1 THE FOUNDLING. A COMEDY, As written by Mr. MOOR E. DISTINGUISHING ALSO THE VARIATIONS OF THE THEATRE, AS PERFORMED AT THE Theatre-Royal in Dzury-Lane. Regulated from the Prompt-Book, By PERMISSION of the MANAGERS, By Mr. HOPKINS, Prompter. AB 3 BODLE LONDON: Printed for JoHN BELL, near Exeter-Exchange, in the Strand. MUCCLXXVII. [3] TO HER GRACE THE DUCH HES S O F BEDFORD. MADAM, T HE permiffion your Grace honours me with, of prefenting the Foundling to your protection, is the highest gratification of my pride, and my best fecurity for the indulgence of the town. It is in writing as in life; an introduction to the world by a great name is a fanction, even where merit is wanting, and can adorn it where it is. And though my pretentions are inconfiderable, my fears are leffened, while I can boaft the Duchefs of Bedford for my patronefs. I have no intention to alarm your Grace with the common flattery of dedications. The mind that deferves praise, is above receiving it. Your own confcioufnefs, though in your humbleft hours, will afford truer fatisfaction than the best written panegyric. But while your Grace forbids me praife, I am at liberty to indulge my wishes for your happiness and honour. In thofe, I may be allowed to name the Duke of Bedford with his Duchefs, and to rejoice, with every Englishman, that the highest dignities are the reward of the highest merit. If I defcend to fay a little of myfelf, I fhall hope. for your Grace's pardon. This is my first attempt in dramatic poetry. Whether I deferve the favour the town A 2 has has fhewn me, is fubmitted to your Grace's candour, and the judgment of my readers. The disapprobation which the character of Faddle met with the first night, made it neceffary for me to fhorten it in almost every fcene, where it was not immediately connected with the fable. But though fuccefs has attended the alteration, I have ventured to publish it in its original drefs; fubmitting it fill to your Grace and the public, from whom I have no appeal to my own partiality. But I am detaining your Grace too long, and shall only add, that I am, Madam, Your Grace's Moft obliged, and Moft obedient fervant, ED W. MOORE. PRO PROLO PROLOGU E. Written by Mr. BROOKE. UNPRACTIS'D in the drama's artful page, And new to all the dangers of the stage, He, like all authors, a conforming race! |