Néricault Destouches

“ Mr. Manly, the lawyer, whom your father employed,
is a man who pretends to a great deal
of morality; and it was he who, when your father
found himself dying, alarmed his conscience,
and persuaded him to make this Will in favour
of a second person. Now, I think that you and
I both together, ought to have a meeting with
this conscientious lawyer.
SIR GEORGE.
But I should imagine, Mr. Blackman, that if
he is really a conscientious man, you and he will
not be upon good terms.
BLACKMAN.
Oh! people of our avocation differ in respect
to conscience. ”

“ SIR GEORGE.
But I fear——
BLACKMAN.
Fear nothing.—There are a vast number of
resources in our art.—It is so spacious, and yet
so confined—so sublime, and yet so profound—
so distinct, and yet so complicated—that if ever
this person with whom your fortune is divided
should be found, I know how to envelope her
in a labyrinth, where she shall be lost again in
a hurry.——But your father's lawyer being a
very honest—I mean a very particular man in
his profession,—I have reason to fear we cannot
gain him over to our purpose.—If, therefore,—
Enter Bluntly. ”

“ It was—nor will I give up such satisfaction,
for any enticement that can offer.——Be contented,
Eleanor,—for your sake and my father's,
I will be honest.—Nay, more,—I will be scrupulously
proud—and that line of conduct which
my own honour could not force me to follow,
my love to you and him, shall compel me to.—
When, through necessity, I am tempted to
plunder, your blushes and my father's anguish
shall hold my hand.—And when I am urged
through impatience, to take away my own life,
your lingering death and his, shall check the
horrid suggestion, and I will live for you. ”

“ Ah, my lady, what a charming thing to have
such a lover—Sir George prevents every wish—
he must make the best of husbands.
LADY CAROLINE.
And yet my father wishes to break off the
marriage—he talks of his prodigality—and, certainly,
Sir George lives above his income. ”

“ Invention is the only Art, And mere Translation but a second Part; Besides—we Men of Taste—can ne'er withstand E'en Nature's Garrick thus at second Hand! Then why do Comic Writers live on Theft, When such Ragouts and Dainties still are left? Not richer were, in Congreve's days or Behn, For now, the Males are Females—Women, Men— Nay some so manly, and so orthodox, Will drive you four in Hand—or hold the Box ”

“ Is that the situation of your lodgers at present?
BLACKMAN.
Yes.—But they made a better appearance
when they first came, or I had not taken such
persons to live thus near to your master.
BLUNTLY.
That girl (looking at Eleanor) seems very
pretty—and I dare say my master would not care
if he was nearer to her.
BLACKMAN.
Pshaw, pshaw—she is a poor creature—she is
in great distress. She is misery itself. ”

“ Mr. Manly takes the paper, and while he is
reading, Sir George says apart—— SIR GEORGE.
How near to the brink of infamy has my
imprudence led me! And s'death, my
confusion takes from me the power to explain, and
expose the scoundrel.
Mr. Manly, I will leave you for the present;
but you shall hear from me shortly,—when this
matter shall be accounted for clearly—perfectly
to your satisfaction, you may depend upon it.— (Going.)
MANLY.
Stay, Sir George, and——
BLACKMAN.
Aye, Sir George, stay and see Mr. Manly's
objections wholly removed. He seems to doubt
the evidence of paper ”

“ Lucre, my dear Lucre, are not you amazed at at what you see? Lucre, my dear Lucre, are not you amazed at what you see? (...) being insured from any future emand by some certain proofs. (...) being insured from any future demand by some certain proofs. ”

“ If you please. (Rapping again.) What spirit
there is in that, Rat, tat, tat, tat.—And what
life, frolic, and joy, the whole house is going to
experience except myself. As for me, I am
ready to cry at the thoughts of it all. ”

“ I heard some deep ones in the Green-Room, say, They had their fears and doubts—whilst some did
quake— And others wish'd it bed-time for her sake. Do you, our best Physicians, ever kind, } Prescribe our true Cephalic for the Mind, Of these our Neighbours, and kind Friends—behind, And with it, give a cordial of the best, To one, with deepest Gratitude imprest. For some there are—I have them in my eye— Will sicken and turn pale with jealousy, Whene'er we scribbling Women wield the Pen, Or dare invade the Rights of scribbling Men ”

“ Blackman can produce.
SIR GEORGE.
She, my sister! Her pretended father my
uncle too! (Aside) Blackman, you would have
plunged me into an anguish I never knew before;
you would have plunged me into shame.
BLUNTLY.
And so you have me.
BLACKMAN.
Pshaw.—Mr. Manly, notwithstanding you
are these people's voucher, this appears but a
scheme.—These persons are but adventurers,
and may possibly have about them forgeries, such
as an honest man, like myself, would shudder at.
MANLY. [Going to the door.
Who's there? [Enter Servant.] Shew that—
that Mr. Blackman, out of my house instantly ”

“ A Counter Revolution—rests with you.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE Contemporary spellings and hyphenation have been retained even where inconsistent. The following changes have been made and can be identified in the body of the text by a grey dotted underline:
return to town and dress for your receptiou return to town and dress for your reception I know no other way to shew my humility, then to accept your present I know no other way to shew my humility, than to accept your present You were giving me an an account, Bluntly You were giving me an account, Bluntly WILLORD WILLFORD Still an object I adore ”

“ Not doubting, as a Woman, you'll acquit her—
And now join issue, Sirs, without delay—} Judging from written Evidence our Play, And—send her a good Deliverance, I pray. 1 Vide, Earl Camden's celebrated and Constitutional Speech and
Opinion on the subject of Libels.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
MEN. Sir George Splendorville Mr. Palmer. Mr. ManlyMr. Kemble. Mr. BlackmanMr. Baddeley. Mr. LucreMr. R. Palmer. Lord HazardMr. Evatt. WillfordMr. Aickin. HenryMr. Palmer, Jun. BluntlyMr. Bannister, Jun. WOMEN. Lady Caroline SeymourMrs. ”