| Citation |
MS-B.775.012
26 Jan 1775:21,22,23 (4/208)
As the great business of the polite world is the eagar
pursuit of amusement, and as the public diversions of the [
] have been interrupted by the hostile parade in the
capital; the exhibition of a new farce may not be
unentertaining.
The Group, a Farce:
as lately acted, and to be re-acted, to the wonder of all
superior intelligences, nigh Head-Quarters, at AMBOYNE.
The author has thought proper to borrow the following
spirited lines from a late celebrated poet, and offer to the
public by way of Prologue, which cannot fail of pleasing at
this crisis.
What! arm'd for virtue, and not point the pen,
Brand the bold front of shameless guilty men,
Dash the proud gamester from his gilded car,
Bare the mean heart which lurks beneath a star.
. . . [8 lines]
Dramatic Personae.
Lord Chief Justice Hazlerod,
Judge Meagre,
Brigadier Hateall,
Hum Humbug, Esq;
Sir Sparrow Spendall,
Hector Mushroom,--Col.
Beau Trumps,
Dick, the Publican,
Simple Sapling, Esq;
Monsieur de Francois.
Crusty Crowbar, Esq;
Dupe,--Secretary of State.
Scriblerius Fribble.
Commodore Batteau.
Collateralis,--a new made Judge.
Attended by a swarm of court sycophants, hungry harpies, and
unprincipled danglers, collected from the neighbouring
villages, hovering over the stage in the shape of locusts,
led by Massachusettensis in the form of a basilisk; the rear
brought up by Proteus, bearing a torch in one hand, and a
powder-flask in the other: the whole supported by a mighty
Army and Navy, from Blunderland, for the laudable purpose of
enslaving its best friends. . . [2 acts in 2 1/2 columns]
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