brother's acteevity at an election 'the north, against a particular friend of mine; which has given great offence; and, Sir, ye are mentioned in the letter, ass weel ass he. To be plain, I must roundly tell ye, that on this interview depends my happiness, ass a mon and a faither, and my affection till ye, Sir, ass a son, for the remainder of your days.

Eger. I hope, Sir, I shall never do any thing either to forfeit your affection, or disturb your happiness.

twa consciences; a releegious and a poleetical conscience-you see a mairchant, or a shopkeeper, that kens the science of the world, always luocks upon an oath in a custom-house, or behind a counter, only as an oath in business-a thing of course-a mere thing o' course, that has naething till do wi' releegion; and just so it is at an election, exactly the same-for instance, noow, I am a candidate-pray observe-I gang till a periwig-maker, a hatter, or a hosier, and I give ten, twanty, or tharty guineas, for a periwig, a hat, or a pair of hose, and so on through a majority o' voters; vary weel, what is the consequence? why, this commercial intercourse, ye see, begets a friendship betwixt us, and in a day or twa, these men gang and give me their suffrages. Weel, what is the inference, pray, Sir? can ye, or ainy lawyer, divine, or casuist, caw this a bribe? nae, Sir, in fair poleetical reasoning, it is ainly generosity on the yane side, and gratitude on the ither-so, Sir, let me ha'e na mair of yeer releegious or philosophical refinements; but prepare-attend-and speak till the question, or ye are nae son o' mineSir, I insist upon it.

Sir P. I hope so too; but to the point-the fact is this. There has been a motion made this vary day, to bring on the grand affair, which is settled for Friday se'nnight: noow, Sir, ass ye are popular, ha'e talents, and are weel heard, it is expacted, and I insist upon it, that ye endeavour till atone for yeer misconduct, by preparing and Sam. Sir, my lord says the writings are now taking a large share in that question, and sup-ready, and his lordship and the lawyers are waitporting it wi' aw your poower. ing for you and Mr. Egerton.

Eger. But, Sir, I hope you will not so exert your influence, as to insist upon my supporting a measure by an obvious prostituted sophistry, in direct opposition to my character and my con

science.

Sir P. Conscience! did ye ever hear ainy man talk of conscience in poleetical maiters? conscience, quotha!-I ha'e been in parliament these three-and-tharty years, and never heard the term made use of before-Sir, it is an unparliamentary word, and ye wull be laughed at for it.

Eger. Then, Sir, I must frankly tell you, that you work against my nature-you would connect me with men I despise, and press me into measures I abhor. For know, Sir, that the malignant ferment, which the venal ambition of the times provokes in the heads and hearts of other men-I

detest.

Sir P. What are ye aboot, Sir; with your malignant, yeer venal ambeetion, and your romantic nonsense? Sir, every mon should be ambeetious till serve his country-and every mon should be rewarded for it. And pray, Sir, would not ye wish till serve yeer country? answer me that, I say, would not ye wish till serve your country?

Eger. Only show me how I can serve my country, and my life is her's.--Were I qualified to lead her armies, to steer her fleets, and deal her honest vengeance on her insulting foes; or could my eloquence pull down a state leviathan, mighty by the plunder of his country, black with the treasons of her disgrace, and send his infamy down to free posterity, as a monumental terror to corrupt ambition, I would be foremost in such service, and act it with the unremitting ardour of a Roman spirit.

Enter SAM.

Sir P. Vary weel; we'll attend his lordship. [Exit SAM.] Come, Sir, let us gang doown and despatch the business.

[Going, is stopped by EGERTON Eger. Sir, with your permission, I beg you will first hear me a word or two upon this subject.

Sir P. Weel, Sir; what would ye say?
Eger. I have often resolved to let you know
[Bows very low.] my aversion to this match.
Sir P. Hoow, Sir?

Eger. But my respect and fear of disobliging you, hitherto kept me silent.

Sir P. Your avarsion! hoow dare ye use sic language till me? your avarsion! luock you, Sir, I shall cut the matter vary short-Conseeder-my fortune is nae inheritance; aw my ain aquiscetion; I can make ducks and drakes of it; so do not provoke me, but sign the articles directly.

Eger. I beg your pardon, Sir; but I must be free on this occasion, and tell you at once, that I can no longer dissemble the honest passion that fills my heart for another woman.

Sir P. Hoow! another woman! ah, ye villain, how dare ye love another woman without my parmission--but what other woman? wha is she? speak, Sir, speak.

