Perhaps, the author despised this part of his play, as much as the severest critic can do; but having expended his store of entertainment upon the foregoing scenes, he was compelled to supply the bulk of the two last acts, from the scanty fund of wasted spirits, and exhausted invention. The life of Farquhar was full of adventures.--As a student, he was expelled the college of Dublin, for adventuring profane wit upon a sacred theme, given to him by his tutor for his exercise. As an actor, he forsook the stage in grief and horror, on having unknowingly made use of a real sword, instead of a counterfeit one, by which he wounded a brother performer, with whom he had to fence in a tragedy, nearly to the loss of his life. In love, and marriage, his enterprises were still more unhappily terminated.--And merely as an author, and a soldier, can any events of his life be accounted prosperous. As a dramatic writer, Farquhar was eminently successful; and in his military capacity, he was ever honoured and beloved--whether fighting with a great army in Flanders, or recruiting with a small party in Shropshire. DRAMATIS PERSON∆. CAPTAIN PLUME _Mr. Holman._ JUSTICE BALANCE _Mr. Murray._ WORTHY _Mr. Whitfield._ SERJEANT KITE _Mr. Knight._ BULLOCK _Mr. Fawcett._ FIRST RECRUIT _Mr. Munden._ SECOND RECRUIT _Mr. Emery._ WELSH COLLIER _Mr. Farley._ CONSTABLE _Mr. Thompson._ CAPTAIN BRAZEN _Mr. Lewis._ MELINDA _Miss Chapman._ ROSE _Mrs. Gibbs._ LUCY _Mrs. Litchfield._ SYLVIA _Mrs. Johnson._ _SCENE--Shrewsbury._ THE RECRUITING OFFICER. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. _The Market Place._ _Drum beats the Grenadier's March.--Enter_ SERJEANT KITE, _followed by_ THOMAS APPLETREE, COSTAR PEARMAIN, _and the_ MOB. Kite. [_Making a Speech._] If any gentlemen soldiers or others, have a mind to serve his majesty, and pull down the French king; if any 'prentices have severe masters, any children have undutiful parents; if any servants have too little wages, or any husband too much wife, let them repair to the noble Serjeant Kite, at the sign of the Raven, in this good town of Shrewsbury, and they shall receive present relief and entertainment.--[_Drum._]--Gentlemen, I don't beat my drums here to insnare or inveigle any man; for you must know, gentlemen, that I am a man of honour: besides, I don't beat up for common soldiers; no, I list only grenadiers; grenadiers, gentlemen.----Pray, gentlemen, observe this cap--this is the cap of honour; it dubs a man a gentleman, in the drawing of a trigger; and he, that has the good fortune to be born six foot high, was born to be a great man--Sir, will you give me leave to try this cap upon your head? _Cost._ Is there no harm in't? won't the cap list me? _Kite._ No, no, no more than I can.--Come, let me see how it becomes you.