It premiered at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 15 February 1776.

[1] The original cast included Richard Yates as Mr Hargrave, William Smith as George Hargrave, Robert Bensley as Mr Drummond, William Brereton as Sir Charles Seymour, James Aickin as Mr Morley, William Parsons as Justice, John Palmer as Jarvis, Charles Bannister as First Hunter, Elizabeth Hopkins as Lady Dinah, Elizabeth Younge as Bella, Priscilla Hopkins as Harriet, Sarah Siddons as Emily and Mary Ann Wrighten as Susan.

Cowley dedicated the play to David Garrick, the actor-manager of Drury Lane, who wrote the prologue.

[2] George Hargrave, who is home from college, is overjoyed to learn that Emily, the mysterious runaway whom his godfather, Mr. Drummond, has taken in, is the same young lady he fell in love with at a recent masquerade.

Mr. Drummond saves the day by offering the young lovers some of his land so that they can have a fortune of their own.