A Farce, in Two Acts.

AS PERFORMED AT

HE THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE.

BY

THOMAS DIBDIN,

uthor of Past Ten o'Clock, Twenty per Cent, The Cabinet, Jew and
Doctor, Birth-day, Metrical History of England, &c. &c.

CORRECTLY GIVEN, FROM COPIES USED IN THE THEATRE.

Printed at the Chiswick Press,
BY C. WHITTINGHAM;

FOR WHITTINGHAM AND ARLISS, PATERNOSTER

ROW,

LONDON.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

URBARY

MAY 1.8 2005

ΤΟ

WILLIAM DOWTON,

This Farce

IS MOST THANKFULLY INSCRIBED,

BY

THE AUTHOR.

THE groundwork of the following bagatelle is to be found in a French piece, named after a celebrated one by Plautus, which Shakspeare and Terence have not disdained to copy.

It is a question whether either of those great authors were ever seconded by such actors as those who have supported this farce. Mr. Dowton and Mr. Knight must be seen, to estimate the anthor's obligations to them; Mr. Oxberry has made much out of nothing; and to Mr. Bartley, independent of his acting, many thanks are due from circumstances of a private nature.

The part of the Housekeeper was originally written as a Scotchwoman, to suit the talents of a very respected actress, whose appearance was unexpectedly prevented by a most serious domestic calamity: Mrs. Harlowe, at a very short notice, undertook the character, and has, in its present state, made it of consequence to the piece.

To each of the other performers named in the dramatis persona, the most sincere and wellmarked acknowledgments are respectfully tendered.

Daughter

Clarissa, Daughter to Col. Touchwood Mrs. Orger. Sophia, Niece to Col. Touchwood . . . Miss Ivers.

Snaggs. DEAR, dear, dear, dear! what a busy day. I don't wonder your dentistes in London make fortins, when I have pulled out fifteen shillings worth of teeth, taken three likenesses, and got double postage for carrying a letter, all in one day.

Sharp. [Entering] Snaggs! Mr. Snaggs!

Snaggs. Eh! who wants me? any body with the toothach?

Sharp. Has he got it?
Snaggs. Who?

Sharp. Mr. Mordaunt, you blockhead! Did you deliver the letter?

Snaggs. Yes; and he read it, and chuckled, and asked if it come from a lady; so I put on an insignificant look-so-and he was pleased, and gave me as much as you had done.