NEW YEAR's FROLIC, for 1778. Jan. 2, 1778. A Convivial circle of Perfons of Diftinction af fembled yesterday in Grofvenor-fquare, to usher in the New Year, where, after dinner, it was dif puted for fome time,-" What Author had drawn "the most numerous, and finifhed likeneffes of man"kind?"-An old-fashioned Peer, the noble owner of the hotel, contended for Shakespear; but the whole groupe diffented, by obferving, that his portraits were obfolete, and more of caricatures than characters. Piqued at this extraordinary judgment, the venerable Nobleman went immediately to his library, and returning with a large folio edition of his favourite Poet, informed the company, that a whim had juft Aruck him, which would probably decide the difpute; defiring at the fame time, that each of the party would write the names of their moft intimate friends, as well as their own, upon Small flips of paper, which he further requested might be dropped promifcuously into the volume at the various places hc fhould open; after which he would carefully fee whether the dead Painter of Nature would not be able to hit off a living likeness or two out of the number. -His request being complied plied with, the book was indifcriminately opened feveral times before all prefent, when the annexed' names, to the astonishment of the fashionable infidels, were found lying upon the following paffages;fair tranfcript of which, as they occurred, was made, without diftinction of rank or fex, and voted by a confiderable majority, to be sent to the Morning Pof.-Our Correfpondent will not vouch for the likenees, but fuch as they are, prefents them to the beau monde, under the title of Modern CHARACTERS by SHAKESPEAR. Mrs. C. WE. WHY, if two gods fhould play fome heav'nly match, And on the wager lay two earthly women, And Portia one,-there must be fomething elfe Pawn'd with the other; for the poor, rude world, Hath not her fellow Merch. V. A& III. Duke of M- GH. Take phyfic pomp! Expose thyfelf to feel what wretches feel, 'That thou may'ft shake the fuperflux to them, And shew the Heav'ns more juf! You seem to be as Dian in her orb, Lear, A& III. As chate as is the bud, ere it be blown'; But But you are more intemp'rate in your blood Than Venns! Much Ado, A& Iv. otton Duke of BN. Bull Jove, Sir, had an amiable low, And fome strange bull leap'd your father's cow, Ditto, A& V. And I have not forgotten what the infide of a church is made of—I am a pepper-corn,-a brewer's horfe! the infide of a church!Company, hath been the spoil of me. villainous company Heu. IV. Part I. A& III. Another taken from me too? Why juft Heav'n, Am I still left the last in life, and woe? Rich, III. A& II. bour Lord M-LINE. Will you have me, Lady? No, my Lord, unless I might have another for working-days.-Your Grace is too coftly to wear every day. Much Ado, A& II. Lord Lord Mount -Heaven made him, and therefore let him páfs for man! Merch. V. A& VF. Mrs. B-v-] E. All of her that is out of door, most rich! Have loft the wager! Cymb. A& II. Gen. BNE. A He was wont to fpeak plain, and to the purpose, like an honest man and a foldier; and now he's turn'd Orthograper; his words are a fantaftical ban quet. Much Ado, A& II. Lord Beling box. By your leave, fweet Ladies! If I chance to talk wild, forgive me : I had it from my father. He was very mad, As I do now! Hen. VIII. A& I. Dutch. of PTLam. Difdain, and scorn, ride sparkling in her eye, Values |