SCENE I.—A Tavern, Sign of the Tun.

Well [...]'d at the opening of the ball. He▪ he. he!

Come success to us.

Well gen [...]le­men how goes our scheme!—Have you made any new pro­selytes since our last meeting!

Why really, wh [...]le credulity and the lo [...]e of money prevail, I think it no merit to make proselytes of one half the town, but that▪ you know, is not our purpose, we only want to draw in four or five of the most credulous, some of whom have actual­ly been engaged, in vain, visionary, and fruitless schemes of money digging▪ to the great prejudice of their families and inju­ry of their neighbours, and still entertain the most sanguine hopes of making their fortunes, at one [...]ap, one of those odd nights by sin [...]ing the lucky spot.—I baited the hook for old Soap-sudds, he gap'd, snap'd, and swallow'd it as voraciously as a cringing courtier wou'd a pension,—As for Raccoon, I ju [...]t threw out a few hints, he sagaciously discovered (as he thought) the foundation and soon raised an imaginary fabric.

Oh!—if he smells money, as great a coward as they say he is, he'd venture to the gates of h—ll for it. He, he, he!

I've hitherto kept him in suspence, he haunts me like a ghost, he thinks something but knows nothing,—he'll be here presently, and I have contriv'd matters so, that he shall make the discovery himself.

Very good,—so far we have sailed propitiously, and I have not been idle, for I've drawn in Buckram, Trushoop, and Trowell, they are perpetually at my house—I can scarce do a stroke of work for one or other of them—I wish the matter spee­dily settled, for faith! they're so elevated, I'm affraid they'll run crazy. He, he, he! Trushoop talks of building a chappel at his own expence and of employing a score or two of priests to keep up a continual rotation of prayers for the repose of the souls of those poor fellows who buried the money, As for Buckram he intends to knock off bus'ness, go to London and purchase a title. He, he, he! they'll all be here in half an hour.

The devil!—Then I suppose they'll not be in a hu­mour for work, till this affair is over—I'd some thoughts of a new suit of clothes, but I must drop them, till these chimeras are out of Buckram's b [...]ain.

That's the only reason, why I want the bus'ness dis­patch'd; for, tho' I like the diversion, I wou'dn't hurt their fa­milies—Oh! I'd like to have forgot—Washball in particular is so full of sanguinity, on account of the treasure, that it has quite renovated him, perfectly grateful and so generous as to dub me a bashaw! by making me a present of a magnificent new wig of three tails. Ha▪ ha, ha!

The devil he has? Ha, ha, ha!—you'd better had one of nine, then you wou'd have been a Bashaw of nine tails at once. Ha, ha!

No, no, three will do pretty well for a beginning, I've not quite so much ambition yet; he told me that he was sure when we got the money▪ I should be chosen President of the United States, or chief counsellor at law, at least, and if only the latter, three tails you know will be quite sufficient. Ha, ha!

True,—gratitude and generosity in the superlative! a rare example of faith and good works united.

Very rare indeed—tho' 'tis but temporary, we shall soon see Messrs. Faith and Good Works at variance.

Very soon! very soon! they are but short liv'd, he, he, he! but Mr. Parchment, have you prepar'd the papers?

Yes, yes, I have 'em in my pocket.

Do let's see 'em, for they are the foundation of our un­dertaking.

here they are, placed in regular order and inclosed in a letter to Mr. Hum.

Aye, aye, let's see;

the letter will do to a tittle, but what the devil's this ancient, worm-eaten piece?

That's the will, authenticated and ratified.

Ratified with the devil to it. He, he, he! why they've knaw'd the one half up!

So much the better, the greater the deception.

Ha, ha! Why it looks as old as if it had been preserv­ed in the temple of Apollo, or the tower of Babel!

Egad! you might have said Noah's-Ark at once. He, he, he! for it looks old enough,—and pray what's this other weather-beaten piece!

Why that's the draft of the place, together with the memorandum signed by the officers present, at the time the [Page 10] money, &c. &c. were deposited, I've had them all these three weeks smoaking up the chimney.

Faith I thought so! for I took them for flitches of Bacon. He, he, he! they have truly the appearance of genuine antiquity, or baconosity.

Very good, very good,—well I must take them into my care, as they are directed to me,

—but I wonder what detains Jack Rattletrap?

Oh! I'll be bound for his appearance—I just came from his house and left h [...]m poring over the canto of Hud [...]b [...]ass and Sydrophel, in order to furnish himself with a set of hard superfrostical, callepophricating words, which added to his know­ledge in the mathematics, will completely qualify him for a modern conjuror.—but, here he comes!—talk of the devil and his imps appear,—as the saying is. He, he, he!

Excellentissimo saith! Ha, ha! We began to look for you with impatience, are you almost prepared for your office?

Yes, dress and books are already provided, but for ap­paratus I must apply to Mr. Quadrant.

Yes, yes, I'll cut you a hazel-rod off our cherry-tree, a magnet, nocturnal, tellescope, spy-glass, and forestaff, shall be all ready, also a curious piece of antiquity, of full as much virtue as Fortunatus's-cap. He, he, he! its nothing less than my great, great, great, great, grand-mother's quilted night-cap. He, he, he! and I can furnish you as Hudibrass says, with a—

He, he, he! But say, have you seen the papers?

Yes, yes, I saw them this morning at Mr. Parchment's office—but hark'ee,—we want a fifth person to act as a familiar spirit, or demi-devil.

Leave that to me,—I'm acquainted with an old artil­lery-man, who told me his father was a bombardier, that he himself was begot and born in the large mortar-piece at Gibral­tar, and that when only three years of age, the commanding officer (lord Something) taking a fancy to him and determining to make him truly a soldier, order'd him to be ramm'd in, and fir'd out of the mortar-piece, and he was blown over into the Spanish lines, and that he received not the least hurt, only a little marked with gunpowder.—He's a snug, hickory faced, dry dog▪ the most finished fellow in the world for this sort of sport,—he was also in the Carthagena expedition and would make nothing of cracking with his teeth, (like hazle nuts) and swallowing two or three bomb-shells every morning before breakfast [out of bra­vado only]—the devilishest fellow you ever saw,—but▪ poor fellow! he's lost most of his teeth by it.—I'll introduce him to you; with his assistance and a proper habit, you'll cut as droll a figure as old Merlin himself.

Well said, he, he, he! that's a hum with the devil to it superlatively hyperbolical faith! no wonder he's lost some of his teeth, he, he, he! a truly eccentric genius.

Excellent ha, ha! Introduce him by all means, he's the very identical devil I want, I love such a superlative devil! —I'll soon make him a super superlative devil, we may th [...] [Page 12] defy the power of Lucifer, Belzebub and the whole host of de­vils united. Ha▪ ha, ha!—As to the loss of some of his teeth, it's a matter of no great consequence, as we shall only want him to chew a few [...]ire-balls. Ha! ha! now and then,—But we must have a place provided for his reception under ground,—Mr. Quadrant and myself will see that done—drop the conversation here comes old Raccoon.

Your serbent gentlemen, brudder Hum, and brudders all I'm berry glad to see you all well.

Leave ceremonies brother Raccoon and take hold of the bottle.

Gentlemen, I must beg your patience a few minutes, I'll be with you shortly.

Hah! brudder Hum hab I found you secret? I tought dere was someting in de wind, dis is a lucky bout, dad I'll keep dese papers—dey shan't hab dem, widout dey gib me de share.

Did you see any thing of a bundle of papers gentle­men.?

No, I saw none.

Nor I.—What papers are they?

Zounds!—If you've got them, don't keep me in sus­pence!

Upon my honor, I saw nothing of them.

What was dey about brudder Hum?

About, Zounds! they are pap [...]rs of the utmost conse­quence, of inestimable value—pray put me out of my pain, if you have them—if they're lost, we're ruined—you're each of you as much interested in the recovery of them as myself,—for God's sake! gentlemen look about.

Oh! that I had kept them to myself when I had them safe! fool tha [...] I was

what shall I do?

There are no signs of them Mr. Hum.

Not the least.

Then we're ruined

and our scheme is abortive— [...]f they are not here the damn'd waiter must have pick'd my pocket, when he brought up the wine— [...] the villain.

Coming sir.

you scoundrel, where's the papers you took?

Sir, I didn't take any.

You lie you rascal!

I—I—

What's the matter! what's the matter Mr. Hum?

we're undone! the villain has [...]o [...]e my papers.—

What papers? deliver the papers you dog!

Upon my honor and soul gentlemen, I saw no papers at all.

Damn your honor you tief—I hope its no defence, gen­tlemen.

Onor!—what, a waiter in a tav'yrn have onor!

His countenance condemns him.

you rascal, I'll send for a constable, you shall be hang'd you villain.

For God's sake! gentlemen, hear me! hear me!

Who waits below there!

O you tief of de w [...]rld, when I fish for the devil, I'll bate my hook wid you.

Gin Ize g [...]ng to him, Ize—

A constable—a constable below there!

O Lord! O Lord! Oh! Oh! Oh!

Produce the pappers this constant, or by Saint Andra I'ze sacrafeese ye!

Have mercy on me—don't kill me!

Kill the dog!—kill him! kill him!

As I hope for mercy I'm innocent.

Ye've but ane moment to live, deliver! deliver ye dug ye, or I'ze cut your damm'd throt!

Hold your hand Mr. Buckram—let's search him.

Let me come to the slubberdegullion and I'll skin him like a Munster potatoe.

Come gentlemen, be merciful—don't kill de poor fellow, search him.

They're not about him—Zounds! what shall we do?

violent measures won't avail, we must bribe him,—come my lad, heark'ee! be ingenuous with us, they're of no value to you, but of infinite consequence to us and if you'll produce them, we'll give you something handsome, and nothing more shall be said about them.

Sir, Sir!

Perhaps I've drop'd them—do my lad step down and look about.

I will indeed Sir.

O most unfortunate affair!—how strange are the vicis­situdes of human life?—one moment raised to the highest pin­nacle of human felicity, the next, sunk to the lowest pit of dis­appointment, and despair!—alas! alas! how cruel is my fate? —how—

Don't let us despair, Mr. Hum.—perhaps—

Undone! inevitably undone! ruined!—past redemp­tion! my hopes are fled!

Come, come budder Hum, make yourself easy, I did pick up de papers at de door.

Gracious fortune!

Budder Hum dropp'd dem as he goed out.

How thankful ought—

I did see de contents of dem—here dey are—

O blessed papers!—once more—

And I hope you will let me come in for de share.

Ce [...]tainly,—I am almost overcome with joy!—it af­fects me more than the most poignant grief I ever yet experienc­ed, yet, however, I may be rejoiced at the recovery of the pa­pers, I must say brother Raccoon, your imprudence, caution, and jealousy in detaining them so long, when you saw the anxiety [Page 15] of my soul, during the severe trial, was to say no worse, ex­tremely cruel and unkind—However I impute it not to a sinister or dishonest motive▪ but, rather to a thoughtless curiosity as to the consequences▪ being fully convinced of the generosity of your disposition and well knowing the best of men, do not at all times act wisely.

Ah! Mr. Raccoon, it was very foolish of you, god knows what I suffer'd too—O dear!—what a pesterment I was in—but I charitably hope you had no selfish views in it—indeed I do.

No upon my honour, I hab not Mr. Washball, I only did it for fun or de want of tought.

Devilish fun!—children's play—worse than shooting, firebrands, arrows, and death, to throw me into such a flustera­tion, Oh! dear Oh!—

Aye indeed we had all like to have been frustrated, come sit down gentlemen, we ought to be sincerely thankful▪ the pa­pers are sa [...]e.

What can those papers mean?

Oh dear! Oh dear! how my heart beats for joy!

So do mine, I tought it would tump my liver out.

Troth, an I had [...]a been stapp'd▪ I shou'd h [...] cut the waiter's throt, Ize g [...]ad ye prevented me; let's [...] him up and gie him sam [...]hing▪

Aye do!—poor dog he was t [...]rribly frighten'd.

Really, no wonder! I was much enraged at him— poor fellow.

Did you call gentlemen?

We'll lad, we've [...]oond the pappers▪ and here's sam­thing to mak ye ameends for the freight y [...] got

and meend ye tell na ane▪ but keep it till your [...]l [...]d.

I will Sir—Thankee kindly Sir—God bless your honor, —Thank your honor.

Aye, Aye, a clos [...] tongue makes a wise head—remem­ber that young man.

I will Sir—heaven bless your honor,

the lord prosper you gentlemen!—heaven preserve your honors—

thank your kind honors.

Faith and its no bad col­lection, I should like such another flourish very well.

I say Mr. Trushoop, what are the con­tents of those papers?

The devil a hare do I know about it, at all, at all.

Well gentlemen▪ I look upon you all to be men of honor, I suppose most of you are not altogether strangers to the busin [...]ss in agitation, you've all in miniature been informed of it, except Mr. Parchment and Mr. Trowell who are present and shall soon be informed.

Gentlemen. I expected when [Page 17] I was invited here, it was to take a cheerful glass with my friends, I had no idea of a secret to be divulg'd, not I—and I earnestly request, that, if it is any scheme, plot, association, combination, machination, contrivance, secret conclave, cabal, privy conspira­cy, rout, riot, rebellious-meeting or unlawful assembly.—In fine, if it is any thing against the illustrious President of the United States, or of the Society of Cincinnati, whom God preserve!— the honorable the Vice President of the honorable Senate—the honorable the Senate collectively, or individually—The honora­ble the House of Representatives of the United States that stand­ing Bulwark of American freedom, in Congress assembled▪ or not assembled, or either of them▪—The honorable the Secretary of State.—The honorable the Secretary of the treasury,—the honorable the Secretary at war—the honorable the chief justice of the United States—the honorable the associate judges, in their j [...]dicial capacity or, otherwise—the honorable the Attorney general of the United States.—The Right Reverend the bishops and clergy of the United States of all denominations, whether in church, or out of it—the constitution, laws, and government under which we live—to be beief —I say gentlemen, if it is any scheme, plot, association, combination, machination, con­trivance, s [...]cret conclave, cabal, privy conspiracy, rout, riot, rebellious meeting▪ or unlawful assembly as aforesaid once more, keep it to yourselves, don't let me know a tittle of it—I wash my hands of it—for if I know it, I'll be a swift witness against you, as I profess myself a worthy Citizen a true republican a man of honor and a gentleman by birth and education—I'll immediate­ly to the Attorney-General, lodge an information against you and hang you every mother's son!

