Serj. Between one and two; I shall only just give a law lecture to Jack.

Mrs. Circ. Lord! I wonder, Mr. Circuit, you would breed that boy up to the bar.

Serj. Why not, chuck? He has fine steady parts, and for his time moots a point

Mrs. Circ. Steady! stupid you mean: nothing sure could add to his heaviness but the being loaded with law. Why don't you put him into the army?

Serj. Nay, chuck, if you choose it, I believe I have interest to get Jack a commission.

Mrs. Circ. Why, Mr. Circuit, you know he is no son of mine; perhaps a cockade may animate the lad with some fire.

Serj. True, lovee; and a knowledge of the law mayn't be amiss to restrain his fire a little.

Mrs. Circ. I believe there is very little danger of his exceeding that way.

Serj. Charlotte, send hither

your brother.

[Exit Charlotte. Mrs. Circ. I'll not interrupt you. Serj. Far from it, lovee; I should be glad to have you a witness of Jacky's improvement.

Mrs. Circ. Of that I am no judge; besides, I am full of business to day-There is to be a ballot at one, for the Ladies' Club lately established, and lady Bab Basto has proposed me for a member.Pray, my dear, when will you let me have that money to pay my lord Loo?

Serj. The three hundred you mean?

Mrs. Circ. And besides, there is my debt to Kitty Cribbage; I protest I almost blush whenever I meet them.

Serj. Why really, lovee, 'tis a large sum of money.-Now, were I worthy to throw in a little advice, we might make a pretty good hand of this business.

Mrs. Circ. I don't understand you.

Serj. Bring an action against them on the statute, in the name of my clerk; and so not only rescue the debt from their hands, but recover likewise considerable damages.

Mrs. Circ. A pretty conceit, Mr. Serjeant! but does it not occur to your wisdom, that as I have (by the help of captain Cog) been oftener a winner than loser, the tables may be turned upon us?

Serj. No, no, chuck, that did not escape me; I have provided for that.-Do you know, by the law, both parties are equally culpable; so that, lovee, we shall be able to fleece your friends not only of what they have won of poor dearee, but likewise for what they have lost.

Mrs. Circ. Why, what a paltry, pettifogging puppy art thou!-And could you suppose that would submit to the scandalous office?

Serj. Scandalous! I don't understand this strange perversion of words. The scandal lies in breaking the laws, not in bringing the offenders to justice.

Mrs. Circ. Mean-spirited wretch !-What, do you suppose that those laws could be levell'd against people of their high rank and condition? Can it be thought that any set of men would sub mit to lay legal restraints on themselves ?-Absurd and preposterous!

Serj. Why, by their public practice, my love, one would suspect that they thought themselves excepted by a particular clause.

Mrs. Circ. Oh! to be sure; not the least doubt can be made.

Serj. True, chuck-But then your great friends should never complain of highwaymen stopping their coaches, or thieves breaking into their houses. Mrs. Circ. Why, what has that to do with the business?

Serj. Oh! the natural consequence, lovee; for whilst the superiors are throwing away their fortunes, and consequently their independence above

you can't think but their domestics are following their examples below.

Mrs. Circ. Well, and what then?

Serj. Then the same distress that throws the master and mistress into the power of any who are willing to purchase them, by a regular gradation, seduces the servants to actions, tho' more criminal, perhaps not more atrocious.

Mrs. Circ. Pshaw stuff!-I have no head to examine your dirty distinctions-Don't teize me with your jargon. I have told you the sums I shall want, so take care they are ready at your returning from Kingston.-Nay, don't hesitate; recollect your own state of the case, and remember, my honour is in pawn, and must, some way or other, be redeem'd by the end of the week. [Exit.

Serj. My honour is in pawn!-Good lord! how a century will alter the meaning of words!-Formerly, chastity was the honour of women, and good faith and integrity the honour of men but now, a lady who ruins her family by punctually paying her losses at play, and a gentleman who kills his best friend in some trifling frivolous quarrel, are your only tip-top people of honour. Well, let them go on, it brings grist to our mill: for whilst both the sexes stick firm to their honour, we shall never want business, either at Doctor's Commons, or the Old Bailey.

[Exit.

END OF THE FIRST ACT.

A CT II.

Enter Serjeant Circuit and Jack.

Serj.

JACK, let Will bring the chaise to the door. Jack. Mr. Fairplay, sir, the attorney, begs to speak a few words.

Serj. How often have I told you, that I will see none of these sort of folks but at chambers; you know how angry your mother is at their гарping and littering the house.

Jack. He says, sir, he will not detain you five

minutes.

Serj. Well, bid him walk in.

Enter Fairplay.

Serj. Well, Mr. Fairplay, what's your will? Farp. I just call'd, Mr. Serjeant, to know your opinion upon the case of young Woodford, and if you like the proposal of being concern'd.

Serj. If it turns out as you state it, and that the father of the lad was really a minor, the Essex estate may without doubt be recover'd; and so may the lands in the North.

Fairp. We have full proofs to that fact.

Serj. May be so; but really, Mr. Fairplay, you know the length of time that these kind of suitsFairp. True, sir, but then your experience will shorten I appreh

Serj. That's more than I know and then not only my fees lying dormant, but, perhaps, an expectation of money to be advanced.

Fairp. The property, sir, is of very great value,

and, upon the recovery, any acknowledgement shall be readily made.

Serj. There again, any! do you know that in law, that word any has no meaning at all? Besides, when people are in distress, they are lavish enough of their offers; but when their business is done, then we have nothing but grumbling and grudging. Fairp. You have only to dictate your terms. Serj. Does the lad live in town?

Fairp. He has been under my care since the death of his father; I have given him as good an education as my narrow fortune would let me ; he is now studying the law in the Temple, in hopes that should he fail of other assistance, he may be able one day to do himself justice.

Serj. In the Temple?

Fairp. Yes, sir, in those little chambers just over your head-I fancy the young gentleman knows him.

Jack. Who? Mr. Woodford! lord, as well as myself, he is a sweet sober youth, and will one day make a vast figure, I am sure.

Serj. Indeed!

Jack. I am positive, sir, if you were to hear him speak at the Robinhood in the Butcher-row, you would say so yourself: why he is now reckon'd the third; except the breeches-maker from Barbican, and sawny Sinclair the snuffman, there is not a mortal can touch him.

Serj. Peace, puppy; well, Mr. Fairplay, leave the papers a little longer with me and-pray who is employ'd against you?

Fairp. A city attorney, one Sheepskin.

Serj. A cunning fellow, I know him; well, sir, if you will call at Pump-court in a week. Fairp. I shall attend you.

Serj. Jack, open the door for Mr.-[Exeunt Fairplay and Jack.] Something may be made of this matter: I'll see this Sheepskin myself. So much