Eger. Constantia. [Bowing very low. Sir P. Constantia! Oh, ye profligate! what, a creature taken in for charity?

Eger. Her poverty is not her crime, Sir, but her misfortune; and virtue, though covered with a village garb, is virtue still; therefore, Sir———

Sir P. Haud yeer jabbering, ye villain! haud yeer jabbering! none of yeer romance, or refinement, till me. I ha'e but yane question till ask ye, but yane question, and then I ha'e done wi' ye for ever--for ever-therefore think before ye answer; wull ye marry the lady, or wull ye break

Sir P. Why, ye are mad, Sir; stark, staring, raving mad; certainly the fellow has been bitten by some mad whig or other! ye are vary young-my heart? vary young, indeed, in these matters; but experi- Eger. Sir, my presence shall not offend you ence wull convince ye, Sir, that every mon in any longer: but when reason and reflection take

their turn, I am sure you will not be pleased with yourself for this unpaternal passion. [Going.

Sir P. Tarry, I command you-and I command ye likewise not to stir till ye ha'e given me yane answer a defeenitive answer-wull ye marry the lady, or wull ye not?

Eger. Since you command me, Sir, know then, that I cannot-will not marry her. [Exil. Sir P. Oh! the villain has shot me through the head; he has cut my vitals! I shall run distracted there never was sic a bargain ass I ha'e made wi' this feulish lord-possession of his whole estate, wi' three boroughs upon it; sax members! why, what an acquiseetion, what consequence! what dignity, what weight till the house of Macsycophant-O! domn the fellow-three boroughs, only for sending doon six broomsticks-Oh! miserable; ever since this fallow came intill the world have I been secretly preparing him for the seat of ministerial dignity, and sure never, never were times so favourable-every thing conspires; for aw the auld poleetical posthorses are brokenwinded, and foundered, and canna get on; and ass till the rising generation, the vanity of surpassing yane another in what they feulishly caw taste and ailegance, binds them hond and foot in the chains of luxury; which wull always set them up till the best bidder; so that if they can but get wherewithal till supply their dissipation, a meenister may convert the poleetical morals of aw sic voluptuaries intill a vote that would sell the nation till Prester John, and their boasted leeberties till the great Mogul. [Exit.

refusal; but, briefly and finally, it cannot be, nor is it a subject I can longer converse upon.

Sir P. Weel Sir, I ha'e done, I have done-sit doon, mon-sit doon again-sit ye doon. sit.Į I shall mention it no more not but hey must confess honestly till ye, friend Sidney, that the match, had ye approved of my proposal, besides profiting you, would ha'e been of singular sarvice till me likewise; hoowever, ye may still sarve me ass effectually ass if ye had married her.

Sid. Then, Sir, I am sure I will most heartily. Sir P. I believe it, I believe it, friend Sidney, and I thank ye. I ha'e nae friend till depend upon but yoursel-my heart is almost broke-I canna help these tears; and to tell ye the fact at yance, your friend Charles is struck wi' a most dangerous malady, a kind of insanity-in short, this Constantia, I am afraid, has cast an evil eye upon him do ye understand me?

Sid. Not very well, Sir.

Sir P. Why, he is grievously smitten wi' the love of her, and I am afraid will never be cured withoot a leetle of your assistance.

Sid. Of my assistance! pray, Sir, in what manner?

Sir P. I ha'e done wi' ye-I ha'e done wi' ye. Ay, ay, noow I can account for my son's conduct; his avarsion till courts, till meenisters, levees,

public business, and his disobedience till my cott mands-a perfecdious fellow-ye're a Judas! ye ha'e ruined the morals of my son, ye villain, but I ha'e done wi' ye; however, this I wull prophesy at oor pairting, for your comfort, that gin ye air so vary squeamish in obliging your patron, ye'll never rise in the church.

Sid. Though my conduct, Sir, should not make me rise in her power, I am sure it will in her favour-in the favour of my own conscience too, and in the esteem of all worthy men; and that, Sir, is a power and dignity beyond what patrons of any denomination can confer. [Exit.

