parliament; the which I entered with as ardent and determined an ambition as ever agitated the heart of Cæsar himself. Sir, I booed, and watched, and hearkened, and ran aboot, backwards and forwards, and attended and dangled upon the then great mon, till I got intill the vary bowels of his confidence, and then, sir, I wriggled and wrought, and wriggled, till I wriggled myself among the vary thick of them: ha! I got my snack of the clothing, the foraging, the contracts, the lottery tickets, and aw the political bonuses: till at length, sir, I became a much wealthier mon than one-half of the golden calves I had been so long a-booing to and was nae that booing to some purpose?

Eger. It was, indeed, sir.

Sir P. But are you convinced of the guid effects and the utility of booing?

Eger. Thoroughly, sir.

Sir P. About twa hours since I told you, Charles, that I received a letter express, complaining of your brother's activity at an election in Scotland, against a particular friend of mine, which has given great offence; and, sir, you are mentioned in the letter as well as he; to be plain, I must roundly tell you that on this interview depends my happiness as a father and as a man; and my affection to you, sir, as a son, for the remainder of our days.

Eger. I hope, sir, I shall never do anything either to forfeit your affection or disturb your happiness.

Sir P. I hope so, too: but to the point. The fact is this there has been a motion made this vara day to bring on the grand affair, which is settled for Friday

seven-night.

Now, sir, as you are popular, have talents, and are weel heard, it is expected, and I insist upon it, that you endeavour to atone, sir, for your late misconduct, by preparing, and taking a larger share in that question, and supporting it with a' your power.

Eger. 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 conscience.

Sir P. Conscience! why, you are mad! Did you ever hear any man talk of conscience in political matters? Conscience, quotha! I have been in parliament these three-and-thraty years, and never heard the term made use of before. Sir, it is an unparliamentary word, and you will be laughed at for it.

[Crosses to R. 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 you aboot, sir? malignant ferment and venal ambition! Sir, every man should be ambitious to serve his country, and every man should be rewarded for it: and pray, sir, would nae you wish to serve your country? Answer me that. I say, would nae you wish to serve your country?

Eger. Only show me how I can serve my country, and my life is hers. Were I qualified to lead her armies, to steer her fleets, and to deal her honest ven

geance 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 a free posterity as a monumental terror to corrupt ambition, I would be foremost in such service, and act with the unremitting ardour of a Roman spirit!

Sir P. Why, are you mad, sir? You have certainly been bit by some mad Whig or other. O! you are young, vara young, in these matters; but experience will convince you, sir, that every man in public business has twa consciences-a religious and a political conscience. Why, you see a merchant, now, or a shopkeeper, that kens the science o' the world, always looks upon an oath at a custom-house, or behind a counter, only as an oath in business-a thing of course, a mere thing of course, that has nothing to do with religion; and just so it is at an election: for instance, now, I am a candidate, pray observe, and I gang till a periwig maker, a hatter, or a hosier, and I give ten, twenty, or thraty guineas for a periwig, a hat, or a pair of hose and so on through a majority of voters. Vara weel, what is the consequence? Why, this commercial intercourse, you see, begets a friendship betwixt us-a commercial friendship-and in a day or twa these men gang and give their suffrages; weel, what is the inference? Pray, sir, can you, or any lawyer, divine, or casuist, ca' this a bribe?-Nae, sir, in fair political reasoning, it is ainly generosity on the one side, and gratitude on the other; so, sir, let me have nae more of your religious or philosophical refinements, but prepare, attend, and speak till

Sir, I

the question, or you are nae son of mine. Let us gang down and finish this

insist upon it.

business.

Eger. [Stopping SIR P.] Sir, with your permission, I beg you will first hear a word or two upon this subject.

Sir P. Weel, sir, what would you say?

Eger. I have often resolved to let you know my aversion to this match

Sir P. How, sir?

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

Sir P. Your aversion!-your aversion, sir! How dare you use sic language to me? Your aversion !— Look ye, sir, I shall cut the matter vara short: consider, my fortune is nae inheritance-a' mine acquisition; 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. How! another woman? and, you villain, how dare you love another woman without my leave? But what other woman ?-what is she?-Speak, sir, speak.

Eger. Constantia.

Sir P. Constantia! oh, you profligate!—what, a creature taken in charity!

Eger. Her poverty is not her crime, sir, but her misfortune: her birth is equal to the noblest; therefore, sir

Sir P. Haud your jabbering, you villain, haud your jabbering; none of your romance or refinement till me. I have but one question to ask you-but one question, and then I have done with you for ever-for ever therefore think before you answer-will you marry the lady, or will you break my heart?

Eger. Sir, my presence shall not offend you any longer; but when reason and reflection take their turn, I am sure you will not be pleased with yourself for this unparental passion.

Sir P. Tarry, I command you; and I command you, likewise, not to stir till you have given me an answer, a definite answer :—will you marry the lady, or will you not?

Eger. Since you command me, sir, know, then, that I cannot, will not marry her.

[Exit L.

Sir P. (Throws himself in a chair in a furious passion-then rises and stands.) Oh, the villain has shot me through the head! he has cut my vitals! I shall run distracted! the fellow destroys a' my measures, a' my schemes! there never was sic a bargain as I have made with this foolish lord: possession of his whole estate, with three boroughs upon it-six members. Why, what an acquisition! what consequence, what dignity, what weight till the house of Macsycophant! O, hang the fellow!-three boroughs, only for sending down six broomsticks!-O, miserable-O, miserable, ruined, undone! For these five-and-twenty years, ever since this fellow came intill the world, have I been secretly preparing him for ministerial dignity; and, with the fellow's eloquence, abilities, popularity, these boroughs and proper connexions, he might cer