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be able to settle it? But you shall see it at home. Oh Becky, come hither, we will refer our dispute (They go apart.) Arab. Well, sir, your friend has prevail'd; you are acquainted with my brother; but what use you propose

Cape. The pleasure of a more frequent admission to you.

Arab. That all?

Cape. Who knows but a strict intimacy with Mr. Cadwallader may in time incline him to favour my hopes?

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Arab. A sandy foundation! Cou'd he be vail'd upon to forgive your want of fortune; the obscurity, or at least uncertainty, of your birth, will prove an unsurmountable bar.

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Cad. Hold, hold, hold, Beck; zounds! you are

Spri. Well, but hear him out, ma'am.

Cape. Consider we have but an instant. What project? What advice?

Arab. O fye! You would be asham'd to receive succour from a weak woman! Poetry is your profession, you know; so that plots, contrivances, and all the powers of imagination, are more peculiarly your province.

Cape. Is this a season to rally?

Cad. Hold, hold, hold; ask Mr. Cape.

Arab. To be serious then; if you have any point to gain with my brother, your application must be made to his better part.

Cape. I understand you; plough with the heifer.

Arab. A delicate allusion, on my word; but take this hint-amongst her passions, admiration, or rather adoration, is the principal.

Cape. Oh; that is her foible?

Arab. One of them; against that fort you must plant your batteries-But here they are.

Mrs. Cad. I tell you, you are a nonsense man, and I won't agree to any such thing: Why what signifies a parliament man? You make such a rout indeed.

Cad. Hold, Becky, my dear, don't be in a passion now, hold; let us reason the thing a little, my

dear.

Mrs. Cad. I tell you I won't; what's the man an oafe? I won't reason, I hate reason, and so there's an end on't.

Cad. Why then you are obstinate ecod, perverse hey! But my dear, now, Becky, that's a good girl: Hey! come, hold, hold-Egad, we'll refer it to

Mr. Cape.

Mrs. Cad. Defer it to who you will, it will signify nothing.

Cape. Bless me, what's the matter, madam ? Sure, Mr. Cadwallader, you must have been to blame; no inconsiderable matter cou'd have ruffled the natural softness of that tender and delicate mind.

Arab.

Pretty well commenced.

Mrs. Cad. Why he's always a fool, I think; he wants to send our little Dicky to school, and make him a parliament man.

Cape. How old is master, ma'am?

Mrs. Cad. Three years and a quarter, come lady-day.

Cape. The intention is rather early.

Cad. Hey! early, hold, hold; but Becky, mistakes the thing, egad I'll tell you the whole

affair.

Mrs. Cad. You had better hold your chattering, so you had.

Cad. Nay, prithee, my dear; Mr. Sprightly, do, stop her mouth, hold, hold; the matter, Mr. Cape, is this. Have you ever seen my Dicky? Cape. Never.

Cad. No? Hold, hold, egad he's a fine, a sensi

ble child; I tell Becky he's like her, to keep her in humour; but between you and I he has more sense already, than all her family put together. Hey! Becky! is not Dicky the picture of you? He's a sweet child! Now, Mr. Cape, you must know, I want to put little Dicky to school; now between-hey! you, hold, you, hold, the great use of a school is, hey! egad, for children to make acquaintances, that may hereafter be useful to them; for between you and I, as to what they learn there, does not signify two-pence.

Cape. Not a farthing.

Cad. Does it, hey? Now this is our dispute, whether poor little Dicky, he's a sweet boy, shall go to Mr. Quæ-Genius's at Edgware, and make an acquaintance with my young lord Knap, the eldest son of the earl of Frize, or to doctor Ticklepitcher's at Barnet, to form a friendship with Stocks, the rich broker's only child.

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Cape, And for which does the lady determine? Cad. Why I have told her the case; says I, Becky, my dear; who knows, if Dicky goes to Quæ-Genius's, but my lord Knap may take such a fancy to him, that upon the death of his father, and he comes to be earl of Frize, he may make poor little Dicky a member of parliament? Hey! Cape?

Mrs. Cad. Ay, but then if Dicky goes to Ticklepitcher's who can tell but young Stocks, when he comes to his fortune, may lend him money if he wants it?.

Cad. And if he does not want it, he won't take after his father, hey! Well, what's your opinion, master Cape.

Cape. Why Sir, I can't but join with the lady, money is the main article; it is that that makes the mare to go.

Cad. Hey! egad, and the alderman too, you; so Dicky may be a member, and a fig for my lord: Well, Becky, be quiet, he shall stick to Stocks.

Mrs. Cad. Ay let'n; I was sure as how I was

right.

Cad. Well, hush Becky. Mr. Cape, will you eat a bit with us to-day, hey! will you?

Cape. You command me.

Cad. That's kind; why then Becky and Bell shall step and order the cook to toss up a little, nice-Hey! will you, Becky? Do, and I'll bring Cape.

Mrs. Cad. Ay, with all my heart. Well, Mr. What-d'ye-call'um, the poet; ecod the man's well enough Your servant.

Cape. I am a little too much in dishabille, to offer your ladyship my hand to your coach.

Cad. Pshaw! never mind, I'll do it—Here you have company coming.

(Exeunt Mr. and Mrs. Cad. and Arab.

Enter Governor and Robin.

Cape. Ah, master Robin!

Robin. Why, you have a great levee this morning, sir.

Cape. Ay Robin, there's no obscuring extraor dinary talents.

Rob. True, sir; and this friend of mine begs to claim the benefit of them.

Cape. Any friend of yours: But how can I be serviceable to him?

Rob. Why, sir, he is lately return'd from a profitable government; and as you know the unsatisfied mind of man, no sooner is one object possess'd, but another starts up to

Cape. A truce to moralizing, dear Robin, to the matter; I am a little busy.

Rob. In a word then, this gentleman, having a good deal of wealth, is desirous of a little honour. Cape. How can I confer it?

Rob. Your pen may.

Cape. I don't understand you,

Rob. Why touch him up a handsome complimentary address from his colony, by way of praising the prudence of his administration, his justice, valour, benevolence, and

Cape. I am sorry 'tis impossible for me now to misunderstand you. The obligations I owe you, Robin, nothing can cancel; otherwise, this wou'd prove our last interview. Your friend, sir, has been a little mistaken, in recommending me as a person fit for your purpose. Letters have been always my passion, and indeed are now my profession; but tho' I am the servant of the public, I am not the prostitute of particulars: As my pen has never been ting'd with gall, to gratify popular resentment or private pique, so it shall never sacrifice its integrity to flatter pride, impose falshood, or palliate guilt. Your merit may be great, but let those, sir, be the heralds of your worth, who are better acquainted with it.

Gov. Young man, I like your principles and spirit; your manly refusal gives me more pleasure, than any honors your papers cou'd have procured me.

Spri. Now this business is dispatch'd, let us return to our own affairs-You dine at Cadwallader's?

Cape. I do

Spri. Wou'd it not be convenient to you to have him out of the way?

Cape. Extremely.

Spri. I have a project that I think will prevail. Cape. Of what kind?

Spri. Bordering upon the dramatic; but the time is so pressing, I shall be at a loss to procure performers. Let's see- -Robin is a sure card

A principal may easily be met with, but where the duce can I get an interpreter?

Rob. Offer yourself, Sir; it will give you an opportunity of more closely inspecting the conduct of your son.

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