Marg. Let me look at the paragraph. [Reads.] "Laft night, after eating a hearty fupper, died fuddenly, with his mouth full of custard, Sir "Thomas Tradewell, knight, an amiable com"panion, an affectionate relation, and a friend "to the poor."-O'Flam, this is fome blunder of yours; for you fee, here the gentleman is, and alive. O'Flam. So he says, but the devil a one in this cafe would I believe but himfelf; because why, I was told it by Jeremy O'Turlough, his own body chairman, my dear: by the fame token, I treated him with a pint of porter for the good news. Sir Thom. Vaftly oblig'd to you, Mr. O'Flam, but I have nothing to do with this wretched fellow; it is you, Margin, fhall anfwer for this. Marg. Why, Sir Thomas, it is impoflible but now and then we must kill a man by miftake. And in fome measure to make amends, you fee what a good character the paper has given you, Sir Thom. Character! Marg. Aye, Sir, I can tell you I have had a crown for putting in many a worse. O'Flam. Aye, Sir Thomas, confider of that, only think what a comfort it is, to live long enough after you are dead, to read fuch a good account of yourfelf in the papers. Sir Thom. Ha! ha! ha! what a ridiculous rafcal! but I would advife you, gentlemen, not to take fuch liberties with me for the future. [Exit. O'Flam. Indeed and we won't; and I here give Mr. Margin my word, that you fhan't die again, again, as long as you live, unless, indeed, we get it from under your own hand. Enter Sir Robert Rifcounter, and Sir James Biddulph. Sir Rob. Where is this Margin, this impudent, rafcally Printer? Marg. Hey day! what's the matter now? Sir James. Curb your choler, Sir Robert. Sir Rob. A pretty fellow, indeed, that every man's and woman's reputation must be subject to the power of his poifonous pen. Sir James. A little patience, Sir Robert. Sir Rob. A land of liberty, this! I will maintain it, the tyranny exercised by that fellow, and thofe of his tribe, is more defpotic and galling, than the most abfolute monarch's in Afia. Sir James. Well, but Sir Rob. Their thrones claim a right only over your perfons and property, whilft this mungrel, fquatting upon his joint ftool, by a fingle line, profcribes and ruins your reputation at once. Sir James. Sir Robert, let me craveSir Rob. And no fituation is fecure from their infults. I wonder every man is not afraid to peep into a paper, as it is more than probable that he may meet with a paragraph, that will make him unhappy for the reft of his life. Marg. But, Gentlemen, what is all this bufinefs about? Sir Rob. About? zounds, Sir, what right had you to ruin to ruin my daughter? Marg. Marg. I? I know nothing of you nor your daughter. Sir Rob. Sir James Biddulph, you have it, produce the paper. Sir James. There is no occafion for that, the affair is fo recent, I dare fay the Gentleman will remember the paffage; this, Sir, is the Banker, the father with whofe daughter you was pleased to take thofe infolent freedoms, this morning. Sir Rob. And this, Sir, the amiable Baronet, from the Weft end of the Town. Marg. I recollect. Well, gentlemen, if you have brought any paragraphs to contradict the report, I am ready to infert them directly. Sir Rob. And fo, you rascal, you want us to furnish fresh food for your paper? Marg. I do all I can to keep my scales even; the charge hangs heavy here; on the other fide, you may throw in the defence, then fee which will weigh down the other. Sir Rob. Indeed, Sir James Biddulph, if he does that Sir James. That! can that paltry expedient atone for his crime? will the fnow that is fullied recover its luftre? fo tender and delicate, Sir Robert, is the fame of a lady, that once tainted, it is tarnih'd for ever. Sir Rob. True enough. Marg. I could bear no ill-will to your daughter, as I know nothing about her. Sir Rob. Indeed, Sir James, I don't fee how he could. Sir James. Is his being the inftrument of another man's malice, a fufficient excufe? Sir Rob. So far from it, that it enhances the guilt. Zounds, Sir James, you are a Parlia H ment ment Man, why don't you put an end to this practice? Marg. Ay, let them attack the press, if— Sir Rob. Have a care of that; no no, that muft not be done. Sir James. No man, Sir Robert, honours that facred fhield of freedom more than myfelf. Sir Rob. I dare fay. Sir James. But I would not have it ferve to fhelter thefe pefts, who point their poifon'd arrows against the peace of mankind. Sir Rob. By no means in the world. Let them be dragg'd from behind it directly. Marg. Ay, do destroy the watchful dogs that guard and cover your flocks. Sir James. You guard, you cover! Marg. Ay, who but us alarm the nation when bad defigns are on foot? Sir Rob. In that refpect, they are very ufeful no doubt.. Sir James. Are they therefore entitled to give the alarm, when no fuch defign is intended? Sir Rob. By no means. A pack of factious, infamous fcoundrels. Marg. It is we that fupply the defects of the laws. Sir James. You! Marg. By ftigmatizing thofe offenders that they cannot reach. Sir Rob. That, indeed, ferves to keep the guilty in awe. Sir James. And is a pretence for making the innocent the butts of their malice. Sir Rob. True, true, all is fish that comes to their nets. Sir James. Befides, their flander is fcattered fo generally, and with fo little difcretion, that the deformity of vice is destroyed. Sir Rob. True. Sir James. Bad men are made worfe, by becoming totally callous, and even the good rendered carelefs, to that fource of patriotism, that pride of virtue, the public opinion. Sir Rob. And they are much in the right on't. Marg. What, you are a courtier, I reckon? no wonder you with the prefs was démolished. Sir James. If ever that happens, to fuch mifcreants as you 'twill be owing; nor will it furprize me, if all orders concur to give up a great public benefit, for the fake and fecurity of private honour and peace. Sir Rob. Nor me neither. Marg. You would confent then to furrender the prefs? Sir Rob. I would fooner confent to be hang'd. Sir James. And its unbounded licence con+ tinue? Sir Rob. I would much rather fee it on fire. Sir James. But, Sir Robert, then the abufe- now Sir Rob. I confefs it, I did. H 2 Sir |