Fer. So-I fhall be arrefted under the very nofe of my guardian,-what the devil's to be done!Corp. Obey my orders,-change your dress, and you are fafe-there, make hafte. (pushes Fervor.) Fer. 'Sdeath and fire, what are you about. Corp. A cock'd hat. (fill pushing.)

Fer. Zounds, firrah, you'll be flogg'd
Cor. In a blue coat.

Fer. Diftraction!

Corp. Blue coat, &c. &c.

[Exeunt, the Corp.

fill pufhing Fervor, who endeavours to difengage himself.

SCENE V.-A Room in the Inn.

Enter Sir BAROMETER followed by Mifs P. SNAP.

Sir B. Obadiah was right-my doubts are all at an end-and I am a miserable man.

Pen. Brother, you torture my impatience.

Sir B. Aye, very likely, and when your impatience is fatisfied, your torture will be increafed to think that a countenance fo open, and a manner fo ingenuous, should be the cloak and mask of deceit and duplicity.

Pen. Have you been to Seagrave's cottage?
Sir B. I have.-

Pen. Well?

Sir B. Why the poor man confefs'd he had been obliged to enlift as a private foldier in Fervor's company.

Pen. O, the reprobate!

Enter FERVOR.

Fer. My dear Sir Barometer, I am come now to explain

Sir B. Every thing is explain'd Sir.-I am perfectly well fatisfied.

Fer. (seizing his band.) Didn't I tell you fo my dear Sir, how could you poffibly doubt me.

Sir B. (releasing himself.) Sir, I never did doubt you-but I have now witneffed your duplicity and proved you a profligate. I have done with you, Sir, I have done with you.

Fer. Zounds, another mistake! Madam, for mercy's fake plead for me.

Pen. What can you poffibly urge to invalidate the teftimony of eyes and ears.

Fer. A fimple tale-only hear me-and

Sir B. Well, well, it fhall be fo, proceed Sir. Fer. It was about two months ago that I firft iaw the innocent girl whofe deftruction I am fo unjustly charged with. Amongst thofe tenants whom Mr. Broadbrim vifited, for the purpose of receiving rent, I accompanied him to Seagrave's cottage,-I beheld the old man enduring patiently the most aggravated fufferings, and the fon exerting his laft remaining ftrength to procure him comfort and affiftance,-the daughter in fickness and in forrow, heedless of herfelf, was endeavouring to foothe the laft fad hours of an expiring parent.

Sir B. Well, Sir-(agitated.)

Fer. Sir, I revered the meeknefs of the father, -honour'd the conduct of the fon,-and lov'd the virtues of the daughter.

Sir B. (aside.) The fellow has choak'd me,

go on, Sir, proceed if you please-Obadiah reliev❜d

them?

Fer. (firmly.) No, Sir,-on the contrary, he opprefs'd them.

Sir B. Still these flanders, produce proof Sir,I'll hear no more.

Fer. Your pardon for one moment.

[Exit: Sir B. His manner ftaggers me-yet-pfhaw! it is not poffible-if his ftory could but be true. Fer, (without.) This way Patty-this way.

FERVOR enters with WILLIAM and PATTY
SEAGRAVE.

Ha! is it can it be poffible-Charles-my boy Charles-bere Sir B. turns where Fervor flood, and encounters the Bailiffs who enter juft at this time. Fervor having retreated on seeing them.)

Sir B. So, fo, fo, my hopes were too fanguine. -Oh, you are a precious fellow.

Bai. (to each other.) He's not here.

2d Bai. In red with a cap-no. (they retire.) Sir B. (after musing.) I will not conceal him, he fhall reap the reward he merits-here officers do your duty, that is your man.

Bai. That-no, no-we want nothing of him.
Sir B. No!

Fer. (aside.) Oh, oh, this is Barrel's blue coat bufinefs.

Sir B. Aftonishing! is it not Charles Fervor you are in queft of?

Bai. Ay, fure, old gentleman, but we are not to be taught our bufinefs at this time o'day.

Sir B. Very well, gentlemen, you know beft; but remember there's an old faying that

Bai. Ay ay, "old birds are not to be caught with chaff."

Sir B. Damn your old birds,

Zounds!

[Exit Bailiffs.

Pen. (restraining him.) Brother, brother

Sir B. Well, well. (The Bailiffs retire, and after examining the room, enter the Drum.)

(To Fervor.) So Sir, this is another of your tricks; but I am not to be deceived.

Fer. Sir Barometer, it never was my intention to deceive you. I hope you will believe me when I fay, that if I had preferr'd my own useless pleatures, to the gratification of faving a worthy, though unfortunate family from deftruction, your liberal allowance would have been amply fufficient to have discharged every debt of my own, and this difgrace had never happened.

Will. I can prove this to be true, believe me, Sir.

Pat. Indeed he is not to blame.

Pen. Brother, to difbelieve any longer were downright obftinacy.

Sir B. I am affail'd by doubts and truths fo ftrong, that I know not what to believe. Oh, if I could but fee Obadiah-ha! (bere the Bailiffs return with Obadiah from the Drum, and they all fart back in aftonishment.)

Pen. Amazement!

Will. What can this mean?

Fer. Broadbrim! the devil!!

Oba. "I'll go wed Penelope, and to my bofom take her," (attempting to get at Penelope.)

Pen. Paa,-Oh the Brute-take him away-take him away.

Sir B. Take care of him friends, he is not the perfon you are in queft of-but I fhall pay the debt and recompence your trouble. [Exit Bailiffs with Obadiah, who attempts again to feize Mifs P.

Sir B. Charles, my boy, you have been wrong'd.

Enter DRAB.

Drab. " Yea, verily, he hath, I haften'd here. from the great city to counteract the fchemes of the defigning Broadbrim; but they have already proved abortive, and my confcience is fatisfied.

Fer. My good friend.

'Drab. Friend Barometer, I am afhamed of what hath happen'd, but we find good and evil among every defcription of men; and whether found in my own fect or thofe of thy perfuafion, I rejoice equally at the triumph of virtue and the abasement of vice.

Sir B. Can you forgive me. (to Charles.) How fhall 1 reward him? (to Pen.)

Pen. Give him a wife, and I will give her a prefent to begin the world with.

Sir B. Sifter you are right take her my boy and Heaven bless ye both. Henceforth I'll not believe every thing that is new, is bad; because I am old or every thing that is old, faultless; because I was once young.

Fer. Right, Sir Barometer, ftick to that, avoid prejudice, and be certain you will always find fomething to palliate, though perhaps not entirely excufe. Fearless we hear contending counfels fury, While truth and mercy guide an English Jury, Boldly receive our fentence 'ere we go, Secure of justice, be it "Yes or No.'

THE END.

J. Barker, Printer, Great Ruffell-ftreet, Covent-Garden.