LIBRIS EX C·W.S LIBRIS C Goodsheet July 19421 Amace an THE MOTLEY ASSEMBLY, A FARCE. PUBLISHED For the ENTERTAINMENT Of the CURIOUS. B OSTON: Printed and Sold by Nathaniel Coverly, im NEWBURY-STREET, M,DCC,LXXIX. I T WOLEE X H&M 2.2 A EVBCE I BT 12 HE D 707 MIMIAT MOT 208 10, plin J blo3 bos bataht либелая аТАМАЯС ITAMA ADVERTISEMENT. TH THE following was wrote at the requeft, and intended only for the amufement of two or three particular friends, whofe importunity has at length prevailed with the Author to confent to publifh it, even against his own inclination, as nothing was more remote from his defign when he firft undertook it: With regard to the characters, the impartial Public will determine as they pleafe; If applicable to any particular perfons the praife or blame is theirs: If they fuit nobody The Author would inform the candid Reader that he copied from fuch characters as were exhibited by his friends; who were fatisfied with the likenefs, and are only anfwerable to the Public whether they exift or not.. olddud M PM dsT Auto Fo M abol LenM DRAMATIS PERSONE, M E N. M 21 TI A fhort fat old Efq. Runt, fellow; fond of de esit th 6 districo Turncoat, gallanting the Ladies. Capt. Aid. Capt. Care- lefs,----An One One of the Ma- honeft nagers of the Affembly. lo young Sea Captain. Bubble, w W OME N. Mrs. Flourish, Mrs. Taxall, Mifs Taxall, Mifs Doggrel, Mrs. Bubble Mifs P----, Mifs B----, Mifs Flouriſh, Tab, Daughters Betty, Servant Sto Turncoat. to } Mrs. Bubble. 茶​冰​淇 ​M SCENE, At the Houfe of Mrs. FLOURISH. Enter Mrs. FLOURISH and Efq. Runt. IT Affembly. RUNT. T is a very great mortification to the gentlemen Ma- dam,your not permitting Mifs Flourish to go to the Mrs. Flourish. I mean it as fuch Mr. Runt ; -if your fex are fo weak and undifcerning, as to prefer the fading, fhort lived, perishable trifle beauty, to the noble exalted, mental accomplish- ments, which only are of intrinfic value,Mr. Runt; it is fit they ſhould be mortified, O why has Heaven permitted our paffive fex to be fo long deceived and misled by the idle and ground. lefs opinion of the fuperior wifdom of the male fex!in ani- mal ftrength I grant their fuperiority; and I have found fome capable of pleafing; but few-very few indeed capable of informing me.- - Runt. But madam you will be pleafed to confider, that few ladies are fo accomplished as you are allowed to be. Mrs. Flourish. Say no more Mr. Runt ;- at the bare mention of the word; -I am almoft fick it is fo horribly proftituted and mifapplied upon almoft all occafions. but Runt. I beg your pardon madam. Mrs. Flourish. I do not mean in this inftance Mr. Runt:- pray Mr. Runt how comes it that you are one of the managers of this motley affembly? Runt. I was advis'd madam---both for my intereft and fafety. Mrs. Flourish. By one of your own fex,I dare fay Runt. It was madam :- -Mr. Turncoat advis'd me. Mrs. Flourish. To keep him in countenance I fuppofe; well what appearance do they make, compared to our affemblies in the feige? Runt, 6 Runt. I with you had been there the laft evening madam, only to have feen the contraft. Mrs. Flourish. Contraft indeed! I dare fwear :-O Mr. Runt !---when fhall we fee fuch happy times again? Will they ever retuin Mr. Runt. ooH A дилоа Runt. Turncoat fays he has long been afraid they never would return ;----and wifes all the friends of government would do as he has done;-tack about, and make fair weather with the other fide. Mrs. Flourish, How verfatile is man! have you known any one of my fex on the fide of government to change their opinion Mr. Runt? nay more have we not openly, in the face of day, and in defiance of our prefent mock rulers---frequently vifited our dear, diftrefs'd friends in Cambridge. While the men you daftard men meanly ftole there under covert of the night; and fome of the highest Whigs, who in fome companies have exclaimed againft us, have been glad to make ufe of our intereft for you know what purpofes;and their wives who have fometimes accompanied us, have returned more than half converted, by the gentility, addrefs, politenefs, and generofity of the Convention troops. my God! my heart bleeds whenever I think of the poor diftrefs'd Convention troops