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L. Sash. Not in the least. L. Plume. You must know, she has been rallying my poor brother, Sir Harry Bouquet, for not being in the militia, and so ill-naturedly! L. Sash. So he should indeed; but

Lady Sash. I assure you, Sir Harry, I should have been against you in your raillery.

I

Sir Harry. Now, as Gad's my judge, admire the place:— here's all the pride, pomp, and circumstance of all I said was, he looked so French glorious war!-Mars in a vis-à-vis, and so finical, that I thought he ran a and Bellona giving a fèle-champêtre. risque of being mistaken for another L. Plume. But now, seriously, brofemale chevalier. ther,what can make you judge so inL. Plume. Yet, you must confess differently of the camp from any body that our situation is open to a little else?

raillery: a few elegancies of accom- Sir Harry. Why, seriously, then, I modation are considerably wanting, think it the worst planned thing I ever though one's toilet, as Sir Harry says, beheld; for instance now, the tents is not absolutely spread on a drum are all ranged in a straight line; now, head. Lady Gorget, can any thing be worse L. Sash. He vows there is an eter- than a straight line? - and is not nal confusion between stores mili- there a horrid uniformity in their intary and millinery; such a descrip- finite vista of canvas?-no curve, no tion he gives!-On one shelf, cartrid-break, and the avenue of marquees and cosmetics, pouches and pat- abominable.

ges

ches; here a stand of arms, there a file L. Sash. O, to be sure, a circus or a of black pins; in one drawer bullet-crescent would have been vastly betmoulds and essence-bottles, pistols ter.

and tweezer-cases, with battle-pow- L. Gorget. What a pity Sir Harry der mixed with marechelle.

L. Gorget. O, the malicious creature!

L. Plume. But pray, Lady Sash, don't renew it; for see, here comes Sir Harry to join us.

was not consulted!.

Sir Harry.As Gad's my judge, I think so; for there is great capability in the ground.

L. Sash. A camp cognoscenti, positively, Sir Harry: we will have you publish a treatise on military virtue. a Sir Harry. Very well; but how will you excuse this? the officers' tents are close to the common soldiers :what an arrangement is that now!— If I might have advised, there cer

Enter Sir HARRY BOUQUET. Sir Harry, Now, Lady Sash, I beg truce: Lady Gorget, I am rejoiced to see you at this delectable spot; where, Lady Plume, you may be amused with such a dismal variety.

L. Gorget. You see, Lady Plume, he tainly should have been one part for porseveres, the canaille, and the west end of the

camp for the noblesse, and persons of and chickens, flanked by a fricassée, a certain rank. with salads in the intervals, and a

L. Gorget. Very right. I dare say you corps de reserve of sweetmeats, and would have thought of proper mar-whipt syllabubs to form a hollow quees for hazard and quinze. square in the centre.

L. Plume. To be sure, with festino tents, and opera pavilions.

Sir Harry, Gad, the only plan that could make it supportable for a week: -well, certainly the greatest defect in a general is want of taste. L.Sash.Undoubtedly; and conduct, discipline, and want of humanity,

are no atonements for it.

L. Plume. Ha, ha, ha! Sir Harry, I am very sorry you have so strong a dislike to every thing military; for unless you would contribute to the fortune of our little recruit

Sir Harry. O, madam, most willingly; and very-à-propos, here comes your ladyship's protegée, and has brought, I see, the little recruit, as you desired.

Enter NELL and NANCY.

Sir Harry, None in nature. L.Plume. But, Sir Harry, it is rather Nell.Here,Nancy,make your curtsy, unlucky that the military spirit is so or your bow, to the ladies, who have universal, for you will hardly find so kindly promised you protection. one to side with you.

Nancy. Simple gratitude is the only Sir Harry. Universal indeed; and return I can make; but I am sure the the ridicule of it is to see how this ladies, who have hearts to do so goodmadness has infected the whole road natured a deed, will excuse my not from Maidstone to London: the camp being able to answer them as I ought. jargon is as current all the way as bad Nell.She means,an please your ladysilver: the very postilions that drive ships, that she will always acknowyou talk of their cavalry, and refuse ledge your ladyships' goodness to the to charge on a trot up the hill; the last hour of her life, and, as in duty turnpikes seem converted into re-bound, will ever pray for your ladydoubts, and the dogs demanded the ships' happiness and prosperity, countersign of my servants, instead That's what you mean, you know. of the tickets: then when I got to Maidstone, I found the very waiters had got a smattering of tactics; for inquiring what I could have for dinner, a cursed drill waiter, after reviewing his bill of fare with the air of a field-marshal, proposed an ad- L.Plume. Well, child, we're all your vanced party of soup and bouilli, to friends; and be assured your William be followed by the main body of ham shall be no sufferer by his constancy,

[Aside to NANCY. L. Plume. Very well: but, Nancy, are you satisfied that your soldier shall continue in his duty? Nell. O yes, your ladyship; she's quite satisfied.

Nell. There, Nancy; say something. Sir Harry. Honest corporal, here's L. Sash. But are you sure you will a little recruit, son to a tenant of be able to bear the hardships of your mine; and, as I am told you are an insituation? [Retires up with NANCY. telligent young fellow, I mean to put L. Plume. [To NELL.] You have seen him under your care. him, then?

