from R. Ist. w.] what parchment have we here?—0, our genealogy in full. Here, Careless,-you shall have no common bit of mahogany; here's the family tree for you, you rogue,—this shall be your hammer, and now you may knock down my ancestors with their own pedigree. Sir O. (L.) What an unnatural rogue !-an ex post facto parricide! [Aside.

Care. Yes, yes, here's a list of your generation indeed faith, Charles, this is the most convenient thing you could have found for the business, for 'twill not only serve as a hammer, but a catalogue into the bargain.-Come, begin A-going, a-going, a-going!

Charles S. Bravo, Careless!-Well, here's my great uncle, Sir Richard Raveline, a marvellous good general in his day, I assure you. He served in all the Duke of Marlborough's wars, aud got that cut over his eye at the battle of Malplaquet.-What say you, Mr. Premium ? -look at him-there's a hero, not cut out of his feathers, as your modern clipt captains are, but enveloped in wig aud regimentals, as a general should be.-What do you bid ?

Sir O. [Aside to Moses.] Bid him speak.

Moses. Mr. Premium would have you speak.

Charles S. Why, then, he shall have him for ten pounds, and I'm sure that's not dear for a staff-officer.

Sir O. Heaven deliver me! his famous uncle Richard for ten pounds! [Aside. ]-Very well, sir, I take him at that.

Charles S. Careless, knock down my uncle Richard.Here, now, is a maiden sister of his, my great aunt Deborah, done by Kneller in his best manner, and esteemed a very formidable likeness.-There she is, you see, a shepherdess feeding her flock.-You shall have her for five pounds ten-the sheep are worth the money.

Sir O. Ah! poor Deborah! a woman who set such a value on herself! [Aside.]-Five pounds ten-she's mine. Charles S. Knock down my aunt Deborah, Careless! -This, now, is a grandfather of my mother's, a learned judge, well known on the western circuit.-What do you rate him at, Moses?

Moses. Four guineas.

Charles S. Four guineas!-Gad's life, you don't bid me the price of his wig.-Mr. Premium, you have more respect for the woolsack; do let us knock his lordship down at fifteen.

Sir O. By all means.

Care. Gone!

Charles S. And there are two brothers of his, William and Walter Blunt, Esquires, both members of parliament, and noted speakers; and what's very extraordinary, I believe, this is the first time they were ever bought or sold.

Sir O. That is very extraordinary, indeed! I'll take them at your own price, for the honour of parliament. Care. Well said, little Premium !—I'll knock them down at forty.

Charles S. Here's a jolly fellow-I don't know what relation, but he was mayor of Norwich: take him at eight pounds.

Sir O. No, no: six will do for the mayor.

Charles S. Come, make it guineas, and I throw out the two aldermen there into the bargain.

Sir O. They're mine.

Charles S. Careless, knock down the mayor and aldermen. -But, plague on't, we shall be all day retailing in this manner; do let us deal wholesale: what say you, little Premium? Give me three hundred pounds, and take all that remains on each side in a lump.

Care. Ay, ay, that will be the best way.

Sir O. Well, well, any thing to accommodate you ;they are mine. But there is one portrait which you have always passed over.

Care. [Having put the chair away comes forward L.] What, that ill-looking little fellow over the settee?

Sir O. Yes, sir, I mean that, though I don't think him so ill-looking a little fellow, by any means.

Charles S. What, that ?-Oh! that's my uncle Oliver; 'twas done before he went to India.

Care. Your uncle Oliver!-Gad, then you'll never be friends, Charles. That, now, to me, is as stern a looking rogue as ever I saw; an unforgiving eye, and a damned disinheriting countenance! an inveterate knave, depend on't. Don't you think so, little Premium? [Slapping him on the shoulder.]

Sir O. Upon my soul, sir, I do not; I think it as honest a looking face as any in the room, dead or alive;-but I suppose uncle Oliver goes with the rest of the lumber?

Charles S. No, hang it; I'll not part with poor Noll. The old fellow has been very good to me, and, egad, I'll keep his picture while I've a room to put it in. [Crosses, 1.

Sir O. (R.) The rogue's my nephew after all! [Aside.] -But, sir, I have somehow taken a fancy to that picture.

Charles S. (L.) I'm sorry for't, for you certainly will not have it.-Oons, haven't you got enough of them?

Sir O. I forgive him every thing! [Aside.]-But, sir, when I take a whim in my head I don't value money. I'll give you as much for that as for all the rest.

Charles S. Don't tease me, master broker; I tell you I'll not part with it, and there's an end of it.

.Here

Sir 0. How like his father the dog is ! [ Aside.] - Well, well, I have done. I did not perceive it before, but I think I never saw such a resemblance-[Aside.]is a draught for your sum. [Taking it out of his pocket book. Charles S. Why, 'tis for eight hundred pounds. Sir O. You will not let Sir Oliver go?

Charles S. Zounds! no!-I tell you once more.