What will become of them Mr. Runt It is impoffible they can endure fuch a horrid march: Enough almost to kill our Yankies. omoitas Runt. It is very cruel treatment; and it is a wonder if we don' fuffer for it in the end; I never could learn the caufe madam. Mrs. Flourish. The French! The curfed French! Mr. Runt, are the caufe of all our mifery: -This Rebellion would have been crufh'd long before this, but for them We could not have held out much longer, when they fep'd in; but muft have fub- mitted to fuch terms as our gracious fovereign would have conde- fcended to offer; which all who know his goodnefs Mr. Runt, are convinced would have been juft and merciful. Runt, Runt, Your obfervations are very juft madam, and I am entirely And as to the French---every body fays. of your opinion they are a treacherous crew-I know when I was in England it was the genetal opinion there; and that they never would fight and I don't defpair but Old England will give them a drub- bing yet.- But as to us, I think we are in a worfe box than ever; out of the frying-pan, into the fire; and all this for a trifling duty on tea. Mrs, Flourish. Well we muft wait with patience Mr. Runt; I have ftill hopes; notwithftanding what Mr. Turacoat fays I never thought him much of a politician It was rather unfortunate for him; that he would not even fuffer his daughters to go, to a Whig Affembly as it was called the winter before laft; and now fo warmly to engage in it; becaufe thefe people are very apt to remember; and may poffibly affign this miraculous Change to the true motive.- Enter Mifs Flourish, isofo SIM Mbab Mifs Flourish. O Mr. Runt, I am exceeding glad to fee you; I wanted to afk you a thoufand queftions: affembly had you ?Who was there?- What fort of an Were the ladies very -Could much drefs'd?-How did the He-Bears (as Mifs Doggril calls them) behave?How did they handle their paws?- you keep your countenancé ? Mrs. Flourish, Stop! ftop! ftop! Mifs Volubility,--not quite fo faft; who do you think can anfwer fo many queftions at once?- Now Mr. Runt, can you think it poffible, after all this feeming contempt for the company, that this girl cried a whole day becauſe I would not let her go to the affembly?--Affembly! Good Heavens! It is a burléfque upon the name of an affembly': I have no patience when I think of it :-Yet there's my fifter is fool enough to go; tho' fhe told me the would not dance, becaufe he could not bear to give her hand to fuch cattle. Runt, I obferv'd Mrs.refufs'd to dance; but did not know the ( 8 ) the reafon before:Well I think fhe is quite right.--But Mifs Flourish how comes it that you are fo anxious to go? Mifs Flourish. Becaufe there is a fett of us who agreed to go on purpofe to make our remarks on the droll figures, for our diverfion and entertainment when we got home.- Runt, Ha ha! ha !-You are a rogue, Mifs Flourish. fort Mrs. Flourish. Did you ebferve Mrs. Bubble's behaviour Mr. Runt ? It feems to me that creature tries how ridiculous the can make herfelf; the town rings with her filly fpeeches ;- She has not a fingle advocate in our little polite circle. And is laugh'd at by the very creatures whom the affects to defpife, but has not fenfe enough even to diftinguish the ridiculous part of their cha- racter.-Excufe me a moment Mr. Runt.--[Exit Mrs. Flourish, Enter Mifs Taxall and Mifs Doggril. Runt. How do ye do ladies? Give me leave to take your cloaks : What do you hear abroad ladies ? Mifs Taxall. We hear nothing talk'd of now, but the affembly, and Mrs. Bubble's pretty fpeeches:--O Mifs Doggril! I wish you had been in town in the feige ;- feen affemblies !