inftead of thefe dear wenches: I am fure we deferve it for bringing them out of their way this morning. Sir Edward. My friend, it cannot be.

Taffrel. Do, your honour: it's like a Frenchman to refufe to exchange prifoners upon equal terms: let us be tied up instead of them.

Juftice. It is impoffible.

If Gypfey. Generous fellows, I adore you for your humanity. It is now our parts to fhow you that we are in fome degree worthy of your concern.

[They throw off their Gypfey dresses.]

Sir Edward. Hey day! What the plague are the girls about? One would think that they were undr effing for the affembly. What's all this? My cousinsAgnes, Caroline-are you really what you feem? or enchantreffes?

Juftice. Agnes, Caroline, my nieces, where came you from?

Agnes. The next town, my dear uncle, where we have been a few days on a vifit.

Lieutenant. Agnes, Caroline!-the very girls, Frederic, to whom we furrendered our hearts at Bath. Frederic. The very fame, Fenwick, and as lovely as

ever.

Sir Edward. Spirited girls, faith! why, huffies, this is mumming.

Caroline. So it is, Sir.

Juftice. This is a Christmas gambol with a venge

ance.

Agnes. Which had like to have terminated in the houfe of correction.

Dr. Dofe. I think, if I were their uncle, I fhould prescribe that yet: I don't like lenitives in thefe cafes. Sir Edward. What could induce you to undertake this frolic?

Agnes.

Agnes. Youth, hilarity, and the custom of the country at this feafon. We this morning fummoned these our companions, and fet out upon this excurfion, in the difguifes that you have feen. We met first these gallant tars, who conducted us to these filent gentlemen their officers.

Lieutenant. If we have been for a few minutes filent, it has been from furprife and pleasure.

Frederic. And from a defire to know if you would recollect us.

Caroline. Could you doubt that? Did we not difplay to you our skill in palmistry?

Frederic. Oh, difplay it once more, and take our hands!

Agnes. Two words to that bargain: we have learned to deal hard fince we have been Gypfies.

Sir Edward. Why, ladies and gentlemen, you feem to be very well acquainted.

Juftice. Yes. Here's a kind of combination, that I think would come under the ftatute.

Dr. Dofe. I thould prefcribe them all fome cooling medicines.

Lieutenant. What, my lovely Agnes, will you refuse the hand of a lover, to whom this unexpected meeting is the height of blifs?

Agnes. Why, my dear Lieutenant, have I not already taken it this day?

Frederic. Caroline, my lovely. Caroline, let me beg of you

Caroline. Oh dear! I have nothing for you: we are crocodiles of the Nile, you know; befides, if you beg, my uncle will commit you.

Agnes. Or if we praise palmistry, he will fend us all to the houfe of correction.

Capftan. Lieutenant and Mr. Frederic, we had our gang ready to rescue these ladies if fo be as how-but

as we fuppofe that you mean to press them yourselves, we know better than to turn against our officers. Lieutenant. That would be flat mutiny, Jack. Taffrel. So it would, your honour.

Lieutenant and Frederic, holding out their hands. Then thus let us feize our prizes.

Agnes. Avaft! my good friends; we are not to be taken fo eafily; there are two words to that bargain, as I faid before.

Sir Edward. Well, if two brave officers and two lovely women are within two words of making a bargain of this fort, it must conclude in this manner. [Joining their hands. Juftice. Yes, this feems a proper conclufion indeed." As my niece Caroline whifpers me, gentlemen, that you were their Bath acquaintance of whom we have heard so much, I rejoice in this rencounter: I know your brave and honourable fathers, fo does Sir Edward. Your characters are established, and we are not unacquainted with their merit. With respect to my nieces I thall fay but little, only that the fhare you had in the late glorious victory rendered thefe Gypfies loquacious in your praife; and if you had heard what

I have

[AGNES and CAROLINE run to each fide of the Fuftice. Agnes. Hold uncle! I fhall die with confufion. Caroline. Spare us, dear uncle, or I fhall fink into the earth with fhame.

Juftice I am glad of it, you Gypfies; then you won't have the affurance to go a-mumming again?

Lieutenant. Honoured with the approbation of these ladies, and fharers in the applaufe of our country, the., happiness of Frederic and myfelf is complete. We fhall, as foon as our leave of abfence has expired, return with double alacrity to our duty, and endeavour, by the most arduous exertions in the fervice of our king

5

king and country, to deserve these fair hands which we are thus allowed to claim.

Caroline. One word with you, Frederic: I am commiffioned by Cleopatra and Berenice, the Gypfies, to return these two pieces of gold: I cannot ask these brave and generous fellows to accept them, even with ' a large addition.

Frederic. No; if you do, you will affront them, I can affure you.

Capftan. Not at all, your honour. The gold of fuch enchantreffes muft prove lucky. I'll take thefe pieces on board with me; and when I tell our crew of their virtues, I have no doubt but that they will increase and multiply like-but mum-fo that they will, in time, become an offering worthy the acceptance of the PATRIOTIC FUND.

Agnes. May they increafe like fairy gold!

Agnes.

Caroline.

FINALE.

Benevolence, our nation's boast,
Oh lend thy heavenly aid!
Secur'd by thee, our hoftile coaft
What nation dare invade ?

Secur'd by thee, our warlike bands
Defy the battle's rage;

While widows, orphans, blefs the hands
Whofe gifts their griefs affuage.

Jack Capftan. Then in praise of Great Britain let bumpers

now flow,

Whofe fons love her friends, and ne'er turn

from her foe.

Tom Taffrel. May her heroes be ready to die in her cause, And her patriots fupport her religion and laws!

Both.

VOL. X.

Till treachery fall, and cruelty cease,
And difcord fubfide into permanent peace.

C

Chorus.

Chorus.

Then in praife of Great Britain let bumpers now flow, Whofe fons love her friends, and ne'er turn from her foe.

THE MUSICAL WIFE.

ITIZEN Plum had a quarrelfome wife;

CITIZ

Mufic was ever the cause of their ftrife:

Madam, one day, was abufing her dear,
The topic, as ufual, his want of an ear.

Hold your tongue," replies Pluin, "for Heaven's fake do, I pr'y thee confider that I have got two."

THE MARRIED MUSICIAN.

WHEN I gaily fet out in the conjugal state,

I believ'd I was bleft with a musical mate;

But I now at my lot can no longer rejoice,
As fhe's never in tune, though she's always in voice.
With her found inharmonious, from morning to night,
She distracts ny poor ears, which in concord delight,
And compels me, amaz'd, in a petulant ftrain,
Oft to with I could shake off my conjugal chain.
No mau, fure, e'er had, in his paffage through life,
Such strong bars to his blifs in a diffonant wife,
Who appears, when her tones by her anger are rais'd,
Up to alt, like a woman deplorably craz❜d.

Though from furs in her conduct I own the is free,
Yet the brags of her virtue in too loud a key;
For, moft certainly, wives, like Diana, though chaste,
Can play off their good parts in very bad taste.
First allur'd by a fmile, then bewitch'd by a fong,
The quick movement I made to be married was wrong;
But oh! where's the man who at all times is wise,
Who is never feduc'd by his ears or his eyes?

When