even when the intention was to show them groveling and degraded; and The Shepherd's Weck was read with delight, as a just representation of rural manners and occupations, by those who had no in terest in the rivalry of Pope and Philips. The most promising views of preferment now opened to him at court. He was carefsed by Bolingbroke, Swift, and the leading persons in the Tory Ministry, and his patroness rejoiced to see him taken from her service to attend the Earl of Clarendon, as Secretary to his embassy to the Court of Hanover, in the last year of Queen Anne's life. This was a station that naturally gave him hopes of kindness from every party; but the Queen's death, which happened fifteen days after his arrival at Hanover, put an end to her favours, and the dedication of his Shepherd's Week to Bolingbroke, is supposed to have obstructed all kindness from the house of Hanover. His office, however, made him personally known to the royal family; and his Epifile to a Lady occafioned by the arrival of ber Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, procured him a favourable admittance at the new court. In 1715, he brought on the stage his What-dye-Call-it, a tragi-comic-pastoral Farce, which was acted with great applause, and honoured with the attendance of the Prince and Princess of Wales. The novelty of this mock tragedy, the images of which were comic, and the action grave, and the favour with which it was received by the audience, produced a pamphlet against it, called, " The Key to the What-d'ye-Call-it," written by Griffin, a player, in conjunction with Theobald. The exhibition of The What-d'ye-Call it, pleased the town and the court, and advanced the reputation of its author, but failed to raise his fortune. Places he found were daily given away, The profits, however, recruited his finances; and his poetical merit being endeared by the sweetness and fincerity of his disposition, made him the general favourite of the whole association of wits, and the companion of perfons of the highest distinction, both in rank and abilities. In 1716, he made a visit to Devonshire, at the expence of the Earl of Burlington, whom he repaid with an Epiftle, containing an humorous account of his journey. The year following, he made a fimilar return to the kindness of Mr. Pulteney, who, on resigning Ris place of Secretary at War, took him to Aix. Soon after his return from France, he endeavoured to entertain the town with The Three Hours after Marriage, á Comedy, written by the joint affistance of Pope and Arbuthnot, which was deservedly driven off the stage with general condemnation. It was printed under the name of Gay, but his hand is not very difcernible in any part of it. The character of Sir Tremendous, being apparently designed for Dennis, was probably introduced by Pope. Foffile, who was meant to ridicule Dr. Woodward, a man not really nor justly contemptible, might have been the production of Arbuthnot, whose knowledge in his profession would furnish a fufficient train of physical terms and observations. Phabe Clinket also should feem to have been intended to ridicule one of the females, whose petulant attacks had irritated Pope. Cibber says, that his own quarrel with him was occaSoned by a joke thrown into the "Rehearsal," at the expence of this unsuccessful performance. In 1718, he accompanied Pope on a visit to Lord Harcourt, at his feat in Oxfordshire, where he confecrated to posterity the death of two rural lovers, unfortunately killed in the neighbouring fields by a ftroke of lightning, in his letter to Fentón, printed among Pope's Letters. In 1720, he published a collection of his Poems, with Dione, a pastoral-tragedy, in 4to, by subfeription, which, as he was generally known, was fo successful, that he raised a thousand pounds, with which Pope advised him, and was feconded by Swift, to purchase an annuity; but the advice was thrown away. Mr. Secretary Caggs having made him a present of some South Sea stock, he fell into the general infatuation of that difastrous year, and once supposed himself to be master of twenty thousand pennés. His friends endeavoured to perfuade him to fell his share; but he could not bear to obstruct his own fortune. He was then importuned to fell as as much as would purchase a hundred a-year for life, "which," says Fenton, " would make you fure of a clean shirt and a shoulder of mutton every day." This advice was rejected; the profit and principal were fost; and he funk under the calamity fo low, that his life became in danger. After languishing fome time, he removed to Hampstead, in 1722, where, by the care of his friends, among whom Arbuthnot and Pope appear to have shown particular tenderness, his health was restored; and returning to his studies, he wrote The Captives, a Tragedy, which he was invited to read to the Princess of Wales, at Leicester-house. On this occafion Mr. Victor relates, that when the hour came, and he saw the Princess and her ladies all in expectation, advancing with reverence, too great for any other attention, " he did not fee a low foot-stool that happened to be near him, and stumbling over it, he