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but were it otherwise, every man ought to have some partiality for his own country; it is a laudable prejudice, without which no people ever were or can be great.

Sir Geo. It ever was the characteristic of this nationbut now a passion for French dress and fopperies is as prevailing as the use of their frippery tongue-Ah! there was a time, when we found the way to be understood in France, without the help of their language(looks on his watch) but I have trifled away more time than I could well afford: shall I carry you any where, brother, or will you stay here?

Bonc. Have you any engagement, George?
Young Bonc. None at present.

Bonc. Then, brother, I wish you a good morning. I have some business with my son.

Sir Geo. Good morrow to you, brother-Pray, Sir, will you order some of your domestics to shew me out of these noble apartments, for there are so many doors to them, I may possibly miss my way.

Young Bonc. I will do myself that honour, Sir.

Sir Geo. Upon my soul, Sir, you are so full of complaisance you confound me; nay, Sir, pray walk first, I insist upon it.

Young Bonc. Sir, it is my duty to obey.

Sir Geo. Extravagant rascal! if I had such a son, I would make a little free with his coxcomical pate.

Bonc. I wish, child, you would take that young lady away, for I have something to say to your brother.

Miss Bonc. La, papa, you are always so full of secrets!

Bonc. You know, dear Harriet, how fond I am of your

company.

Miss Bonc. Yes; eternally sending me away is a proof

of it.

Bonc. This is a disobedience which I ought to love you for, instead of chiding you; and I will break an appointment to enjoy this evening with you and your brother.

Miss Bonc. Nay, I can't promise to be at home this evening, for I shall be engag'd to go to the play, and if I should not happen to go to the play, I shall be engag'd to a party at cards.

Miss Val. Miss Boncour, you must remember your promise to set me down at home; my time is out, and I dare not stay one minute beyond it.

Miss Bonc. Dare not? ha, ha, ha!

Miss Val. No; my father will never forgive me if I should.

Enter YOUNG BONCOUR.

Young Bonc. I have got my uncle into his chariot at last; but he was so full of ceremony I thought I never should; he has made fifty bows to my servants; I never saw him in such a humour.

Bonc. You know his temper, George, and may easily guess at the reason of it.

Miss Bonc. Well, if you are so positive――

Miss Val. Don't call me positive-I act against my inclination.

Young Bonc. Are you going already, Madam,——you will do me the honour[Exit, leading her out.

Bonc. (alone.) How wretched is that animal, whose whole happiness centres in himself; who cannot feel any satisfaction, but in the indulgence of his own appetite. I feel my children still a part of me; they are, as it were, additional senses, which let in daily a thousand pleasures to me; my enjoyments are not confin'd to those which nature hath adapted to my own years, but I can in my son's fruition, taste those of another age--nor am I

charitable but luxurious, when I bestow on them the instruments of their pleasures.

Enter YOUNG BONCOUR.

So, George, you have soon quitted the young lady. Young Bonc. I was going to make that excuse for leaving you so long.

Bonc. You have been a good husband this quarter.

Young Bonc. Sir; you are always so good as to prevent my necessities, and almost my wishes; for indeed I should have been obliged

Bonc. I thought a hundred would not be burthensome. [Giving him a note.

Young Bonc. (bowing respectfully with a smile) A hundred! Gad, it is but a hundred.

Bonc. What are you considering, George?

Young Bonc. I was thinking, Sir, how happy such a sum as this would have made me when I was at school; but really, in my circumstances, it will go a very little way; it will but just pay for a picture which I bought yesterday.

Bonc. A hundred pounds is a large price for a picture. Young Bonc. A mere trifle, Sir; one can get nothing to hang up in a room for less.

Bonc. I only give that hint, because I should be sorry that your demands should ever be such as I should be unable to answer.

Young Bonc. I am not such a stranger to your fortune, Sir, as to incur expence beyond its reach.

Bonc. No more of this: call on me by-and-by, and your wants shall be supplied; but, I believe, you guess by the formality of my preparation, and my sending away your sister, that I have something of moment to impart to you-without more preface-what think you marriage?

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Young Bonc. Marriage, Sir? Bonc. Aye: I don't expect your good sense will treat my proposition with the common stale raillery of those noble free-spirited libertines, whose great souls disdain to be confined within the limits of matrimony: who laugh at constancy to the chaste arms of a woman of virtue, while at the expence of health and fortune they are strictly faithful to the deceitful embraces of some vile designing harlot.

Young Bonc. Pardon me, Sir; my thoughts of marriage are different; but I hope, Sir, you will indulge me in choosing a wife for myself.

Bonc. You need not apprehend too much compulsion or restraint; but the lady I shall recommend to you is so unexceptionable

Young Bonc. To be sincere, Sir, my affections are already engaged; and though I have no hasty thoughts of marrying, yet when I do, I am determined on the person, and one whom I think unexceptionable on your side.

Bonc. Her name?

Young Bonc. Miss Valence.

Bonc. Her fortune, I apprehend, is much inferior to that of the lady I should have proposed; but neither her fortune or family are such as shall make me endeavour to oppose your inclinations.

Young Bonc. Sir, you are ever good; though indeed in this you indulge me only in the common right which nature has bestowed on me; for to restrain the inclination in that point, is not a lawful but a usurp'd power in a parent: how can nature give another the power to direct those affections which she has not enabled even ourselves to govern?

Bonc. However, you will give me leave to treat with Mr. Valence on this subject; for though I know he must

rejoice at that offer, yet he is a man of that kind, who must be dealt with with due circumspection; and the minds of lovers are too much wapt up in sublime pleasures, to attend to the low settlement of worldly affairs.

Enter SERVANT.

Serv. Sir, Monsieur Valence desires to know if your honour be at home.

Young Bonc. I shall be glad to see him.

Bonc. I'll leave you, and go and find out the old gentleman.

Young Bonc. I believe, Sir, you may treat with him farther than for me; my sister's inclinations, I am confident, look toward the same family.

Bonc. Are you certain of that?

Young Bonc. By incontestable proofs.

Bonc. Well, Mr. Valence and I have been old acquaintance and neighbours; he is of a good family, and has a good fortune; and the world gives him and his children a fair character. I am glad you have dispos'd of your affections in no worse manner: goodmorrow to you, George-I shall see you in the afternoon. Young Bonc. I shall not forget to pay my duty to you, Sir.

Bonc. No ceremony with me.

[Exit.

Young Bonc. Sir (bows); I believe I have the most complaisant father in Christendom. Though all fathers are too niggardly-This sneaking hundred: ha, ha, ha! my dear Valence, good-morrow:

Enter YOUNG VALENCE.

Why look you so sprightly and gay? some unexpected happiness has befallen you.

Young Val. O Boncour! my father, can you believe it? he sent for me this morning, of his own accord,

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