ple he calls officers are officers fure enough: fheriff's officers; bailiffs, madam.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Ay, it is certainly fo. Well, though his perplexities are far from giving me pleasure, yet I own there's fomething very ridiculous, in them, and a just punishment for his diffimulation.

GARNET.

And fo they are. But I wonder, madam, that the lawyer you just employed to pay his debts, and fet him free, has not done it by this time. He ought at least to have been here before now. But lawyers are always more ready to get a man into troubles, than out of them.

Enter Sir WILLIAM.

Sir WILLIAM.

For Mifs Richland to undertake fetting him free, I own, was quite unexpected. It has totally unhinged my schemes to reclaim him. Yet, it gives me pleasure to find, that among a number of worthlefs friendships, he has made one acquifition of real value; for there must be fome fofter paffion on her fide that prompts this generofity. Ha! here before me: I'll endeavour to found her affections. Madam, as I am the person that have had fome demands upon the gentleman of this house, I hope you'll excufe me, if before I enlarged him, I wanted to see yourself.

Mifs RICHLAND.

The precaution was very unneceffary, Sir. I fuppofe your wants were only fuch as my agent had power to fatisfy.

Sir WILLIAM.

Partly, madam. But, I was alfo willing you fhould be fully apprized of the character of the gentleman you intended to ferve.

Mifs RICHLAND.

It must come, fir, with a very ill

grace from you. To cenfure it, after what you have done, would look like malice; and to fpeak favourably of a character you have oppreffed, would be impeaching your own. And fure, his tenderness, his humanity, his univerfal friendship, may atone for many faults. Sir WILLIAM,

That friendship, madam, which is exerted in too wide a sphere, becomes totally ufelefs. Our bounty, like a drop of water, difappears when diffused too widely. They, who pretend moft to this univerfal benevolence, are either deceivers, or dupes. Men who defire to cover their private ill-nature, by a pretended regard for all; or, men who, reafoning themfelves into falfe feelings, are more earnest in purfuit of fplendid, than of useful virtues.

Mifs RICHLAND.

I am furprised, Sir, to hear one, who has probably been a gainer by the folly of others, fo fevere in his cenfure of it.

Sir WILLIAM.

Whatever I may have gained by folly, madam, you fee I am willing to prevent your lofing by it. Mifs RICHLAND.

Your cares for me, Sir, are unneceffary. I always fufpect those services which are denied where they are wanted, and offered, perhaps, in hopes of a refufal. No, Sir, my directions have been given, and I infift upon their being complied with.

Sir WILLIAM.

Thou amiable woman! I can no longer contain the expreffions of my gratitude: my pleasure. You fee before you one, who has been equally careful of his intereft; one, who has for fome time been a concealed spectator of his follies, and only punished, in hopes to reclaim them-his uncle!

Mifs RICHLAND.

Sir William Honeywood! You amaze me. How fhall I conceal my confufion? I fear, Sir, you'll think I have been too forward in my fervices. I confefs I

Sir WILLIAM.

Don't make any apologies, madam. I only find myfelf unable to repay the obligation. And yet, I have been trying my intereft of late to ferve you. Having learnt, madam, that you had fome demands upon government, I have, though unafked, been your folicitor there.

VOL. II.

F

Mifs

Mifs RICHLAND.

Sir, I'm infinitely obliged to your intentions. But my guardian has employed another gentleman, who affures him of fuccefs.

Sir WILLIAM.

Who, the important little man that vifits here? Trust me, madam, he's quite contemptible among men in power, and utterly unable to serve you. Mr. Lofty's promises are much better known to people of fashion, than his perfon, I affure you.

Mifs RICHLAND.

How have we been deceived! As fure as can be, here he comes.

Does he!

Sir WILLIAM.

Remember I'm to continue unknown. My return to England has not as yet been made public. With what impudence he enters!

Enter LOFTY.
LOFTY.

Let the chariot-let my chariot drive off; I'll vifit to his grace's in a chair. Mifs Richland here before me! Punctual, as ufual, to the calls of humanity. I'm very forry, madam, things of this kind fhould happen, efpecially to a man I have fhewn every where, and carried amongft us as a particular acquaintance.

Mifs RICHLAND.

I find, Sir, you have the art of making the miffortunes of others your own.

LOFTY.

LOFTY.

My dear madam, what can a private man like me do? One man can't do every thing; and then, I do fo much in this way every day: let me fee; fomething confiderable might be done for him by fabfcription; it could not fail if I carried the lift. I'll undertake to fet down a brace of dukes, two dozen lords, and half the lower house, at my own peril.

Sir WILLIAM.

And, after all, it's more than probable, Sir, he might reject the offer of fuch powerful patronage.

LOFTY.

Then, madam, what can we do? You know I never make promises. In truth, I once or twice tried to do something with him in the way of bufinefs; but, as I often told his uncle, Sir William Honeywood, the man was utterly impracticable.

Sir WILLIAM.

His uncle! Then that gentleman, I suppose, is a particular friend of yours.

LOFTY.

Meaning me, Sir?—Yes, madam, as I often faid, my dear Sir William, you are fenfible I would do any thing, as far as my poor intereft goes, to ferve your family: but what can be done? there's no procuring first-rate places for ninth-rate abilities.