- Flourish? then you would have Don't you remember one evening Mifs Well tho' they are fo impudent fometimes; yet they are fo genteel, fo eafy, fo carelefs, and fo agreeable, that one can hardly be offended at any thing they fay or do :- ton -If you had been with us then Mifs Doggril, you would not wonder at my turning off my Yankie fpark. Mifs Doggril. Kind fortune! bring them back--" or let us drink of Lethe's fountain, and forget to think," Re-enter Mrs. Flourish in a Hurry Mrs. Flourish, Take care girls what you fay now:- Capt. Aid is coming in ;-remember he is an officer in the reb, I had like to have fpoke treafon-in our army, Joa bib turd Enter (9) Enter Aid-a little gay. Pretent Aid. Ladies your moft obedient ;-Mr. Runt. I am Your's. Runt. Your humble fervant Sir ;-How do you do Mr. Aide Capt-I beg your pardon Sir. Mrs. Flourish. Take a chair Captain Aid ;-will you drink glafs of wine? Aid. With all my heart madam.Ladies your health Mr. Runt your health :And long life, health, and profpe- rity, to His Moft Chriftian Majefty; and Godlike, glorious WASHINGTON. Maclod.ots Mrs. Flourish. Thank'ce Sir. lex [Speaking very faimly.] Runt. With all my heart Captain :--I really take that WASHINGTON to be a very clever fellow. Aid. Let us be filent on that fubject Mr. Runt :-We have. neither time, nor talents, to do it juftice Mrs. Flourish. Why? He is no more than man; Captain Aid. Aid. Then all mankind befide are lefs; madam: Mrs. Flourish, You have not feen all mankind Sir,I believe Mr. WASHINGTON or General WASHINGTON if you pleafe, is a very honeft, good kind of a man; and has taken infinite pains to keep your army together; and I wish he may find his account in it : But doubtlefs there are his equals ;- to fay no more. Aid. If you meant that as a compliment, madam; it is really fo cold a one; it has made me fhiver; -I will therefore with your leave, drop the fubject; and take another glafs of wine. Runt. Ay, ay, that's right Captain: I think there are more fabjects for a young gentleman's contemplation in this room. Aid. Still gallant Mr, Rant: But the ladies muft pardon me if I cannot readily affent to the juftice of your rebuke; when I affure them, that I think fuch charms as theirs, would juftify my inattention ( 10 ) inattention to every other object, but what concerns my General, or my country. Mifs Taxall. I beileve we are are all very ready to pardon your inattention to us at all times. Aid. Curfe your impudence.-Afide. Knowing my inclina- tion, and particular attention to pleaſe and oblige the ladies; you fay what you pleafe without the hazard of offending And as you feem difpofed at this time to be merry at my expence; I am extremely forry to deprive you of the opportunity, by being oblig- ed to leave you. Exit Aid: Scene changes to the houfe of Mrs. Taxall. Enter Mrs. Taxall, Mifs Taxall and Tab. Mrs. Taxall. I am afraid Tab we fhall be obliged to do fome- thing at laft, The gentlemen will be tired by and by: I have found already that fome of them do not come fo often as formerly; and when they do come, are not fo ready to take a hint, tho' pretty broad; and I am really afhamed to fpeak plainer than I do. Tab. Why Ma'am ! I am fure you have no reafon to complain yet: -You remember the laft time the gentlemen drank tea here, how very generous one of them was to Mifs, and ano- ther very readily took your hint about the, by what he fent- the next day: And you cannot but acknowledge that they have been exceeding genteel to Mifs Taxall:If any one has reafon to complain; I think it is poor Tab. Mrs. Taxall, I grant Tab they have done very well, confidering who they are; but I begin to fear that it will not laft; unless we could depend upon a new fet every now and then, which is fo precarious that I wish we had fome other dependence. Tab. Why you know Ma'am that I have taken in work for fome particular people :But before I would ftoop to work for our modern muſhroom gentry; I had rather farve. Mifs Taxall. I think Mamma that Tab is to be commended for her ( 11 ) her fpirit; I'm fure I fhould rather ftarve than take in work for any body. Mrs. Taxall. Why, I can't but fay I commend fuch a fpirit; It is very humiliating to people of tafte and fathion, who have brought up a family fo very genteely as I have, to think that any of them muft ftoop fo low.-1 am therefore determined to wait till neceffity drives me, before I fubmit to it.-Thefe times cannot laft always. Perhaps we may fee fuch days again, as we faw in the fiege. Mifs Taxall. O Mamma! I fear we never fhall, Tab, I don't defpair yet. Mifs Taxall. Well Tab if you don't defpair, I am fure I have no reafon. Enter Mifs P and Mifs B. Mifs P. Your fervant ladies !