The patron [The devil upon two sticks.--The maid of Bath.--The bankrupt] / [Samuel Foote].

  • Samuel Foote
Date:
1794
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The patron [The devil upon two sticks.--The maid of Bath.--The bankrupt] / [Samuel Foote]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1 HIS Comedy was performed, for the first time, at tike Little Theatre, Hay-Market, in the season of '1764. To Mannontel the author is indebted for his hint. The kero of the scene is held up as a child of fortune .and fashion, enveloped in self-conceit, and a dupe to ■ those'whose interest it is to flatter him into a belief, that he is in the possession of every virtue, and everf talent that can adorn and dignify elevated life. This dramatic shaft was said to be levelled at a noble lord, whose name we forbear to mention. In his patron, Mr. Foote indulges his vein for irony at the expence of the antiquarians. To expose this race appears to be his favourite task, and it must be allowed to be well executed in the present produElion] for a character more ludicrous than that of Rust was never exhibited on the English stage. His West India merchant. Sir Peter Pepperpot, is a too faithful picture of bloated prosperity, where cruelty and oppression have attaineciwealth and situation, des- titute of mind or sense to bestow lustre on the one, or weight on the other. The poet and the bookseller come in for their share, of applause; keep up the ball of humour, point,’and cha- racter ; and although The Patron has not been perform- ed for many years, for its author's sake, we tr ust it will be welcomed by ourfriends. A z
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