Dear, dear sir! don't think of such a thing.

Don't tell me sir.

Sir! Sir!—you've known me these many, many long years, I've always lived-peaceably and never was concerned in any of those disturbances you have mentioned as all my neigh­bours can testify—Lord! Lord! Mr. Parchment—

Mr. Washball, I've nothing to charge you with—but, Sir, my suspicions are—

Are what?—Lord! Sir, what?

Sir, it carries a mysterious countenance!—a damn'd rebellious look—

Good god sir!—speak to him somebody—do! do! Oh dear! Oh! I'm out of breath.

Sir I believe there's none in this company but what are as true republicans as yourself.

By my sawl mon! an I ha as grate a regord for the il­lustrious President of the United States, as ye ha there's na rabels in America mon.

I hope there are not—nevertheless, it has a Guy-Fau [...] appearance a damned romantic look.

How can you say so?

I'm surpris'd at you Mr. Parchment.

The devil burn me, but so am I too!

I tell you gentlemen, it smells of Gunpowder, trea­son, blood, assassination, slaughter, massacre, and murder.

I'll give you my bond for five hundred pounds, it is no such thing, indeed, indeed it an't Mr. Parchment,—Oh dear! speak to him somebody.

Deel damme mon, say that agen and by St. Andra, Ize cut aff your heed.

I'm not to be frighten'd by you Mr. Buckram, damme Sir you're mistaken.

Moderate your passion Mr. Buckram, don't be too rash, let me speak to him—I hope Mr. Parchment you don't suppose any of us capable of conspiring against the government, no Sir!—I answer for all present (yourself excepted) the United States hath not more faithful republican's—the whole bus'ness that you were desired to attend upon here this evening, I'll in­stantly communicate,—if you'll hear—but, if not—why Sir—

Aye, do hear—if you don't like it, you can be off, as well as myself.

Arra my dear! an have a little pashence an we'll tell you all an more too, honey.

Deel damme mon, If you won't hear, ye may e'en gang aboot your buz'ness.

I think him totally unworthy of any communication whatever.

Your behaviour is very extraordinary—let me tell you Mr Parchment,—I l [...]ttle expected the like from you.

I can't help that Sir,—my duty.—

If you are suspicious of us Sir, you're at liberty to [Page 19] quit the company and make what use of our proceedings you think proper▪—we can answer for ourselves.

Aye, and hang us too, and then turn States Evidence, you devil you!

You being my old friends, I still regard you▪ therefore I drop those thoughts, I would not injure your persons or fami­lies—I confess I was over zealous, when I made use of the ex­pression.

Domme mon and thot's m [...]n leek.

Come, come, Mr. Parchment consider.

Hear, Sir, hear!

I promise you you'll have no cause to repent of it? tis out of pure regard to you, we gave you the invitation.

I could wish him to be one of us he'd be of infinite service.

On condition it is none of those things I have men­tion'd I am ready to hear.

I give you my honour and the sacred word of a mason it is not, and here's my hand upon it.

I'm satisfy'd Mr. Hum.

Now this is clever, it's just [...] like brethren dwelling together in unity.

Fa [...]h'an it is—it looks well on our side again—by my soul! an it's for all the world now, like too hoores fighting and quarreling and soon make it up again.

A bad beginning sometimes, makes a good ending.

That's true for you my dear,

mind that honey.

Well silence gentlemen!—you must know then, that I have very unexpectedly and to my very great joy, received a letter from my loving sister-in law in England, who is heiress to the famous Captain Blackboard

inclosing sun­dry papers, such a [...] original letters, a will, a power of attorney▪ plans, charts, drafts and memorandums of a vast quantity of of treasure, &c. &c. that was buried by the pirates, above a century ago, here in America and these are the papers gntlemen, please to look o [...]er them.

Aha!—I beg you ten thousand pardons gentlemen.— since it's an affair of this nature, I join you with all my heart.

The devil doubt you my jewel and welcome.

What [...] [Page 20] dat?—do Mr. Parchment read it—I can't see widout my spec­tacles.

Aye do read it▪ let us hear every thing.

May I presume to read it Mr. Hum?

By all means sir,—as your'e a gentlem [...]n of the quill a chirog [...]aphist, your'e best acquainted with these old fashion'd writings.

Annoque Dommini 1687. Why I find,—(but I'll [...] the preamble) it's a particular account of the treasure. It is as follows, verbatim et litera [...]im, to wit▪ viz. Imprimis. 17 large golden candlesticks, 13 golden chalices, 11 cruc [...]es of gold, set round with large table diamonds, 30,000 Portugal pie­ces, 120,000 Spanish pistoles, [...]70,000 pisto [...]e [...]es, 73 Ing [...]s of gold▪ 1 small box of diam [...]nds, 160,000 pi [...]ces of eight of Mexico, 3 large boxes of pearls, 1 [...]0 pounds weight of gold dust and the picture of his holiness Pope, Gregory Hildeb [...]and, in a frame of solid gold embellish'd with 3,000 rose diamonds and inclosed in a gold box.

This instrument is signed by

Edward Te [...]h, alias Black [...]eard

Captain.

Moses Brimstone

1 [...]. Lieutenant.

Brian Fire b [...]ll

2d Lieutenant.

Judas Guz [...]le [...]ire

Gunner.

Harry Split-throat

[...]o [...]tswain.

Jeffery Ea [...]devil

Co [...]k.

O? what a treasure!—what do you think of our plot now, eigh! Mr. Parchment, He! he! he.

I like it extremely well sir—I wish I had been con­cerned in such a plot, twenty years ago.

The devil a word a lie in all that; and wou'dn't you be after turning states evidence now honey?

O! no—god fo [...]bid Mr. Trushoop—nor h [...]ng you neither.

The devil trust you Mr. Gunpowder and blood.

Ha! ha! too close—well [...]ere's enough for us all.

By St. Patrick it's a very fine ting if a body cou'd but get their fingers in it.

He! he! he!

—Ha! ha! ha!

By my saul, [...]se awa we [...] me dranken [...] n [...] [...]on [Page 21] an ke [...]k the sha [...]—boord out a the wandow.

I'll shave no more. I'll keep my hands out of the sudds·

Dis will make me cut de figure in life, and appear in de world wid de propper importance and den I'll do sumting for poor-ting.

For my part, I'll not boast about it.—But the world shall see I'll put it to a pious use.

Very good, very good gentlemen, but let us proceed to bus'ness—Our work must be carried on, with Secrecy and dis­patch—beside it will be attended, with some trifling expence at the first out set, for refreshments &c. &c.—I believe it will be necessary to appoint Mr. Parchment our Secretary and Treasurer, if it be agreeable to him.

With all our hearts!

Gentlemen!—you have already laid me under many obligations and those appointments I look upon as an indubitable proof of your esteem—I accept of them with gra­titude and heartily thank you for your kind information and adoption into your company, and the great confidence, you have (so unworthily) reposed in me, and you may depend upon the most religious secrecy, faithfulness, accuracy, dispatch, and punctuality.

Well now an that's a very fine spach! by my soul a [...] father Duffy, nor Murtagh O'Lowery, never made a be [...]ter.

Ha! ha!—a queer dog.

What sum do you imagine Mr. Rattletrap, will be necessary for e [...]ch to [...]eposit?

O trifling▪ trifling, I suppose about half a Joe per man for the present, for tavern expences and a few &c's.

Before I make use of my art, to discover this treasure, I must insist that each of yo [...] go to Mr. Parchment's office and be sworn to secrecy and honesty to each other and there deposit your respective quotas.

Agreed! agreed!

Well gentlemen, it grows late▪—let's break up for the pre­sent. I expect to see you all to morrow evening, at six o'clock, mean while let it remain a profound secret,—remember you are now going to be sworn, so don't let your nearest friends, or even your wives know it!

That's true for you,—let me alone for that, honey!

Not a soul living shall get a word out of me.

Now my braw lads, an stand true.

Ara sath! will we that's true for you.

SCENE II. An alley.

Pa phaast thurrce un glock, un rainy mo [...] or [...].—

[...]ath an that fellows hit it—by my sowl! but I believe Noak's Ark never rained harder.—Now, an what the devil will I be after saying to my wife?—an what excuze will I make?— by my sowl! an she looked as black as a Carolina tunder-squall at me t'oder night, when I cumm'd home in the morning—By the holy stone! an I'm very af [...]ard to [...]mp at the dure—but I can't stand this way in the morning, lying out in the cowl rain all night —by my sowl! and this sitting up all night will be the det of me —fath an I'll tell her all the secret—hut that won't do nather, for I'm book sworn, an I'll not sell my sowl to the devil, for a hanful of scowldings.—Well, if I had the wusdom of the holy St. Patrick—St. Dominic—St. Kullumkill—Murtagh O'Lavery —the venerable Lab [...]e, an all the p [...]ush shaints of Ireland, I wou [...]d­n't be ab [...]e to [...]ell what to do,—but fath an I must cum in some­how, or t'oder.

Who's there?

Who else my jewel but your own deer Trushoop? open the du [...]e if you plaze my jewel.

Not I, by my conshence!—go back to the hoores▪ where you cum from, I'll not be disturbed by you this way so I won't.

Open the dure, my deer if you plaze, the nabours will make a grate tawk if you wou'd, for nabour glibtungs people are all up.

What do I care for the nabours, they know I'm an honest vartuous woman, an that's more than they can say of you, a [...] it's no matter how soon they know of your goings on, if you stay out every night in the morning.

Well if you won't open it yourself my swatest, why then call Tarrance, if you plaze.

Indeed, an indeed an I'll call no Tarrance, if you want Tarrance, why then call him yourself, I'll not be staying up in the cowl, killing my life this way so I won't.

Tarrance!—Tarrance!—Tarrance!

Cumming Sir.

Well then come away, an saith! I an you will go to work togeder, so we will, for by my sowl the shap will be the stillesht place in the house for me, for by St. Patrick, an I'd ra­ther hear the Coopers march, than the sound of my wife's tung the day,

Tarrance!—Tarrance!—

Cumming.

Augh! th [...]s oath—this day will be a bad night to me— Well the devil a hare I care—when I get the money she'll soon make it up wid me—fath I'll make her as grate as the Arle of [...]ortledown's own wife—Lady Barrymore shan't be finer than she!

why you tief of the wurld! if you don't cum down in a minute, I'll give you shelaley!—why, Tarrance!

I'm just here.

This fellow's enough to wurry the pashence of St. Igna­tius, or the holy Pope himself. Tarrance!— you devil you!

Shure I [...]m just here.

You tief of the wurld, what made you let me in when I tumpt!

Shure I cumm'd when I heard you cawl—

You lie you tief!

Shure if you cumm'd [Page 24] home in time we wou'dn't have all this bodtheration, so we wou'dn't.

Give us none of your gum, you spawlpene of perdition▪ —by my soul an I'll give you Shelaley.

O murder!—murder! master deer lave off, don't kill one.

Ar'n't you ashamed to be making a grate noise in the Alley this morning, killing the poor boy for notting?

Arra mistress dare speak till him—master dare lave off, for shure I was asleep, when I heard you cawl.

To the devil I pitch all liars—go to your work, you tief of the wurld, and if you don't make me five tight keggs the day (that will howl'd no water) I'll bate you as long as I am able and longer too.

SCENE III. A Room in Moll Placket's house.

What shall I do wid dese tings?—dad I'll put dem under de bed

but where's Mrs. Placket?—She'll be oberjoyed when I tell her,—dad I'll dress her off as fine as de Queen of Skebey, when she come to see brudder Solomon—she shall go to de play every night, wid a coach and two footmen to tend her

P [...]acket! Pet! Pet!

Pets a-coming—Pets a-coming▪ dear Cooney.

Buss me my dear, and I'll tell you someting, dat will make you happy.

What! is your wife dead? say—tell me—for I know that will make us both happy!

No, no—but its bery near so good—but you'll tell—

No, indeed, indeed and double deed—I won't my dear Cooney.

Well den—I'll not keep my dear Pet in suspense any longer— but you must buss me, when I say any ting dat ple [...]ses you.

Well! so I will▪ a hundred and a hundred times.

Well den—but you'll tell? If you do I'll neber forgib you.

Trust me dear Cooney—did I ever betray any of your secrets?

Why no pet—den I'll tell you. Mr. Hum has receib'd a letter from his sister-in law in England▪ wid an account of two or tree hunder'd tousand pound, and some oder tings, dat was buried by old Blackbeard de pirate wid de draft where it [...]s hid, and we know de berry spot—

and I'll gib you [...]e hunder'd a year for pin money

and we'll ride in de coach togedder

and we'll go to de play togedder

and den we'll come home and go to bed togedder

and den we'll— a you little rogue you,

And do you really think you'll find it?

Why yes, to be sure child; we know de berry spot!

Why if you knew where all the treasure in the world was buried, you'd never obtain it without a conjuror.

Yes my dear, but we hab a conjuror, weeb got Mr. Rattletrap, he understands 'strology and de magic-art, better den Doctor Foster, or any man in de gubberment, and dis night we intend to make de trial,—and I must go dis instant and settle de place of meeting.

And can you leave me so soon, my dear Cooney?

Bye, bye, Cooney. Good luck attend him, fo [...] my sake. Poor old fool! he thinks I have a prodigious fondnes [...] for him, and so I have for his better part—that's his money. He has been de­ficient in payment for some time past, and now tells me a cock and a bull story of hidden treasure, to amuse and deceive me— accompanied with a deluge of soft slobbering language, such as, his pet, his dove, his poor ting, and a thou [...]and such childish ex­pressions [Page 26] and I think I'm up with him, for I call him Cooney, cock-a-pidgeon▪ sugar-plumb, cock-a-dandy, and all the sweet things I can think of, and was any one to overhear us, they would think us two little children playing baby; and really we do l [...]ttle more. But thank fortune! I'm not at a loss for a friend to make up his deficiency, t [...]o' he thinks me as innocent as a dove: and indeed I'm like a do [...]e, in one respect; for when I lose ou [...] mate, I mourn till I get another—but I hope the worst is past.

