r Philip Blandford is
described, should entrust any man, especially such a man as Bob Handy,
with a secret, on which, not only his reputation, but his life depended,
can upon no principle of reason be accounted for; unless the author took
into consideration, what has sometimes been observed,--that a murderer,
in contrivance to conceal his guilt, foolishly fixes on the very means,
which bring him to conviction.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

SIR PHILIP BLANDFORD _Mr. Pope._
MORRINGTON _Mr. Murray._
SIR ABEL HANDY _Mr. Munden._
BOB HANDY _Mr. Fawcett._
HENRY _Mr. H. Johnston._
FARMER ASHFIELD _Mr. Knight._
EVERGREEN _Mr. Davenport._
GERALD _Mr. Waddy._
POSTILLION _Mr. Abbot._
YOUNG HANDY'S SERVANT _Mr. Klanert._
PETER _Mr. Atkins._

MISS BLANDFORD _Mrs. H. Johnston._
LADY HANDY _Mrs. Dibdin._
SUSAN ASHFIELD _Miss Murray._
DAME ASHFIELD _Mrs. Davenport._

SPEED THE PLOUGH.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

_In the fore ground a Farm House.--A view of a Castle at a distance._

FARMER ASHFIELD _discovered at a table, with his jug and pipe._

_Enter_ DAME ASHFIELD, _in a riding dress, and a basket under her arm._

_Ash._ Well, Dame, welcome whoam. What news does thee bring vrom market?

_Dame._ What news, husband? What I always told you; that Farmer Grundy's
wheat brought five shillings a quarter more than ours did.

_Ash._ All the better vor he.

_Dame._ Ah! the sun seems to shine on purpose for him.

_Ash._ Come, come, missus, as thee hast not the grace to thank God for
prosperous times, dan't thee grumble when they be unkindly a bit.

_Dame._ And I assure you, Dame Grundy's butter was quite the crack of
the market.

_Ash._ Be quiet, woolye? aleways ding, dinging Dame Grundy into my
ears--what will Mrs. Grundy zay? What will Mrs. Grundy think--Canst thee
be quiet, let ur alone, and behave thyzel pratty?

_Dame._--Certainly I can--I'll tell thee, Tummas, what she said at
church last Sunday.

_Ash._ Canst thee tell what parson zaid? Noa--Then I'll tell thee--A'
zaid that envy were as foul a weed as grows, and cankers all wholesome
plants that be near it--that's what a' zaid.

_Dame._ And do you think I envy Mrs. Grundy indeed?

_Ash._ Why dant thee letten her aloane then--I do verily think when thee