Mort. (goes to the door.) Nay, my good friend, come in. (Colin enters.) This honeft man was my conductor: while you, Lord Abberville, in a diftinguifh'd rank are openly affaulting innocence, he, in his humble poft, is secretly fupporting it.If you come under that description, Madam, I am your defender; if not, I have no further bufinefs here.

Aug. Why fhould I urge my innocence? I am unfortunate, I'm poor; your nephew, Sir, will tell you that is cause sufficient for abandoning me.

L. Abb. This grows too ferious; I fcorn to fteal that from you half my fortune could not purchase. I believe you are as innocent as Heaven firft form'd you; and to convince the world in what efteem I hold your virtues, here, before Mortimer, I offer you my hand, and lay my title, rank and fortune, at your feet.

Aug. No, there may be a legal proftitute as well as a licentious one; had you a world to give, after your base experiment, you cannot offer any thing that I fhall take. You may find others lefs exceptious; but in a noble family, though ftripped of fortune, there will ftill be pride.

L. Abb. I fee my fate; I fee a prepoffeffion in your heart too ftrong for me to fhake: I plainly perceive that Mr. Tyrrel can offend with more impunity than I can; however, Mortimer, you are a man of honour: I refign Mifs Aubrey into your hands for the prefent, and shall expect you will avail yourself of no unfair advantages over me. -Macleod, I find Mifs Aubrey is to thank you for this feasonable vifit of Mr. Mortimer's. [Exit. Mort. Come, Madam, you are now my ward; Bridgemore muft ftruggle hard to get you back again.

Aug. Sir-Mr. Mortimer! You'll pardon me, but muft I think you ferious? If what you now propofe is meant in kindness to me, I must say the world has not done justice to your character: I have been taught to look upon you as no friend to our fex in particular.

Mort. Nor am I; your fex have broke treaty with us, pals'd the bounds betwixt us, forc'd into our very taverns, and from being once the glory of my country are become its fhame.

Aug. But all have not done this

Mort.

1

Mort. Nor am I then at enmity with all: a virtuous individual is of no fex, no country.

Colin. No country? Hoot! A true North Briton will give up his virtue afore his country at any time.

Aug. Yes, and I think it was a partiality to your country rather than to virtue which determin'd you to put me into this house.

Colin. De'il take me now, and all my kindred with me, if I knew ought about the house, more than the name of Macintosh upon the door.

Mort. Time will clear all things up: a general mifconception is gone forth; my nephew 1 perceive has fallen. under it. As for poor Colin, his defign in bringing you hither was more than innocent, depend upon it, it was noble; I have heard his ftory, and at my request he brings me here: commit yourself therefore to my protection, and rely upon my justice.

Aug. How fhall I answer you? Your generofity o'erwhelms me.

Mort. I generous! No, I am a meer voluptuary; I ftudy luxury by principle, and am as fenfual on the fide of virtue, as Abberville, or any other fashionable rake, on that of vice. Colin, you'll fettle matters with your countrywoman and come to us at my houfe. [Exeunt.

Colin. My countrywoman! The fiend a bit! I never will believe the has a drop of Scottish blude in aw her compofition; as I fhall answer I never blush'd before for any of the name: there must be fomething fpurious in her genealogy: I'll have a little ferious talk with her on that; I've got the pedigree of the Macintoshes at my fingers ends, and if there's e'er a flaw in her descent 'twixt this and Noah, gadzooks, I'll wager a hundred pounds I prove her an impoftor.

END OF THE THIRD ACT.

A C T IV.

Fifb-ftreet Hill.

AUBREY alone.

Bridgemore hasn't shifted his abode, that is the house; 'twas there that eighteen years ago I loft a wife, and left an infant daughter. All-difpofing Providence, who hast ordain'd me to this hour, and thro' innumerable toils and dangers led me back to this affecting fpot, can it be wondered at, if I approach it with an anxious aching heart, uncertain as I am if I have ftill a child or not? What fhall I do? If my Augufta's loft, 'twere better I fhould never enter thofe ill-omen'd doors; if the furvives, how fhall I difclofe myself, and tell her she has still a father? Oh, that unknown and unperceiv'd, I cou'd but catch a fight of her, gaze till I'd gratified my longing, and till this throbbing might abate! I'll watch the door till fomebody comes out, that I may speak to. (Steps afide.)

COLIN MACLEOD enters.

