A new Play, called 'The ELECTION, Now performing at FOX's Theatre, in Covent-Garden : And in various Paris of the Kingdom his Servants. A Cooler's Stall,—Griffin at his work ham Hissing a fole. LcTtti-u, we ivmiitir, thou art a tough piece* and not unlike (he hide of my wife Bridget; for though I Ihould beat her hide with all my might and main, I cannot lhape the vixen to my fancy : Oh your hard foles (hammering) are the moll ufelefs *f all others, except to the wearer. If I was a leadingrnan in the State I would move for » law to be enabled, that good leather and good hemp (waxing his thread) fhould only be employed for fmuggling courtiers, purfis proud citizens *nd for Parliament men-^-If fiich a law might pafs it would be a rare thing for trade in general. SONG; Of all profeffions, fearch around, None beats the cobler's calling, The while his (helves with wcrk abound For hifn to flick his awl in. [Gobblingi He's ne'er afham'd to thrive by thrift* To Church and State he's fleady j To merd a fole* or lend a lift* You'll ever find him ready. [Gobbling. Could folks in Church and State fay this, Britannia ceafe to hobble; Alas! whate'er they do's amifs* All! all at beft, but cobble. [Still Cobbling. Enter Pander and Sir bilberry Diddle. Phu. Here's a poor pfalm-fingirg eobler, Sir Bilberry ; he has a vote for the Borough, as good as the beft ; do not let us pafs honeft Crifpin; Sir Bit. By the eflence of lillies, thouVt right, Pander ; the fcutn of the mobility as well as the fcum of the gentry, at ibis time, muft be at¬ tended to : 'tis a facrifice that's due to neceffity. Therefore may I never more breathe the mellifluous air of Montpelier, if I do not defcend to re- queft his fuffrage ; the controverted occafion carries with it a pardon for the humiliating and filthy eondefcenfion-i—Matter Shoe-maker, your molt devoted humble fervant (bdwing) I am, fweet Sir, your's to the . ground, [fill bousing. -f^Crifi Matter Shoe-maker—ado you mean t0 mock me ?—-No, no, I am no Shoe-maker, but like fome of you very fine gentlemen at the head of affairs—a poor cobler at beft. SirBil■ This fellow, Pander, has been commended by fome block¬ head like himfelf foj his ihfuffrrable bluntnefs, or he would never pre- fume to be fo (hocking to the feelings of delicacy. Pan. Bear with him, Sir Bilberry ; this is a time when men will (ay svhatevar comes uppermoft, paying no more refpe£t to delicacy than jEfcp'scock to his diamond. If you would fucceed, Sir Bilberry, you muft defcend to be perfectly reconciled to their oddities. Sir Bil. I will be reconciled—Well, huaeft eobler* do you love money ? Crif Yes; but I love hoftefty better- * SirBil. Honeftly faid ; if you'll do me a fevour you (ball have as much hoiteftyss you pleafe, and money into the bargain. Crif. Who are you* and may it pleafe you? Sir Bil. I am Sir Bilberry Diddle, Knight and Baronet, of Diddle- H 11, in this county, come to offer myfelf for your moftantient borough of Steady Town : fhould I be fo happy to obtain the ultimate zenith of my wi(h, you Mr. Cobler fhall loon find an alteration in the price of good ale ; bread fhal! be hot half the rate it ftands at now, and above all, your trade fhall flouriflh ond your taxes fall; fo that the Cobler aj well as the Prince fhall have the glorious opportunity of faddling his foil every day with a fat furlein; your right of common foon fhall be rcfto- #ed, and without excife of the Doftor's tythe, pigs* poultry, and plumb puddings, (hall crown your ctipbctfuTs all the year. Now give me your -vote friend Crifpin, aed es you puff your fragrant eflence from your ftall in merry glee, you'll heel the (hoe, and blefs the hour you gave a voice for Diddle. C-if. Oh! you fine powdered gentlemen ate foaiewhat like my cod- lin tree laft fpring. SirBU How's that, Cobler? CriJ. It then dealt a wonderful (how of blofforhs* fo much that I con¬ cluded a rare autumn; but alas ! I was miftakeif, I had not (o much as a crump ; fo 'tis with you who are candidates for boroughs; you pro- mife very fair in the fpring of your canvas, but in the autumn of elec¬ tion, when we fhciild expeft the fruit of goOd works of ypu, we too often find you wortblefs, bafe, and barren. Sir Bil. Nay, Mr. Cobler, you are too fevere