ought to reign in the bosom of every one, especially those of a husband and a father.

Old Boncœur. So it ought; and therefore, in the latter character, depend upon it I will not suffer any body to speak ill of my son, who is an honour to his family. In the mean time, whatsoever little misapprehension may have arisen on the part of your niece, I have no question but he will explain it in a manner redounding to his own credit: therefore you must believe, because it is promulgated in every newspaper, that he possesses the best heart in the world.

Exit Old BONCŒŒUR. Montford. Nobody must speak ill of my son !— Explain it when they meet! That meeting will, Į hope, never take place. The only thing Henry has1 done to oblige his amiable wife, is his consenting that, she should reside under my guardianship in the country. In my retired situation it shall be my care, by the most sedulous endeavours, to sooth her mind, and to promote the recovery of her spirits. To do this with effect, may Providence enable her equally to forget the love she has lost, and the husband she has found! [Exit MONTFord.

SCENE II.-A Library in Young BONCŒUR's House-Young BONCEUR is discovered writing.

Young Boncœur. The triumphs of Bacchus are short-lived-nor are those of Venus, though infinitely more pleasing, much more permanent-political triumphs are still more evanescent; and those of party the greatest absurdity in the creation: yet, in the mind of a man of the world, each of these passions must take its turn. Why? because if in every thing, except what regards the fair sex, his bosom is happily steeled with that constitutional apathy so necessary to polite existence, he lurks safely behind the sevenfold

shield of his own insensibility, while he turns the follies and vices of mankind, ay and sometimes of womankind too, to his own advantage, that is, to the advantage of the darling passion, which is, indeed, the only one that a wise man will suffer to predominateavarice; a propensity which, although declaimed against by the philosophers, and execrated by the poets, is in a greater or less degree mingled in every composition, and expands into different forms, accord ing to the different habits of its possessors. To this passion it is owing that so many start for the goal of celebrity; and, in their course, exhibit an avarice of praise, of admiration, of beauty, of virtú, of trifles, of horses, of dogs, of the arts, of dress, dancing, fiddling, and a hundred follies more; that render them liable to the attacks of those who, like myself, possess that superior sort of avarice which only rests upon the accumulation of riches.

Enter OUTCAST.

Outcast. Heyday! Harry! What, are you reading a lecture to yourself, or studying your next speech? Your last we consider as remarkably brilliant; I did you, myself, in three of the papers yesterday.

Young Boncœur. I am extremely obliged to you. Outcast. Are you? Well, then, I'll keep up the ball, by giving you a quant. suff. as Dr. Drowsy says, of abuse, to-morrow.

Young Boncour. That will still heighten the obligation.

Outcast. The hint about Lady Main did you no harm with the fair sex.

Young Boncaur. None in the world.

Outcast. Do you know I have a plan to part you from your wife?

Young Boncœur. How?

Outcast. I mean in the papers.

Young Boncour. I should have no objection to your doing it in reality.

Outcast. I have provided a gallant for her.

Young Bonceur. That is kind. Who?

.. Outcast. Charles Stamford.

Young Boncour. How came you to know any thing about that affair?

Outcast. I know every thing! Besides, I hate him, he's such a sober dog.

Young Boncour. A vile propensity that.

Outcast. Shocking! You are exactly the reverse. No man has such a cellar, or keeps such a table.

Young Boncour. It is my foible to endeavour to attract my friends.

Outcast. Good eating is the parent of generous propensities. Good wine, the poet says, breeds good counsel. You had all the young sprigs of fashion yesterday.

Young Boncœur. Yes, the hopes of their country. Outcast. My hint, which caused the introduction. of the cards and dice, was not out of time.

Young Boncœur. It came most appropriate.

Outcast. I observed that you swept the tables-successful in every thing.

Young Boncœur. Why, pretty well: not much of the ready-a good many notes and bills-you must see what you can do with some of them.

Outcast. Let me alone! I am the best discounter and dun in England. Made Lord Churl take up his son's note before I had been with him half an hour; though, when I first came into the room, he was going to send for the officers, and have me taken to Marlborough Street for a swindler.

Young Boncœur. My name did not appear in that business.

Outcast. Close, in that respect, as the stone statue of Harpocrates in his hall. You intend to have deep doings to-day?

Young

Young Boncour. I give a turtle to a few friends. Outcast. I am afraid you have a design upon the city. But what shall I do? I am out of cash. Young Boncaur. How?

Outcast. Met with Frank Fleece'em last night as I was going home: we went into a house, sat down with him, and he stripped me of my last guinea. You must come down.

Young Boncour. You should have been more cautious.

Outcast. I'll grant I should; but this advice not only comes too late, but with an ill grace from you, after what I have done for you.

Young Boncour. Done for me!

Outcast. Yes; have. I not let you into the secret? brought you colts? did I not, last night, give you the signs?

Young Boncour. Have I not already advanced?

Outcast. Talk not to me of advancing! Have you not, through my means, obtained a princely revenue? Puffed you in all the papers; extolled your speeches, your stud, and your horsemanship; detailed your dinners, till I've set all the gluttons in town agog to be acquainted with you? in a manner, advertised your house? Have I not brought you acquainted with every one that is worth knowing, particularly with Sir George Main, young Sapskull, and Letitia?

Young Boncour. Well, you need not bawl so devilish loud: it is not necessary that our affairs should be heard all over the square; therefore, I shall not, by way of recrimination, state what I have done for you, because I must mention things and places that are not quite so agreeable: however, for once I'll relieve your distress: here-(Gives him some Bank notes.)-avoid Frank Fleece'em, and be more cautious in future.

Outcast. Your advice is as prudent as your donation is generous. I am sure, I have always said, that you have the best heart in the world. B 6

Young

Young Boncœur. Well, attend at dinner: I may, perhaps, want your assistance.

Outcast. In the mean time shall I take those bills? Young Boncœur. No! I rather think I shall send them to my banker.

Outcast. There's ne'er à banker in England can dun like me. Shall I call on Sir Robert's groom, and learn how COMET goes on?

Young Boncaur. Yes, you may do that.

Outcast. The match engages the attention of all the knowing ones.

Young Bonceur. Oh! I have no doubt.

Outcast. The flats, instead of laying upon his head, bet on his tail.

Young Boncour. These are topsy-turvy times. Outcast. So they are.-Any message to Letitia? Young Boncour. I shall probably call on her myself.

Outcast. Then good morning, Mr. Boncœur. I shall be with you at six. Deep doings, I have no doubt: no attraction like a turtle: it is a bait for all the loose fish in town.

[Exit OUTCAST. Young Boncour. That's a sad scoundrel; but, as it is impossible to do without him, I must, I think, make the best of him.

Enter Servant.

Servant. Sir George Main.

Young Boncœur. Show him in.

Enter Sir GEORGE MAIN.

[Exit Servant.

Sir George. I am, Mr. Boncœur, beyond measure shocked: have you seen the papers?

3

Young