Sir P. What a reegorous, saucy, stiff-necked fallow it is!-I see my folly noow; I am undone by my ain policy! this Sidney was the last man that should ha'e been about my son. The fallow, indeed, hath given him principles that might ha'e done vary weel among the ancient Romans, but are domned unfit for the modern Britons-weel! gin I had a thoosand sons, I never would suffer yane of yeer English univarsity bred fellows, till Sir P. In what manner! Lord, Maister Sid-be aboot a son of mine again; for they ha'e sic an ney, how can ye be so dull? Now then, my vary a pride of lecterature and character, and sic saucy gude friend, gin ye would take an opportunity to English notions of leeberty, conteenually fermentspeak a gude word for him till the wench, and ing in their thoughts, that a man is never sure of one contrive to bring them together once, why, in a of them; but what am I to do? Zoons, he must few days after, he would nae care a pinch o' snuff nae marry this beggar-I canna sit doon tamely for her. [SIDNEY starts up.] What is the matter under that-stay, haud a wee; by the blood, I wi' ye, mon-what the deevil gars ye start and have it-yas! I ha'e hit upon 't." luock so astonished?

Sid. Sir, you amaze me! In what part of my mind, or conduct, have you found that baseness, which entitles you to treat me with this indignity?

Sir P. Indignity-what indignity do ye mean, Sir? Is asking ye till serve a friend wi' a wench an indignity Sir, am not I your patron and benefactor, ha ?

Sid. You are, Sir, and I feel your bounty at my heart-but the virtuous gratitude, that sowed the deep sense of it there, does not inform me, that in return, the tutor's sacred function, or the social virtue of the man, must be debased into the pupil's pander, or the patron's prostitute.

Sir P. Hoow! what, Sir, do ve dispute? are ye na my dependant--ha! and do ye hesitate aboot an ordinary civeelity, which is practised every day by men and women of the first fashion? Sir, let me tell ye, however nice ye may be, there is nae a dependant aboot the coort that would nae jump at sic an opportunity till oblige his patron.

Enter BETTY.

Bet. Oh! Sir, I have got the whole secret out.
Sir P. Aboot what?

Bet. About Miss Constantia; I have just had all the particulars from farmer Hilford's youngest daughter, Sukey Hilford.

Sir P. Weel, weel, but what is the story? quick, quick, what is it?

Bet. Why, Sir, it is certain that Mrs. Constantia has a sweetheart, or a husband, a sort of a gentleman, or a gentleman's gentleman, they don't know which, that lodges at Gaffer Hodges'; for Sukey says she saw them together last night in the dark walk, and Mrs. Constantia was all in tears.

Sir P. Ah! I am afraid this is too gude news till be true.

Bet. Oh! Sir, it is certainly true; besides, Sir, she has just writ a letter to the gallant; and have sent John Gardener to her, who is to carry

to him to Hadley; now, Sir, if your worship would seize the letter. See, see, Sir, here John comes, with the letter in his hand!

Sid. Indeed, Sir, I believe the doctrine of pimp-it ing for patrons may be learned in every party school for where faction and public venality are taught as measures necessary to the prosperity of the Briton and the patriot-there every vice is to be expected.

Sir P. Go, go; step ye out, Betty, and leave the fallow till me.

Bet. I will, Sir.

[Erit.

so I'll e'en go through the short way; let me see
what is the name-
e-Mel-Meltil-Oh! no! Mel-
ville, at Gaffer Hodges'.

Sir P. Oho! oho! vary weel, fine insinuations! I ken what ye glance at-yas, ye intend this satire Enter JOHN, with a packet and a letter. as a slander upon meenisters--ay! ay! fine sedee- John. There, go you into my pocket. {Puts tion against government.--Oh! ye villain--ye-up the packet.] There's nobody in the library-ye sirrah-ye are a black sheep, and I'll mark ye, and represent ye: I'll draw your picture-ah! ah! I am glad ye show yoursel-yas, yas-ye ha'e taken off the mask at last: ye ha'e been in ray service for many years, ye hypocrite! ye impos. tor-but I never knew your principles before." Sid. Sir, you never affronted them before; if you had, you should have known them sooner. VOL. I....I 6*

Sir P. What letter is that, Sir?.
John. Letter, Sir!
Sir P. Give it me,

Sir.

John. An't please your honour, Sir-it it is not mine.

Sir P. Deliver it this instant, Sirrah; or I'll break yeer head.

John. There, there, your honour.

Lady M. As well as I do my own, Sir; it is Constantia's.

Sir P. It is so; and a better evidence it is, than any that can be given by the human tongue; here is a warm, rapturous, lascivious letter, under the hypocritical siren's ain hond; her ain hond, Sir, her ain hond. But judge yourselves—read it.

[Gives the letter to SIR PERTINAX. Sir P. Be gone, rascal-this I suppose wull let us intill the whole business. John. You have got the letter, old surly, but the packet is safe in my pocket. I'll go and deliver that, however; for I wull be true to poor Mrs. Constantia, in spite of you. [Aside: erit. Sir. P. [Reading the letter] Um!-Um!-ed, Um! And bless my eyes with the sight of you. Um! um! Throw myself into your dear arms. Zoouns, this letter is invaluable!

