happily to prevent its being tedious ; the converfation concerning fupper is well wrought up, and Archer's objections to pig and onions judiciously thrown in, whether we confider them as involuntary ones, forgetting his affumed ftation, or as defign of giv ing Aimwell a better opportunity of fhewing himfelf the master,

Boniface's comments and conjectures upon the money which Aimwell commits to his care, are such as might be expected from fuch a person, who appears, under cover of fpecious, open bluntnefs, to be a rogue himself, and an encourager of other rogues-Cherry's diflike of his principles recommends her-but when the recals the words, my father and fays-" I deny it-my mother was a "good free-hearted, generous woman; and I can't "tell how far her good-nature might have tended for: "the good of her family,"-fhe trefpaffes too much upon the bounds of delicacy.

Archer's enfuing dialogue with her is fpirited, pleafing and natural, females of an inn are deemed lawful game both for genteel and fervile travellers; what he fays to her is common-place flattery, therefore well-adapted to a gallant footman; her replies are the right ftrain of bar-maid smartness and wit; her catching at a flip of expreffion when he fays→ "There's a swarm of Cupids, my little Venus, "which has done the bufinefs much better,"-that being rather above the rest of his ftile-is well thrown in, and his confufion upon the unexpected questions refpecting his name, parifh, &c. not only gives Cherry a plausible reason for viewing him as

dubious character, but also affords him a very good opportunity of exhibiting equivocal looks and expreffion: the fhort, fubfequent repartees are extremely pleasant; their concluding with a fecond kifs, and Boniface's calling Cherry, give a timely termination to the first act.

At the beginning of the fecond 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 master, in a description as inconsistent 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 bufinefs 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 mafter's horns with two fingers; this piece of behaviour shews the lady to be void of fenfe as well as modefty; a fervant, and fuch a fervant as Scrub efpecially, is a

ftrange confidante for fuch an explanation. I hear tily wish the stage ladies would omit the paffage, and go directly to Inveterate ftupidity! Did you "ever know," &c.

ἐσ

The remainder of this fcene has fpirit, yet offers but a very faint exculpation for Mrs. Sullen's mode of thinking and speaking; except in that line where she says 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 short enfuing fcene is of very little confequence except containing fome very juft 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 metropo lis who are equally devoted to outfide fhow, and unmeaning curiofity.

Gibbet's account of his plunder is pleasant and fatirical; Boniface's mention of his two guefts 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 catechism, preferves a flow of fpirits-I could wifh the question where love goes out had been omitted; the discovery 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 thousand pounds immediately at her own difpofal admits fone doubt ;Archer's hefitation falls well in; chery's taking it

as

as a confirmation of his fuperior rank juftifies her dif cernment; and the friendly hint concerning her fa ther shows her heart in a very favourable light.

Archer's foliloquy is very pertinent, pleasant 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 verfe almoft 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,
Pride faves man oft, and woman too from falling.

The ladies again prefent themselves and inform ust 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 moft happily availed himself of in the parts of Scrub and Foigard; the the former of whom is moft certainly a child of whim, yet so near nature and fo fraught with laughter that he muft pleafe; the latter is as much within

4

the

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 ftoiçism.

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 masters and mistresses; which Archer in his converfation with Scrub feems well acquainted with, and profits by; as we fhall find upon coming to that scene.

Aimwell and Archer fupport different feelings in their fucceeding fcene becomingly; the former speaks of his mistress with all the rapture of real paffion; the latter dwells upon their original view her fortune; yet fteps fomewhat aside and with much pleasantry mentions his own adventure with Cherry; his burlesque heroics

The nymph who with her twice ten hundred pounds
With brazen engine hot, and coíf clear ftarch'd
Can fire a gueft, in warming of the bed

Are not only a juft reproof to Aimwell's romantick allufions; but alfo laughable fatire upon thofe poetical writers, who appropriate high flown ftrained

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