port or improve the fenfe; but the first and laft parts are worked up with great spirit and elegance.

His time was spent in the prifon for the most part in ftudy, or in receiving vifits; but fometimes he defcended to lower amusements, and diverted himself in the kitchen with the converfation of the criminals; for it was not pleafing to him to be much without company; and though he was very capable of a judicious choice, he was often contented with the first that offered for this he was fometimes reproved by his friends, who found him furrounded with felons; but the reproof was on that, as on other occafions, thrown away; he continued to gratify himself, and to fet very little value on the opinion of others.

:

But here, as in every other fcene of his life, he made ufe of fuch opportunities as occurred of benefiting those who were more miferable than himself, and was always ready to perform any offices of humanity to his fellow-pri

foners.

He had now ceafed from correfponding with any of his fubfcribers except one, who yet continued to remit him the twenty pounds a year which he had promifed him, and by whom it was expected, that he would have been in a very thort time enlarged, because he had di

rected

rected the keeper to enquire after the state of his debts.

However, he took care to enter his name according to the forms of the court, that the creditor might be obliged to make him fome allowance, if he was continued a prifoner, and when on that occafion he appeared in the hall was treated with very unusual respect.

But the refentment of the city was afterwards raised by some accounts that had been spread of the fatire, and he was informed that fome of the merchants intended to pay the allowance which the law required, and to detain him a prifoner at their own expence. This he treated as an empty menace; and perhaps might have haftened the publication, only to fhew how much he was fuperior to their infults, had not all his fchemes been fuddenly destroyed.

When he had been fix months in prison, he received from one of his friends *, in whose kindness he had the greatest confidence, and on whofe affiftance he chiefly depended, a letter, that contained a charge of very atrocious ingratitude, drawn up in fuch terms as fudden refentment dictated. Mr. Savage returned a very folemn proteftation of his innocence, but however appeared much disturbed at the accufation. Some days afterwards he was feized with a pain

Mr. Pope.

in

in his back and fide, which, as it was not violent, was not fufpected to be dangerous; but growing daily more languid and dejected, on the 25th of July he confined himself to his room, and a fever feized his fpirits. The fymptoms grew every day 'more formidable, but his condition did not enable him to procure any affiftance. The last time that the keeper faw him was on July the 31ft*; when Savage, seeing him at his bed-fide, faid, with an uncommon earneftnefs, "I have fomething to fay to you, "Sir;" but, after a pause, moved his hand in a melancholy manner; and, finding himself unable to recollect what he was going to communicate, faid, "Tis gone!" The keeper foon after left him; and the next morning he died. He was buried in the church-yard of St. Peter, at the expence of the keeper.

66

Such were the life and death of Richard Sa. vage, a man equally diftinguished by his virtues and vices; and at once remarkable for his weakneffes and abilities.

He was of a middle ftature, of a thin habit of body, a long vifage, coarfe features, and melancholy afpect; of a grave and manly deportment, a folemn dignity of mien; but which, upon a nearer acquaintance, foftened into an engaging eafinefs of manners. His walk was

**In 1743.

flow,

flow, and his voice tremulous and mournful, He was easily excited to fmiles, but very feldom provoked to laughter.

His mind was in an uncommon degree vigo, rous and active. His judgement was accurate, his apprehenfion quick, and his memory fo tenacious, that he was frequently observed to know what he had learned from others in a fhort time, better than those by whom he was informed; and could frequently recollect incidents, with all their combination of circumftances, which few would have regarded at the prefent time, but which the quickness of his apprehenfion impreffed upon him. He had the peculiar felicity, that his attention never deferted him; he was prefent to every object, and regardful of the most trifling occurrences. He had the art of escaping from his own reflections, and accommodating himself to every new scene.

To this quality is to be imputed the extent of his knowledge, compared with the small time which he spent in visible endeavours to acquire

He mingled in curfory converfation with the same steadiness of attention as others apply to a lecture; and, amidst the appearance of thoughtless gaiety, loft no new idea that was ftarted, nor any hint that could be improved. He had therefore made in coffee-houses the fame proficiency as in other ftudies; and it is #emarkable, that the writings of a man of little education

education and little reading have an air of learning scarcely to be found in any other performances, but which perhaps as often obfcures as embellishes them.

His judgement was eminently exact both with regard to writings and to men. The knowledge of life was indeed his chief attainment; and it is not without fome fatisfaction, that I can produce the fuffrage of Savage in favour of human nature, of which he never appeared to entertain fuch odious ideas as fome, who perhaps had neither his judgement nor experience, have published, either in oftentation of their fagacity, vindication of their crimes, or gratifica

tion of their malice.

His method of life particularly qualified him for conversation, of which he knew how to practise all the graces. He was never vehement or loud, but at once modest and easy, open and respectful; his language was vivacious and elegant, and equally happy upon grave or humorous subjects. He was generally cenfured for not knowing when to retire; but that was not the defect of his judgement, but of his fortune; when he left his company, he was frequently to spend the remaining part of the night in the street, or at least was abandoned to gloomy reflections, which it is not strange that he delayed as long as he could; and fometimes forgot that he gave others pain to avoid it himself.