-Mifs Taxall when did you fee Captain Aid? He paffed us juft now as if he did not know us. Mifs B-. We heard he was affronted the winter before laft, at our not going to the affembly,-and now I fuppofe he is offended becauſe we do go. Mrs. Tax all. I have heard feveral gentlemen remark upon that affair, Mifs B-, and the late extraordinary change in your Papa's conduct; not much to his advantage :-But I never open'd my lips, tho' I confefs to you I think it looks odd. Mifs B. Why Ma'am ! When my Papa forbid our going to the Affembly, the winter before laft; he thought the British troops would be here again in the fpring following, and retake the town; and was afraid it would hurt his and our characters, if he kept com- pany with the liberty people :But now he thinks they will not come again: Mrs. Taxall. That may be a fufficient reafon for his allowing you to go now; but his being a Manager looks as if he was really fond of fuch company. Mifs B. Why Ma'am ! He was urged to it, and as it was not like ( 12 ) like taking up arms; he thought it beft to accept.- Enter Turncoat. Mrs. Taxall, I have been telling Mifs B-, that fome gentle- men have expreffed great furprize at the apparent alteration in your conduct, Mr. Turncoat. Turnceat. I don't doubt it Madam ;-and readily guefs on what account; but if thofe gentlemen wou'd confider the great change in our affairs; and the critical fituation of my family, intereft, and connections; they could not juftly blame me; as they know my determination ftill is,never to take an active part on either fide. Mrs. Taxall. Well Sir I believe you are right all things confi- dered. Pray Sir did you hear of the Fracas at the concert the other evening, between two gentlemen? I wish to hear the particulars. Mifs Taxall. La Mamma! it was nothing at all: They went fo far as to draw on each other, to be fure; but no blood Mamma. I with the ladies would adopt the fame method of deciding their quarrels as it neither wounds the fkin or reputation. Andoqu Scene at the houfe of Mrs. Bubble. Enter Mrs. Bubble and Betty. Betty. I have brought back the filk Ma'am; the lady fays you have not fent all and refufes to take it again. Mrs. Bubble. Well I'll tee about it: You may go.-Exit Betty. Bubble has refufed to buy it for me; and I am determined nobody elfe fhall have it. Enter Bubble. Bubble. Do you go to the Affembly to-morrow evening my dear Mrs. Bubble. No! that I fhan't,-Yes I will too, and in my worft gown-But I am determined not to dance-Yes I will dance a minuet on purpofe to mortify you by my drefs; why Mr. Bubble t how can you ask me to go to the affembly when you know I have got nothing fit to wear? And yet you have refufed to buy for me the genteeleft, prettieft thing I ever faw-and every body fays it is exceeding [ 13 ] exceeding cheap for paper money only a thoufand dollars. Bubble, Very cheap indeed! Only a thoufand dollars! Mrs. Bubble, And not much the worfe for wear neither-Any body who was to fee it on me would fuppofe it quite new-But I have a great mind never to go among fuch cattle again; for unlefs one can eclipfe them in drefs; there is no mortifying them any o ther way--and that is all the pleafüre one can take in going into Such company. Scene changes to a Coffee-houſe. Enter Aid and Carelefs." Aid, We shall both be in Coventry foon Careless-Curfe on the girls!-There is no keeping company with them without being a rafcal. Jud Careless, Why? What's the matter Aid? ha! ha! ha! Aid, Hold! hold! Don't you crow:-There's a Devil of a form brewing for you my lad I met Tab juft now: She is running about brawling like a bedlamite against you. Careless, Poor Tab! What does the fay Aid?mo Aid, D-m me if I can tell, tho' I heard her run on for half an hour; I can only recollect- that puppy Careless-that young coxcomb! Continental fhirts, ha! I'll Conrinental fhirts him-a little faucy impudent puppy'-what the Devil does the meanCareless. Careless, Ha, ha, ha !-Why I'll tell you Aid-I was in com- pany the other evening with that pretty fet; tho' by the way fome of them are really pretty: But Entre nous Aid-They are a damn'd fet It is unneceffary to repeat the converfation; fuffice it to fay it was upon the old topic; which they handled with fo much ran- cour, and indecency, fparing none of us; and fo very lavifa of their encomiums, on the British officers ;--that I confefs I felt not a little vexed; and in revenge.