Enter LADY MACSYCOPHANT and EGERTON, Weel, Charles, notwithstanding the meesery ye ha'e brought upon me, I ha'e sent for ye and yeer mother, in order till convince ye baith of my affection, and my readiness till forgive; nay, and even till indulge your parvarse passion; for since I find this Constantia has got hold of your heart, and that your mother and ye think that ye can never be happy withoot her, why I'll nae longer oppose your inclinations.

Eger. Dear Sir, you snatch me from the sharpest misery. On my knees, let my heart thank you for this goodness.

Eger. [Reads.] I have only time to tell you, that the family came down sooner than I expect and that I cannot bless my eyes with the sight of you till the evening. The notes and jewels, which the bearer will deliver to you, were presented to me, since I saw you, by the son of my benefactor

Sir P. Now, mark.

Eger. [Reads.] All which I beg you will con vert to your own immediate use, for my heart has no room for any wish, or fortune, but what contributes to your relief and happiness.

Sir P. Oh, Charles, Charles? do ye see, Sir, what a dupe she makes of you? But mark what follows; mark, Charles, mark.

Eger. [Reads.] Oh, how I long-
Sir P. Mark.

Eger. [Reads.] To throw myself into your dear, dear arms

Sir P. There, there's a warm epistle for you! in short, the fact is--the hussy, ye must know, is married till the fallow.

Eger. Not unlikely, Sir.

Lady M. Indeed, by her letter, I believe she is. Sir P. Noow, Madam, what amends can ye make me for countenancing your son's passion for

Lady M. Let me express my thanks too, and my joy; for had you not consented to his marry-sic ing her, we all should have been miserable.

Sir P. Weel, I am glad I ha'e found a way till please ye baith at last--but noow, my dear Charles, suppose noow, that this spotless vestal, this wonder of vartue, this idol of your heart, should be a concealed wanton after aw! Eger. A wanton, Sir! [Eagerly. Sir P. Or suppose that she should have an engagement of marriage, or an intrigue wi' another Inon, and is only making a dupe of ye aw this time; I say, only suppose it, my dear, dear Charles; what would ve think of her?

Eger. I should think her the most deceitful, and the most subtle of her sex, and if possible would never think of her again.

Sir P. Wull ye give me yeer honour of that?
Eger. Most solemnly, Sir.

Sir P. Enough-I am satisfied. [Cries with joy] You make me young again; I was afraid ye were fascinated wi' the charms of a crack. Do ye ken this hond?

Eger. Mighty well, Sir.
Sir P. And ye, Madam?

an a reptile? and ye, Sir, what ha'e you till say for your disobedience and your frenzy? Oh! Charles! Charles, you'll shorten my days!

[Sits donen. Eger. Pray, Sir, be patient-compose yourself a moment; I will make you any compensa tion in my power.

Sir P. Then instantly sign the articles of marriage.

Eger. The lady, Sir, has never yet been consulted, and I have some reason to believe that her heart is engaged to another man.

Sir P. Sir, that is nae business of yours-I know she wull consent; and that's aw we are till consider. Oh! here comes iny lord!

Enter LORD LUMBERCOURT. Lord L. Sir Pertinax, every thing is ready, and the lawyers wait for us.

Sir P. We attend your lordship; where is Lady Rodolpha?

Lord L. Giving some female consolation to poor Constantia. Why, my lady! ha! ha! ha! hear your vestal, Constantia, has been flirting!

Sir P. Yas, yas, my lord, she is in very gude | better than she should be-she has had nae order for ainy mon that wants a wife, and an heir till his estate, intill the bargain.

Enter TOMLINS.

Tom. Sir, there's a man below, that wants to speak to your honour upon particular business.

Sir P. Sir, I canna speak till any body noowhe must come another time; haud-stay, what, is he a gentleman?

Tom. He looks something like one, Sir; a sort of a gentleman; but he seems to be in a kind of a passion; for when I asked his name, he answered hastily, 'tis no matter, friend, go tell your master there is a gentleman here, that must speak to him directly.

Sir P. Must! ha! very peremptory indeed! pr'ythee let's see this angry sort of a gentleman for curiosity's sake. [Exit TOMLINS.

damage in this mansion; but ye may gang till Hadley, till yane farmer Hodges, and there ye may learn the whole story, fra a cheel they caw Melville.

