ceived to be an accident, and therefore did not resent, though the rudeness of the gentleman aftonished me much, as he did not offer any apology. My two friends returned before the farce began. On entering the box, by accident, the flap of the feat fell against the officer, for which an immediate apology was offered, which, the officer not regarding, thought proper to say, we were troublesome, and that he did not know what business we had there-sharp words enfued-the dispute however fubfided, and civility feemed to be perfectly restored.

A few minutes before the farce ended, the officer who had been fo very rude went out :-my friends and I, when the amufement concluded, were retiring peaceably through the box-room-We there faw fix or feven officers standing together; one of them, pointing to me, faid, That is he ;'upon which the officer who had distinguished himself by his rudeness in the box, seized me by the collar, and, with the most abufive language, threatened to break my bones. One of my friends remonstrated on the impropriety of such expreffions, and offered to give him my addrefs, which the other rejected with more fcurrility of language, and then pushed the pummel of his fword with great violence in my eye. A fcuffle enfued, and I made the best defence I was able with a ftick which I fortunately happened to have in my hand. The other officers joined in the attack, threatening inftant death, which I have every reason to apprehend would have been the consequence, (for THEY DREW THEIR SWORDS) had it not been for the interference of fome gentlemen prefent, whose intrepidity broke into the circle in which they had me encompaffed, and prevented any fatality which might have been intended.

I have been moft unmeritedly traduced, and expreffions alledged to have been applied by me to the ladies in the box, (of which I truft I am incapable) which would have -difgraced the meanest of mankind; and which, if really used,

muft

I muft have drawn forth the inftant refentment of the two officers under whofe immediate protection those ladies were; -but those gentlemen not only thought proper to fit filent during the altercation in the box, but to take no part in the affray which ensued.

Of the foregoing facts I have numerous respectable witneffes, many of whom were before total strangers to me.-I am not difpofed to enter into newspaper contests, or abufive recrimination. This is the first and last time I shall take notice of any anonymous publications; having reforted to the laws of the country, from which, though a stranger, (being a citizen of London) I have full confidence in meeting redrefs. I am, also, proud to say, that I am now a citizen of the metropolis of Ireland, and I trust never to be found shrinking from the duties I owe to that character; and I feel that I fhould wrong the justice of my cause, if I had not an honeft confidence in the candour, impartiality, and support of my fellow citizens.

No. 129, Abbey-street,
Dec. 26, 1789.

MICHAEL WORTH.

THE

CONTAINING A FAITHFUL RELATION OF A STRANGE AND TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN NINE GREAT

OFFICERS AND A PEACEFUL CITIZEN.

BY AN EYE-WITNESS.

GOD profper long our noble king,

Our lives and fafeties all!

A woeful fkirmifh late there did

In SPRANGER'S booth befall."

Tho' ftrange it should be fung or faid,
Impeach my lays who can,

How nine dubb'd errants, dight in red,

From one fmall merchant ran.

To lounge the tedious hours they went

At HEXHAM's mimic fight;2

But dearly fhall they all repent

The paftime of that night.

Alert

Alert they to the boxes crowd,

Of gaudy trappings vain,

And look, full crufty, glum and proud,

On little folks difdain,

They gabble loud, damn all they faw,
And all the house disturb;

For 'gainft ill-breeding there's no law,
And on their tongues no curb.

A youth beside them took his place,

Of small account to fee,

And, footh to say, 'twas great disgrace,

He fhould fo near them be.

Him firft in guarded fpeech they taunt,
Which courteous he repell'd;

Thence gathering heart they huff and vaunt,

By him with smiles beheld.

For prowess high in PLYMOUTH streets

Recorded ftands their fame,

And eke their thrice renowned feats,
DEE's frighted fhores proclaim, 3

Nor

Nor fhall thy meed in OSTMEN'S-TOWN,

SLIEVE-GORGET be forgot,

When GEORGE, the hatter, knock'd thee down;

CORK-HILL, the fatal spot.

Prefuming like a lordly brave,
Thou didst thy venom spit;

But that could not thy bacon save,
Which might have taught thee wit.

FITZ-MINION too may rue the day
With Volunteer at ftrife,

Who kick'd and cuff'd him on the quay,
For tampering with his wife.

The deeds erewhile of their compeers

I could alike unveil;

But now in pity spare their fears;
The time fupplies my tale.-

The prompter rang, the curtain rose,

The actors plied their parts;
But nothing could content the beaux,

For rancour fill'd their hearts.

Eftfoon