SCENE IV. A Street.

Hey! Rattletrap, which way?

I've just return'd from the place of action. We go on gloriously! Quadrant and I must set out half an hour before the rest, to have all things in readiness—I've left Spitfire there and given him his proper cue.

Very good! What do you think? Ha! ha! I just now saw brother Raccoon, with a long catalogue of all his military achievements, both in Jamaica and on the Continent, together with a Treatise he wrote on Tactics, last war, for the instruction not only of our militia, but the regular officers likewise. The same he exhibited in the Coffee-house—you remember it—I cou'd scarcely refrain from laughing, while he was so earnest in explaining to me de hollow square, and de ebolutions, as he call'd 'em. He's gone in great haste, to lay 'em before the Governor, to procure his recommendation to the Secretary at War, for a Kurnel [...]'s Commission, as he term'd it. I find nothing less than a Regiment will satisfy him, which, he thinks his transcendant [Page 27] merit alone, entitles him to. But whether or not, he swears he'll make his gold subservient to his ambition, when he obtains it.

Bravo! I believe he will truly, when he obtains it. Ha! ha! ha!

I'm at a loss to guess how he'll bear up, under his dis­appointment. Nothing can equal his folly but his vanity. But I'm in hopes this experiment, this campaign will cure him.

No matter how much he's disappointed. I'm doubtful, fellows of his turn, are incapable of proper reflection.

True—but its a great pity for all. Well, remember we're all to m [...]et at the Tun, precisely at six.

We've but half an hour to spare. Adieu! Adieu?

SCENE V. A Taylor's shop.

Awa! awa! we ye a, awa, begane ye skoondrels, oo [...] o me hoose this meneete, or by St. Andra, Ize chap aff the heeds o ev'ry vullain o ye! oot ye vile scum, na gabble oot o yer heeds or Ize mak a sacrafeeze o ye a.

Na mare me h [...]ose sal be a [...]esaptacle for thie [...]es, ye preckloose cabbaging sins o hoores: thir thirte years Ize been a ser [...]an to ye a—Awa! awa Stay-tape, Bockrum, Moohare, Guze, Clips an a.

Na mare casion ha I for ye; noo Ize clared th [...] s [...]ap boord, the next thing is to clare the hall o its rubbage,

Ize fut up this room for the reception o Congress and gentlemen o the foorst ra [...]k,—then Ize gang till Bretain and buy a title, it sa [...] be na [...]thing less than Laird Chaumberlain, scorst Laird o t [...]e bed cha [...]mber, or meester o the wardrobe, then Ize be a g [...]de free [...] till America, an noo Ize eased me m [...]ne o the par­plax [...]ty o bu [...]ness,—noo for the gowd,—Ize gang and meet my com [...]any.

SCENE VI. A Room in Washball's house.

I can't conceive my dear Lucy, the meaning of your uncle's displeasure, his churlish behaviour for some days past, gives me great concern.

He never utter'd a s [...]llable to your disad [...]antage, till within these three days, during which, he has been perpetually dinning in my ears, that, provided I marry agreeably to his will, he'd give me ten thousand pounds for a portion! and further, declar'd, that if ever I spoke to you again, or kept your company, he'd disown me.

Strange!—but where's he to get the money?

The Lord knows! he's certainly bende himse [...]f, or, he cou'dn't entertain such preposterous ideas, he told me la [...] night, he intended shortly to sail for old Spain, and there get himself dubb'd a Knight of the Golden-fleece.

Unaccountable! why he must be out of his senses▪ or, he never cou'd talk so inconsistently, and to appoint tomorrow for the celebration of our nuptials, make the necessary prepara­tions, then of a sudden change his mind!—I cannot account for it.

I hope this humour will shortly change, then we shall bring matters to a conclusion: for it wou'd be much more a [...]reea­ble to me, with, than without his [...]nal consent.

Certainly! it wou'd be so to u [...] both; but fu [...]ther con­sent, or not, it must be done!

Our affair, is now carr'ed on too far for us to retract, wi [...]hout subjecting ourselves to the ridicule of the whole town; be [...]de, my dear Meanwell, you know a girl's character, under such circumstances, seldom escapes censure.

True my dear Lucy! the world's very censorious, and slander (like a snow-ball) always gathers by rolling, whatever malice can invent, or envy suggest, shall never lessen you in my esteem; I know your virtue and you know my honor! my love to you, is of the most pure and evangelical kind! it runs sponta­neously thro' my veins, like a "fountain of living water▪" 'Tis fixed irrevocably, firm as a rock, imposs [...]ble to be shaken, by the blasts of an universe of scandalous tongues!

Be assured my dearest Meanwell, your generous love, shall be repaid with virtue, tenderness, respect, and obedience, and could I possess the Ten thousand pounds, my uncle has shaddow'd out for me: I shou'd esteem it as so much dross.— 'Twou'd only serve to accelerate my misery without you!

Lord! here's my uncle!

Hey-d [...]y! here's fine doings indeed! you're a singing master, are you? how dare you enter my house, after I forbid you?—Eigh sirrah?

Sir, your niece—and—

And what?—sirrah!—what have you to do with my niece? out of my house, with your sole-fam-ela: you're a pretty fellow truly! to marry a girl of ten thousand pounds [Page 30] fortune, eigh! sole-fam ela indeed!—I suppose you intend to [...]eed her with wind and you're giving her a sample of it, eigh! ar'n't you fellow?

Sir, I beg—

Beg what?—I suffer no beggars in my house: begone you rascal!—get out of my house I say—what, do you want to rob me▪ and debauch my niece? eigh! out of my house or I'll break your head, sirrah!

Dear uncle, be patient!

Patient eigh? what, you want him to stay do you? hussey, get to your room! to your room this instant!

Get out of my house, you rascal!—away to your room baggage!—out of my house villain!

If ever I find you here again, you sole-fam-ela dog you, I'll send you to the work house, sirrah! ten thousand pounds eigh! to an upstart coxcomb, who hasn't so much as a coat of arms: Meanwell! mean enough, God knows! I'm sure, there's no such name to be found, in all the books of heraldry;—no, no! I'll match my niece to a nobleman, who can trace his genealogy as far back, as Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, Charles the Fat, or Pope Gregory Hil­debrand, and settle a good jointure on her equal to that I intend to give her. I'll away to Spain and get myself created a Knight of the Golden-fleece! then, I shall have a greater coat of arms, than any peer of Great Britain! I shall be then called Mr. Sir John Washball Esquire, Knight of the most noble order of the Golden-fleece! and then I'll seek out for some handsome noble blooded young virgin (if I can find one of that character, among that class of people, which I'm a little doubtful of these forni­cating times) with whom I'll light the hymeneal torch, at the connub [...]al altar: tho' I've past my octogenary years of age! what of that? Abra'm, Isaac, and Jacob, were forty times older than I and begat Sons and daughters innumerable and so may I! no­thing like trying—Oh! how I exult in the prospect, but stop▪ let me see; what if some young cicisbeo, shou'd Crim. Con. [...] [...]eg [...]d I [...]hou'dn't like that very well! but then, if he [Page 31] shou'd, I shall ha [...]e some consolation in knowing I can't help it and that I must do the same, [...]ince its become now a-days fash [...]ona­ble among the g [...]eat and that will be tit for tat, for a body, (as the saying is) may as well be out of the world as out of the fa [...]hion: He, he, he! egad. I'll e [...]en run the risque o [...] it: but I must away and meet my friends; the lucky hour appro [...]ches, when gold, diamonds and rubies, shall make their appearance, for, the dia­mond so fine, when lodg'd in the mine, to no purpose its bril­liance lies wasting.

SCENE I.

Who's there? walk in.

An how are you Mrs. Trowell?

Oh! my dear Mrs Trushoop, I'm rejoiced to see you, take a chair: I made bold to request the favour of your good company to take a dish of tea; you've become a great stranger of late.

Indeed an indeed, the whole wurld and every thing in it seems strange to me of late—all going to destruction.

Lord! how?—tell me—I have been very uneasy for some time past, thinking I might have unknowingly offended you: God knows my heart! we used to be as intimate as two lovers, and nothing wou'd give me half so much pleasure as a continuance of our old sweet intimacy.

Augh! an its all over with the like of that now.

The like of what? speak plain, have I offended you?

No, indeed an you hav'n't.

Then why do you absent yourself and look so dejected of late? what is the matter—tell me, do?

Matter enough God knows!

You astonish me!—you know I'm your friend, hide nothing from me; it may be I can serve you.

Impossible? say no more about it, I know your goodness.

What did this carpet cost you?

Pshaw! fifteen pounds—but pray tell me?

My worthless husband promised me one long ago, but poor devil vary soon an he'll not be able to buy a house­cloth to wipe the flure.

O! tell me what's the matter, I vow my heart bleeds for you.

I can't.

You can.

I mus'n't.

You must, you shall.

No, never.

I insist upon it! remember the many hours, we a [...]d our husbands have passed together, in social mirth and con­versation, in visiting, in card-parties, in going to plays, in sleigh­ing, and in tripping to Gray's Gardens, they calling each other brother, on account of their being Free-masons, and we in con­sequence of it calling each other sister.

Curse the name! that I fear is the source of all my sorrows.

What name, Sister?

No, indeed.

Brother.

No.

What then pray?

Free-mason.

Gracious goodness!—how?

Why now Mrs. Trowell, you force me to spake, when I don't want to spake. Why, Trushoop (an I'll say that for him) ever since we were man and wife, which is now two and twenty years, twelve months, an I think, thirty four days, kept good hours, till he got into that cursed club of Free-masons, an they have been the ruin of him, sowl an body! an my own self an family in the bargin, an we shall all in a little time be beggars!

I hope not! Lord don't say so! quite opposite [Page 33] principles they profess: you are certainly mistaken Mrs. Trus­hoop.

Profess:—Troth, but I'm not mistaken at all, at all.

Why, their principles are Charity, Brotherly-love and Cha [...]ity.

Hypocracy, drinking an hooring.

O fye! O fye! How? how?

Why, don't you see? They have larnt Trushoop to kape company, go to the lodge, naglact his buzness, and carry him away to the hoore-houses in [...]rish town, an about; s [...]aying out all night in the morning, [...]umping at the du [...]e an disturbing my [...]ast an all the nabours in the alley: why now an what signi [...]es tawking▪ sure an you heard him tump many an many a times, hav'n't you now, say?

I have so: but at the same time, I cannot bear to hear any refle [...]tions cast on the Free masons. They are a soc [...]ety of sober, virtuous gentlemen, well acquainted with Philosophy, Architecture, Morality, and the very quintesience of rel [...]gion.

Hoot! Hoot! you tawk vary [...]ne indeed—sure an yea know b [...]tter than all that Mrs. Trowell.

I know this, and its a truth, that ever since my husband has been a Free-mason, he has grown more sober, goes to church more frequently than he used to do, says his prayers, eve [...]y night and morning and never m [...]ses saying grace, before and a [...]er meals.

Augh! hoogh! but that is a devil of a reformation, sure enuff. By my con [...]hence now, an it's not so with Trushoop. The devil a prayer he prays, or grace, or goes to Church, [...] my thing like it. But what of all that? Fath an I've often heard your man of God t [...]mp at your own du [...]e an vary lately two, at [...] un [...]a [...]o [...]able hours.

I don [...]t de [...]y that Mrs. Trushoop, but yet the Free-mason [...] are not to blame.

By m [...] conshence! but they are, an I believe Trushoop an yo [...] s [...]int of a mason goes [...]geder. The devil a ba [...]el he better shad — I w [...]nd [...] [...]ow an how you can be to [...]?

Why I must confess, I was for some time very unea­sy and jealous like yourself, but I have learned patience and resig­nation, and considering that my husband continued to go to church and say his prayers and graces as usual—I thought, that possibly, I might be jealous without su [...]cient cause.

Shure! an he don't pray at night, only to be let in, in the morning, 'pon my sowl! now Mrs. Trowell, an you may tawk an tawk till you're as black as a nager, about his going to church, an prayers, an graces, an resignations, an pashences—I tell you now, an its all de [...]t—why now, an did you never hare of the Fillisten in the gospel, how he open'd his winde [...]s, to let the paple see him pray? an he was as grate a rascal, as ever tr [...]d shoe-lea [...]her! an a Free-mason too, I warrant the dog!—fath! an I won't be put off so—so I wou'dn't.

Lord! how you talk! Mrs.—

Tawk! aye [...]ath! an I towl'd Trushoop t'oder day, I wou'd know the tru [...]e—I razon'd with him▪ so I did,—I [...]az'd him—I [...]spostelated with him again an again—I rav'd—I rag'd—I [...]tampt—I [...]orm'd—I wow'd—I protasted—I swore (an [...]ath I curst him! God forgive me for cursing a brute [...]aast,) that he shou'd never [...]ut his futt in bed with me, (an God forgive me for taking such a rash othe) till he towl [...]d me the razon of his kaping such bad hours—an don't you think it, Mrs. Trowell? the devil a word I got out of him, at all at all—an he went over to the shap, and I went after, and I razon'd again an aga [...]n with him▪ till my poor hart was next dure to bursting,—an he ba [...]e the koopers march on the barrel, an made such a confounded noise all the time, an wou'dn't hare me spake a word, at all at all—so I was de [...]ilish mad▪ that I bate him with the tick end of the hoop-pole about twenty tumps—so I wou'dn't give him a toot-full to ate, an poor devil he has been starving for this week to cum, an by my conshence an he shall have none from me, so he shall—let him go eat with the hoores where he cum from.

O! gracious!—if ever I heard the like!—you cruel creature!—how cou'd you serve him so?

Cruel!—fath! an he ought to be sent to the Bastile, an Buttony-bay in the bargin.

Merciful father, how you talk!

Tawk indeed!

Well, thank God! I took a contrary method with my husband, and have succeeded to the utmost of my wishes having thereby discovered the mystery.

An what mistery? pray now?

So don't fret your husband, nor make yourself uneasy, any more; take my word for it, it will all—

All what, pray now?

Turn out for the better.

O Jasus! better! an better! may be it wou'd; if they'd leave off hooring.

Let 'em alone—let 'em go on in their own way.

