REFUSAL; OR, THE LADIES' PHILOSOPHY. A Comedy. BY COLLEY CIBBER, ESQ. CORRECTLY GIVEN, FROM COPIES USED IN THE THEATRES, BY THOMAS DIBDIN, Author of several Dramatic Pieces, &c. Printed at the Chiswick Press, FOR SHERWOOD, NEELY, AND JONES, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. THE REFUSAL, OR LADIES' PHILOSOPHY, WAS first acted at Drury Lane, in 1720; Moliere's FEMMES SCAVANTES formed the groundwork of the second title. The famous South Sea bubble gave rise to the character of Sir Gilbert Wrangle; the excellent delineation of which, as well as the merit of the whole play, would have insured its success but for a political party (raised against the author by his former comedy of the NONJUROR), which succeeded in limiting the first run of the REFUSAL to six nights. Mr. Garrick, however, who esteemed it one of the author's best plays, opened Drury Lane Theatre with it in 1747, when Mr. Macklin's fine acting assisted greatly to establish its popularity. The sub-committee of Drury Lane have this season auspiciously commenced their management, by the re-production of this and other popu lar and sterling relics of the old school. November, 1817. SPOKEN BY THE AUTHOR. GALLANTS! behold before your eyes the wight, That would by learning nature's laws repeal, When he was levee'd, like a statesman, by the town, |