out exalting her character, would have depreffed his own.

He had fometimes, by the kindness of Mr. Wilks, the advantage of a benefit, on which occafions he often received uncommon marks of regard and compaffion; and was once told by the Duke of Dorfet, that it was just to confider him as an injured nobleman, and that in his opinion the nobility ought to think themfelves obliged, without folicitation, to take every opportunity of fupporting him by their countenance and patronage. But he had generally the mortification to hear that the whole intereft of his mother was employed to frustrate his applications, and that the never left any expedient untried, by which he might be cut off from the poffibility of fupporting life. The fame difpofition fhe endeavoured to diffufe among all thofe over whom nature or fortune gave her any influence, and indeed fucceeded too well in her defign; but could not always propagate her effrontery with her cruelty, for fome of thofe, whom the incited against him, were afhamed of their own conduct, and boasted of that relief which they never gave him.

In this cenfure I do not indifcriminately involve all his relations; for he has mentioned with gratitude the humanity of one Lady, whofe name I am now unable to recollect, and to whom therefore I cannot pay the praises which

fhe

fhe deferves for having acted well in oppofition to influence, precept, and example.

The punishment which our laws inflict upon thofe parents who murder their infants is well known, nor has its justice ever been contested; but if they deferve death, who destroy a child in its birth, what pains can be fevere enough for her who forbears to deftroy him only to inflict sharper miferies upon him; who prolongs his life only to make it miferable; and who exposes him, without care and without pity, to the malice of oppreffion, the caprices of chance, and the temptations of poverty; who rejoices to fee him overwhelmed with calamities; and, when his own induftry, or the charity of others, has enabled him to rife for a fhort time above his miferies, plunges him again into his former diftrefs?,

The kindnefs of his friends not affording him any conftant fupply, and the profpect of improving his fortune by enlarging his acquaintance, neceffarily leading him to places of expence, he found it neceffary* to endeavour once more at dramatic poetry, for which he was now better qualified by a more extenfive knowledge, and longer cbfervation. But having been unfuccefsfirl in comedy, though rather for want of opportunities than genius, he refolved now to try whether he should not be more fortunate in exhibiting a tragedy.

The story which he chofe for the subject, was that of Sir Thomas Overbury, a story well adapted to the stage, though perhaps not far enough removed from the prefent age, to admit properly the fictions neceffary to complete the plan for the mind, which naturally loves truth, is always moft offended with the violation of thofe truths of which we are most certain; and we of course conceive those facts most certain, which approach nearest to our own time.

Out of this story he formed a tragedy, which, if the circumstances in which he wrote it be confidered, will afford at once an uncommon proof of strength of genius, and evennefs of mind, of a ferenity not to to be ruffled, and an imagination not to be fuppreffed.

During a confiderable part of the time, in which he was employed upon this performance, he was without lodging, and often without meat; nor had he any other conveniences for study than the fields or the street allowed him; there he used to walk and form his fpeeches, and afterwards ftep into a shop, beg for a few moments the use of the pen and ink, and write down what he had compofed upon paper, which he had picked up by acci

`dent.

If the performance of a writer thus diftreffed is not perfect, its faults ought furely to be

imputed

imputed to a caufe very different from want of genius, and must rather excite pity than provoke cenfure.

But when under thefe difcouragements the tragedy was finished, there yet remained the labour of introducing it on the stage, an undertaking, which, to an ingenuous mind, was in a very high degree vexatious and difgufting; for, having little intereft or reputation, he was obliged to fubmit himself wholly to the players, and admit, with whatever reluctance, the emendations of Mr. Cibber, which he always confidered as the disgrace of his performance.

He had indeed in Mr. Hill another critic of a very different clafs, from whofe friendship he received great affiftance on many occafions, and whom he never mentioned but with the utmost tenderness and regard. He had been for fome time diftinguished by him with very particular kindness, and on this occafion it was natural to apply to him as an author of an established character. He therefore fent this tragedy to him, with a thort copy of verfes, in which he defired his correction. Mr. Hill, whofe humanity and politeness are generally known, readily complied with his request; but as he is remarkable for fingularity of fentiment, and bold experiments in language, Mr. Savage did not think his play much improved by his innovation, and Printed in this volume.

had even at that time the courage to reject feveral paffages which he could not approve; and, what is ftill more laudable, Mr. Hill had the generofity not to refent the neglect of his alterations, but wrote the prologue, and epilogue, in which he touches on the circumstances of the author with great tenderness.

After all thefe obftructions and compliances, he was only able to bring his play upon the ftage in the fummer, when the chief actors had retired, and the reft were in poffeffion of the houfe for their own advantage. Among thefe,. of Mr. Savage was admitted to play the part Sir Thomas Overbury, by which he gained no great reputation, the theatre being a province for which nature feemed not to have defigned him; for neither his voice, look, nor gefture, were fuch as were expected on the ftage; and he was fo much ashamed of having been reduced to appear as a player, that he always blotted out his name from the lift, when a copy of his tragedy was to be shown, to his friends.

In the publication of his performance he was more fuccefsful, for the rays of genius that glimmered in it, that glimmered through all the mifts which poverty and Cibber had been able to spread over it, procured him the notice

See Savage's Works, vol. I. p. 148. 186.

and