in your conclufions; a man of my honour can never deceive you—can I, Pander ? Pan. No, Sir Bilberry—I have known Sir Bilberry from a child, and never knew a dishonourable thing by him upon, honour* friend Crifpin. JL—-—— Crif. That's the laft lye you told, friend Pander—Well Sir Bilberry Diddle, Knight and Baronet, of Diddle Hall, in this county—you are borne tp afk a vote of a poor Cobler. SirBil. lam, friend Crifpin, and^you may a flu re yourfelf, that there is not a man in the whole borough I refpett fo much as you, though but a poor Cobler. Crif. Indeed—that's ftrange why you never faw me before. SirBil O! that donV fignify ; I tell you, friend Crifpin, I refpedl you equal to the Mayor himfelf. Crif. Thai(s kind ; Come into my ftall, and fit down, and let's have a little chat together; there, that's hearty ; give us your flit. [Here Diddle takes up his cloaths, gets into the Cobler's flail, and fits down. Sir Bil. Pfhaw ! how he ftinks. [Afide. Crif. So you love me as well as the Mayor himfelf ? that's kind ; and fo we'll have a glafsofgin together; Sir Bil. O ! no ! 'pon honour. Crif. O yes ! when this is gone there's enough at the three Noffolk Dlimplins and Horfe-Shoe over the way come here's the King's health, God blefs him and his numerous pofterity (drinks) a giars of as good manmus as ever tip'd over an eiccifeman's tongue; here take hold. [Prefects it to Diddle. Sir Bil. Dear Mr. Cobler* you mtift pardon me. Crif No, no, you who love me as well as the Mayor himfelf muft drink with me, or I (hall take it unkind, and perhaps give my vote where 1 think I am more refpedted. SirBil. Refinance is in vain ; to get his vote I muft fubmit, and take tho p pi fori [afide.]—Well, friend Crifpin, to (hew that I refpeft yob, here's your's and the King's health (drinks) pfhaw, pfhaw, 'us a haufeous dr? ught, [Afide. Crif. That's well (throws his arm round Diddle1's neck.) my dear friend, that loves me as well as the Mayor himfelf; kifs my cheek, and rhen I will believe you are fincere in your friendfhip. Sir Bil. There* Crifpin (plhaw ! how he ftinks of vile fpirits and tobacco.) [Afide. C if. Give us your fill again (holding him ly the hand) my dear friend, Sir Bilberry, who loves me as well as the Mayor himfelf, who can defcend to drink gin with* and kifs a poor Cobler in his ftall—I heartily thank you, and now 1M finifh my (hoe, , SirBil. Well, honeft Crifpin, you promife to Vote for me ? Crif Who told you fo ? Sir Bil. O! my dear, I underftand you (taking out his purfe) here arecorian-Jers that will purchafe hides enough to heel piece the whole borough—Ivre, Crifpin. Crif What! a bribe—*oot of my flail, or by gingo I'll flick my awl to the head in your ■■ [Diddle leaies the fall, Crifpin follows. Sir Bil. Here's a tranfition. Pander. Crif. What! fhall Crifpin Heel-tap, the Cobler of Steady Town, give his vote to fuch a thing as ycii f a mean fpirited rafcal, who can ltoep to drink gin in a ftall, and to kifs the fweaty cheek of a poor Cobler ? No, no, to ferve your purpofe you would not mind (looping to kifs my ——; make off while you're fafe, I'll vo*e for none of your Jack a Dandies* but for my old faithful Matter Sir Thomas Tru¬ man— fo away Sir Fop, you have your anfwer. [Exeunt Diddle and Pander SONG. YE true hearted Britons, who wi(h to be free* Ne'er think it a fhame to take copy from me; Who tho' but a Cobler, and little my all* Dare fpum at a bribe, and fcout knaves from my ftall. Would ev'ry Eleftpr do this——I am fine Our trade would increafe, and our land be fecure ; The poor man with plenty might fup in his cot* With joy clap his hands, and exult in his lot. Then all take the hint* for you now may be free;] Defpife every Diddle who bows to the knee; Where fo much French folly and nonfenfe abound, Be fnre that the head and the heart is rot found. Let your choice be the man whodifdains all that's mead* To wound facred truth, or treat virtue obfeene ; Who feels as his own his poor country's diftrefs, And dares to do more than he's known to profefs. Such to your Senate my good friends advance ; Then a fig fojr Mynheer, for Don Spaniard and France* And, again, where the enfign of Brunfwick's unfurl'd, It lhali foon be the wonder and dread of the world, [Exit Cobler.