[1] A farce it was first staged at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 2 July 1761.

[2] Another of Murphy's works The Old Maid was staged as the afterpiece The original cast included Edward Shuter as Old Philpot, Henry Woodward as Young Philpot, John Dunstall as Sir Jasper Wilding, Patrick Costollo as Dapper, James Perry as Quilldrive, Ann Elliot as Maria and Elizabeth Davies as Corinna.

Young Philpot has lost a fortune, but borrows money from his father and embarks on an insurance fraud involving shipwrecked goods.

In the second act, Philpot senior is visiting Corinna, a lady of loose virtue, but hides under the table when his son calls upon her.

Having signed away his rights old Philpot offers to marry her, but the lawyer reveals himself as Beaufort, and explains that he has swapped the deeds, so that Philpot has unwittingly signed his agreement for Maria to marry Beaufort.