Enter French SERVANT.

SERVANT.

An expresse from Monsieur Lofty. He vil be vait upon your honours instrammant. He be only giving four five instruction, read two tree memorial, call upon von ambassadeur. in one tree minutes.

He vil be vid

you

MRS CROAKER.

You see now, my dear. What an extensive department! Well, friend, let your master know, that we are extremely honoured by this honour. Was there any thing ever in a higher style of breeding? All messages among the great are now done by express.

CROAKER.

To be sure, no man does little things with more solemnity, or claims more respect, than he. But he's in the right on't. In our bad world, respect is given where respect is claimed.

MRS CROAKER.

Never mind the world, my dear; you were never in a pleasanter place in your life. Let us now think of receiving him with proper respect―[a loud rapping at the door,]—and there he is, by the thundering rap.

CROAKER.

Ay, verily, there he is! as close upon the heels of his own express as an indorsement upon the back of a bill. Well, I'll leave you to receive him, whilst I go to chide my little Olivia for intending to steal a marriage without mine or her aunt's consent. I must seem to be angry, or she too may begin to despise my authority.

Enter LOFTY, speaking to his Servant.

LOFTY.

[Exit.

« And if the Venetian ambassador, or that teasing crea

VOL. II.

ΙΟ

ture the marquis, should call, I'm not at home. Dam’me, I'll be pack-horse to none of them.» My dear madam, I have just snatched a moment-« And if the expresses to his grace be ready, let them be sent off; they're of importance.»Madam, I ask a thousand pardons.

Sir, this honour

MRS CROAKER.

LOFTY.

« And, Dubardieu! if the person calls about the commission, let him know that it is made out. As for Lord Cumbercourt's stale request, it can keep cold: you understand me. »—Madam, I ask ten thousand pardons.

Sir, this honour

MRS CROAKER.

LOFTY.

"

And, Dubardieu! if the man comes from the Cornish borough, you must do him; you must do him, I say.”— Madam, I ask ten thousand pardons. And if the Russian ambassador calls; but he will scarce call to-day, I believe.» -And now, madam, I have just got time to express my happiness in having the honour of being permitted to profess myself your most obedient humble servant.

MRS CROAKER.

Sir, the happiness and honour are all mine ; and yet, I'm only robbing the public while I detain you.

LOFTY.

Sink the public, madam, when the fair are to be attended. Ah, could all my hours be so charmingly devoted! Sincerely, don't you pity us poor creatures in affairs? Thus it is eternally; solicited for places here, teased for pensions there, and courted every where. I know you pity me. Yes, I see you do.

MRS CROAKER.

Excuse me, sir, « Toils of empires pleasures are,» as

Waller says.

LOFTY.

Waller, Waller, is he of the house?

MRS CROAKER.

The modern poet of that name, sir.

LOFTY.

Oh, a modern! we men of business despise the moderns; and as for the ancients, we have no time to read them. Poetry is a pretty thing enough for our wives and daughters; but not for us. Why now, here I stand that know nothing of books. I say, madam, I know nothing of books; and yet, I believe, upon a land-carriage fishery, a stamp act, or a jag-hire, I can talk my two hours without feeling the want of them.

MRS CROAKER.

The world is no stranger to Mr Lofty's eminence in every capacity.

LOFTY.

I vow to gad, madam, you make me blush. I'm nothing, nothing, nothing in the world; a mere obscure gentleman. To be sure, indeed, one or two of the present ministers are pleased to represent me as a formidable man. I know they are pleased to bespatter me at all their little dirty levees. Yet, upon my soul, I wonder what they see in me to treat me so! Measures, not men, have always been my mark; and I vow, by all that's honourable, my resentment has never done the men, as mere men, any manner of harm— that is as mere men.

MRS CROAKER.

What importance, and yet what modesty!

LOFTY.

Oh, if you talk of modesty, madam, there, I own, I'm accessible to praise: modesty is my foible: it was so the Duke of Brentford used to say of me. << I love Jack Lofty, he used to say: « no man has a finer knowledge of things; quite a man of information; and, when he speaks upon his legs, by the Lord he's prodigious, he scouts them; and yet all men have their faults; too much modesty is his,» says his grace.

MRS CROAKER.

And yet, I dare say, you don't want assurance when you come to solicit for your friends.

LOFTY.

O, there indeed I'm in bronze. Apropos! I have just been mentioning Miss Richland's case to a certain personage; we must name no names. When I ask, I'm not to be put off, madam. No, no, I take my friend by the button. A fine girl, sir; great justice in her case. A friend of mine. Borough interest. Business must be done, Mr Secretary. I say, Mr Secretary, her business must be done, sir. That's my way, madam.

T

MRS CROAKER.

Bless me! you said all this to the secretary of state, did you?

LOFTY.

I did not say the secretary, did I? Well, curse it, since you have found me out, I will not deny it. It was to the secretary.

MRS CROAKER.

This was going to the fountain-head at once, not applying to the understrappers, as Mr Honeywood would have had us.

Honeywood! he! he!

LOFTY.

He was, indeed, a fine solicitor. I suppose you have heard what has just happened to him?

MRS CROAKER.

Poor dear man; no accident, I hope?

LOFTY,

Undone, madam, that's all. His creditors have taken him into custody. A prisoner in his own house.

MRS CROAKER.

A prisoner in his own house! How? At this very time? I'm quite unhappy for him.

LOFTY.

Why, so am I. The man, to be sure, was immensely good-natured. But then I could never find that he had any thing in him.

MRS CROAKER.

His manner, to be sure, was excessive harmless; some indeed, thought it a little dull. For my part, I always concealed my opinion.

LOFTY.

It can't be concealed, madam; the man was dull, dull as the last new comedy! a poor impracticable creature! I tried once or twice to know if he was fit for business; but he had scarce talents to be groom-porter to an orangebarrow.

MRS CROAKER.

How differently does Miss Richland think of him! For, I believe, with all his faults, she loves him.

LOFTY.

Loves him! does she? You should cure her of that by all means. Let me see; what if she were sent to him this instant, in his present doleful situation? My life for it,