I am charm'd with an occasion to evince My great respect for you-How well you look, How very well! You must enjoy unbounded health! Inference. (aside) He's quizzing, I conclude. (Mr. Courland gradually collects resolution enough to look round, and, astonished at the emaciated figure and tattered garments of Inference, starts back; while Harry smiles to recognise the face of the adventurer, who stands with his head down, too abash'd to speak.) Mr. Courl. (apart to Harry) Who in the name of

Charon's hire is this

Harry (apart to his father) He is, no doubt, a paragon of high life

Cloth'd in the finest broad cloth.

Mr. Courl. (to Inference) Who, what are you ? Inference. (bowing, and presenting a letter) The ho

nourable Mr. Scholium.

Mr. Courl. (hastily looking over the letter) The same, indeed; and yet

(to Inference) Pray, sir, will-will

You let me offer some refreshment; for-
(aside) You seem most cursedly in want of it.

Inference. I thank-you, sir, I could not eat a mouthful.

(aside) Oh, my poor stomach, you must pay for

this!

Mr. Courl. You may be dieting?
Inference. Yes, consequently:

My physician, sir

Mr. Courl. Is an inhuman rascal.

His name, pray.

Harry Courl. (apart to his father) Unsuccessful knavery.

(to Inference examining his coat) If, Mr. Scholium, I may be so bold

Inference. No ceremony, sir-(aside) This prying chap

May recognise me !

Harry Courl. (still examining his coat) Pardon my

odd query:

Has this coat been prescrib'd by your physician?
And what is this? (pointing out a rent.)

Inference. A rent.

Harry Courl. Oh wonderful!

Mr. Courl. (waking from an uneasy reverie) What is the matter?

Harry Courl. Utterly amaz'd!

This very honourable stranger, who

Will, no doubt, write his travels through our country, Has thrown away two syllables upon

An actual fact, sir.

Mr. Courl. Bless my soul!

Inference. Ha, ha,

Ha, ha, you will be witty, gentlemen

[exit

(aside) And thence it seems that I am unsuspected. Mr. Courl. Where is your friend the general, sir ? Inference. That you,

Good Mr. Courland, do him too much honour,
I'll furnish evidence intuitive,

Or probable- -that is, my testimony (bowing, and laying his hand on his heart.)

Or I will make my language dialectic;

And then the method as you order may
Be categoric or conditional.-

But hold, would you prefer the argument

Ex minus probabile ad magis.?

Mr. Courl. A-any thing that I can understand. Inference. (again bowing) The evidence of testimony, sir?

Then know the general is no friend of mine.
'Tis true I saw him at my lord Catchbooby's;
But there the fellow was an upper servant.
Upon my first arrival in this country
Perchance I met him; and he teaz'd me so,
And wherewithal alarm'd me, I was fain
To have him mention'd in my letters as,
What he most certainly has never been,

A general. But this, Mr. Courland, this
Between ourselves. We for the present must
Feign ignorance of his diabolic mind;

For a more vile incendiary has not

Creep'd into being since the age of Nero.

(Mr. Courland stares with dismay) Don't be alarm'd, sir.

Mr. Courl. No-no-not at all.

Inference. In truth, sir, I conclude legitimately
This pseudo-general is an arrant knave,
One of the most consummate-

Enter Moonshine unexpectedly, and bowing to Mr.
Courland.

gentlemen

Of modern times (winking to Mr. Courland)-Permit me, if you please. (taking Moonshine's hand) This, my dear sir, is general Magnavantine

Moonshine. (to Mr. Courland, who reluctantly bows) You do me honour.

Mr. Courl. (aside) General Skeleton !

Moonshine. We had intended yesterday to pay Our warm regards to you; but a mere trifle, Which, Mr Scholium, you perhaps have mention'd— Inference. It was a trifle, and escap'd my memory. Moonshine. Yes, a mere trifle: we were robb'd, I think,

Of a few thousand pounds-and what was laughable, The fellows left our purses bare-yes-and

Ha, ha, excuse me--the mischievous rogues In merry mood, and to complete the jest, Usurp'd our garments, and gave us their own. Ha, ha,-(apart to Inference) Why don't you laugh? Inference. Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Re-enter HARRY, who whispers his father.

Mr. Courl. (apart to Harry) And these are they? Harry. (apart to Mr. Courl) The same, depend upon it:

I was a witness to the whole contrivance.

Mr. Courl. (stealing a look at Inference and Moonshine) 'Tis so, I fear- -and you will, therefore,

watch them.

Though don't imagine that the day is yours:
The hyperbolic, would-be general is not
Less purpos'd for the peasant Robert's sister-
Be dumb-this instant I will break it to him (takes
Moonshine apart)

Harry Courl. (aside) Well, I may smile at least. Inference (apart to Harry) A word, good youth: (pointing to Moonshine) Alas, from the fallacious attitudes

Of that same Magnavantine, I infer

A stratagem against your father's weal-
Your father; for such Mr. Courland is
If it was Mr. Courland who begat you.
Harry Courl. A wise deduction, truly.
Inference. But had you

Been born among the ancients, I conclude
Your origin had been suppos'd divine,
Except, mayhap, upon the mother's side.

Harry Courl. It had been but a base insinuation:
You'd give me virtues I should blush to own,
When from your praise they'd catch a polish that
Would seem the mirror of my mother's frailty.
Inference. I don't assent: so, if you please, I'll show
The lapse of error between you and truth.
Shall I employ the analogic mode,

That is, the modus ducens in absurdum?

Exit Mr. Courland; from whom Moonshine has just separated, and now approaching Harry, bows with much confidence, but starts on recognising his fea

tures.

Harry Courl. (aside) Poor rascals! they shall not yet think I know them.

Enter HARRY COURLAND at another door.

Mr. Courl. Come hither, boy, a word or two on wo

man.

Harry Courl. If you converse on woman, my dear

sir,

Make her's the measure of your speech, and talk
To all eternity.

Mr. Courl. Have you e'er seen
The setting sun?

Harry Courl. Yes, sir, a thousand times; 'Tis like the being now upon our thoughts: Like her when she absents herself it leaves A smile, and but a very transient smile, Upon reposing nature.

Mr. Courl. No heroics.

Harry Courl. Woman's the spring of half our emulation,

Science itself to her must be indebted.

Mr. Courl. She has, I grant, found the perpetual motion.

Harry Courl. And when a wife so heavenly is the burden,

Cavillers judge 'tis requisite one have

The shoulders of an Atlas to support it.

Mr. Courl. But to the main point without further premise:

Intelligence has reach'd me from my friend
Residing at the southward-it is this:

That two great Europeans, just arriv'd,

Would, to become acquainted with our nation,
Skim o'er the surface of a twentieth part.
The one the honourable Mr. Scholium,
The other is a general Magnavantine.

Their tour he tells me will lie through this district,
And as they bear his formal letters I

Would much oblige him to receive them kindly,
Now, as the honourable Scholium

Has of the two the more wealth I intend him

B 2