Go on their own way! my conshence! to destruc­ [...]ion! spending their time, health an substance! do you call that "turn out for the better?" Lord! how you tawk!—I'm asham'd of you, indeed an I am Mrs. Trowell—you're strangely altered to what you was.

No, no, that is not the case, nor consequence.

I am shure but it is—shure an your out of your senses.

No, God forbid.

You must be near it.

I am not.

Fath are you; alse what do you mane by your mis­teries—an all for the better—fath, an its vary misterious sort of tawk, so it is.

Come, come, don't be angry—I'll tell you, and you'll be as well pleas'd with the happy discovery as I was, after suffering much anxiety of mind, and knowing the soft and loving temper of my husband, I wheedled, I coax'd, I fondled, I hugg'd, I squeez'd, I caress'd, and I kiss'd him, till I got the whole secret o [...] of him; tho' I confess, in some degree, I was obliged to act the Delilah, for you know a man of feeling and sensibility, cannot long withstand the solicitations of a woman he loves—they are all Sampsons, I assure you. In short, he unrid­dled the whole riddle to me, and if I had been so minded, I could have got the whole secret of Free-masonry out of him, but I des­pised [Page 36] taking that advantage of him, knowing he must have per­jur'd himself.

An what is it? pray let's hear you've been a long time about it.

Have a little patience▪ and I hea [...]tily congratu­late you, on our pleasing prospect of flowing in wealth, and not­withstanding your forebodings of poverty, it will turn out the happiest circumstance of our lives, enable us to live, not only in­dependent, but in a superlative s [...]ation.

My God! arn't you humbugging me now? Mrs. Trowell.

No indeed, I'm not capable of it.

An can you be sarious?

I am upon honour.

An how is this maricle to be roght? Oh! I shall faint.

Pshaw! never faint at good news—don't be so weak Mrs. Trushoop, keep a steady even temper.

Drink a little of this.

I hope you feel more compos'd Mrs. Trushoop?

Troth on I sale a good dale better—do give me another glass Mrs. Trowell, an that will compose me.

Augh! an I'm bravely now. But, pray go on, where you last off—don't kape me so long, or alse I shall faint again.

Resume your former chearfulness—banish jea­lousy and suspicion—keep your spirits up, "be not faithless, but believe." Well, now I'll tell you. Mr. Hunt and Mr. Quad­rant, both Free-masons, have a certain knowledge of a vast sum of money, and rich jewels, that was formerly hid by the pirates, and they meet every night at the Tun, to consult together and prepare themselves, to go one of these nights to dig it up—out of brotherly love to my husband an yours, an two or tree others, have communicated the secret in confidence to them, and they are to come in for equal shares, and this accounts for their staying out so late—the Tun is the bawdy-house they fre­quent, and now I hope Mrs. Trushoop, you will make yourself easy, and treat your husband with more humanity and kindness.

Troth! an I will—if its trute—but how will they find the plashe?

Why bless you!—by the virtue and power of masonry, and the knowledge of Mr. Rattle­trap, the conjurer; and they have got magic lanthorns, dark-lanthorns, spy-glasses, telescopes, compasses, qua­drants, spades, shovels, boring-augers, spits, and other implements, in great forwardness.

Good luck to 'em, an [...] blassings on ma­sons and masonary: an ten-thousand blassings on Rattletrap. Oh! my dare Trushoop, how ill I have trated you, my hart is vary sorry for it, but poor sowl! I'll come and make it up with you.

O no! not yet!—you shall stay tea first.

Not I, by my conshence, do you think now an I can sit azey here, an see him, poor sowl! starving at home?—not I indeed! I never cou'd, Mrs. Trowell.

Psha!—what nonsense! stay, do—tea is nearly ready.

No, indeed! an indeed! an I cannot. I'll go this instant, and make him a good dish of grane-tay at home, for poor sowl! he is starv'd to death already, and he may die with starvation, or the hyperphobe, for he's ate nutting but vater in my houshe for this two weeks to come, so he has.

Poh! p [...]h! what nonsense—do stay.

Not for the wurld! how hard-harted you are now.

You're always on the extremes—I'll send for him to drink tea with us.

No, No!—I want a little private tawk with him, I'll cum again to-morrow—Good bye, good bye.

Well, see you do. Good bye.

An unsteady woman! soon rais'd and [Page 38] soon depress'd. But I was short; I didn't caution her against giving any cause of suspicion of what is going on. I fear, she by her indiscretion may ruin the pro­ject, by blabbing it out, among the neighbours in [...]he alley, who are not very remarkable for taciturnity, any more than herself;—it would be a fata [...] discovery, and the blame all fall upon me.—I must see her direct­ly, and settle that point.

SCENE II. Scene opens and discovers RATTLETRAP, HUM, QUADRANT, RACCOON, BUCKRAM, TRUSHOOP, WASHBALL, and TROWELL, seated round a table, with wine, &c.

My old friend, Mr. Trushoop, how are you?

O hone a cree! O! my deer, at your sarvish— but I don't care how I am—so you are well.

Hah! hah!—I hope you're all well, gentle­men.

Come, Mr Parchment, sit down.

Are we all here, gentlemen?

Troth! an here's the hole- [...]ote of us, burds of a fedder flock togedder.

Then we'll proceed to business:—Well, gentlemen, every thing seems to go on prosper­ously, and bear a favourable aspect—I think my­myself happy, in not having disclosed this important secret, to any of the vain or profligate part of man­kind—but to you, gentlemen, who, by a long series of acquaintance, I've found to be men of the strictest honor and integrity; which leaves me no room to doubt, but that the treasure, we're now about to dis­cover and divide amongst us, will be so disposed of, as to render each of us useful members of society, and shining ornaments to the government under which we [...]ive.—It would grieve my heart to see any of you act [Page 39] inconsistent with the character of a man of piety and a gentlemen!

A [...]a! my deer, that's true for you!

Don't you [...]ee, that vary fine spache he made just now?—by my s [...]wl! an he's a jantelman of grate lar­nedness sath! an he is. I'll warrant him now, an he's got Egypt's fab [...]es all by heart, so he has.

He is certainly a man of great cogne­scence.

No sense?—fath! an he's got forty times more sense than you honey.

Hah!—hah! what a queer dog!

We tank brudder Hum, for his kind admoni­tions, what he says it tru [...]e▪ and springs from de be [...]y fountain of sense; and as my [...]alons lie in de milita [...]y; I intend to buy de reg'ment—den I'll show dem, what de 'mericans can do,

"Safe bind, safe find!"—ha! brudder H [...]m?—I ha [...] engag'd wid M [...]. Trappick, [...]nd hab it from under his own hand, for a bill of exchange for ten thousand pound at sixty-five, at de rate of twenty-eight shilling de pistole, and gold dust at six pound de ounce.

It's very commendable, brother Raccoon, you have, to be sure, an excellent idea of honour and trade.

And beside all dis brudder Hum—I will build at my own expence, a comfitable hospital, for de re­ception of de poor penitent female prostitute [...]—o [...]er­see dem myself, take care of de poor tings, and dey shall hab all I can gib dem.

What a libidinous old dog!—No doubt of it, brothe [...] Raccoon, it's highly meritorious! none so fit to endow and superintend so heaven-born an in­stitution! as yourself; even Solomon, in all his glory [Page 40] —with all his wisdom and experience in these matters, will be eclipsed by you;—excuse me, brother Rac­coon, I almost envy your happiness!—What Bashaw! Grand Signior! or Sultan! will be equal to you?— or what Seraglio on earth, comparable to yours?—It will be a Paradise in reality, and in perfection! far exceeding the imaginary paradise of Mahomet! Oh! happy, happy man! But as I wou'd by no means, pre­sume to direct one so well qualified and conversant in these delicate effeminate matters—yet, methinks, bro­ther Raccoon, were you also to erect a foundling hos­pital, it would reflect additional lustre on your cha­rity, fame, honor, and glory!

No, no! brudder Hum—I tink I hab done enough,—let Mr. Washball do dat.

No, no! I won't—I'll maintain no body's bastards but my own;—every body would laugh at me, and call me an old fool!—I'll not be pester'd with your brats, I warrant you!—I am far advanc'd in years, and have lost that sprightliness and activity, I possest in my youthful days.

No doubt of it, Mr. Washball, but you carry your age well.

Troth! an he does mon.

Aye, aye!—no matter—but I hope to do some good with my money too, I purpose to go to Spain— get myself made a Knight of the Golden-fleece—then to London, and marry my niece to a nobleman—I've no ambition, not I, but to be call'd Mr. Sir John Wash­ball, Esq. and have a coat of arms.

A night of the whupping-post, you mane—well, the devil a hare myself cares for a cote of arms, or, a cote of legs—by my sowl! but I'll buy myself a good pair of wusted stockings, lin'd wid silk ones; and my­self will bild a chappel, and help the poor preests, who [Page 41] havn't a tootful to put in their mouts.—Augh! how I will like to see the poor French emigrants bawling at me?—"Charité pour l'amour de Dieu!" An the devil a baggar shall lave my howshe, widout a hungry bally! let me alone for that! And when I wou'd be after dying,—surely they'll call me Shaint Patrick, ju­nior, and long life to you honey!

I applaud your pious resolutions, M [...]. Trus­hoop; your intentional charity and glorious designs, are certainly disinterested, and worthy of none but yourself!

The devil a word a lie in all that!

H [...]tory cannot produce men of more liberal, generous, philanthropic, humane, christian, charitable, and patriotic sentiments, so truly characteristic of yourselves! Your names, gentlemen, will be handed down with ec [...]at, to the remotest periods of eternity! —Temples—monuments—pillars—obelisks—statues—spires—bustos—and triumphal arches, will rise spon­taneously over each of your graves, like so many phoenixes out of their own ashes, and defy the efforts of envy or malice to destroy them!—Nay, should even the old gentleman, Time! himself, that pertinacious destroyer of bodies attempt it, he would find himself (perhaps, for the first time) woefully disappointed.

Arra! fath! would [...]e—that's true for you!

Depend upon it—volumes will swell in your praise—and I myself, (though vastly inferior to the task) will write an encomiastic on each of you, and have them printed in a folio-volume, neatly bound, gilt, and letter'd, as large as a church bible.

Do so, brudder Hum, we tank you for your kind intention.

None of that, fath! an I wou'dn't suffer Go­liah, [Page 42] nor Phin M'Cool himself, to comb my head wid a stick!

He! he! he! Surely you won't refuse the honor, Mr. Trushoop?

Fath! an there's no honor thereabouts, honey!

Hah! hah! hah! surprising [...]y humor­ous.

He is so excessively witty and comi­cal, tis almost impossible to do any business where he is.

Well, gentlemen,—have you seriously consi­dered what you're going about?—Our warfare is not with the men of this world, we have to engage with principalities and powers of darkness, with inv [...]sibles, dem [...]n [...], and hobgoblins; far more powerful than the united legions of the most invincible monarchs on earth: therefore, the utmost exertion of your courage and every nerve, will be absolutely and indispensibly necessary.

The thoughts of those infernals shocks me so, I can scarcely help trembling!

I tink I hab courage enough!—

Not the least shadow of a doubt, brother Rac­ [...]oon, you have ever been super-eminently distin­guished for your superior courage and military skill!

Aye, aye, you're a happy man! your courage is constitutional!

So it is—so it is—but for me—Oh dear! oh dear!

Hoot, mon! awa, awa! we a yere yealping, na mare o yere whigmeleeries!

Excellent indeed! that song has inspired me with a little courage.

I'm glad to hear it! I hope it will inspire us all, and have the same effect as the Marsellois'-hymn!

Well, are you all furnished with tools?

I provide de pick-axe, de spade, and de spit,— I left dem wid a friend, but I can soon get dem.

Now, gentlemen, let's fix on a watch-word, whereby we may know each other in the dark.

Right, Sir! the papers inform us, the trea­sure was carried up the creek, on board a canoe.

A very good watch-word! Mr. Parchment.

Then let it be canoe! as it has a reference to the concealment of the treasure.

Be it so—I like the word well.

Troth! Ize na objection, sae we con under­stond ane anither.

I like the word, it has a soft sound, and rea­dily conveyed.

The devil a hare mysalf ca [...] how it is, or what it is, canoe! or bote! [...] the money!

An excellent song 'pon my soul! well com­pos'd and well sung!

And well tim'd too! he! he! he!—Is it one of your own composition, Mr. Trushoop?

Why you devil you!—do you tink now, an I'd sing any body's songs but my own!—by my sowl! now, an I'll chalenge the whole college of Dublin it's self, to fellow me the like of it!

Ha! ha! ha!

Hah! ha! ha!—a queer dog! an ec­centric genius!—Well, gentlemen▪ at eleven o'clock we're to meet at the stone-bridge, near the mill;—it will not be prudent to go altogether, lest we be dis­cover'd; whoever arrives there first, let him wait for the rest, and as they approach they must hail with the watch-word, canoe!—those within must answer with the same word; by observing this, we shall prevent mistakes and discovery.

Aye!—aye! the utmost care and circumspec­tion are necessary, we can't be too cautious; the ob­ject we are pursuing is equal to one whole year's re­venue of the United States!

Fath! and I'll hollow canew! an canew! all night long in the morning, if you plaze.

Unless you're determined to follow implicitly my directions, when we come to action, 'twill be in vain to proceed.

I'll do nothing but what you order, Mr. Rat­tletrap, indeed I won't! the spirits won't hurt us, I hope?

Don't be afraid—take no rash steps—follow my directions, and not a hair of your heads shall be injured! Now, gentlemen, 'tis time to close, 'tis need­less to say any more, now the plan's settled. Remem­ber eleven o'clock, at the stone-bridge, each of you repair home, and bring all your tools with you, we'll break up for the present, I'll away home, and put on my magic habit—otherwise, I shall have no power over the invisibles!

I'll go and get de tools, and bring a little re­freshment wid me.

Fath! an I'll fatch my gauging-rod, an all the tools in the shop, if you want um, becaze why—I'll have no 'casion to uze um after this, honey!

Ize feetch my Andra we me, an then Ize fece the deel hims [...]! [...] he appear.

And I'll bring [...]he instruments with me, they are all in excellent order, and well prepared.

