DRAMATIS PERSONE. Foote, Canker, Smart, and Pearse, Perfons in the Introduction. Drury Lane. Sir William Wealthy, Mr. Baddeley. Shift, Loader, Dick, Smirk, Mr. Bannifter, jun. WILLIAM DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, Lord Chamberlain of his Majefty's Houfhold, MY LORD, THE HE MINOR, who is indebted for his appearance on the stage to your Grace's indulgence, begs leave to defire your further protection, at his entering into the world. Though the allegiance due from the whole dramatic people to your Grace's station, might place this address in the light of a natural tribute; yet, my Lord, I fhould not have taken that liberty with the Duke of Devonshire, if I could not at the fame time, plead fome little utility in the defign of my piece; and add, that the public approbation has stamped a va lue on the execution. The law, which threw the ftage under the abfolute government of a lord chamberlain, could not fail to fill the minds of all the objects of that power with very gloomy apprehenfions; they found themfelves (through their own lifcentioufnefs, it must be confeffed) in a more precarious dependant state, than any other of his Majefty's fubjects. But when their direction was lodged in the hands of a nobleman, whofe ancestors had fo fuccefsfully ftruggled for national liberty, they ceafed to fear for their own. It was not from a patron of the liberal arts they were to expect an oppreffor; it was not from the friend of freedom, and of man, they were to dread partial monopolies, or the establishment of petty tyrannies. Their warmest wishes are accomplished; none of their rights have been invaded, except what, without the firft poetic authority, I should hot venture to call a right, the Jus Nocendi. Your tenderness, my Lord, for all the followers of the Muses, has been in no instance more confpicuous, than in your late favour to me, the meanest of their train; your Grace has thrown open (for those who are denied admittance into the palaces of Parnaffus) a cottage on its borders, where the unhappy migrants may be, if not magnificently, at least, hofpitably entertained. I fhall detain your Grace no longer, than juft to echo the public voice, that, for the hos nour, progrefs, and perfection of letters, your Grace may long continue their candid CENSOR, who have always been their generous protector. I have the honour, my Lord, to be, with the greatest respect, and gratitude, Smart. I'm damn'd glad on't. For now we shall have a laugh either with him or at him, it does not fignify which. Cank. Not I. But is not the door of the Little Theatre open. Smart. Yes. Who is that fellow that feems to stand centry there? Cank. By his tattered garb and meagre vi fage, he must be one of the troop. Smart. I'll call him. Holloa, Mr. Enter Pearse. What, is there any thing going on over the way? Pear. A rehearsal. Pear Smart. Zounds, let's go and fee what he's about. Cank. With all my heart, Smart. Come along then. Enter Foote and an Actor. [Exeunt, Foote. Sir, this will never do! you must get rid of your high notes, and country cant. Oh, 'tis the true ftrolling. Enter Smart and Canker. Smart. Ha, ha, ha! what, hard at it, my boy-Here's your old friend Canker and I come for a peep. Well, and hey, what is your plan? Foote. Plan? Smart. Ay, what are your characters? Give us your group; how is your cloth fill'd? Foote. Characters! Smart. Ay.-Come, come, communicate. What, man, we will lend thee a lift. I have a damn'd fine original for thee, an aunt of my own, juft come from the North, with the true Newcastle bur in her throat; and a nose and a chin-I am afraid fhe is not well enough known but I have a remedy for that. I'll bring her the first night of your piece, place her in a confpicuous ftation, and whifper the fecret to the whole house. That will be damn'd fine, won't it? Foote. Oh, delicious! Smart |