THE RECRUITING OFFICER. A COMEDY, BY GEORGE FARQUHAR, ESQ. ADAPTED FOR THEATRICAL REPRESENTATION, AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRES-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE AND COVENT-GARDEN. REGULATED FROM THE PROMPT-BOOKS, By Permission of the Managers. "The lines distinguished by inverted Commas, are omitted in the Representation " LONDON: Printed for the Proprietors, under the Direction of JOHN BELL, British Library, STRAND, Bookseller to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. MDCC XCII. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, INSTEAD of the mercenary expectations that attend addresses of this nature, I humbly beg that this may be receiv'd as an acknowledgment for the favors you have already conferred; I have transgressed the rules A of dedication in offering you any thing in that style without first asking your leave, but the entertainment I found in Shropshire commands me to be grateful, and that's all I intend. It was my good fortune to be ordered some time. ago into the place which is made the scene of this comedy; I was a perfect stranger to every thing in Salop but its character of loyalty, the number of its inhabitants, the alacrity of the gentlemen in recruiting the army, with their generous and hospitable reception of strangers. This character I found so amply verified in every particular, that you made recruiting, which is the greatest fatigue upon earth to others, to be the greatest pleasure in the world to me. |