Now gentlemen, l [...]t's go with good hearts, there's nothing like putting a good face on these mat­ters. If you'll bear chorus, I'll sing you a song before we set off. Come, fill your glasses.

With all my hear [...]!

SCENE III. A Room in Trushoop's House.

Dolly!—Dolly!—

Ma'am!

Come hither, girl!—quick! quick!

Coming, Ma'am.—

What the deuce i [...] the matter now?—sure the house is on fire!

Why Doll Sword [...] I say—

Here, ma'am.

How [...]ong you stay, hussey?—a body must split their troats afore you cum—go your ways, an put on the tay-kittel, quick! make haste girl! do you hare?

Yes ma'am—

—Is that all?

How she stands?—Gaping—I seem in a flutter—my heart fales as light as a fedder,—I don't know what ales me—poor Trushoop! an I wonder what he'll think, when I tell him all poor devi [...]! an why didn't he tell me himself then? an I shou'dn't have scowlded him, an bate him, an starved him so; but sure, an its his own fault, but I'll soon make it up with him, Dolly! I say.

Ma'am!

Does the kittle bile?—you're a plagey while about it.

Just now, ma'am.

Plague on yourse'f! you're in a devil of a hurry, I think!—won't give one time to blow the fire, and just come from stuffing her­self at Mrs. Trowell's, and not satisfied; I'll warrant her, she's drank twenty dishes of tea, and eat half a cord of toast and butter!—I hate such gormandizing devils!

It seems ev'ry minnet was an hour with me, I fale vary comical—well, it will be over bye an bye, an fath! an I'll have a better carpet than Mrs. Trowell's, an all these ould fashion chairs, an tables, an luckin-glasses.—I'll pack to the vandue, an I'll buy good Moll-Hoggeny ones—plate, china, an ev'ry thing alse, shall be of the newest taste an highest cut, an why shou'dn't it? sure an I can afford it now? Augh! an good luck to 'um, I say.—Dolly, now an what are you about?

Blowing the sire, ma'am.

What the devil do you think?

Why now! an how long will you blow it?

'Till it boils, ma'am.—

To be sure.

Why don't you cum then you pokeing toad you!

Coming Ma'am.

I believe in my soul! she's got the influenza, or the ravenous fever, or some­thing!

Well, an that self same Mrs. Trowell, is a Jewel of a woman,—what pashence she has; an I wish I had half so much; but fath! an I never will— An why don't you come, you stomakin, with the tay-kittel? bring it along, I say!

Yes, ma'am! I'm coming.

Curse the kettle, it will never boil, I can't make it boil for my soul! smoaking my eyes out, and be bother'd so, I swear! I'll plague myself no longer about it, she shall have it as it is, boil or not boil, the devil a bit I care!

Well cum away then, you pokeing toad you!

O! hold your jaw! you brimstone devil!—Coming ma'am!

An did it bile now?

Yes, ma'am, over and over again.

Curse you, an what made you so long then?

To make it boil well, ma'am.

Set it down, how you stand gaping? an go your ways over to the shap, and give my compli­sance to your master, an tell him to cum over, I want to spake till him immediately, while I make a bowl of punch, your master loves punch;

an fath! an I don't like it vary badly nather. Pull up, my girl!

Yes, ma'am.

Hitey titey, and what's all this going on? some fun, I believe in my soul! Hah! hah! hah!—Oh! goodee, goodee oh! we shall see presently.

Well indeed! an I believe it's true enuff, an I have dram't it, or read it in some ould alminac somewhere, that "there is great joy over one sinner that rapanteth." Troth! an I'm shure an I rapant of of starving him so, an poor Trushoop will have grate joy now, when he knows what I'm going about to do for him, poor sowl! an he must be vary hungry, so he must, not a drop has he ate in my houshe, this six days to cum, an indeed, an indeed, he is one of the best hus­bands I ever see!

SCENE IV. A Room in Moll Placket's House.

What cheer, Moll? let's taste your head,

How stands the wind? is the coast clear? no danger of the enemy?

No, no, he has no certain time of coming, except after church on Sundays; and then he never fails, if the old fellow succeeds in this night's enter­prise, I'll make your fortune for you, my boy!

Why! what the devil has Raccoon spied now? is there a galloon in chase? or, is he going to turn pirate?

No, no, but he may thank the pirates for it!

How, how Moll? tell me, you little dear dog you,

I tell you indeed!—a body wou'd—well, can you keep a secret then?

Aye! can I, as snug as a Free-mason; If ever I blow you, blast me! you know me better: If one word goes through my head rails, the devil blow me to Halifax, or Botany-Bay.—Aye Moll! the next hur­ricane blow me off the main-top-gallant-yard! three leagues astern, and be swallow'd up like Jonathan swallow'd the whale! That's enough! and now I'll kiss the book on it.

Well, come, I'll te [...]l you—You must know, that Mr. Hum has got a letter, and a heap of papers, from his sister-in-law in England, giving an acco [...]n [...], where there's a vast deal of money, that was for­merly buried by the pirates!

Money! buried by the pirates? the [...]evil!— aye Moll, that's true! I've often heard that Black­beard hid his money, somewhere by the river's side; but how the devil came she by the papers?

Why you fool!—she's Captain Blackbeard's great-grand-daughter, and they were preserved in the family till they were sent to Mr. Hum, and you know Raccoon is a Free-mason too, so he is to assist him, and they are to go shares.

But how do you know that Hum's a Free-mason?

Why he told me so, and they always call one another brother, and they keep this business as secret as their masonry, but I wheedled Raccoon out of it, in spite of all his cunning.

By heav'ns! I shou'dn't like him on board the Europa!—he'd make a damn'd fist in the Killecranky trade—he'd throw out a signal, and the custom-house officers wou'd soon bear down on us—away goes ship and cargo by the mast—by the Lord Harry, he'd soon make beggars of my owners—But tell us, Moll, how the devil did you pump it out of him?

That's none of your business, sauce-box— women like me, have always a lure to catch the men's secrets!

True Moll—but we'll talk further on this sub­ject another time, this sort of chit-chat keeps us at long shot, let's step into the state-room, you know the old saying, "Time and tide waits for no one."

Softly!—don't be too hasty, let's make the door fast first.

Though I love your [Page 51] little finger better than Raccoon's whole body; yet I must keep in with him.

Aye! that's true Moll—I should be loth to quarrel with an owner, because he did not understand navigation!

You know he maintains me, (after some sort) finds me a house to live in, fathers all my children, and a husband can do no more.

Right, Moll! now we're all snug, the hatches all secur'd.

Come Moll, now I'll try what the clues of your hammock are made of.

Zounds! what's this? the devil has ow'd me a spite this long time, and now he has brought the ene­my upon me, now I'm land lock'd!

Who's there?—who's there?

It's only me, my liddle dear pet— open de door.

Oh! curse his head!—Pet's a com­ing! Pet's a coming, dear Cooney!

Where the devil shall I stow myself? by the Lord Harry!—there's no dropping astern here.

Creep under the bed, and your as safe as a thief in a synagogue!

Aye, Moll! down the fore-s [...]uttle, or, any port in a storm, damme!

What brings my dear Cooney back so soon? no misfortune, I hope.

No, no; no misfortune, only I left sum tings under de bed.

Curse your contrivance, now I'm blown. What things, my dear Cooney, did you leave there?

Oh! invention! thou darling genius of my sex, assist me, or I'm ruin'd!

Nutting, my dear pet, but de spade, de pick-axe, and de spit. But, what makes you look so sup­pris'd! child?

Why, I was afraid you'd catch me, and indeed you had like to have done so,

He! he! he!

Seech what? seech how? What de debil do you mean by seech? Dad! I begin to tink it isn't all lies dat I hear about you, Mrs. Placket, tell me this instant who you hab wid you, or I'll shake you like de debil!

What [...] [...]ebil, you tink to impose upon me, wid you he! he! he! I'll know de trute afore I done, hussey!

Oh! my dear Cooney!—do let me go, and I'll tell you the truth—indeed I will.

Oh! the brimstone whore!—I wish I was on board the Europa!

Well, come den—confine youself to de tru [...]e, hussey!

By the Lord Harry! the storm ga­thers, we shall have foul weather soon—I must bowse taught my rolling tackles!

Lord Sir! I'm afraid to tell you—you look so angry—I'll tell you in the morning, when your passion's over.

I'll know it instantly, you vile strumpet you— or I'll shake you to atoms.

It comes thicker and faster,—here's a damn'd stink of bildge water along-side.

I'll tell you all—if you'll let me go.

Tell den hussey! dis minnet!

Ava [...]! there—belay that, I must out tomkins, and prepare for a broadside—damme.

Look at this book.

No nea [...]! steady there!

What of dat?—why it's High Dutch.

Can't you read it?

No—not I.

I'm glad of it!—Why then, you must know▪ when I was about fifteen years of age, I lived at Germantown with my uncle, a high German Doctor, who could tell fortunes, find stolen goods, discover hidden treasure, lay spirits, and raise the devil. And his whole art is contained in this little book.

By the Lord! she steers well thro' the breaker [...] I was dam'd afraid she had sprung a leak, he pump'd her so hellishly!

You don't say so, pet?

But I do!—you shall hear—I'd just taken the book in my hand, and raised a familiar spirit, to enquire of him if you'd succeed in your undertaking, and he had just risen thro' the floor, when you knock'd at the door.

I declare you supprise me! let me get de tings, and I'll go.

You must not yet, 'tis as much as your life is worth, to touch any thing before I have laid him.

By my soul! she acts her part well; she'd out-face truth, and out-brazen the devil! a girl after my own heart, damme.

Can you lay him den?—my dear pet.

Why yes!—I've rais'd and laid five hundred in my time.

That's true enough, my girl! but I'll secure the spit for fear of the worst.

Oh! my dear pet, do lay him den.

Have you courage enough to see him, dear Cooney?

No, no, no, no!—dear pet.

But there no avoiding it now, you'll see him only in part.

Oh! oh! oh!

I bish he was gone!

Stand you here; don't stir an inch, bend your head a little that way, you may shut your eyes—he's visible, but don't be afraid, he shan't hurt you.

Dunder unt vetter schleemer hoont, ein blixum kindt, ri [...]um tenealis amissee.

Mercy on me, here am I? Oh! oh!

Get up, dear Cooney!—did you see him?— you an't hurt I hope, my dear?—let me help you up.

don't be frighten'd, he'll trouble you no more, he's a thousand leagues off by this time.

Oh! my dear pet! I—I—I nebber was so frighten'd in all my life! is he gone?

Aye, far enough—didn't you see him go?

I hab de glimp of him as he goed by, I tought he did carry away de corner of de house wid him. Oh! oh!

Drink this, dear Cooney, and you'll soon recover your spirits.

Oh! I was'nt not afraid, a—a—only—

Courage man!—you'll see ten times more before morning!

I tink he look like de sailor.

Yes!—why he's the apparition of one of Blackbeard's crew, and as a confirmation that you'll obtain the treasure, he threw, that spit on the floor as he went off.

Why dis is de berry spit dat I put under de bed!

So much the better, it was a signal to be gone.

Well, I get de pick-ax and de spade, and den I'll go, but I must have dis liddle book to show Mr. Rattletrap.

No, no—it's high Dutch, he can't read it.

Now one buss, my dear pet, and den—

Well,—it's an old saying, and I think a true one:—When poverty comes [...] the door, love flies out at the window. Really I have experienced the truth of it lately, and hadn't it been for Topinlift, and a few transient friends, I shou'd have been in a poor situa­tion; for I'm sure Raccoon's nothing belonging to him that can please me but his money, and I see very little of that. He p [...]omises mountains of gold! [...]ut I fancy he'll be deceived as well as myself! I'll trust no longer to bare promises, when a woman finds herself deceived, and deprived of most of the comforts of life, she has it always in her power, and she must be a fool, if she don't take her revenge in a way the most pleas­ing to herself.

But hang this disappointmen [...]!

SCENE V. A Room at Mrs. Trushoop's.

Here he cums!—poor sowl!—how magre he looks! I vow to St. Patrick! an I pity him!

And was you after wanting me, my deer?

To be sure an I was, honey, an hares to you my jewel, and sussex to your undertakins, dare!

I thank you kindly, my deer!—but I don't know what you mane!

Never mind! drink hearty!

Take anudder pull at it, dare!

Shure! an it's vary good punch.

By my sowl!—and it is so, it drinks for all the world like nectar-ambrosial! so it does.

Cum give me one of your swate ould fa­shion kisses, dare!

troth, an it seems like ould times now, just for all the wurld—let me take off your apern, honey, for shure an you'll have no more 'casion for it after this.

Why now, deer!—an what do you mane?

Never mind, sit down, honey! sure an you must be vary hungry?

Indeed, and I am so!

Poor sowl!—Dolly cum hither child.

Here! ma'am.

Here, my good child, take the kays an the big market basket, an go your ways an open the pantry, an fetch up them two cowl roast ducks.—

Yes, ma'am!

An the capers—

Yes, ma'am!

An the anchobies, an the gammon—

Yes, ma'am!

By my sowl! this looks well on our side!

Come hither girl! an your going without half your arrant; an the packeld sammon, an the horse-raddish, an the cowl roast-beef—

Yes, ma'am.

Augh hoogh! better and better.

Stop girl! I say—don't be in such a hurry, an the kagg of lobsters, the packeld iceters, an the swate-oyl, you know your maaster loves oyl, an it's vary haling to the belly.—

Yes, ma'am—any thing else?

Why yes, hussey! the jarr of olives— the Chaster chaze—the nates-tung, the sous'd rock, the potted pigeons, the apple-pie, the cowl potatoes, the whaskey-jugg, an a hunder'd things more, but do tha [...] first.

Why ma'am! this big basket won't hold the half of them!

Why then, go an fatch the t'other big bas­ket, you fool you! have you no contraption?

Hah! hah! hah! Well, I wonder what all this means? for this week past she's been starving him, and now she's going to cram him like a stuff'd turkey! I believe in my con­science, she's light-headed!

Blassings on you, deer! but you're too good. Why now, when you are good, why then you are too good!

No indeed! an indeed! an I an't, I can't be good enuff—fath! an you desarve it all an more too.—Shall I send for some sassages an aggs? an will [Page 59] you have a nice spare-rib broyl'd, with some apple sauce, honey?