Sir O. Then never mind the difference, we'll balance that another time-but give me your hand on the bargain; you are an honest fellow, Charles-I beg pardon, sir, for being so free.-Come, Moses. [Crosses, L.

Charles S. (R.) Egad, this is a whimsical old fellow! But hark'ee, Premium, you'll prepare lodgings for thes gentlemen ?

Sir O. (L.) Yes, yes, I'll send for them in a day or two. Charles S. But hold; do now send a genteel conveyance for them, for I assure you, they were most of them used to ride in their own carriages.

Sir O. I will, I will-for all but Oliver.
Charles S. Ay, all but the little nabob.
Sir 0. You're fixed on that?

Charles S. Peremptorily.

Sir O. A dear extravagant rogue! [Aside.]-Good-day! -Come, Moses.Let me hear now who dares call him profligate! [Exeunt Sir Oliver Surface and Moses, L. Care. Why, this is the oddest genius of the sort I ever met with.

Charles S. Egad, he's the prince of brokers, I think. I wonder how the devil Moses got acquainted with so honest a fellow.-But hark! here's Rowley; do, Careless, say I'll join the company in a few moments.

Care. (R.) I will-don't let that old blockhead persuade you to squander any of that money on old musty debts, or any such nonsence; for tradesmen, Charles, are the most exorbitant fellows.

Charles S. (L.) Very true, and paying them is only en

couraging them. Ay, ay, never fear. [Exit Careless, R.] -Soh! this was an odd old fellow, indeed.

Let me see

two-thirds of this five hundred and thirty odd pounds are mine by right. 'Fore Heaven! I find one's ancestors are more valuable relations than I took them for !-Ladies and gentlemen, your most obedient and very grateful

Hah! old Rowley! egad, you are just come in time to take leave of your old acquaintance.

Row. (L.) Yes, I heard they were a going. But I wonder you can have such spirits under so many distresses. Churles S. Why, there's the point! my distresses are so many, that I can't afford to part with my spirits; but I shall be rich and splenetic, all in good time. However, I suppose you are surprised that I am not more sorrowful at parting with so many near relations; to be sure, 'tis very affecting but you see they never move a muscle, so why should I?

:

Row. There's no making you serious a moment. Charles S. Yes, faith, I am so now. Here, my honest Rowley, here, get me this changed directly, and take a hundred pounds of it immediately to old Stanley.

Row. A hundred pounds! Consider only

Charles S. Gad's life, don't talk about it: poor Stanley's wants are pressing, and if you don't make haste, we shall have some one call that has a better right to the money.

Row. Ah! there's the point! I never will cease dunning you with the old proverb

Charles S. Be just before you're generous.'-Why, so I would if I could; but Justice is an old hobbling bledame, and I can't get her to keep pace with Generosity for the sou of me.

Row. Yet, Charles, believe me, one hour's reflectionCharles S. Ay, ay, it's very true; but, hark'ee, Rowley, while I have, by heaven I'll give; so damn your economy, and away to old Stanley with the money.

[Exeunt Charles R., Rowley L.

SCENE II-A Saloon.

Enter MOSES, R., and Sir OLIVER SURFACE.

Moses. Well, sir, I think, as Sir Peter said, you have seen Mr. Charles in high glory, 'tis great pity he's so extravagant.

Sir O. But he would not sell my picture.
Moses. And loves wine and women so much.
Sir O. But he would not sell my picture.
Moses. And games so deep.

Sir O. But he would not sell my picture.--O, here's Rowley.

Enter ROWLEY, R.

Row. (R.) So, Sir Oliver, I find you have made a purchase

Sir O. (c.) Yes, yes, our young rake has parted with his ancestors like old tapestry.

Row. And here has he commissioned me to re-deliver you part of the purchase money—I mean, though, in your necessitous character of old Stanley.

Moses. (L.) Ah! there is the pity of all; he is so damned charitable.

Row. And I left a hosier and two tailors in the hall, who I'm sure, won't be paid, and this hundred would satisfy them.

Sir O. Well, well, I'll pay his debts, and his benevolence too. But now I am no more a broker, and you shall introduce me to the elder brother as old Stanley.

Row. Not yet awhile; Sir Peter, I know, means to call there about this time.

Enter TRIP, R.

Trip. O, gentlemen, I beg pardon for not showing you out; this way-[Crosses L.]-Moses, a word.

[Exeunt Trip and Moses, L. Sir O. (L.) There's a fellow for you-would you believe it, that puppy intercepted the Jew on our coming, and wanted to raise money before he got to his master. Row. (R.) Indeed!

Sir O. Yes, they are now planning an annuity business. -Ah! master Rowley, in my days servants were content with the follies of their masters, when they were worn a little thread-bare; but now, they have their vices, like their birth-day clothes, with the gloss on. [Exeunt, L.

SCENE III.—A Library, a large Screen, R. 3rd E. Pembroke Table, L. U. E. with a book on it; two chairs.

JOSEPH SURFACE and a SERVANT discovered.

Joseph S. No letter from Lady Teazle?