TUMBLE-DOWN DICK

OR

PHAETON IN THE SUDS

A DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT OF WALKING IN SERIOUS AND FOOLISH CHARACTERS

Interlarded with Burlesque, Grotesque, Comic Interludes

CALLED

HARLEQUIN A PICK-POCKET

AS IT IS PERFORMED AT

THE NEW THEATRE IN THE HAYMARKET

Being ('tis hoped) the last Entertainment that will ever be Exhibited on any Stage

INVENTED BY THE INGENIOUS

MONSIEUR SANS ESPRIT

THE MUSIC COMPOSED BY THE HARMONIOUS

SIGNIOR WARBLERINI

AND THE SCENES PAINTED BY THE PRODIGIOUS

MYNHEER VAN BOTTOM-FLAT

Monstr horrend' inform.

FIRST ACTED IN 1744

TO MR. JOHN LUN

Vulgarly called ESQUIRE

SIR, Though Pasquin has put dedications in so ridiculous a light, that patrons may, perhaps, pay some shame for the future for reading their own praises; yet, I hope you will not begin to be affected with so troublesome a passion, when I tell you, I know no man in England to whom I can so properly dedicate the following pages as yourself.

It is to you, sir, we owe (if not the invention) at least the bringing into a fashion, that sort of writing which you have pleased to distinguish by the name of Entertainment. Your success herein (whether owing to your heels or your head I will not determine) sufficiently entitles you to all respect from the inferior dabblers in things of this nature.

But, sir, I have farther obligations to you than the success, whatever it be, which this little farce may meet with, can lay on me. It was to a play judiciously brought on by you in the May-month, to which I owe the original hint, as I have always owned, of the contrasted poets, and two or three other particulars, which have received great applause on the stage. Nor am I less obliged to you for discovering in my imperfect performance the strokes of an author, any of whose wit, if I have preserved entire, I shall think it my chief merit to the town. Though I cannot enough cure myself of selfishness, while I meddle in dramatic writings, to profess a sorrow that one of so superior a genius is led, by his better sense and better fortune, to more profitable studies than the stage. How far you have contributed to this, I will not presume to determine. Farther, as Pasquin has proved of greater advantage to me, than it could have been at any

other play-house, under their present regulations, I am obliged to you for the indifference you showed at my proposal to you of bringing a play on your stage this winter, which immediately determined me against any farther pursuing that project; for as I never yielded to any mean or subservient solicitations of the great men in real life, I could by no means prevail on myself to play an underpart in that dramatic entertainment of greatness, which you are pleased to divert yourself with in private, and which, was you to exhibit it in public, might prove as profitable to you, and as diverting a Pantomime to the town, as any you have hitherto favoured us with.

I am, moreover, much obliged to you for that satire on Pasquin, which you was so kind to bring on your stage; and here I declare (whatever people may think to the contrary) you did it of your own goodness, without any reward or solicitation from me. I own it was a sensible pleasure to me to observe the town, which had before been so favourable to Pasquin at his own house, confirming that applause, by thoroughly condemning the satire on him at yours.

Whether this was written by your command, or your assistance, or only acted by your permission, I will not venture to decide. I believe every impartial honest man will conclude, that either lays me under the same obligation to you, and justly entitles you to this dedication. Indeed, I am inclined to believe the latter; for I fancy you have too strong a head ever to meddle with Common-sense, especially since you have found the way so well to succeed without her, and you are too great and good a Manager, to keep a needless supernumerary in your house.

I suppose you will here expect something in the dedicatory style on your person and your accomplishments: but why should I entertain the town with a recital of your particular perfections, when they may see your whole merit all at once, whenever you condescend to perform the Harlequin? However, I shall beg leave to mention here (I solemnly protest, without the least design of flattery) your adequate behaviour in that great station to which you was born, your great judg