No fath, deer! I think in my conshence and heres enuff! why now, if I was an allephant, I cou'dn't ate the half of it? so I cou'd!

Shure, but you must be vary hungry?

Fath! an I am so and more too, but I musn't make a beast of myself for all that! you know, deer!

An have you forgot ev'ry thing, girl?

Yes, ma'am.

Why then fatch them in the parler, an lay the damask table cloth on the big table girl, an set i [...] off han'some an nate, your maaster shall sup in the parler, so he shall; an when your done all that, why, go your ways presently, (not just now) an warm my bed vary well, an sprad the curtins, do you hare, I say?

Yes, ma'am.

Indeed, my deer! and I'm vary sorry, you give yourself a grate dale of trubble for me!

No, ind [...]ed honey, an I do not!—an you know I was always plaz'd to see you ate harty.

Yes, my deer—but I forgot it lately!

Well! never mind it dare, I wish you good luck in your undertakins.

I thank you my deer,—but what wou'd you be after now?

Augh, fath!—the trazure, to be shure!

What trazure?

Cum—cum, don't think to kape it a sacre [...] from me—shure an I know all about it now!

About what pray?

Hav'n't I towld you now?

By my sowl! and we're all ruin'd▪ some traytor has blow'd us! Some nonsense in your head.

Fath! an it isn't nonsense though—shure an Mrs. Trowell towld me all about it—as how you are going to dig for trazure, an a graite dale more—

And how does Mrs. Trowell know?

Fath! an vary well, shure an Trowell towld her all about it.

Augh! the book-sworn? oath-breaking dog! oh! the traito [...]! oh! the Judas! Augh! and Trowell and you must do gra [...]t p [...]n [...]ance for all this. Well, thank God! and I'm not book-sworn!

No, my dare, no more you arn't; cum, never mind honey, let's go into supper.

I'll follow, deer.

Augh! the s [...]ubber-degullion dog!

SCENE VI. A Room.

Oh! Terrance—I'm glad you're come! he! he! he!

I suppose so! you want me to fatch a bucket of vater, an then kiss you? don't you? say?

No faith! I don't—but here's the devil to pay! he! he! you never saw the like in all your born days!

What?—what the devil is it?—

Why you must go and fetch the priest! he! he! master and mistress has made it up, and they're going to be married over again!

Hoot! the girl tawks like a fool!

No faith! I don't, the wedding supper's on the table, and she's going to make him eat our two great big market baskets full, all up at once, and faith! I don't know but the baskets in the bargain he! he!

By my sowl! Dolly but I believe your'e crazy! —or

No, I an't!—you fool!—but you can't think, how kind she has been to him, kissing and slobbering his chops about, like all the world—and the Lord? knows what, and treating him with punch—but I watch'd her, and she took care to have the largest share to herself.

Fath!—but I believe an you had a large share too, by your tawk.

No—the devil a drop I got of it!

Then your'e humbugging me, arn't you now Dolly?

No, I an't 'pon honor!—only peep thro' the key-hole, and see what an elegant variety there is, for the wedding supper!

Hoot you fool!

Peep thro' here!—can't you?

Oh! Jasus!—a grate faste by my sowl! —shure enuff!—why there's enuff for the howl Kon­grass!—an nobody to ate it! the divil burn me!—but I'll have sum of it!—if they don't ate it all! but what the divil's all this for? say Dolly?

The Lord above knows!—I swear! I don't, no more than a horse!—if I did, I would tell you in­deed, Terrance.—We shall know more about it to­morrow, I think.

The forerunner of anudder dam'd quarrel!

The devil may care for me!

An me too—but sure Dolly, an you can tell us a little more, about the maning of it?

No faith! I can't—only mistress went over the way this evening, to drink tea with Mrs. Trowell, and presently after, she came running home, quite out of breath, and bawl'd out, like a mad cow, bawling for her calf!—Dolly!—Dolly! three or four times, [Page 62] (I thought the house had been on fire!—or some de­velish thing, or, other) and ordered me to put on the tea-kettle, in all haste—and Oh! how she bothered me, she wanted it to boil, before the fire was made,— Lord! how vex'd I was—I could have cut her throat! —"does it boil?—does it boil?—make haste girl!— how long you stay?—what are you poking about?"—

and called me baggage, and trollop, and a hundred bad names, you never heard such a Bil­lingsgate!—I never was so cursedly vext, and blind­ed with smoke, in all my life,—and was obliged at last to bring in the tea-kettle as it was, and the devil a boil it boil'd, no more than when I first put it on the fire—so I don't care!

An serve her rite too—the owl'd Jazzebel!

But the beauty of it was, Terrance,—she made me take the two big market baskets, and go down into the cellar, and fetch up every thing there, for master to eat and drink, (faith! I almost broke my back with them, they were so heavy)—and call him out of the shop?—Oh! you never see such a fid­getting as she made!—

I'll warrant the Brimstone made noyse enuff! fath! an she's no slouch at that! let's have anudder peep at um—Augh hoogh! an how he tares away at the roast ducks?

I don't at all wonder at it—he's almost starv'd!

By my sowl!—but this is a queer sort of a re­velushin—there's something brewing, Dolly! take my word for it, but what are you after wid the wharming-pan?

Why you fool!—what do you think, when people's married? why they're going to bed together after supper, and she ordered me to warm it.

Worse an worse—by my sowl!—but there'll be a grate earthquake to-night! I expact—but you slut you, why you hav'n't been up yet to warm it, an the pans quite cowl'd.

Faith! I don't care! then let 'em lye the closer, and warm it themselves.

Hah! hah! hah!—

Oh! gracious—they're coming to bed!—Run Terrance! don't let 'em see you for all the world!— hide yourself in the cow-stable, and when they're gone to bed, we'll partake of the wedding feast.

That's rite Dolly—I'm divilish hungry and dry too!

I wont forget you, fly you devil!—fly! they are here.

An have you now, warm'd the bed well girl?

Yes ma'am, very well.

And sprad the Kurtins?

Yes ma'am.

Then go your ways, an clare the table, an put out the fire, and lock the dure, an go your ways bed.

Yes ma'am.

Where's Terrance?

Gone to bed ma'am.

How long first?

Two hours ago ma'am.

How cum that?

He said he was sleepy ma'am.

Vary well, go your ways.

Yes ma'am,

blatherum, lolling out her tongue and

SCENE I. The place of action, n [...]ar the Mill and Stone-bridge.

Well done Spitfire! the hole I see is made.

Yes—yes—I've not been idle, since you left me.

He's the very plan of a fellow!

Not his fellow to be found—He has per­formed wonders!—But we must lose no time,

'tis near eleven o'clock.

Come! come! let's bury it at once.

Now we've nothing more to do, at present, than to see you descend into your subterranity —step down!—step down! and mind when I give the signal, throw fire-balls, and when they come to a sight of the chest, push up the figure, and act as I have be­fore directed you—Now be sure you act the devil, as if you were going to deceive the devil himself, and we'll reward you devilishly well.

And the devil take me if I don't!

Now every thing is ready to receive them, and if our devil plays his part well—I think, we shall have a devilish merry night of it. He! he! he!—egad here's some of 'em coming!

Where are the mud-mongers?

They're just at hand, we heard them, as we came down the hill.

I tore my shins unaccountably, coming thro' the briers!

Fath! and I tumbled up the hill, 'till I got my futt in the boggs, and if I hadn't held fast by the vater, I'd be drown'd.

Hah! Hah! he! he!

Don't mind, gentlemen, what is de tore skin, or de cold foot, compar'd wid de prospect of dese riches?

By me saul! mon—and I chearg'd mesel we twa bottles to Ieeghten me nawse, and thats a bonny guede in a dark neeght, and for fear o meeting we ony skoondrels, Ize feetch'd me Andra we me, as gude stuff as e're wa made in a scoteland!

Well gentlemen, I see we're all here, don't let us waste time, let's be serious; keep silence! by the calculation I made this morning, by the Satellites, the treasure must be near this place,

the magnet works this way —

I tought so.

Lave off your botheration!

Pray be silent! it draws excessive strong this way. I feel myself interrupted by in visibles! I can scarcely keep the rod in my hands, there! now I have it! it draws this way!

Dis is de berry place, gentlemen!

And can't you now be azey, and howl'd your tung? you fool! you know nothing about it.

Oh! dear! what interruptions?

Not a word! not a word! pray be silent! I'm near the place, the rod points to this spot—I'm near the centre, I know the rod to be true, I've tried its virtue, 'twas cut on All-hallows eve, at 12 o'clock at night, with my back to the moon, and the mercury injected while the sap was running.

By the holy stone! but I believe, he was born in the moon!

Dia­paculum interrav [...], tenebrossitas stravaganza!

Aries, Taurus, Germini, Can­cer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagitarius, Capriconi­us, Aquarius, Pisces, make no noise else you'll dis­turb Jupiter, who is the most wakeful planet, and is now in his first sleep.

Let me see! its now 12 o'clock, Jupiter in a sound sleep, a good omen!

Take off your coats and jackets,

now stand within the cir­ [...]le,

now keep a good look out, Canoe's the word, so don't forget it.

The devil a forget, myself will forget! fath! and I will sooner forget my prayers!

Now run down the spit and try this place—Mr. Washball.

Oh dear! it's very soft and slushey.

Never mind! the better digging,—try it again, I k [...]w its the identical spot!

Softer and softer, I feel it! I feel it! it strikes against something!

Then fall too all hands, and dig, and when the watch-word is given, fall flat on the ground.

now the Dragons head and the Scor­pion's tail are in conjunction. Castor's in the wane, Procyon is stationary, but Sagitarius seems obnubilat­ed, and fast approaching to a state of obtenebration! hah! I don't like that! it rather looks inauspicious and portentous of ill!—but Syrius's right foot—

Canoe!

Inferno atum, gastro fagnum!—Rise and go on! 'twas nothing but a blind drunken fidler, and some company returning from Batchelors-hall.

By my sowl! now, and I've made a swate packle of my self, all over full of mud! Augh! and I had the spawlpene here an I'd give him two or three handfulls of bothers wid my shelaley, so I wou'd'nt.

Deel tak me mon! but I dinna leke this, 'tis a foul drumlie pleece, gin I a wa we him, I'ze claw the tyke a wee bit, and brok his damn'd feedle!

Ah me!

Not a word gentlemen! proceed,

but Syrius's right foot, over Orion's left shoulder, looks well, and the Swan's tail near the Hydra's heart, has a promising appearance.

Don't stir an inch! if you break the mounds, I've no power!—dig! dig! Conjabetima, morentium habavo, omnibusque contubernalium! and this leap-year is not unfavora­ble.

Augh! how my hart bates!

Come near Mr. Rattletrap! Oh! dear! Oh! dear! I shall faint!

I'd give all my share, I had never come! mercy on me!

Oh! Oh!—I wish I was at home, I nebber wou'd come again!

Hoot! canna ye a be queeit?

Never fear! I'll protect you!—Hobonos cum verigos, omne croxibus influvientum! dig! dig!

but yet certain appearances, puts me to a stand, baffles my utmost skill, and indicates an in­fernal opposition! I'll try my Omphaloptic glass. Aye! now I discover the cause of the opposition! I now distinctly perceive, thro' a boundless radiant ap­perture, the tail of a huge Comet! like a monstrous, overgrown ram-cat, with his hind legs, kicking and scratching the Planets and Stars about, as tho' they were marbles or snow-balls! strange Phenomenon! a glorious opportunity this would be, for a young divine, to study Astro-Theology! one peep thro' this, would instantaneously and eternally silence, the whole host of sceptics!

Canoe!

Metantaborabulum, exultissimo ocabulum mongrabo! Rise! it was nothing but an old cow passing along! go on!

Damn the Hawkie for a dorty beech! wha the deel does she want here? does she tak us for Bulls an be damn'd to her?

Arra deer! and how my wife will scowld, when I fatch her the money, for spileing my new brogues.

Sagitarius is now clear, and the Orb of the [Page 69] Moon, is in contact with Jupiter, good! Sextile in con­junction with Quartile right!

Sa­turn is a metallic planet, and tho' in common the most dull, is now perfectly pellucid, and out shines even Venus herself! this is the best sign of all!

Oh! dear! Oh dear!

Oh! Oh! Oh!—what shall I do?

Defend us! defend us!—Mr. Rattletrap!— Oh!—

These invisibles will disturb you awhile, now your just upon it. Conjunction, oppositorium, placabulum fomoso!—dig away! Arcturus now appears, Constel­latione planetarium! Venus is now the morning star, and is eclipsed four digits.

Now their rage in­creases! we'er near the treasure, don't be afraid, I am with you, their fiery darts will soon be over, dig! dig! Cummeritantibus considerationibus, terrabandum op­hagnum!

Oh!—Oh!—Oh!—

Quut mon! quut! wha the deel cares for em, dig mon! dig!

Oh!—Oh!—what will become of us?

Stick to it!—Stick to it!

These noc­turnal observations, sometimes deceive the brightest astronomers! the whole planetary system now changes and appears to have a centrifugal motion—now whirls within a huge vortex, with a velocity, beyond the pow­er of mathematics to calculate, now orbicular! now circumvolves! and Georgium Sidus, forms an obtuse angle, whose Hypothenuse seems offuscated, or eclips­ed by the horns of the Moon, and whose perpendicular is geocentric with our earth! these appearances are new to me—beyond my Talismanic powers to com­prehend! preternatural! utterly un [...]cogitable! In [Page 70] short, I have never experienced such a rare Synchro­nism, since I have had any knowledge of the Occult sciences! however I now perceive a ray of hope! Hic­cius Doccius! now Cassiopaea and the Bears-tail, are on the meridian! excessive lucky!

He performs to admiration!

Incomparably well, by Jupiter! He! he! he!

Mercy on me! I shall faint—Oh! oh!

Haud up mon!

O my poor ting, I wish I had stay'd wid you!

I tremble every joint of me. O Lord! oh!

Fath! and my knees tump togedder, like a pare of pot-hooks, but I won't tell um for all that.

Gentlemen!—summon up all your courage! —don't be pusillanimous! dig! dig!—the enemy's fire is nearly exhausted!—Tincturum, corrosivum, subli­matum!

