understanding, in thinking of a woman almost young enough to be your grand-daughter.

Gen. Nothing like an experienc'd chief to command in any garrison.

Tor. Recollect the state of your present citadel.

Gen. Well, if I am blown up by my own mine, I shall be the only sufferer-There's another thing I want to talk of, I am going to marry my son to Miss Moreland.

Tor. Miss Moreland!ー

Gen. Belville's sister.

Tor. O, ay, I remember that Moreland had got a good estate to assume the name of Belville.

Gen. I haven't yet mentioned the matter to my son, but I settled the affair with the girl's mother yesterday, and she only waits to communicate it to Belville, who is her oracle, you know.

Tor. And are you sure the captain will like her ? Gen. I am not so unreasonable as to insist upon his liking her, I shall only insist upon his marrying her. Tor. What, whether he likes her or not?

Gen. When I issue my orders, I expect them to be obey'd; and don't look for an examination into their propriety.

Tor. What a delightful thing it must be to live under a military government, where a man is not to be troubled with the exercise of his understanding.

Gen. Miss Moreland has thirty thousand poundsThat's a large sum of ammunition money.

Tor. Ay, but a marriage merely on the score of fortune, is only gilding the death-warrant sent down for the execution of a prisoner. However as I know your obstinate attachment to what you once resolve, I sha'n't pretend to argue with you; where are the papers which you want me to consider?

Gen. They are in my library-File off with me to the next room, and they shall be laid before youBut first I'll order the chariot, for the moment I have your opinion, I purpose to sit down regularly before Miss Walsingham-who waits there?

Enter a Servant.

Gen. Is Mrs. Tempest at home?

Serv, Yes, sir, just come in, and just going out again.

Gen. Very well; order the chariot to be got ready.

Serv. Sir, one of the pannels was broke last night at the opera-house.

Gen. Sir, I didn't call to have the pleasure of your conversation, but to have obedience paid to my orders.

Tor. Go order the chariot, you blockhead.

Serv. With the broken pannel, sir !

Gen. Yes, you rascal, if both pannels were broke, and the back shattered to pieces.

Serv. The coachman thinks that one of the wheels is damag'd, sir.

Gen. Don't attempt to reason, you dog, but execute your orders.

Bring the chariot without the wheels,

if you cann't bring it with them.

Tor. Ay, bring it, if you reduce it to a sledge, and jet your master look like a malefactor for high treason, en his journey to Tyburn.

Enter Mrs. TEMPEST.

Mrs. Temp. General Savage, is the house to be for ever a scene of noice with your domineering-The chariot sha'n't be brought-it won't be fit for use 'till it is repaired-and John shall drive it this very minute to the coach-maker's.

Gen. Nay, my dear, if it isn't fit for use, that's another thing.

Tor. Here's the experienced chief, that's fit to command in any garrison.

Gen. Go, order me the coach then.

Mrs. Temp. You cann't have the coach.

Gen. And why so, my love?

[Aside.

[To the Scro.

Mrs. Temp. Because I want it for myself. -Robert, get a hack for your master-though indeed I don't see what business he has out of the house.

[Exeunt Mrs. Temp. and Serv.

Tor. When you issue orders, you expect them to be obeyed, and don't look for an examination into their propriety.

Gen. The fury 1-this has steel'd me against her for ever, and nothing on earth can now prevent me from drumming her out immediately.

Mrs. Temp. [Behind.] An unreasonable old foolBut I'll make him know who governs this house! Gen. Zounds! here she comes again; she has been lying in ambuscade, I suppose, and has over-heard us. Tor. What if she has you are steeled against her for ever.

Gen. No, she's not coming-she's going down stairs;-and now, dear Torrington, you must be as silent as a sentinel on an out-post about this affair. If that virago was to hear a syllable of it, she might perhaps attack Miss Walsingham in her very camp, and defeat my whole plan of operations.

Tor. I thought you were determin'd to drum her out immediately.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Changes to BELVILLE's. Enter Miss WALSINGHAM, followed by BELVILLE.

Miss Wal. I beg, sir, that you will insult me no longer with your solicitations of this nature-Give me proofs of your sincerity indeed! What proofs of your sincerity can your situation admit of, if I could be even weak enough to think of you with partiality at all?

Bel. If our affections, madam, were under the government of our reason, circumstanced as I am, this unhappy bosom wouldn't be torn by passion for Miss Walsingham. Had I been bless'd with your ac

D

quaintance before I saw Mrs. Belville, my hand as well as my heart, would have been humbly offer'd to your acceptance--fate, however, has ordered it otherwise, and it is cruel to reproach me with that situation as a crime, which ought to be pitied as my greatest

misfortune.

Miss Wal. He's actually forcing tears into his eyes. -However, I'll mortify him severely. [Aside.

Bel. But such proofs of sincerity as my situation can admit of, you shall yourself command, as my only business in existence is to adore you.

Miss Wal. His only business in existence to adore [Aside.

me!

Bel. Prostrate at your feet, my dearest Miss Walsingham, [Kneeling] behold a heart eternally devoted to your service. You have too much good sense, madam, to be the slave of custom, and too much humanity not to pity the wretchedness you have caused. -Only, therefore, say that you commiserate my sufferings-I'll ask no more and surely that may be said, without any injury to your purity, to snatch even an enemy from distraction-where's my handkerchief? [Aside.

Miss Wal. Now to answer in his own way, and to make him ridiculous to himself. (Aside.) If I thought, if I could think [Affecting to weep.] that these protestations were real.

Bel. How can you, madam, be so unjust to your own merit? how can you be so cruelly doubtful of my so