-as well as to divert the converfa- tion ;-propofed, their making each two fhirts a week, for the Continental foldiers: Aid, Did you by Heaven? Well how was it received? Carelefs (14) Careless, As I intended; faith !-it operated fo violently on Tab, that I expected nothing short of an hyfteric fit; her efforts to contain her rage muft have been exceffive, if one may judge by her Borribly diftorted countenance. Aid, Why I dare fwear Carelefs, it was her natutal look, which you took for fach an horrible diftortion. Careleft. No, no, Aid,-Though we all agree the is dam'd ugly at beft, yet I never faw her look quite fo much like the devil before, But at laft fhe was relieved by opening upon me.-Heavens and Earth what a volley !-I ftood the fhock for fome time; at length I pretended to be very forry, and begged their pardon. Then ad- dreffing TabI had no thought of giving the leaft offence, faid I, my dear young lady; but was really fimple enough to think, that while the gentlemen were fighting,bleeding and dying for their Country; that the ladies could do no lefs than I propofed :-Ne- vertheless, convinced by the force of your arguments I give up the Point.I had fcarce finished before I faw fymptoms of another explofion from the fame quarter:and feeing not one advocate in the room; but on the contrary,every countenance deeply tinged with the irafcible; I thought it beft to decamp; which I did leaving them not a little chagrined. Aid, I am very glad of it.for between you and I Careless, I begin to be tick of fuch company; though I think what they fay is of very little confequence. Careless, It is of fo much confequence in my opinion; that I think it the duty of every whig to difcountenance fuch indecent raillery and abufe, at all times and upon all occafions. Aid, If many would join in it---it would do--but fhould two or three only attempt it--they would appear ridiculous. Careless, Ridiculous, or not; was I to continue here for anytime I fhould not hesitate to treat them with the neglect and contempt they' deferve. Such a conduct invariably purfued, by thofe whom they affect ( 15 ) to defpife, would foon effect a great change in their converfation and conduct. Aid. I believe you are right Careless: I wish to Heaven the experiment was tried-O how I fhould glory in feeing the poor defpifed, neglected, folitary devils, looking and longing in vain for a bow or a fmile, to cheer their drooping fpirits. Careless, No man is more happy than I am, in the company of a pretty girl :-But fhall felfish confiderations weigh fo much with a man of honour, as to take a little damn'd paracidical viper to his bofom, becauſe it is pretty: Honour and patriotifm forbid it. O Aid! I am ashamed of the conduct of fome in this town, who profefs themfelves whigs ;---They are not barely doubtful,but in my opinion the most dangerous characters among you, but I fhall leave you foon; and with lefs regret on this account : ---Sincerely wish- ing, that on my return, I may find a great reformation, or a thoro extirpation. Bluſh B! bluth !---Thy honeft fons bewail, That dance and fong o'er patriot zeal prevail; That whigs and tories (join'd by wayward chance) Should hand in hand, lead on the ſprightly dance, Or fword to fword as harmlefsly oppofe, As all fuch heroes would their country's foes. Here lur'd by fashion, opp'fite int'refts join, And lull their cares and rage,in cards and wine; Here friends to freedom, vile apoftates meet, And here unblufhing can each other greet; In mix'd affembly-fee they croud the place; Stain to their country- -To their Sires Difgrace; Hell in fome hearts; but pleafure in each face, All---all are qualifi'd to join this tribe; Who have an hundred dollars to fubfcribe, } THE EN D. (2) all ai grignoltbar gricol avab piilo To vasquos h ad of divisio dom of dyig and bidiol miroi of of ald Mimb shall a saf Exedron ons Jashar tr pabanging) od no bral her dra obasit or em HT Coll & ok. 10-23-69 C 1779 Warren, Mercy Otis Wa CERCUCU COCO CCC The WILLIAM L. CLEMENTS LIBRARY University of Michigan Gift of The Clements Library Associates