Come let's drink while the fools are digging. He! he! he!

Poisonous exhalations rise from this de­vilish swamp! I'm afraid old Washball will get the Cholera-morbus. He! he! he!

I'm rather of opinion he'll get the Perip-no-money. Ha! ha!

By the Lord Harry! that's well said! I'm entirely of your opinion—no money. Ha! ha! ha!

Every thing now looks well! fine appearances! Spica, south eleven degrees fifty eight minutes, good! to-morrow is Sexagesima sunday, good! Lyra, south, sets nine minutes after one this morning, good! the horns of the moon in Apogee, good! Bull's-eye rises, good again! Venus rises, very good! she sets S. West obliquely towards the mines of Mexico and Peru, ex­cellent! [Page 71] In short! the macrocosm of the whole visi­ble system of nature, are strongly in our favor! a cer­tain sign of success! occidental! occidental! glori­ous!

By St. Patrick! but I swatt swately!— by my sowl! now but its harder work than digging pa­rat [...]es!

Only see how it drops off me! I wish it was all over.

It's good for your helt, you devil you. Fath! and I would be very sorry, but I had one good drink of whiskey just now my deer.

Have a little patience! the bull's eye is this moment stationary and opacous! it would prove fatal to drink now! it would most assuredly bring on the Hydrophobia! dig! dig! before the eclipse comes on! our success altogether depends upon your industry, one second of time now well employ'd, is worth a whole year! go on! go on! redouble your vigilance!

Let's give 'em another tumble in the mud.

With all my heart,—he! he! —Canoe!

Facinorum, muddum, dashum, splashum. Rise and go on! it was nothing but a distant barking of dogs.

Oh dear! I can't support it any longer! it will kill me! indeed it will! these cursed dog days are co­ming fast upon us!

By my sowl and you're right—fath an they bark all night long in our alley!—O Jasus! and what a packle I'm in?

Hah! hah! he! he!

Benedictum, atmosphericum! hold out only six minutes, three quarters and the 197th part of a minute [Page 72] and we have it!

luck­ily for us! the star Wormwood (as mentioned in the Revelations) is in a state of occultation! Mars ap­proaching omnolency! and Bacchus as drunk as a pi­per, success is certain!

Oh! I'm dead! I'm dead!

I'll soon vivificate you! here, take a little A­qua me Rabulus, it cost me half a crown a spoonful.

Stop! stop! don't drink it all!

You needn't halloo to him, don't you know a man can't hear whil [...] he's drinking?

Fath 'an I never know'd that before! by my sowl next time I'll be up wid him, and I'll halloo, stop, stop you devil you, afore he begins.

That's reeght mon!

How it revives the animal spirits?

The devil burst you, and that's all the harm I wish you!

Ha! ha!—

the time's just expired—pray be serious! dig away! dig away! now for your lives! I feel the ground move under my feet!—the treasure is struggling, it wants to be re­lieved from it's long imprisonment, dig!—dig!— Theophrasticum, Privilegium! now the whole host of devils are pulling against us, and levelling all the darts of infernal fury at us!

I feel the chest!—I feel the chest!

I see it! I see it!

Ne plus ultra! up with it, up with it▪ all's our own!

How he squints.

The deel me care! troth mon an he looks leke auld Squintefego at Aberdeen!

Fath an he squints sure enuff, but no more [Page 73] than a gentleman ought to squint, but I've a grate mind to wauk off wid myself, for the devil burn me▪ but I believe he'll burn us all up, by my soul! and he's no slouch of a fellow!

Troth mon!—he cuts a shacking figure!

He's got a beard like a ram-goat, and a nose like a bald-eagle!—see! see how he knits his brows!

Augh by my sowl, and he shan't brow bate, me!

He has truly a Colossean stature! a terrific ap­pearance, and a belligerous phiz! but I'll manage him for all that!

O! what an old sinner I have been—I've brought myself into a sad scrape! Mea culpa—

Pray in English! pray in English! dese pirate spirits don't understand de latin.

O! O! I don't know what to say.—O! O! I wish I hab lib'd a better life; do Mr. Washball say your prayers!

Dirrige, nos domine! I can't pray in English, do you say something good to it. Oh! Mr. Rattle­trap, I'm dead! I'm dead. Oh! Oh!

Lord! have mercy upon us, and keep this de­vil from us! O! how my heart goes pit-a-pat? enough to break the Perricardum!

Cruciblarum, Advansum! Perrilorum!

He's almost conquer'd now!

Right worshipful master, no—As it was in de beginning—no, no, what is your name? Raccoon, who gib you dat name? my grand-moder and god-fader, no dats wrong—Our fader—I can't say it! Oh! Oh! [Page 74] Oh! for eber and eber, Amen. Dare he comes, dare he comes again!

Lave off you black-mout! you havn't it,

Pater-noster, mea culpa, Sinner [...] ­rum, helpum, deliverum, misserabulum, tuscarorum.

By me saul mon! 'tis the deel himsel! Ize see his claven foot!—

Troth and he makes me quack too, a wee-pickle!

Save us! Save us! from his fiery jaws! he's seeking whom he may devour.

Augh! and if he swallows me, by my sowl! and I'll kick his guts out in the twinkling of a broom­stick!

Oh! Oh! save me!—save me too!

Superiorum, lakeavi, hurorum!

now's the lucky minute, the Ser­pent's-neck, is round the Poleaster! Raise the chest,

Now, gentlemen, raise the chest, banish fear! keep fast!

your assistance gentlemen or we lose all! should it sink now, it's irrecoverably lost! not all the magicians of Egypt, nor the witch of Endor cou'dn't recover it! quick gentlemen! quick! nows the interesting mo­ment!

up with it.

Dats Old Blackbeard himself! by de birtue and de power of de free and de accepted mason, to me gibben,

I command you to depaa [...]! Oh! Oh! Oh what disturbs dy poor soul from rest?

Horrificatabus, Profundum, Horridumque, Spec­taculum, Demonium.

Haud faust, dinna quut yere grup,

noo I'ze ken him, I'ze gang after him.

Pray don't Mr. Buckram, it be de pirate ap­parition, did'n't you see how bery angry he look at me, when I did speak to him?

The devil be from me, and I believe its Doctor Foster!

The deel ma care, wha he be, Doctor Faustus, spirit, apparition, B [...]ackbeard, or the deel himsel, gin he con stond a cut o me Andra, he mun be the deel in troth.

Deil tak a warlocks I say, I ha leek to ha brok my neeke down the brae!

By my sowl! and you'd like to make a Somer­sault of i [...]! fath! and Ricketts is a nincompoop to you honey!

Ha! ha! ha! a comical dog.—That was a very impetuous, temerarius step! didn't you know he's invulnerable? if I hadn't been here, you would have been incinerated, for your presumption.

Horridum, Callefridum, Bus­cantivo, Interdenabulum! thus far will I permit thee to come, [...]ut no farther. Avaunt! Avaunt! Avaunt! and be thou laid in Lake Huron! 'till the waters there­of be exhausted!

now we're all safe! Consummatum et Trium­phicatibus! up with the chest! those fiends of darkness will trouble us no more.

The deel a seeght mare, ye'ell ha o him noo he's gatten a smell o me [Page 76] Andra!

Now our toils are over, and we have caught our prey.

Huzza! huzza! huzza! &c.

Oh! my dear! my dear!

Let me see—

One Thousand, Sixteen Hundred and Eighty Four, aye! aye! this is the very money, that Blackbeard got at Panama, when he robb'd the churches! Oh! the poor priests! the poor priests! It seems very providentially to have fallen into my hands! Come! come! let's take it away, before day-light appears.

May we presume to take it away, Mr. Rat­tletrap?

Jubileetatebusque!—Finis cum fistulum, po­pulorum jigg!—my business is finished, therefore all's our own! away with it!

There's one thing proper first to mention, gentlemen, my sister from whom I received the in­formation, and to whom we are all so much indebted for this lucky turn of good fortune, is entitled to a share; besides, I think she highly merits a handsome gratuitous present, as an acknowledgment of our gra­titude to her.

No, brudder Hum, I tink she's titled to no more den half de share, she's no more den de woman. But, what do you mean by de present?

A whole share! I insist upon it, is her just due! but, as for the present, that must be left to your generosity, and I dare answer you'll not be wanting in munificence! what think you of one of the boxes of diamonds, or some such trifle?

By all means!

Little enough in all conscience!

I think so indeed! I would add one of the boxes of pearls to it!

Lord! Lord! no, no; I protest against a share and a present too! we shall be ruin'd! ruin'd! Mr. Raccoon: indeed we shall, speak to 'em, do sir, do!

Damme mon! but I thin the lassie deserves em a, an mare too!

Consider! gentlemen, we hab run de risk of our libes wid dese spirits! besides, what will de wo­man do wid so much of de dimonts, and de oder tings?

Aye, indeed! I say the diamonds truly! why they are of more value than all the rest of the things together! why you are all going mad!—mad!—mad! —indeed you are!

Fath an! she shall have um all for me! and more too! by my sowl! but I believe and you want 'um all yourself to hang up at your shop-winder, to make paple think how you're a toot-drawer, and don't you now, honey?

Gentlemen, I'm surprized! nay, almost pe­trified, at this sudden change of sentiments you have now expressed! you, who before you were possessed of this immense▪ treasure, entertained such lofty and laudable ideas of ambition, philanthropy and genero­sity! you, who were for purchasing titles, building and endowing hospitals and the Lord knows what! I say, gentlemen, I am astonish'd beyond measure at the change. Can it be possible! that you, who are now in actual possession of this treasure, you so ardently wished for; and I say, gentlemen, on the attainment of which your pious resolutions were sounded, should so suddenly change and turn traitors to that heaven-born [Page 78] virtue, gratitude! and that Satan, that malig­nant, malicious, malevolent, mischievous, unpropiti­ous, pestilential, pestiferious, envious, spiteful, un­grateful devil! could so suddenly transform you into such Judases, as even that most avaricious of all de­vils! Mammon himself! would blush at, hang down his head, and be ashamed of. I must not! I cannot believe it!

Mighty fine talk indeed! but its nothing but wind!

Come, come! let's give the poor woman a full share, and the diamonds and all; if it hadn't been for her we shou'dn't have had a copper!

No, no! I forbid it!—I protest against it!

Hoot you owld brute.

Let's put it to a vote?

That's right! and should that fail I protest! I'll give my whole share to my sister, and phillippic them to petrifaction!

Who de debil's dis Phi­lip Pick?

I suppose some ruffian of a fellow! he's going to set upon us to way-lay, rob and mur­der us!

Yes, I tink so too! Dad I'll always carry my pistols in my pocket.

Vote! vote!

Fath an I'm glad of it!

Gentlemen, I'm satisfy'd! and I heartily thank you in my sister's name.

I tink its a bery great shame!

Oh, dear!—we're ruin'd!—we're ruin'd!

The day approaches; remove it immediately!

Where shall we carry it?

There's a cunning place in my house, I'll take care of it! it will be safe! I'll sleep on it all night!

Agreed!—agreed!

Now gentlemen, let's all meet precisely at six o'clock this morning and divide it. I think some of us shou'd assist Mr. Washball; as this chest contains an immense treasure, we can't be too careful; he's aged, and some unlucky circumstance may intervene.

No, no, I can take care of it, well enough.

Dat's right, brudder Hum, I tink I'd better go too, as I understand de military. If we should be at­tack, my service may be necessary.

Very true! and if Mr. Trowell, Mr. Trus­hoop, and Mr. Buckram will attend you, it will be the safer.

The devil burn Trushoop, if he forsakes it!

Deel tak the mon, that lags beheend!

Well gentlemen! I think this great success, de­serves a song; come bear chorus!

With all my heart.

Now gentlemen bear off your prize!

Tak hauld Trowell, I'ze hurt me shouther in the fa' i' gat down the brae. I canna carry't lad!

It feels brave and ponderous.

That's true for you!—fath! I woud'nt care if I break my back wid it. Arra deer! tread of my heels.

I beg your pardon!

Fath▪ an your very welcome—for the devil burn me, if I care for my heels at all, at all,—so I don't!—

SCENE, II. A room in Washball's house.

Bless me! How could you venture (after the severe reproof my uncle gave you,) to approach this house, at this late hour of the night?

Love! angelic love! which knows no fear but your displeasure, hath brought me here on eagle's wings, to waft you hence, and seal that vow, already ratified in heaven!

But consider my dear Meanwell, what may be the consequence of such a rash step, when, perhaps a few days perseverance, may bring it to a conclusion, with his consent.

I cannot think of trusting to any thing so pre­carious, and as he has already consented, by being my bondsman for the licence, and publicly declared his as­sent, we shall be looked upon by the honest, virtuous, and judicious, as sufficiently justified in taking this step.

I am confounded! my love to you spurs me to a slight! but my duty to my uncle, commands me to wait his reconciliation. I know not what to do, or, what to say!

Haste! haste my dear Lucy! the precious mo­ments are swiftly passing! each moment seems an hour 'till we're one, the clergyman waits, (with chosen friends) to tie the nuptial knot, and crown our bliss!

SCENE III. A Street.

I can't bear the thoughts of dividing, not I! division! why I cou'd never learn it at school! but, addition and multiplication, were always my darlings! Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, divided into nine parts, let me see—aye! I have it! nine times nine is, a, a, sixty-two, no, that's wrong. Nine times eleven is, a, a hundred and six, and four over, no that's too much, but I'm no scholar, never mind, no matter, [Page 82] I can count a hundred as fast as any of 'em, and they can't cheat me! Charity begins at home, and he must be the greatest fool on earth, that cheats himself; I never could forgive my self for such a sin as that, I think I am old enough to have more wit. He that cheats another, can wipe off the sin, by restoring four-fold, but he that cheats himself; poor soul! the sin will lie at his own door, and it will never be in his power to make himself restitution! no, no, I know better; that must be the crying, that is spoken of by Lazarus, Nicodemus, Judas, or some other prophet, I forget who now; alack! its many years ago, since I read the bible, no matter. I'll e'en go and inform the Collec­tor, then I shall have one half to myself, and the other will go the President of the United States. They'll call me traitor and informer, but I don't care, let them laugh that wins, ha! ha! It's an old saying and a true one, aye, I have it! "One bird in hand is better far, than two that's in the bush,"—no, no, "than two that in bushes are." Aye, that's it! I remember it's so on my neighbour Simmond's sign, I love to make rhimes, when they jingle so cleverly, but here's two hundred and fifty thousand birds in the cage, and most of them pretty yellow birds! Oh! they'll make delightful mu­sic, and make me sing too! I mus'n't lose any time, no, ind [...]ed!

