Conflable. Buffalo! Very well. I'll hem you when I get you before his worthip, ladies.

ft Gypfey. Time enough then.

Conftable. Hem of your garments-He must be as cunning as yourselves that discovers any hems in them; they have more tatters than are to be found on the tenters, and more rents than are to be collected upon Sir Edward's eftate: yet the rag-merchant would fcarcely think them worth the purchafe.

Enter SUSAN.

O Sufan, the manfion feems deferted this Christmas. Can you inform me if dinner is over?

Sufan. Yes, in the parlour:-but who have you here? Conftable. Two of the most pernicious, vicious, fufpicious vagroms and gypfies, that everSufan. Gypfeys! Oh lud!

Conftable. Ay, fortune-tellers-dealers in

Sujan. Fortune-tellers! delightful!-then they can inform me about my tea-fpoon!

Conftable. Where all your fervants are I cannot imagine. Will you, Sufan, tell his worthip I have comprehended thofe vagroms he fent me after ?

Sufan. I will, Mr. Bush; but as our fervants are all in the hall at dinner, had you not better pick a bit with them this Christmas?

Conftable. Why, to be fure, nothing makes a man fo hungry and dry, as doing juftice; I have been hard at it all the morning.-But what fhall I do with these

cannibals ?

Sufan. Leave them here; I'll take care of them.
Conftable. Will you?

Sufan. Yes! I'll lock the door.

Conftable. They'll creep through the key-hole.
Sufan. Never fear!

Conftable. Well, remember that they are witches,

chanters

1

chanters and musicians, and be fure tell his worship that I have comprehended them.

Sufan. Be affured I will. But do you make the best of your way to the fervants' hall, or every bit of the venifon-pafty, the hams, and minced pies, will be

Conftable. Venison-pafty, hams, and minced pies!— Let me unbuckle my belt: here, Sufan, take care of it. These things are fo nice,

That I'll just take a slice,

And be back in a trice.

[Exit Conftable.

SUSAN, and First and Second Gypfies.

If Gypfey. Well, my dear, you have fo dextrously got rid of Mr. Bush, that I am sure you must have fome defign in it.

2d Gyrfey. Certainly fhe has: no woman. ever wheedles, but for fome finifter purpose.

Sufan, I am but a fimple girl.

A Gypley. Yet you could fool the conftable: 'tis the way of the fex. What do you wish to know? Sufan. I have half-a-crown.

2d Gypfey. Buy a riband with it. We will tell you
without a fee, though this is very unprofeffional.
Sufan. The other day I loft a filver spoon.

1ft Gypfey. Laft Monday was fe'nnight.
Sufan. Mercy!

2d Gypfey. It was given you by your godmother.
Sufan. Wonderful! fo it was.

1ft Gypfey. And marked with the two first letters of your names, S. A. Sufan Andrews.

Sufan. Mercy on me! how I tremble! What shall I do to recover it?

2d Gypfey. Never fpeak to Harry Hazel till you have found it.

Sufan. I am frighted to death! What, has he got it?

A Gypfey. No.

Sufan. I am glad of that, however,

If Gypfey. Ay, but he has ftolen fomething else fom you that you have not mentioned.

Sufan. Lord! I have loft nothing else.

2d Gypfey. Yes, child, you have your heart; and we 'll tell you when he stole it.

Sufan. When?

1ft Gypfey. Christmas Eve, when he was kiffing you

under the misleto.

Sufan. Mercy on me!

[Shrieks, and falls into the arms of the Second Gypfey.]

2d Gypfey. Agnes, we have gone too far.

1ft Gypfey. Not at all.-Dry your tears, my dear: Harry will make you the beft of hufbands, and Sir Edward means to give you the pied cow that you are fo fond of Hush!

Enter Conftable, and Servants!

Conftable. I thought how it would be, when they were not under my authority. They've chanted the dairy-maid, and they 'll go through the whole family, if we don't take them away: therefore, bring them along to their companions, who are just arrived. If fuch doings are fuffered with punity, I fhould not wonder if in their freaks they were to fly away with the mansion, and turn all the people in the village topfy-turvy, like the Londoners. Bring them along, I fay.

[Exeunt Gypfies, SUSAN, Conftable, Servants, &c.

Scene changes to the Dining Parlour.

Sir EDWARD THORNHAW, Justice SURETY, Dr. Dose, and feveral Gentlemen fitting at Table, as after Dinner. Bottles and Glaffes, &c.

Sir Edward. Order! order! Gentlemen.

Having

gone

gone through the royal toafts, I believe it becomes my duty, as chairman, to call for a fong.

Dr. Dofe. No, Sir Edward; give me leave to prefcribe in this cafe. In all bodies much depends upon the regularity of the fyftem; therefore, I fay, that vocality should be promoted by the example of the prefident: the fellows will follow of course.

Sir Edward. Well, Doctor, I have no objection.

SONG.

Tom Swift was a hunter of fame and renown:
He valued the country,' he hated the town;
He chas'd the wild ftag, and unkennel'd the fox,
And scorn'd to be stopp'd or by rivers or rocks:
His fport he purfu'd from the bluth of the morn
While his fpirits were cheer'd by the found of the;

horn.

Chorus-His fport he purfu'd, &c.

The threats of invafion now rung in his ears;
His friends of the chafe turn'd, like him, volunteers:
He mounted fleet Sorrel, and flew to the coaft;
He headed his troop, now the whole county's boast :
A hunter of Frenchmen he long'd to become,

While his bofom beat time to the trumpet and drum. Chorus.-A hunter of Frenchmen, &c.

All. Bravo! bravo! bravo!

Sir Edward. The Volunteers of the United Kingdom-with three; and while their courage is unbridled, may tyranny meet a halter!

All. Huzza! huzza! huzza!!!

Sir Edward. This is doing bufinefs.—Now, Mr. Juftice, I call upon you for a fong.

Juftice. Hold, Mr. Chairman; if I fing I fhall commit myfelf; but I'll give you a fentiment, as a companion to your laft: The Navy of England-may the British fleet always find fea-room, and the enemy be driven to the Straits!"

Sir Edward. Bravo! Bumpers, bumpers, gentlemen. No daylight.

Dr. Dofe. What, this is to be a fleeping draught: now I think, Mr. Chairman, English daylight is fometimes neceffary to detect 'French moonshine.

All. Huzza! huzza! huzza!

Enter TOBY TILLER.

[The Toaft drank.

Toby. Please your worships and honours, Lieutenant Fenwick defired me to prefent you with this ticket.

Sir Edward. Sit down, my friend, and take a glass while I read it.[Reads.]" Lieutenant Fenwick, and Mr. Frederic Orlop, of the Intrepid, prefent their beft refpects to Sir Edward Thornhaw, and requeft that they may be admitted to fay a few words in behalf of fome prifoners, who they understand are about to be examined."-Where are thefe gentlemen, friend? Toby. Juft in the offing.

Sir Edward. Will you ftow another glafs of punch in your hold, and then bring up their lee-way?

Toby. I'll fteer them into this port, never fear; it feems an excellent one: I hope they'll moor.

[Exit TOBY TLL ER. Sir Edward. What examination is this, Mr. Juf

tice?

Justice. The fame bufinefs that I mentioned in the morning-the vagrants are taken.

Dr. Dofe. Bufinefs is a bitter pill, especially after dinner; it hinders concoction, therefore fhould never be taken but in a morning; for you will understand the gaftric

Sir Edward. Never mind the gastric, Doctor.

Dr. Dofe. Could not this medicine be taken fafting? Juftice. The prisoners may be fafting now, for what you know.

Sir Edward. Not in my house, I hope.

Dr.