dubious character, but also affords him a very good opportunity of exhibiting equivocal looks and expreffion: the fhort, subsequent repartees are extremely pleasant; their concluding with a second kifs, and Boniface's calling Cherry, give a timely termination to the first act. At the beginning of the second act, Mrs. Sullen, a married, and Dorinda, a fingle lady, are introduced by their converfation, we find, that the former has been bred up in, and is fond of townlife; that the latter has paffed her time in, and is reconciled to rural retirement, or at most a country town. Mrs. Sullen, after rallying country pleasures, and giving no very favourable idea of her lord and mafter, in a defcription as inconfiftent with decency, as his behaviour is with good-nature and good fenfe, approaches the fquire, on his entrance, with becoming affability, to which he makes very brutal returns; indeed Sullen appears to have no manner of business here but to draw his own picture when fober, as he does afterwards when drunk; on ordering Scrub to get ready for fhaving his head, the lady throws out a moft fhameful hint concerning his temples; which, to make it more grofs, is in representation twice repeated, this gives Scrub, who catches her meaning, an opportunity of raifing a gallery-laugh, by the mean, pitiful, pantomimical action of reprefenting his master's horns with two fingers; this piece of behaviour fhews the lady to be void of fenfe as well as modefty; a fervant, and fuch a fervant as Scrub efpecially, is a trange G 2 strange confidante for fuch an explanation. I heartily with the ftage ladies would omit the paffage, and go directly to "Inveterate ftupidity! Did you "ever know," &c. The remainder of this scene has fpirit, yet offers but a very faint exculpation for Mrs. Sullen's mode of thinking and fpeaking; except in that line where fhe fays to Dorinda; " if I go a step beyond the bounds of honour, leave me; the mention of going to church immediately after fuch a conversation, is I believe not at all unnatural in a fine lady. The fhort enfuing fcene is of very little confequence except containing fome very just and keen remarks upon the impreffion that Aimwell's, external appearance is likely to make; the fatire tho' only pointed at a country congregation might be as Juftly applied to many thousands in this metropolis who are equally devoted to outfide fhow, and unmeaning curiofity. Gibbet's account of his plunder is pleafant and fatirical; Boniface's mention of his two guests natural, and their joint endeavours to found Archer, with his evafive anfwers are truly comic; the introduction of Cherry, with her childish repetition of love's catechifm, preferves a flow of spirits-I could wifh the queftion where love goes out had been omitted; the difcovery of Archer not being a footman is well thrown in and the girl's propofition of marriage tho fomething forward, by no means unnatural, how she stands poffeffed of two thoufand pounds immediately at her own difpofal admits fome doubt; Archer's hesitation falls well in; chery's taking it as as a confirmation of his fuperior rank juftifies her difcernment; and the friendly hint concerning her father fhows her heart in a very favourable light. Archer's foliloquy is very pertinent, pleafant and lively; but fomewhat ungenerous; where speaking of one who has offered fo fubftantial a proof of confidence and regard; he fays-" if the wench would promise to die when the money were spent-E gad one would marry her." this may be gallant, but is mean and mercenary alfo; notwithstanding rhimes or tags as they are called, appear peculiarly abfurd in comedy; I am willing to forgive the four following for that good sense they exhibit, and that certain truth they fo agreeably convey in verse almost as eafy and natural as profe. For whatfoe'er the Sages charge on pride, The angels fall, and twenty faults befide; On earth I'm fure, 'mongst us of mortal calling, The ladies again prefent themselves and inform us that the fingle one has received one of love's inftantaneous lightening-winged darts from Aimwell's eyes while at church; Mrs. Sullen's raillery in this fcene is extremely fuitable both to character and occafion. There is great judgement in referving one character or more to the third, nay even the fourth act; this reinforcement Farquhar has most happily availed himself of in the parts of Scrub and Foigard; the the former of whom is moft certainly a child of whim, yet fo near nature and fo fiaught with laughter that he muft pleafe; the latter is as much within the rules of critical propriety as poffible, and an object of real entertainment. Scrub's packet of news concerning the strange gentleman cannot be unfolded properly without having a powerfull effect; the conjectures he relates, and his own, of Aimwell's being a Jefuit, because his footman talks french, muft dilate even the rigid mufcles of ftoicifm. Love, like neceffity, being a parentof invention; we must admit the young lady's fending Scrub to cultivate an intimacy with Aimwell's footman as a natural piece of policy; fervants being in general a communicative index to the fortune, family, connections and qualities of their mafters and miftreffes; which Archer in his converfation with Scrub seems well acquainted with, and profits by; as we shall nd upon coming to that scene. Aimwell and Archer fupport different feelings in their fucceeding fcene becomingly; the former fpeaks of his mistress with all the rapture of real paffion; the latter dwells upon their original view her fortune; yet steps fomewhat afide and with much pleasantry mentions his own adventure with Cherry; his burlesque heroics The nymph who with her twice ten hundred pounds Are not only a juft reproof to Aimwell's romantick allufions; but alfo laughable fatire upon those poetical writers, who appropriate high flown ftrained images images and pompous verfification to the most trifling circumstances. Boniface's difpofition of introducing his guests to each other, is truly that of a country land lord and his attempt to find out Aimwell; when he replies to his invitation of Gibbet" who fhall I tell him fir would is very confiftent with impertinent curiofity and low cunning. Gibbet's rufty appearance and ænigmatical mode of conversation are certainly well adapted to his cha racter; Aimwell's queftions are fuitable and hint a just fufpicion of the pretended captain; Boniface's preparative for Foigard's appearance in a blundering affectation of knowing men and languages is very laughable; and the Prieft's joining company enriches the fhort fcene he is concerned in very confiderably. Archer and Scrub are now exhibited in a diverting ftate of familiarity; the droll fimplicity of the latter is a well drawn contrast to the polite shrewdnefs of the former; who artfully feels the fimpleton's pulle and under friendship's affumed veil, winds into the subject he has in view; this whimfical tete a tete never fails, even with indifferent performance, fetting the rifible faculties at work; Scrub's terrible fecret of being in love with Gipfey is a moft forceable ftroke of low humour; and the chain of explanation which arifes from it concerning the French count, the Prieft and Mrs. Sullen is extremely natural; opening part of the plot seemingly without any defign of the author; the tranfition to Scrub's various employments very properly puts a ftop |