SIR,--I humbly solicit your patronage to the following Comedy, which, though an unfinished one, is, I flatter myself, as complete a _Mystery_ as any of its kind. I am, Sir, your most humble Servant, THE AUTHOR. THE MYSTERY, A COMEDY. _DRAMATIS PERSONAE._ _Men._ Col. ELLIOT. OLD HUMBUG. YOUNG HUMBUG. Sir EDWARD SPANGLE _and_ CORYDON. _Women._ FANNY ELLIOTT. MRS. HUMBUG _and_ DAPHNE. ACT I. SCENE I.--_A Garden._ _Enter_ CORYDON. _Corydon._ But hush: I am interrupted. [_Exit_ CORYDON. _Enter_ OLD HUMBUG _and his_ SON, _talking._ _Old Hum._ It is for that reason that I wish you to follow my advice. Are you convinced of its propriety? _Young Hum._ I am, sir, and will certainly act in the manner you have pointed out to me. _Old Hum._ Then let us return to the house. [_Exeunt._ SCENE II.--_A parlour in_ HUMBUG'S _house_. Mrs. HUMBUG _and_ FANNY _discovered at work._ _Mrs. Hum._ You understand me, my love? _Fanny._ Perfectly, ma'am: pray continue your narration. _Mrs. Hum._ Alas! it is nearly concluded; for I have nothing more to say on the subject. _Fanny._ Ah! here is Daphne. _Enter_ DAPHNE. _Daphne._ My dear Mrs. Humbug, how d'ye do? Oh! Fanny, it is all over. _Fanny._ Is it indeed! _Mrs. Hum._ I'm very sorry to hear it. _Fanny._ Then 'twas to no purpose that I---- _Daphne._ None upon earth. _Mrs. Hum._ And what is to become of----? _Daphne._ Oh! 'tis all settled. (_Whispers_ Mrs. HUMBUG.) _Fanny._ And how is it determined? _Daphne._ I'll tell you. (_Whispers_ FANNY.) _Mrs. Hum._ And is he to----? _Daphne._ I'll tell you all I know of the matter. (_Whispers_ Mrs. HUMBUG _and_ FANNY.) _Fanny._ Well, now I know everything about it, I'll go away. _Mrs. Hum._} And so will I. [_Exeunt._ _Daphne._ } SCENE III.--_The curtain rises, and discovers_ Sir EDWARD SPANGLE _reclined in an elegant attitude on a sofa fast asleep._ _Enter_ Col. ELLIOTT. _Col. E._ My daughter is not here, I see. There lies Sir Edward. Shall I tell him the secret? No, he'll certainly blab it. But he's asleep, and won't hear me, so I'll e'en venture. (_Goes up to_ Sir EDWARD, _whispers him, and exit._) _End of the First Act. Finis._ * * * * * A somewhat later venture, pure extravaganza, called _Evelyn_ is dedicated, by permission, to Miss Mary Lloyd.