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and I) went there from very little better than a driver of carts

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Sim. I formerly knew him, ma'am.

Mrs. Mech. But he does not know you?

Sim. No, no.

Mrs. Mech. I am glad of that-this fpark, I fay, not content with being really as rich as a lord, is determined to rival them too in every other accomplishment.

Sim. Will that be fo eafy? why he must be upwards of

Mrs. Mech. Fifty, I warrant.

Sim. Rather late in life to fet up for a gentle

man.

Mrs. Mcch. But fine talents you know, and a ftrong inclination.

Sim. That, indeed.

Mrs. Mech. Then I promise you he spares for no pains.

Sim. Diligent?

Mrs. Mech. Oh, always at it. Learning fomething or other from morning to night; my houfe is a perfect academy, fuch a throng of fencers, dancers, riders, muficians-but, however, to fweeten the pill, I have a fellow feeling for res commending the teachers.

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Sim. No doubt, ma'am; that's always the rule. Mrs. Mech. But one of his ftudies is really diverting, I own I can't help laughing at that. Sim. What may that be?

Mrs. Mech. Oratory.-You must know his first ambition is to have a feat in a certain affembly; and in order to appear there with credit, Mr. What d'ye Call'em, the man from the city, attends every morning to give him a lecture upon speaking, and there is fuch harranguing and bel

lowing between them-Lord have mercy uponbut you'll fee enough on't yourself; for do you know, Simon, you are to be his valet de

chambre?

Sim. Me, madam!

Mrs. Mech. Ay, his privy counsellor, his confidant, his director in chief.

Sim. To what end will that answer?

Mrs. Mech. There I am coming-You are to know, that our 'Squire Would-be is violently bent upon matrimony; and nothing forfooth will go down but a perfon of rank and condition. Sim. Ay, ay, for that piece of pride he's indebted to Germany.

Mrs. Mech. The article of fortune he holds in utter contempt, a grand alliance is all that he wants; fo that the lady has but her veins full of high blood, he does not care two-pence how low and empty her purfe is.

Sim. But, ma'am, won't it be difficult to meet with a fuitable fubje&t? I believe there are few ladies of quality that

Mrs. Mech. Oh, as to that, I am already provided.

Sim. Indeed!

Mrs. Mech. You know my niece Dolly?

Sim. Very well.

Mrs. Mech. What think you of her?

Sim. Of Mifs Dolly, for what?

Mrs. Mech. For what? you are plaguily dull; why, a woman of fashion, you: dunce.

Sim. To be fure Mifs Dolly is very deferving, and few ladies have a better appearance; but, bless me, madam, here people of rank are fo generally known, that the flightest enquiry would poifon your project.

Mrs.

Mrs. Mech. Oh, Simon, I have no fears from that quarter: there I think, I am pretty fecure. Sim. If that, indeed, be the cafe.

Mrs. Mech. In the firft place, Mr. Fungus has an intire reliance on me.

Sim. That's fomething.

Mrs. Mech. Then to baffle any idle curiofity, we are not derived from any of your new-fangled gentry, who owe their upftart nobility to your Harrys and Edwards. No, no, we are fcions from an older ftock; we are the hundred and fortieth lineal defcendant from Hercules Alexander, earl of Glendowery, prime minifter to king Malcolm the First.

Sim. Odfo; a qualification for a Canon of Strafbourg. So then it feems you are tranfplanted from the banks of the Tweed; Cry you mercy! But how will Mifs Dolly be able to manage the accent !

Mrs. Mech. Very well; fhe was two years an actress in Edenborough.

Sim. That's true; is the overture made, has there been any interview?

Mrs. Mech. Several; we have no diflike to his perfon; can't but own he is rather agreeable ; and as to his propofals, they are greater than we could defire; but we are prudent and careful, fay nothing without the Earl's approbation.

Sim. Oh, that will be eafily had.

Mrs. Mech. Not fo eafily; and now comes your part but first, how goes the world with you, Simon?

Sim. Never worfe! The ten bags of tea, and the cargo of brandy, them peering rafcals took from me in Suffex, has quite broken my back.

B

Mrs.

Mrs. Mech. Poor Simon! why then I am afraid there's an end of your traffick.

Sim. Totally for now thofe fellows have got the Isle of Man in their hands, I have no chance to get home, Mrs. Mechlin.

Mrs. Mech. Then you are intirely at leisure? Sim. As a Bath turnfpit in the month of July. Mrs. Mech. You are then, Simon, an old family servant in waiting here on the lady; but dif patched to the North with a view to negotiate the treaty, you are juft returned with the noble Peer's refolution. Prepare you a fuitable equipage, I will provide you with a couple of letters, one for the lover and one for the lady

Sim. The contents

Mrs. Mech. Oh, you may read them within: now with regard to any questions, I will furnish you with fuitable anfwers; but you have a bungler to deal with, fo your cards will be eafily played.

Enter JENNY.

Jen. Mifs Dolly, ma'am, in a hackney coach at the corner; may fhe come in?

Mrs. Mech. Are the fervants out of the way? Jen Oh, fhe is fo muffled up and difguifed, that fhe'll run no danger from them.

Mrs. Mech. Be fure keep good watch at the door, Jenny.

Jen. Oh, never fear, ma'am. [Exit Jenny. Mrs. Mech. Simon, take thofe two letters that are under the furthermost cushion in the window, run home, get a dirty pair of boots on, a great coat, and a whip, and be here with them in half an hour at fartheft.

Sim. I will not fail. But have you no farther directions?

Mrs. Mech. Time enough. I fhall be in the way; for it is me that muft introduce you above. -Exit Simon.]-So, things feem now in a pretty good train; a few hours, it is to be hoped, will make me eafy for life. To fay truth, I begin to be tired of my trade. To be fure the profits are great; but then, so are the risks that I run: befides, my private practice begins to be fmoaked. Ladies are fuppofed to come here with different defigns than merely to look at my goods: fome of my best customers too, are got out of my channel, and manage their matters at home by their maids. Thofe afylums, they gave a dreadful blow to my bufinefs. Time has been, when a gentleman wanted a friend, I could fupply him with choice. in an hour; but the market is fpoiled, and a body might as foon produce a hare or a partridge as a pretty [Enter Dolly.]So Niece, are all things prepared; have you got the papers from Harpy?

Dolly. Here they are, ma'am.

Mrs. Mech. Let me fee-Oh the marriage artícles for Fungus to fign. Have you got the contract about you?

Dolly. You know, aunt, I left it with you.

Mrs. Mech. 1 rue, I had forgot: but where

is the bond that I

Here it is; this, Dolly,

you must fign and feal before witnefs.

Dolly. To what end, aunt?

Mrs. Mech. Only, child, a trifling acknowledgment for all the trouble I have taken; a little hint to your husband, that he may reimburfe your poor aunt, for your cloaths, board, lodging and breeding.

B 2

Dolly.

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