BROAD-STREET, AND SOLD BY THE
DIFFERENT BOOKSELLERS.

M. DCC. LXXXIX.

FAC-SIMILE TITLE-PAGE TO THE 1789 EDITION]

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

MEN.

TRUEMAN.
OLD LOVEYET.
CHARLES LOVEYET, _engaged to_ HARRIET.
FRANKTON, _his Friend_.
WORTHNOUGHT.
HUMPHRY.
TOUPEE.
THOMAS.

WOMEN.

HARRIET, _daughter to_ TRUEMAN.
MARIA, _her Friend_.
TABITHA CANTWELL.
HERALD.
DOLLY.

SCENE--The city of New-York. Time of four acts is one day, and the
fifth act commences the second day.

THE

POLITICIAN OUT-WITTED

ACT I.

SCENE I. _OLD LOVEYET'S House._

_Enter OLD LOVEYET._

Ugh, ugh, ugh,--what a sad rage for novelty there is in this foolish world!
How eagerly all your inspectors in the _Daily Advertiser_, the _New-York
Packet_, and all the long catalogue of advertisers and intelligencers,
catch'd at the news of the day just now at the Coffee-House; though a wise
man and a king has told them, there's nothing new under the sun. Ugh, ugh,
ugh.

_Enter THOMAS._

Well, Thomas, what's the news? [_Eagerly._

THOMAS. Nothing strange, sir.

LOVEYET. That's more than I can say, Thomas, for I'm sure 'tis strange to
hear so many people praise this same new Constitution, as it is
call'd.--Has the _New-York Journal_ been brought to-day?

THOMAS. Yes, sir.

[_Fetches the newspaper._

LOVEYET. Look if it contains anything worth reading, Thomas; anything in
behalf of the good old cause.

THOMAS. Yes, sir, here's something will suit your honour's notion to a
hair.

[_Offers it to LOVEYET._

LOVEYET. No, Thomas, do you read it,--I'm afraid I shall cast my eyes upon
something that's on the other side of the question; some wicked
consolidation scheme or another.

THOMAS. Why, you know, sir, there's never anything in this paper but what's
on your side of the question.

LOVEYET. True, true; by my body, you're right enough, Tom.--I forgot that:
but never mind; since you've got the paper, do you read it.

THOMAS. He only wants me to read, because he can't see to do it
himself,--he's almost as blind as a bat, and yet he won't use spectacles
for fear of being thought old. [_Aside._

LOVEYET. Come, Thomas, let's have it,--I'm all ears to hear you.

THOMAS. 'Tis a pity you have not a little more eyesight and brains along
with your ears. [_Aside._]