Nell. O, yes, your ladyship.

L. Plume. Go, and bring him here. [Exit NELL.] Sir Harry, we have a little plot, which you must assist us in. Nancy.[Coming forward withLady SASH.] O, madam, most willingly.

SONG.

Will. What, that boy, your honour? Lord bless you, sir, I shall never be able to make any thing of him. Nancy. [Aside.] I am sorry for that. L. Gash. Nay, corporal, he's very young.

Will. He is under size, my lady: such a stripling is fitter for a drummer than a rank and file.

Sir Harry. But he's straight and well made.

Nancy. I wish I was ordered to right

about.

The fife and drum sound merrily;
A soldier, a soldier's the lad for me:
With my true love I soon shall be;
For who so kind, so true as he!
With him in every toil I'll share;
To please him shall be all my care:
Each peril I'll dare, all hardship I'll bear;
For a soldier, a soldier's the lad for me.
Then if kind Heaven preserve my love,
What rapturous joys shall Nancy prove!
Swift through the camp shall my foot-is't not she?
step bound,

To meet my William, with conquest
crown'd:

Close to my faithful bosom prest,
Soon shall he hush his cares to rest;
Clasp'd in these arms, forget war's
alarms;

For a soldier, a soldier's the lad for me.

L. Plume. Now, Nancy, you must be ruled by us.

Nancy. As I live, there's my dear William!

L. Plume. Turn from him must.

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Nancy. O, I shall discover myself!
-I tremble so unlike a soldier.

Enter NELL and WILLIAM.

Will.Well,-I'll do all in my power to oblige your ladyship. Come,youngster, turn about—Ah, Nelly, tell me,

Sir Harry. Why don't you march him off?

Nell. Is he under size, corporal? -
Oh, you
blockhead!
Nancy. O ladies, pray excuse me!—
My dear William! [Runs into his

arms.

Nell. They'll never be able to come to an explanation before your ladyships-Go, go, and talk by yoursel[They retire up the stage. Enter SERJEANT, TWO COUNTRYMEN, Fife etc.

ves.

Serj. Please your ladyships, we liave taken a sort of a spy this morning, who has the assurance to deny it,

Nell. Why, I tell you, William, the though he confesses himself an Irish ladies want to ask you some questions. painter. I have undertaken, however,

to bring this letter from him to Lady, L. Sash. No, no.

Sarah Sash.

Sir Harry. Yes, on the first bad.

Sir Harry. What appears against weather you'll give orders to strike him? your tents and toilets, and secure a

Serj. A great many suspicious cir-retreat at Tunbridge. cumstances, please your honour: he

has an O before his name, and we took A march, while the scene changes to him with a draught of the camp in a View of the Camp.

his hand.

FINALE.

L. Sash. Ha, ha, ha! this is ridicu- Serj. While the loud voice of war relous enough: 'tis O'Daub, the Irish sounds from afar, painter, who diverted us some time Songs of duty and triumph we'll pay: ago at the fète-champêtre.-Honest When our monarch appears, we'll give him three cheers, serjeant, we'll see your prisoner, and With huzza! huzza! huzza! I fancy you may release him. Nancy. Ye sons of the field, Sir Harry. Pray, serjeant, what's to be done this evening?

whose

bright valour's your shield, Love and beauty your toils shall repay: Inspired by the charms of war's fierce Huzza! Huzza! huzza! alarms,

Serj. The line, your honour, turns out; and as there are pleasure tents pitched, perhaps the ladies will condescend to hear a march and chorus, which some recruits are practising No perils shall William dismay: against his majesty comes to the In war's fierce alarms, inspired by those

camp.

Will. Inspired by my love, all dangers
I'll prove;

charms,

L. Sash. Come, Sir Harry, you'll Huzza! huzza! huzza!

grow fond of a camp life yet.

Chorus. May true glory still wave her bright banners around;

Sir Harry. Your ladyships will still with fame, pow'r, and freedom, old

grow tired of it first, I'll answer for it.

England be crown'd.

THE CRITIC

OR, A TRAGEDY REHEARSED.

MADAM,

TO MRS. GREVILLE.

IN requesting your permission to address the following pages to you, which, as they aim themselves to be critical, require every protection and allowance that approving taste or friendly prejudice can give them, I yet ventured to mention no other motive than the gratification of private friendship and esteem. Had I suggested a hope that your implied approbation would give a sanction to their defects, your particular reserve, and dislike to the reputation of critical taste, as well as of poetical talent, would have made you refuse the protection of your name to such a purpose. However, I am not so ungrateful as now to attempt to combat this disposition in you. I shall not here presume to argue that the present state of poetry claims and expects every assistance that taste and example can afford it; nor endeavour to prove that a fastidious concealment of the most elegant production of judgment and fancy is an ill return for the possession of those endowments. Continue to deceive yourself in the idea that you are known only to be eminently admired and regarded for the valuable qualities that attach private friendships, and the graceful talents that adorn conversation. Enough of what you have written has stolen into full public notice to answer my purpose; and you will, perhaps, be the only person, conversant in elegant literature, who shall read this address and not perceive that by publishing your particular approbation of the following drama, I have a more interested object than to boast the true respect and regard with which

I have the honour to be,

Madam,

Your very sincere,

And obedient humble servant,

R. B. SHERIDAN.

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