ay be delicate to offend; to conduct at the same time a plicated variety of operations; to concert measures at ne, answerable to the state of things abroad; and to gain ry valuable end, in spite of opposition from the envious, the ious, and the disaffected. To do all this, my countrymen, more difficult than is generally thought.

. But besides the disadvantages which are common to me h all others in eminent stations, my case, is, in this respect, uliarly hard; that whereas a commander of Patrician rank, e is guilty of a neglect or breach of duty, has his great nections, the antiquity of his family, the important services mis ancestors, and the multitudes he has, by power, engaged his interest, to screen him from condign punishment-my ole safety depends upon myself, which renders it the more ispensibly necessary for me to take care that my conduct be ar and unexceptionable.

eye

6. Besides, I am well aware, my countrymen, that the the public is upon me; and that, though the impartial, who efer the real advantage of the commonwealth to all other nsiderations, favor my pretensions, the Patricians want thing so much as an occasion against me.

7. It is therefore my fixed resolution to use my best enavors, that you be not disappointed in me, and that their direct designs against me may be defeated.

8. I have from my youth been familiar with toils and with angers; I was faithful to your interest, my countrymen, when served you for no reward but that of honor. It is not my esign to betray you, now that you have conferred upon me a ace of profit.

9. You have committed to my conduct the war against ugurtha. The Patricians are offended at this. But where would be the wisdom of giving such a command to one of their onorable body? a person of illustrious birth, of ancient family, f innumerable statues, but-of no experience.

10. What service would his long line of dead ancestors, or is multitude of motionless statues, do his country in the day of battle? What could such a general do, but in his trepidation and inexperience, have recourse to some inferior commander for direction in difficulties to which he was not himself equal? Thus, your Patrician general would in fact have a general over him; so that the acting commander would still be a Plebeian. 11. So true is this, my countrymen, that I have myself known those who have been chosen consuls, begin then to rea

the history of their own country, of which till that time th were totally ignorant; that is, they first obtained the empl ment, and then bethought themselves of the qualifications cessary for the proper discharge of it.

12. I submit to your judgment, Romans, on which side t advantage lies, when a comparison is made between Patricia haughtiness and Plebeian experience. The very actions whic they have only read, I have partly seen, and partly myself chieved. What they know by reading, I know by actionThey are pleased to slight my mean birth; I despise their men characters. Want of birth and fortune is the objection agains me; want of personal worth against them.

13. But are not all men of the same species? What ca make a difference between one man and another, but the e dowments of the mind? For my part, I shall always look up the bravest man as the noblest man. Suppose it were ch quired of the fathers of such Patricians as Albinus and Besta whether if they had their choice, they would desire sons their character or of mine? What would they answer, but tha they should wish the worthiest to be their sons? If the Patn cians have reason to despise me, let them likewise despise ther ancestors, whose nobility was the fruit of their virtue. D they envy the honors bestowed on me? Let them envy like wise my labors, my abstinence, and the dangers I have under gone for my country, by which I have acquired them.

14. But those worthless men lead such a life of inactivity as if they despised any honors you can bestow; whilst they as pire to honors as if they had deserved them by the mostir dustrious virtue. They lay claim to the rewards of activity, for their having enjoyed the pleasures of luxury, yet none can be more lavish than they are in praise of their ancestors. And they imagine they hönor themselves by celebrating their fore fathers; whereas they do the very contrary: for, as much as their ancestors were distinguished for their virtues, so much are they disgraced by their vices.

15. The glory of ancestors cast a light indeed, upon their posterity; but it only serves to show what the descendants are. It alike exhibits to public view their degeneracy and their worth. I own I cannot boast of the deeds of my forefathers; but I hope I may answer the cavils of the Patricians by standing up in defence of what I have myself done.

16. Observe now my countrymen, the injustice of the Pa cians. They arrogate to themselves honors on account of

the exploits done by their forefathers, whilst they will not allow me the due praise for performing the very same sort of actions in my own person. He has no statues, they cry, of his family. He can trace no venerable line of ancestors. What then? Is it matter of more praise to disce one's illustrious ancestors, than to become illustrious by one's own good behavior.

17. What if I can show no statues of my family? I can show the standards, the armor, and the trappings, which I have myself taken from the vanquished: I can show the scars of those wounds which I have received, by facing the enemies of my country. These are my statues. These are the hopers I boast of. Not left me by inheritance, as theirs; but earned by toil, by abstinence, by valor; amidst clouds of dust, and seas of blood; scenes of action, where those effeminate Patricians, who endeavored by indirect means to depreciate me in your esteem, have never dared to show their faces.

DIALOGUES.