I think this is the house, aye!

Mr. Collector! Mr Collector!

Who's there! and what's your urgent business, disturbing my rest so soon in the morning?

Why, why sir, its business of very great im­portance!

Importance, or not, I think you might have stay'd 'till day light.

I coud'n't sir—indeed I coud'n't!

I'm not us'd to have my rest broke, at this un­seasonable hour!

Sir, sir!—we'll satisfy you handsom'ly for this extraordinary inconvenience!

That's speaking to the point!—Oh! very well!—very well!—what is the business, sir?

Why, why, sir! I have an information, to lay before you, concerning a chest of treasure—

A chest of treasure? sir.

Yes! sir.

A chest of treasure? I don't understand you, sir!

The deuce you dont? the fellow's stu­pid.—I say, a chest of treasure.

Explain yourself, sir!

'Tis already explain'd!—I tell you, sir! it's a chest of treasure that we dug out of the ground last night.

Last night!—where?

Why, why, somewhere—but I hav'n't time to tell you now. Come down! sir—pray come!

What! a large chest?

What a fool he is. Yes! a large chest and very heav [...]: I know I help'd to carry it, and it almost kill'd me.

Why, how long is it?

Why, why! six foot long; as long as a coffin,

and when it's emptied, I wish you were buried in it.

Can you be serious, sir?

This fellow will exhaust all my pa­tience. Yes, yes! I am, I am! myself and several others are concerned in it, and it grieves my con­science to cheat the President out of his lawful right; so, pray sir, seize it, seize it, instantly, for me and [Page 84] the President. I expect all concerned will be at my house directly to open and share it. Come, make haste sir, do!—Put the broad P on it, and then we shall be safe: you must act for me and the President, and we'll reward you handsomely.

I'm afraid you're too sanguine, and it's all de­ception!

What a cursed fool he is!—No! no! it an't, it an't; it's a real fact! here's occular demon­stration! for this piece of money,

dropt out of the chest when we took it out of the ground. Look here, sir! see it! see it!

Say you so?

True, sir, true! pray be expeditious, do sir, do, I insist upon it.

Well sir!—since you insist upon it, I mu [...] seize it.

I do! I do! my fidelity to the United States, obliges me to insist upon it.

Remember your promise.

We'll satisfy you, nobly.

I shall look to you alone, sir.

Very well! very well! I'll be your paymas­ter.

Since you're afraid to trust my part'ner. Come down, sir! do, do.

I'll wait on you instantly.

He's cursedly afraid of trusting my part'ner. Ha! ha! ha! I shall soon let him know what a servant he has; a dilatory, suspicious dog! I'll have him turn­ed out, as sure as he was put in.

This way, sir! this way. Follow me, sir! quick! quick! or we shall be too late.

Lead on, sir! lead on.

SCENE IV. A Room in WASHBALL's House.

Gabriel, where's your master?

Just stepp'd out.

Will he be in soon?

Ave—may be so.

Oh!—here he comes, but who the devil's that with him?

The collector! egad! This is what I didn't expect.

It will not do to dupe him, we must let him into the secret.

Leave that to me.

Sir, I am sorry you have been put to this trouble; it's a scheme of diversion only; please not to notice it; I'll acquaint you with the whole history of it when it is concluded.

Ha! ha! Just as I thought knowing your funny character.—Mr. Hum, your servant—gentlemen yours.

Sir! sir! stay, pray do your duty!

Sir,—its an affair too intricate for me at pre­sent, I must first advise with the States Attorney Ge­neral.

You shan't go!—I insist upon it, I charge you in the President's name, seize it! seize it!

I must first have advice, then I'll return again.

I forbid you to go at your peril! I'll inform the President, and you shall be hang'd for not doing your duty.

I can't help that!

—

Let me alone! let me alone!

Augh!—you cursed owld traytor, arn't you asham'd now, to be chating us after this way?

I never heard of such another villain.

O Lord,—oh!

There's queer doings here.

Ye [...]enfemous auld skoo [...]dre [...]! ye turn'd een­former, and states-evedence, to get the ane [...]alf till yere sel, but yere oot noo, troth and I'ze a mine to leeghten yere heed by ane o yere luggs.

Worse and worse.

O Lord,—oh!

What did you tink, we are all fools to be cheat­ed by you?

Nothing can equal this! open the chest, who knows but the States-attorney may be on our backs immediately?

Had I suspected this before, I could have sum­mon'd a whole host of infernals, to have carried him away in a whirl-wind.

'Tis a pity [...]ut you had, indeed.

Arra my deer! and give me a little bit of an [...]der, and I'll fatch 'um in a jiffin.

I shall have no more power, Mr. Trushoop, 'till the moon changes.

Fath, an I'm sorry for that honey.

O Lord,—oh!

A traitor and an informer, gentlemen, of all mankind, are the most despicable of all wretches; you see gentlemen, the turpitude of that old curmudgeon's heart; after his most solemn oath of secrecy and ho­nesty, he thinks nothing of betraying his best friends, (Judas like) and his own soul, for the sake of his body! without the least regard for a sacred and solemn oath!

How he abuses my master.

Mr. Trushoop where's your adz? open the chest.

Augh my deer, and here we are, bote at your sharviss.

Mr. Collector! M [...]. Collector!

Stand off, you old slubberdegullion,

where's the Collector? where's the Collector? touch it at your perils, you villains! I'll swear robbery against you! help Gabriel, help!

Lack-a-day, I believe they're going to rob my maste [...]! I would help him with all my heart, but my scuffling days are all over long ago.

Go on with your business gentlemen,—open the chest.—

Touch it at your peril, I say. It belongs to me and my partner.

Belongs to the devil, you ti [...]f—we'll soon see who'll fa [...]e the sharing it.

I never see the like before.

Help—help!—murder—murder—fire—thieves —Betty, Betty, bring down the bags you made —Run Gabriel for the Collector! Oh, oh, I'm just dead.

Yes, I wi [...]l, and the Constable too. Sorrow on me, but I believe they'll murder my master.

Dare! de chest opens.

Give me my share!—give me my share.

The devil a copper you tief.

The deel a bawbie, ye shall ha' mon.—

Hoo [...] mon—wha the deel's a this?—naething but stanes!—I ken we'll enaugh, wha it is—deil damme, but I'ze ha'gentelman's satisfaction.

De tivel—dis de scheme of brudder Hum. I se­cond your resolution, do you gib de chalenge Mr. Buckram.

Oh mercy!—

Augh hough!—fath, and we're all humbugged.

Its all a cheat.

Augh! but this will be my heart breaking—by my sowl! and I've been made a fool for the future,— but I'll take care for the time to cum.

I didn't tink br [...]dder Hum wou'd serve me so, but dad I'll inform de Lodge of dis—dare's Rattle­trap too wid his stars and tings,—plague on dem all— and hab Mrs. Placket made de fool of me too, wid her conjur-book? I tink it can't be so nader, for she lobes me, or she wou'dn't call me her Cooney—cock-a-pigeon—cock-a-dandy, and all de fine tings, dad I'll—

Oh! I'm cheated—I'am abus'd, and made a fool of—I shall die, Oh! dear I shall die!

"poor Washball, disappointed Washball."

What's all this! alack-a-day.

"get out of my house you villains,"

"you dogs,"

"you hell-hounds,"

"O dear! O dear, I shall faint,"

I'm dead! I'm dead,"

"Oh, Oh, Oh,

they laugh, and run off.

A miserable disappointment.

Augh! fath and its all over now—this is the devils own works, and they're the devil's own chil­dren—and by my sowl, and they'll do grate pannance for all this.—

Deel dam 'em aw.

Dis, dis is my own faut, for being too cred'lous, I put too much trust in dem I tought my friends, and dey deceiv'd me. If I had been satisfy'd wid my bus'ness and follow'd a birtuous course of libe, den I should be happy to dis day, and hab nutting to trubble me, but now I hab seen my folly, and former wickedness; [Page 90] I will take de resolution to lede a new libe, and fol­low my bus'ness wid honesty and industry, and hab nutting to say to the banities and bexations, of dis wicked world, and from dis time my studdy shall be birtue, to de end of my libe.

Confusion to the vullians!—I maun e'en gang and fut up my shap-boo [...]d agen.

I can never face my wife after this.

Nor I, by St Patrick!—Augh, and she'll make no more suppers for poor Trushoop.

O [...] dea [...]! I'm robb'd of my money, my health, and my ease, nothings left me now but to grieve and lament—how shall I procure my peace again? Let me see! a t [...]nd my bus'ness. What then? if a customer should laugh under the operation of my razor, egad! I should think he laughed at me, for being such a silly o'd dupe, and ten to one, but I might out his throat f [...]r madness—dress a wig eigh? why I should think my blocks grinn'd at me! I'll instantly go and burn them all. If I should hear the noise of children in the street, I should think they bawl'd Canoe! Canoe! confound the word, I would give five hundred pounds, it were high treason to utter it, then I would hang every one of those dogs. Oh dea [...]! what can I do? If I rail against them publicly, I sha [...]l only have the cold comfort of "Its a piece of diversion only, nothing else,"—hellish diversion! suppose I should try to laugh it off? alas! alas! I can't do it, I shan't be in a laughing humor, these seven years I'am afraid.

Sir, we crave your blessing.—

Go to the devil! you dog.—

Augh! and deer Lucy, sure and you're not married?

It is so Mr. Trushoop.

Pray endea­vour [Page 91] to pacify my uncle, pray gentlemen interpose.

What does she say? eigh?

She says she's married, and begs your pardon.

Oh! the gipsey!—I shall run stark-mad! and how dare you do it without my consent? didn't I for­bid you hussey? eigh!

Pray dear uncle, pardon us!

Thief like! break the laws, and then have the assurance to ask for pardon, eigh! no, no you can't plead ignorance, you knew the terms and consequences of disobeying me, now you've done it, and a pretty couple of beggars you are truly! arn't you?

But stop! I'm going too fast, hold there, I forgot my own disappointment! the terms are void in them­selves.—Well—

Come, come Mr. Washball, how can you be so angry wid dem, she's a pretty young ting.

O! lack-a-day! she's old enough to know better.

Pardon them Mr. Washball.

Pray sir! pardon us.

Pray uncle, give us your blessing.

So, so, pardon and blessing too,—what comes next?

Let me intrate for 'um, fath, an they seem to be as well match'd, as a couple of coach horses.

Now since I see the tide has turn'd against me, I mustn't be too hard with 'em, they are both young and I am old, and I may possibly want their assistance, before they will want mine.

Come, come mon, gie em yere blessin, troth she's, a sonsie, blinkin lass, and they're a bonnie pair.

O! lack-a-day!—I charge you both, tell me the truth!—are you really married?

'Tis really so, si [...]!

Dear uncle 'tis true—pray forgive!

Who married you?

Parson Knottum, sir.

Eigh!—who?

Parson Knottum, sir.

Aye! I thought so! if he did it, there's no un­tying the knot, he's just such another fellow, as that a-a- what d'ye call h [...]m, a-a- Parson Holdfast. Well since its so, God bless you both,

but remem­ber children, that bare walls make but giddy house­wives.

Sir! we thank you for your kind condescen­sion, and I m [...]st now inform you, that I have this day received a letter from Jamaica, giving an account of my uncle's death, inclosing a copy of his will, by which I understand he hath bequeathed me fifteen thousand pounds sterling in cash, with all his real and personal estate, consisting of four valuable windmill plantations, seven hundred and eighty-four negroes, a large quantity of very valuable plate, a part of which cash (as per bill of lading;) also, one hundred hogs­heads of proof spirit and seventy-five hogsheads of prime sugar is remitted me, per the brig Welcome, captain Trusty.

I'm glad to hear it! my son—I'm glad to hear it! indeed I am! let me give you joy both of your spouse and fortune!

It revives my drooping spirits! come hither Lucy, my good child! you're a good girl! indeed you are! and I wish you joy of your worthy husband and fortune.

I'm rejoiced very much.

O dear! what a lucky turn for me.

Notwithstanding this flush of fortune, sir! I bear the same love for your niece and veneration for yourself as heretofore; and you may rest assured, sir! I shall make it my peculiar study to merit your esteem and her affection.

Aye! aye! 'tis very well my dear child, I be­lieve you will, and indeed, I always loved you with a paternal affection, notwithstanding sometimes it hap'ned (unluckily when you were present) that something had ruffled my temper, and I might not have shewn you the respect I otherwise wou'd have done, and which I was heartily sorry for, when you were gone. But you must forgive and forget that, and in some measure attribute it to the imbecility and infirmity of old age, and to make amends, you have both my blessing,

and God bless you both, and may you live comfortably together, and see many happy days, and be blest with a train of dutiful children, like olive branches round about your table, to comfort you in your old age; "cresite et multiplicamini".—And, oh! that I, who have one foot in the grave and the other scarcely out, had but been contented, then, I shou'd have been happy in my old age and not have involved myself in this laby­rinth of trouble and confusion! But let it serve as a warning to others, not to listen to idle schemes, nor give way to vain imaginations, which has prov'd so fatal to me! for, he whose desires are unbounded, and is weak enough to listen to artful designing men, stands upon a dangerous precipice, whose foundation must sink and he inevitably perish!

[Page 94] And now my good f [...]iends and fellow- [...]erers,

I expect you'll honor us with your company at dinner, and do my dear son, write a card of invitation to dinner, also, to the worthy Captain Trusty. We'll strive to make ourselves as merry as we can, and forget our fol [...]y and disappointment.— Gab [...]iel call in the neighbours, and bring your fiddle and play for us, and we'll have a dance.

I will, I wi [...], sorrow on me but I will! for we havn't had a dance since last Christmas.

In the mean time, my dear children, give me a s [...]g to sooth my troubled mind.