The Mayor of Garret

The play opened on Monday, the 20th of June, 1763 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, where it ran until the 3rd of September, 1763.

The Major describes a battle, and discusses the merits of various companies with Sir Jacob.

The Major is to act as magistrate for the election of the new mayor; he and Sir Jacob expect many oaths from the townspeople today.

Roger, a servant, enters, and announces that the people outside are suggesting a candidate for the position of mayor.

Sturgeon leaves, to Sir Jacob's comment that “the fish is got out of his element.” He returns with Mrs.

Sir Jacob suggests that the common people in the mob have the potential to be great orators: “you will meet with materials to make a Sylla, a Cicero, a Solon, or a Caesar”.

One candidate, Matthew Mug, presents his arguments for how to improve the town, but Heel-Tap refuses a bribe and denounces him.

Sir Jacob's family returns; he chastises Bruin for his harsh treatment of his wife.

Sir Jacob suggests that Heel-Tap act as the “Locum tenens” (deputy).

Mary Megie Belden asserted in 1929 that The Mayor of Garratt had much more in common with comedies of the Restoration era, than with contemporary 18th-century plays, observing that "Sneak and Bruin with their respective wives have been easily recognized as descendants of Bisket and Fribble with their respective wives in Epsom Wells [written by Thomas Shadwell], and the scene where Sneak peeps through the key-hole of the summer-house in Act 2 was doubtless suggested by a scene in the same play.