SCENE between Gen. SAVAGE and Miss WALSINGHAM; in which the courtship is carried on in such an ambiguous manner that the General mistakes her consent to marry his son, Capt. Sa. VAGE, for consent to marry himself.

Miss Wal. GENE

ENERAL Savage, your most humble servant. Gen. Savage. My dear Miss Walsingham, it is rather cruel that you should be left at home by yourself, and yet I am greatly rejoiced to find you at present without company.

Miss. Wal. I can't but think myself in the best company, when I have the honor of your conversation, General.

Gen. You flatter me too much, Madam: yet I am come to talk to you on a serious affair: an affair of importance to me and yourself. Have you leisure to favor me with a short audience if I beat a parley?

Miss Wal. Any thing of importance to you, Sir, is always sufficient to command ray leisure.

'Tis as the Captain suspected-[aside.

Gen. You tremble my lovely girl, but don't be alarmed; for though my business is of an important nature, I hope it will not be of a disagreeable one.

Miss Wal. And yet I am greatly agitated-[aside.

Gen. Soldiers, Miss Walsingham, are said to be generally favored by the kind protection of the ladies.

Miss Wal. The ladies are not without gratitude, Sir, to those who devote their lives peculiarly to the service of their country.

Gen. Generously said, Madam. Then give me leave without any masked battery, to ask, if the heart of an honest søldier is a prize worthy your acceptance?

Miss Wal. Upon my word, Sir, there is no masked battery in this question.

Gen. I am as fond of a coup-de-main, Madam, in love as in war, and hate the tedious method of sapping a town, when there is a possibility of entering it sword in hand..

Miss Wal, Why really, Sir, a woman may as well know her own mind when she is first summoned by the trumpet of a lover, as when she undergoes all the tiresome formality of a siege. You see I have caught your own mode of conversing, General.

Gen. And a very great compliment I consider it, Madam. But now that you have candidly confessed an acquaintance with your own mind, answer me with that frankness for which every body admires you so much. Have you any objections to change the name of Walsingham?

Miss Wal. Why then, frankly, General, I say, no,

Gen. Ten thousand thanks to you for this kind declaration. Miss Wal. I hope you won't think it a forward one.

Gen. I'd sooner see my son run away in the day of battleI'd sooner think Lord Russel was bribed by Lewis XIVth; and sooner vilify the memory of Algernon Sidney.

Miss Wal. How unjust it was ever to suppose the General a tyrannical father! [aside.

Gen. You have told me condescendingly, Miss Walsingham, that you have no objections to change your name. I have but one question more to ask.

Miss Wal. Pray propose it, Sir.

Gen. Would the name of Savage be disagreeable to you? speak frankly again, my dear girl.

Miss Wal. Why, then again, I frankly say, no.

Gen. You are too good to me--Torrington thought I should meet with a repulse-[aside.

Miss Wal. Have you communicated this business to the ptain, Sir ?

Gen. No, my dear madam, I did not think that at all ne

cessary. I propose that he shall be married in a few days. Miss Wal. Wha's whether I will or not?

Gen. O, you can have no objection!

Miss Wal. I must be consulted, however, about the day, General; but nothing in my power shall be wanting to make him happy.

Gen. Obliging loveliness!

Miss Wul. You may imagine, that if I had not been previously imprest in favor of your proposal, it would not have met my concurrence so readily.

Gen. Then you own I had a previous friend in the garrison. Miss Wal. I don't blush to acknowledge it, Sir, when I consider the accomplishments of the object.

Gen. O, this is too much, Madam; the principal merit of the object is his passion for Miss Walsingham.

Miss Wal. Don't say that, General, I beg of you; for I don't think there are many women in the kingdom who could behold him with indifference.

Gen. Ah, you flattering angel! and yet, by the memory of Marlborough, my lovely girl, it was the idea of a prepossession on your part, which encouraged me to hope for a favorable reception.

Miss Wal. Then I must have been very indiscreet, for I labored to conceal that prepossession as much as possible.

Gen. You could not conceal it froni me; the female heart is a field I am thoroughly acquainted with.

Miss Wal. I doubt not your knowledge of the female heart, General; but as we now understand one another so perfectly, you will give me leave to retire.

Gen. One word, my dear creature, and no more; I shall wait on you sometime to-day about the necessary settlement. Miss Wal. You must do as you please, General; you are invincible in every thing.

Gen. And if you please we will keep every thing a profound secret, till the articles are all settled, and the definitive treaty ready for execution.

Miss Wal. You may be sure that delicacy will not suffer me to be communicative on the subject, Sir.

Gen. Then you leave every thing to my management.

Miss Wal. I can't trust a more noble negociator. [goes out. Gen. The day is my own. (Sings.) Britons, strike home; strike home.