Colin. The murrain light upon this Fish-ftreet Hill, wherever it may be: I wou'd it had na' got its name for nought, that I might fairly fmall it out, for I am clear bewalder'd. Johnny Groat's houfe wou'd as foon be found as this fame Bradgemore's. One cries, turn o' this honde, one o' that, and t'other ftares and grins forfooth because I hanna got the modern gabble on my tongue, but fpeak the language in its auncient purity. Hoot! this mon feems of a batter fort, and peradventure wou'd concede an anfwer. Speed you, Gentleman, I pray you whuch way leads to Fifh-ftreet Hill?

Aub, You are there already; this is Fish-street Hill.

Colin. Gadzooks! and that's the reafon I could find it na' where alfe. Ken you one Bradgemore's may I ask? Aub. He had us'd to live in yonder house with the great gates; but it is many years fince I have been in England. Colin. I'faith, you need na' tell me that; I apprehend as much from your civility.

Aub. Give me leave now in my turn to afk you a few questions.

Colin. With aw my heart; you have gude right; you may interrogate me freely.

Aub. You are acquainted with this Bridgemore

Colin. I am.

Aub. And what does it confist of?

Colin. Troth, of a spouse and daughter.

Aub. Are they all?

Colin. Ay, and enough in aw gude reafon; the de'il, Sir, in his vengeance need na' add a third.

Aub. But to be ferious; tell me, I befeech you, do you know of no one else in Mr. Bridgemore's family.

Colin. Of none.

Aub.. What do I hear? Pray recollect yourself: you don't feem to know his houfe; perhaps you are not well acquainted with his family.

Colin. Aw that he owns I know; what bafe begotten brats he may haue fculking up and down in holes and corners, troth, I can't pretend to fay.-Thefe city cattle fometimes will break pafture.

Aub. You mifconceive me, honeft friend: has no young Lady of the name of Aubrey come within your knowledge? Colin. Ay, ay, poor laffie, fhe once liv'd with Bradgemore; the worfe luck her's, but that is over; fhe has got her liberty; fhe's now releas'd.

Aub. I understand you-She is dead.

Colin. Dead! Heaven forefend! An you would give me time, I wou'd ha told you fhe's releafed from yon fat fellow's tyranny; na more: out on him, filthy porpoife, aw the bowels in his belly, tho' he has got gude ftore, dunna contain one grain of pity: toth, with his gude will the might ha' ftarv'd and perifh'd in the fireets.

Aub. What is't you tell me? In the fame breath you

bring my hopes to life and murder them again.—Starv'd in the streets? I thought the had an affluent fortune.

Colin. In virtue, Sir, nought elfe, and that will not pafs current for a dinner. Zooks, and I myfall, by Heaven's gude providence, had na' ftapt in upon the very nick of time, my life upon't fhe had been loft.

Aub. Come to my arms then, whofoe'er thou art, and wonder not, for thou haft fav'd my daughter.

Colin Daughter! Gadzooks, you make my heart jump to my laps for joy. Are you Mils Aubrey's father? Aub. I am her father.

Colin. An if I'd found mine awn I cou'd na' been more happy. Wall, wall, I hope you'll merit your gude fortune by my fol you've got an angel of a child-But where have you been buried aw the while? for we believ'd you dead.

Aub. You ball hear all my ftory, but this is no fit place to tell it in: fatisfy me first if my poor child is fafe. Colsn. Fear nought, she's fafe with Maister Mortimer; I laft her but this moment.

Aub. Who is Mr. Mortimer ?

Colin. Why, Maifter Mortimer is one who does a thoufand noble acts without the credit of one; his tongue wounds and his heart makes whole; he must be known and not defcrib'd: an' you will bait a-while in yonder tavern till £ come from Bradgemore's, I'll accompany you to where your daughter is.

Aub. Agreed! I fear I've been mistaken in this Bridgemore; three years ago I confign'd to him a cargo of great value from Scanderoon; if he has robb'd me- -but till I've seen my daughter, I'll fufpend my enquiry. Step with me into yonder tavern, there we'll concert the means of bringing Bridgemore to an interview at Mr. Mortimer's. Come, my good benefactor, how fortunate was this meeting! I long to know to whom I owe this happiness.

[Exeunt.

A Compting-Houfe belonging to BRIDGEMORE.

BRIDGE MORE and NAPTHALI.

Bridge. And fo, friend Napthali, Lord Abberville has

had another tumble.