from one. After a while, the exhilarating juice began to give unequivocal symptoms of its potency, in subduing the human reason in proportion as it increases the animal spirits. The Squire, under one of these impulses, made some violent gestures and broke a sconce, which was suspended directly over his own; on which his brother exclaimed, "That's right, go it, Georgy, my boy." Georgy did go it till he got (according to the vulgar idiom) most princely drunk, and measured all his glory on the floor. His brother, standing over him exultingly, said: "There lie the hopes of our family!"

A hopeful brood, Mr. Author!

I think so, indeed, Mr. Reader; for you must know that Master Frederic had an equal, if not a more ardent passion for ame's ace and seven's the main, than his brother, as we shall have occasion to mention in its proper place.

It will be impossible to follow the Squire throughout his progress in the modern arts and sciences, unless the Reader will good-naturedly

allow us to adopt the manner of the drama, and change scenes as often as occasion may require. As this has been universally allowed to be the best mode, not only of inculcating virtuous examples and principles, but also of exhibiting vice in all its horrid deformity, we shall presume upon the reader's acquiescence, and give some dramatic sketches in three or four of the succeeding chapters.

CHAPTER XI.

CONTAINS A SCENE OF A COMEDY, INTITLED "THE SCHOOL FOR PROFLIGACY," OR "THE LAND WE LIVE IN."

SCENE. A Room in Snarldown House.

Enter the Squire, Merryman, and Cutlas.

Cutlas. 'Sdeath! the young Squire of Freeland Manor, to be tied down to vulgar prejudices like a mechanic's son! By my sword hilt, I would rather be a trooper's son !

Merryman. The heir-apparent to be restrained like a vile plebeian! I'd rather be a strolling player, and hissed for fifteen pence a night by country bumpkins in a barn. If the world be, as it is said of it, "A School for Scandal!" yet the rich may soar above it, and laugh at the gruntings of the swinish multitude, as the gods, on Olympus' top, hear unmoved the

thunders growling at their feet. True greatness consists in despising every thing low and vulgar.

Squire.-True; but then you know that my father's tenants are a queer, blunt sort of people, who imagine that they have a right to speak their minds, and will exercise it.

Merryman. Well they pay for it, and let them enjoy it. They must have somewhat for their money; and as their tongues will wag, whether they opened their purse strings or not, if we are so complaisant as to seem to pay attention to them, they would be unconscionable rogues if they expected any thing more in return.

Cutlas. Do you hold forth this language, Dickey, to the landlord at the StaffordshireArms? [This was an inn, so called from its being chiefly resorted to by persons from that country.]

Merryman. No, confound it. I have run up a long score there, and must keep a civil tongue at least, when I am there. I am all things to all men, and I have licked the blarney stone to such good purpose, that with all the jolly shoemakers, of whom the company chiefly consists,

I am almost as popular as Crispin himself. I wormed myself into their credit by the following jeu d'esprit One of them brought me a new pair of shoes, which he had been prevailed upon to make for me by a promise of prompt payment, at a time when, as is often the case, I had not a farthing in my pocket. I tried them on, swore I had never been better fitted in my. life, and would recommend him all the custom I could. But the fellow wanted something more than oil of tongue, and pressed for the money. I called for some brandy, helped him to a glass, and then drank the following toast: "May the Staffordshire shoes be trodden under foot all over the world!" —The fellow laughed, shook me by the hand, said that it was a pity so wity a man should be so poor, and that I might pay him for the shoes, whenever I should feel disposed to do it. He certainly had more money than wit. By similar means, I drink their ale, which I know from experience to be excellent, and get into their debt for my condescension.

Squire. Well but, Dickey, as you have kept them so long upon the spare diet of promises,