Lady G. I am mighty glad we are so near in our way of thinking; for, to tell you the truth, he is much upon the same terms with me: you know he has a satirícal turn; but never lashes any folly, without giving due encomiums to its opposite virtue; and, upon such occasions, he is sometimes particular in turning his compliments upon me, which I don't receive with any reserve, lest he should imagine I take them to myself. Lord T. You are right, child; when a man of merit makes his addresses, good sense may give him an answer without scorn or coquetry. Lady G. Hush! he's here

Enter MANLY.

Man. My lord, your most obedient.

Lord T. Dear Manly, yours-I was thinking to send

to you.

Man. Then I am glad I am here, my lord-Lady Grace, I kiss your hands-What, only you two?-How many visits may a man make before he falls into such unfashionable company! A brother and sister, soberly sitting at home, when the whole town is a gadding; question if there is so particular a tête-à-tête again in the whole parish of St. James's.

Lady G. Fie, fie, Mr. Manly, how censorious you

are!

Man. I had not made the reflection, madam, but that I saw you an exception to it-Where's my lady? Lord T. That, I believe, is impossible to guess. Man. Then I won't try, my lord.

Lord T. But 'tis probable I may hear of her by that time I have been four or five hours in bed.

Man. Now if that were my case-I believe I-But I beg pardon, my lord.

Lord T. Indeed, sir, you shall not: you will oblige me if you speak out; for it was upon this head I wanted to see you.

Man. Why then, my lord, since you oblige me to proceed-I have often thought that the misconduct of my lady has, in a great measure, been owing to your lordship's treatment of her.

Lady G. Bless me!

Lord T. My treatment?

Man. Ay, my lord; you so idolized her before marriage, that you even indulged her like a mistress after it: in short, you continued the lover when you should have taken up the husband; and so, by giving her more power than was needful, she has none where she wants it; having such entire possession of you, she is not mistress of herself.-And, mercy on us! how many fine women's heads have been turned upon the same occasion!

Lord T. Oh, Manly, 'tis too true! there's the source of my disquiet; she knows, and has abused her power. Man. However, since you have had so much patience, my lord, even go on with it a day or two more; and, upon her ladyship's next sally, be a little rounder in your expostulations: if that don't work-drop her some cool hints of a determined reformation, and leave her- -to breakfast upon them.

Lord T. You are perfectly right. How valuable is a friend in our anxiety!

Man. Therefore, to divert that, my lord, I beg, for the present, we may call another cause.

Lady G. Ay, for goodness' sake, let us have done with this.

Lord T. With all my heart.

Lady G. Have you no news abroad, Mr. Manly? Man. Apropos I have some, madam; and I believe, my lord, as extraordinary in its kind

Lord T. Pray let us have it.

Man. Do you know that your country neighbour, and my wise kinsman, sir Francis Wronghead, is coming to town with his whole family?

Lord T. The fool! what can be his business here? Man. Oh! of the last importance, I'll assure you— No less than the business of the nation.

Lord T. Explain.

Man. He has carried his election-against sir John Worthland.

Lord T. The deuce! What! for-for

Man. The famous borough of Guzzledown. Lord T. A proper representative indeed! Lady G. Pray, Mr. Manly, don't I know him? Man. You have dined with him, madam, when I was last down with my lord at Bellmont.

Lady G. Was not that he that got a little merry before dinner, and overset the tea-table in making his compliments to my lady?

Man. The same.

Lady G. Pray what are his circumstances? I know but very little of him.

Man. Then he is worth your knowing, I can tell you, madam. His estate, it clear, I believe, might be a good two thousand pounds a year; though, as it was left him saddled with two jointures and two weighty mortgages upon it, there is no saying what it is-But that he might be sure never to mend it, he married a profuse young bussy for love, without a penny of money. Thus having, like his brave ancestors, provided heirs for the family, he now finds children and interest-money make such a bawling about his ears, that at last he has taken the friendly advice of his kinsman, the good lord Danglecourt, to run his estate two thousand pounds more in debt, to put the whole management of what is left into Paul Pillage's hands, that he may be at leisure himself to retrieve his affairs, by being a parliament man. Lord T. A most admirable scheme indeed!

Man. And with this politic prospect he is now upon his journey to London

Lord T. What can it end in?

Man. Pooh! a journey into the country again. Lord T. Do you think he'll stir till his money is gone, or at least till the session is over?

Man. If my intelligence is right, my lord, he won't sit long enough to give his vote for a turnpike. Lord T. How so?

Man. Oh, a bitter business; he had scarce a vote in the whole town besides the returning officer. Sir John will certainly have it heard at the bar of the house, and send him about his business again.

Lord T. Then he has made a fine business of it indeed.

Man. Which, as far as my little interest will go, shall be done in as few days as possible.

Lady G. But why would you ruin the poor gentleman's fortune, Mr. Manly?

Man. No, madam, I would only spoil his project to save his fortune.

Lady G. How are you concerned enough to do either?

Man. Why I have some obligations to the family, madam: I enjoy at this time a pretty estate which sir Francis was heir at law to; but-by his being a booby, the last will of an obstinate old uncle gave it to me.

Re-enter WILLIAMS.

Wil. [To Manly] Sir, here is one of your servants, from your house, desires to speak with you.

Man. Will you give him leave to come in, my lord? Lord T. Sir-the ceremony's of your own making.

Enter JAMES.

[Exit Williams.

Man. Well, James, what's the matter?

James. Sir, here is John Moody just come to town: he says sir Francis and all the family will be here tonight, and is in a great hurry to speak with you.

Man. Where is he?

James. At our house, sir: he has been gaping and stumping about the streets, in his dirty boots, and asking every one he meets if they can tell him where he may have a good lodging for a parliament man, till he can hire a handsome whole house, fit for all his family, for the winter.

Man. I am afraid, my lord, I must wait upon Mr. Moody.

us.

Lord T. Pr'ythee let us have him here; he will divert

Man. Oh, my lord, he's such a cub! Not but he's so near common sense, that he passes for a wit in the family.

B

Lady G. I beg of all things we may have him; I am in love with nature, let her dress be never so homely. Man. Then desire him to come hither, James. [Exit James. Lady G. Pray what may be Mr. Moody's post? Man. Oh! his maître d'hotel, his butler, his bailiff, his hind, his huntsman, and sometimes-his companion.

Lord T. It runs in my head that the moment this knight has set him down in the house, he will get up to give them the earliest proof of what importance he is to the public in his own county.

Man. Yes, and when they have heard him, he will find that his utmost importance stands valued at-sometimes being invited to dinner.

Lady G. And her ladyship, I suppose, will make as considerable a figure in her sphere too?

Man. That you may depend upon; for (if I don't mistake) she has ten times more of the jade in her than she yet knows of: and she will so improve in this rich soil in a month, that she will visit all the ladies that will let her into their houses, and run in debt to all the shopkeepers that will let her into their books: in short, before her important spouse had made five pounds by his eloquence at Westminster, she will have lost five hundred at dice and quadrille in the parish of St. James's.

Lord T. So that, by that time he is declared unduly elected, a swarm of duns will be ready for their money, and his worship-will be ready for a gaol.

Man. Yes, yes, that I reckon will close the account of this hopeful journey to London-But see, here comes the fore horse of the team!

Oh, honest John!

Enter JOHN MOODY.

Moody. Ad's waunds and heart, measter Manly! I'm glad I ha' fun ye. Lawd, lawd, give me your hand! Why that's friendly naw. Flesh! I thought we would never ha' got hither. Well, and how do you do, meas