go the maids and bawl just as thof' they were stuck. And so, mercy on us! this was the trade from morning to night.

Manly. Ha, ha, ha!

Moody. But I mun hie me whoam; the coach will be coming every hour naw.

Manly. Well, honest John

Moody. Dear measter Manly! the goodness of goodness bless and preserve you!

Cibber.

HUMOROUS SCENE AT AN INN.

BONIFACE, AIMWELL.

Bon. THIS way, this way, sir. Aim. You're my landlord, I suppose? Bon. Yes, sir, I'm old Will Boniface; pretty well known upon this road, as the saying is Aim. O, Mr. Boniface, your servant.

Bon. O, sir-What will your honour please to drink, as the saying is?

Aim. I have heard your town of Litchfield much famed for ale; 1 think I'll taste that.

Bon. Sir, I have now, in my cellar, ten ton of the best ale in Staffordshire: 'tis smooth as oil, .sweet as milk, clear as amber, and strong as brandy; and will be just fourteen years old the fifth day of next March, old style.

Aim. You're very exact, I find, in the age of your ale.

Bon. As punctual, sir, as I am in the age of my children: I'll show you such ale.-Here, tapster; broach number 1706, as the saying is-Sir, you shall taste my anno domini.-I have lived in Litch

field, man and boy, above eight-and-fifty years, and, I believe, have not consumed eight-and fifty ounces of meat.

Aim. At a meal you mean, if one may guess by your bulk.

Bon. Not in my life, sir; I have fed purely upon ale: I have eat my ale, drank my ale, and I always sleep upon my ale.

Enter Tapster with a Tankard.

Now, sir, you shall see———— -Your worship's health: [Drinks]-Ha! delicious, delicious:- Fancy it Burgundy, only fancy it—and 'tis worth ten shillings a quart.

Aim. [Drinks] 'Tis confounded strong.

Bon. Strong! it must be so, or how would we be strong that drink it?

Aim. And have you lived so long upon this ale, landlord?

Bon. Eight-and-fifty years, upon my credit, sir: but it kill'd my wife, poor woman! as the saying is. Aim. How came that to pass?

Bon. I don't know how, sir-she would not let the ale take its natural course, sir: she was for qualifying it every now and then with a dram, as the saying is; and an honest gentleman, that came this way from Ireland, made her a present of a dozen bottles of usquebaugh-but the poor woman was never well after-but, however, I was obliged to the gentleman, you know.

Aim. Why, was it the usquebaugh that killed her?

Bon. My lady Bountiful said so-She, good lady, did what could be done : she eured her of three tympanies: but the fourth carried her off:

but she's happy, and I'm contented, as the saying is.

Aim. Who's that lady Bountiful you mentioned? Bon. Odds my life, sir, we'll drink her health: [Drinks]-My lady Bountiful is one of the best of women. Her last husband, sir Charles Bountiful, left her worth a thousand pounds a year; and, I believe, she lays out one-half on't in charitable uses for the good of her neighbours.

Aim. Has the lady any children?

Bon. Yes, sir, she has a daughter by sir Charles; the finest woman in all our county, and the greatest fortune. She has a son too, by her first husband, 'squire Sullen, who married a fine lady from London t'other day; if you please, sir, we'll drink his health. [Drinks.]

Aim. What sort of a man is he?

Bon. Why, sir, the man's well enough: says little, thinks less, and does nothing at all, faith: but he's a man of great estate, and values nobody. Aim. A sportsman, I suppose?

Bon. Yes, he's a man of pleasure; he plays at whist, and smokes his pipe eight-and-forty hours together sometimes.

Aim. A fine sportsman, truly!—and married, you say?

Bon. Ay; and to a curious woman, sir,-But he's my landlord, and so a man, you know, would not- -Sir, my humble service to you. [Drinks.] Though I value not a farthing what he can do to me; I pay him his rent at quarter-day; I have a good running trade; I have but one daughter, and I can give her but no matter for that.

Aim. You're very happy, Mr. Boniface: pray what other company have you in town?

Bon. A power of fine ladies; and then we have the French officers.

Aim. O that's right, you have a good many of those gentlemen: pray how do you like their company?

Bon. So well, as the saying is, that I could wish we had as many more of'em. They're full of money, and pay double for every thing they have. They know, sir, that we paid good round taxes for the making of 'em, and so they are willing to reimburse us a little one of 'em lodges in my house. [Bell rings.]—I beg your worship's pardon-I'll wait on you in half a minute. Farquhar.

ADVANTAGE OF A WELL-GOVERNED TEMPER IN

DISPUTE.

MYRTLE, BEVIL.

Bevil. WELL, Mr. Myrtle, your commands with me?

Myrtle. The time, the place, our long acquaintance, and many other circumstances, which affect me on this occasion, oblige me, without further ceremony, or conference, to desire you would not only, as you already have, acknowledge the receipt of my letter, but also comply with the request in it. I must have further notice taken of my message than these half lines-I have yours-I shall be at home

Bev. Sir, I own I have received a letter from

you, in a very unusual style; but as I design every thing in this matter shall be your own action, your own seeking, I shall understand nothing but what you are pleased to confirm face to face, and I have already forgot the contents of your epistle.

Myr. This cool manner is very agreeable to the abuse you have already made of my simplicity and frankness; and I see your moderation tends to your own advantage, and not mine; to your own safety, not consideration of your friend.

Bev. My own safety, Mr. Myrtle !

Myr. Your own safety, Mr. Bevil.

Bev. Look you, Mr. Myrtle, there's no disguising that I understand what you would be at. But, sir, you know I have often dared to disapprove of the decisions a tyrant custom has introduced, to the breach of all laws both divine and human.

Myr. Mr. Bevil, Mr. Bevil, it would be a good first principle, in those who have so tender a conscience that way, to have as much abhorrence of doing injuries, as—

Bev. As what?

Myr. As fear of answering for 'em.

Bev. As fear of answering for 'em! But that apprehension is just or blameable, according to the object of that fear I have often told you, in confidence of heart, I abhorred the daring to offend the Author of life, and rushing into his presence ;-I say, by the very same act, to commit a crime against him, and immediately to urge on to his tribunal.

Myr. Mr. Bevil, I must tell you, this coolness, this gravity, this show of conscience, shall never cheat me of my mistress. You have, indeed,