he plot is mechanical, but the convictions of the two
opposing fathers, on the subject of the Constitution, give the play an
interest in character and in viewpoint which is marked. It is not a piece
adapted to the theatre, there being slight action of a cumulative kind;
but, as an example of early closet drama, it cannot be ignored.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The/Politician Out-witted,/a/Comedy,/In Five Acts./Written in the
Year 1788./By an American./"Then let not Censure, with malignant
joy,/"The harvest of his humble hope destroy!"/Falconer's Shipwreck.
[Colophon.]/New-York:/Printed for the Author, by W. Ross, in
Broad-Street,/and Sold by the Different Booksellers./ M. DCC. LXXXIX./

[2] Through the assiduous researches of a member of the staff of the
Americana Division of the New York Public Library, who has generously
given me permission to use the results of this investigation, there is
brought to light, in the New York Directory for 1803, the name of Widow
Ann Low, keeper of a boarding-house. There is a plausible theory framed
by this investigator that, maybe, Samuel Low died during the New York
yellow fever epidemic of 1803, although his name does not occur in the
New York _Evening Post_ death lists for that year. It may be that our
Samuel, as revealed in the annals of the Dutch Reform Church, v. 1, p.
273; v. 32, p. 23 (New York Geneological and Biographical Society),
married Anne Creiger, as recorded on April 20, 1797, and that she may be
the "Widow Ann" referred to above. The Nicholas Low mentioned in the
Directories of the time as President of the Bank of New York, and who
was well-to-do, must have been the brother, or some near relation. There
are many Samuel Lows of this period; one (1739-1807) mentioned in the D.
A. R. Lineage, v. 15; another who married Margaret Kip. The nearest we
get to our Low's parentage is a reference, in the Reports of the New
York Geneological and Biographical Society, v. 29, p. 36, to John and
Susanna Low, whose son, Samuel, was, born December 22, 1765.
Identification has yet to be established.

[3] Poems, By Samuel Low. In two volumes. New York: Printed by T. & J.
Swords. 1800.

[Illustration: THE

POLITICIAN OUT-WITTED,

A

COMEDY,

IN FIVE ACTS.

Written in the YEAR 1788.

BY AN AMERICAN.

"Then let not Censure, with malignant joy,
The harvest of his humble hope destroy!"

_Falconer's Shipwreck._

NEW-YORK:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY W. ROSS, IN