No, no.

Sir GEORGE.

SMIRK.

At last, looking wishfully at me, Smirk; fays he, d'you love me; Mr. Prig, can you doubt it? I'll put it to the teft, fays he; fupply my place to-morrow. I, eager to fhew my love, rafhly and rapidly replied, I will.

Sir GEORGE.

That was bold.

SMÍR K.

Abfolute madness. But I had gone too far to recede. Then the point was, to prepare for the aweful occafion. The firft want that occurred to me, was a wig; but this was too material an article, to depend on my own judgement. I refolv'd to confult my friends. I told them the affair-you hear, gentlemen, what has happen'd; Mr. Prig, one of the greatest men, in his way, the world ever faw, or ever will, quite a jewel of a man, taken with a violent fit of the cholic; to-morrow, the the greatest fhew this feafon; prints, pictures, bronzes, butterflies, medals, and minionettes ; every body in the world to be there; lady Dy Jofs, Mrs. Nankyn, dutchess of Dupe, and all mankind; it being impoffible he fhould mount, I have confented to fell -They star'dIt is true, gentlemen. Now I fhould be glad

to

to have your opinions as to a wig. They were divided fome recommended a tye, others a bag; one mentioned a bob, but was foon overrul'd. Now, for my part, I own, I rather inclin❜d to the bag; but, to avoid the imputation of rashness, I refolv'd to take Mrs. Smirk's judgment, my wife, a dear good woman, fine in figure, high in tafte, a fuperior genius, and knows old china like a Nabob.

Sir GEORGE.

What was her decifion?

SMIRK.

I told her the cafe - My dear, you know what has happen'd. My good friend, Mr. Prig, the greatest man in the world, in his way, that ever was, or ever will be, quite a jewel of a man, a violent fit of the cholic-the greatest fhew this feafon, to-morrow, pictures and every thing in the world; all the world will be there: now, as it is impoffible he should, I mount in his ftead. You know the importance of a wig; I have afk'd my friends-fome recommended a tye, others a bag-what is your opinion? Why, to deal freely, Mr. Smirk, fays fhe, a tye for your round, regular, fmiling face would be rather too formal, and a bag too boyish, deficient in dignity for the folemn occafion were I worthy to advise, you should wear, a fomething between both. I'll be hang'd, if you don't mean a major. I jumpt at the hint, and a major it was.

Sir GEORGE.

So, that was fixt.

SMIRK.

Finally. But next day, when I came to mount the roftrum, then was the trial. My limbs fhook, and my tongue trembled. trembled. The firft lot was a chamber-utenfil, in Chelsea china, of the pea-green pattern. It occafioned a great laugh; but I got thro' it. Her Grace, indeed, gave me great encouragement. I overheard her whisper to lady Dy, Upon my word, Mr. Smirk does it very well. Very well, indeed, Mr. Smirk, addreffing herself to me. I made an acknowledging bow to her grace, as in duty bound. But one flower flounced, involuntarily from me, that day, as I may say. I remember, Dr. Trifle call'd it enthusiastic, and pronounc'd it a prefage of my future greatnefs.

Sir GEORGE,

What was that?

SMIRK.

Why, fir, the lot was a guido; a single figure, a marvellous fine performance; well preferv'd, and highly finished. It ftuck at five and forty; I, charm'd with the picture, and piqu'd at the people, A going for five and forty, no body more than five and forty?-Pray, ladies and gentlemen, look at this piece, quite flesh and blood, and only wants a touch from the

torch

torch of Prometheus, to ftart from the canvafs and fall a bidding. A general plaudit enfu'd, I bow'd, and in three minutes knock'd it down at fixty-three, ten.

Sir GEORGE.

That was a stroke at least equal to your master.

SMIRK.

O dear me! You did not know the great man, alike in every thing. He had as much to say upon a ribbon as a Raphael. His manner too was inimitably fine. I remember, they took him off at the play-house, fome time ago; pleafant, but wrong. Public characters fhou'd not be sported with-They are facred-But we lofe time.

Sir GEORGE.

Oh, in the lobby, on the table, you will find the particulars.

SMIRK.

We shall see you. There will be a world of company. I fhall please you. But the great nicety of our art, is the eye. Mark how mine -fkims round the room. Some bidders are fhy, and only advance with a nod; but I nail them. One, two, three, four, five. You will be furpris'd-Ha, ha, ha,

heigh ho.

[Exit.

A

A C T III.

Enter for GEORGE and LOADER.

Sir GEORGE.

Moft infernal run. Let's fee, (Pulls out

a card) Loader a thoufand, the Baron two, Tally-Enough to beggar a banker. Every fhilling of Transfer's fupply exhausted! Nor will even the fale of my moveables prove fufficient to discharge my debts. Death and the devil! In what a complication of calamities has a few days plung'd me! And no refource!

LOADER.

Knight, here's old Moll come to wait on you; fhe has brought the tid bit I fpoke of. Shall I bid her fend her in?

Pray do.

Sir GEORGE.

1

[Exit Loader.

Enter Mrs. COLE and LUCY.

Mrs. COL E.

Come along Lucy. You bashful baggage. I thought I had filenc'd your fcruples. Don't you remember what Mr. Squintum faid? A

woman's