Mel. Melville!

Sir P. Yas, Sir; Melville.

Mel. O! would to heaven she had no crime to answer but her commerce with Melville—no, Sir, he is not the man; it is your son, your Egerton, that has seduced her! and here, Sir, are the evidences of his seduction.

Eger. Of my seduction, Sir?

Mel. Of yours, Sir, if your name be Egerton. Eger. I am that man, Sir; but pray what is your evidence?

Mel. These bills, and these gorgeous jewelsnot to be had in her menial state, but at the price of chastity; not an hour since she sent them, impudently sent them, by a servant of this house; contagious infamy started from their touch.

Enter LADY RODOLPHA. Lady R. Oh! my Lady Macsycophant, I am Eger. Sir, perhaps you may be mistaken concome an humble advocate for a weeping piece of cerning the terms on which she received them; female frailty; who begs she may be permitted to do you but clear her conduct with respect to Melspeak till your ladyship, before you finally repro-ville, and I will instantly satisfy your fears conbate her.

Sir P. I beg your pardon, Lady Rodolpha, but it must not be; see her, she shall not.

Lady M. Nay, there can be no harm, my dear in hearing what she has to say for herself. Sir P. I tell you, it shall not be.

Lady M. Well, well, my dear, I have done, I have done.

Enter TOMLINS and MELVILLE.
Tom. Sir, that is my master.
Sir P. Weel, Sir, pray what is your urgent
business wi' me, Sir?

Mel. To shun disgrace and punish baseness. Sir P. Punish baseness? what does the fallow mean? wha are ye, Sir?

Mel. A man, Sir.

Sir P. A mon,

Sir!

Mel. And one whose spirit and fortune once bore as proud a sway as any within this country's

lunits.

concerning the jewels and her virtue.

Mel. Sir, you give me new life; you are my better angel-I believe in your words, your looksknow then-I am that Melville.

Sir P. Hoow, Sir! ye that Melville, that was at farmer Hodges'?

Mel. The same, Sir; it was he brought my Constantia to my arms; lodged and secreted meonce my lowly tenant, now my only friend; the fear of inexorable creditors made me change my name from Harrington to Melville, till I could see and consult some who once called themselves my friends.

Eger. Sir, suspend your fears and anger but for a few minutes-I will keep my word with you religiously; and bring your Constantia to your arms, as virtuous and as happy as you could wish her.

[Exeunt LADY MACSYCOPHANT and EGERTON.

pick up some leetle matter of silver in the Indies-Ah! there ha'e been bonny fortunes snapped up there of late years by some of the meelitary blades.

Sir P. The clearing up of this wench's virLord L. You seem to be a soldier, Sir! tue is domned anlucky! I'm afraid it wull ruin Mel. I was, Sir, and have the soldier's cer- aw oor affairs again-hoowever, I ha'e yane stroke tificate, to prove my service--rags and scars: for still in my heed, that wull secure the bargain wi' ten long years, in India's parching clime, I bore my lord, let matters gang as they wull. [Aside.] my country's cause, and in noblest dangers sus-But I wonder, Maister Melville, that ye did nae tained it with my sword-at length ungrateful peace has laid me down, where welcome war first took me up in poverty-and the dread of cruel creditors. Paternal affection brought me to my native land, in quest of an only child. I found her, as I thought, amiable as paternal fondness could desire; but foul seduction has snatched her from me; and hither am I come, fraught with a father's anger, and a soldier's honour, to seek the seducer, and glut revenge.

Lady M. Pray, Sir, who is your daughter?
Mel. I blush to own her-but-Constantia.
Omnes. How!

Lady M. Constantia !

Eger. Is Constantia your daughter, Sir? Mel. She is, and was the only comfort that nature, fortune, or my own extravagance, had left

me.

Sir P. Gude traith, then I fancy ye wull find but vary little comfort fra her; for she is nae

Mel. Very true, Sir; but it is an observation among soldiers, that there are some men who never meet with any thing in the service but blows and ill fortune-I was one of those, even to a proverb.

Sir P. Ah! 'tis pity, Sir; a great pity, noow, that ye did nae get a mogul, or some sic an animal, intill your clutches-Ah! I should like till ha'e the strangling of a nabob-the rummaging of his gold dust, his jewel closet, and aw his magazines of bars and ingots; ha! ha! ha! gude traith, noow, sic an a fellow would be a bonny cheel to bring over till this toown, and till exhibit him riding on an elephant; upon honour, a mon might raise a poll tax by him that would gang near till pay the debts of the nation!