fell against a large screen, which he overset, and threw the ladies into no small disorder." The Captives was brought on the stage at Drury-Lane, in 1723, and acted eleven nights with great applaufe. The author's third night, was, by the express command of the Prince and Princess of Wales. He now thought himself in favour; and having promises made him of preferment, he undertook to write Fables for the improvement of the young Duke of Cumberland, which he published, with a dedication to that Prince, in 1726. In some of the Fables "he was thought to be something too bold with the court," and in The Hare with many Friends, he figuratively described his own depen. dence on the promises of the Great. Upon the acceffion of George II., the year following, his patroness became Queen, and he expected to be provided for in fome office suitable to his inclination and abilities; but, on the settlement of the household, he found himself appointed Gentleman Usher to the Princess Louisa. By this offer he thought himiself infulted, and fent a message to the Queen, that he was too old for the place. Remonftrances and folicitations were afterwards employed in his favour, and verses and Hatteries were addressed to Mrs. Howard, afterwards Countess of Suffolk, who was much beloved by the King and Queen, to engage her interest in his promotion; but remonftrances and folicita tions availed him nothing, and the verses and flatteries were thrown away. The public favour, however, made him ample amends for the neglect of the court; and the pain which he suffered from his private disappointment, may be supposed to have been driven away by the unprecedented, and almost incredible success of the Beggar's Opera, written in ridicule of the musical Italian drama, and acted at Lincoln's Inti-fields, in 1727. It was first offered to Cibber and his brethren at Drury-Lane, and rejected; it being then carried to Rich, had the effect, as was ludicroufly faid, of making Gay rich, and Rich gay. Of the original and progress of this new species of composition, Spence has given the relation in Pope's words. "Dr. Swift had been observing once to Mr. Gay, what an odd pretty fort of a thing a Newgate paftoral might make. Gay was inclined to try at such a thing for some time, but afterwards thought it would be better to write a Comedy on the fame plan. This was what gave rise to the Beggar's Opera. He began on it; and when first he mentioned it to Swift, the Doctor did not much like the project. As he carried it on, he showed it to both of us, and we now and then gave a correction, or a word or two of advice; but it was wholly of his own writing. When it was done, neither of us thought it would fucceed-We showed it to Congreve, who, after reading it over, faid, it would either take greatly, or be damned confoundedly. We were all at the first night of it, in very great uncertainty of the event; 'till we were very much encouraged, by overhearing the Duke of Argyle, who fat in the next box to us, say, " It will do; it must do; I see it in the eyes of them." This was a good while before the first act was over, and fo gave us ease soon; for that Duke (befides his own good tafte) has a particular knack, as any one living, in difcovering the taste of the public, quite right in this, as usual; the good nature of the audience appeared stronger and strenger eve ry act, and ended in a clamour of applaufs." He war him, ib. Bawdry, in plays, not disapproved of by Mr. Dennis, iii. 179. Blackmore, (Sir Rich.) his impiety and irreligion, proved by Mr. Dennis, ii. 268. his quantity of works, and various opinions of them-His abuse of Mr. Dryden and Mr. Pope, ibid. Bray, a word much beloved by Sir Richard, ii. 260. Braying, described, ii. 247. Birch, by no means proper to be applied to young noblemen, iii. 334. BI-d, what became of his works, i. 231. Broome, (Rev. Mr. Will.) His sentiments of our author's virtue, Test. - Our author of his, iii. 332. Brooms (a feller of) taught Mr. John Jackson his trade, ii. 157 Billingsgate language, how to be used by learned authors, ii. 142. Bond, Befaleel, Breval, not living writers, but phantoms, ii. 126. Bookfellers, how they run for a poet, ii. 31, &c. Bailiffs, how poets run from them, ii. 61. Bridewell, ii. 269. Bow-hell, iii. 278. him into court, 300. who his supporters, 307 His entry, attendants, and proclamation, usque ad sin. His enthronization, ii. 1. Passes his whole reign in seeing shows, through book ii. And dreaming dreams, through book iii. Settle appears to him, iii. 35. Resemblance between him and Settle, iii. 37. and i. 146. Goodman's prophecy of him, iii. 232. How he tranflated an opera, without knowing the story, 305. and encouraged farces because it was against his conscience, 266. Declares he never mounted a dragon, 268. Apprehenfions of acting in a Serpent, 287. What were the paffions of his old age, 303, 304. Finally subsides in the lap of Dulness, where he rests to all eternity, iv. 20. and note. Cibber, his father, i. 31. His two brothers, 32. His fon, iii. 142. His better progeny, i. 228. Ciberian forehead, what is meant by it, i. 218. - read by some Cerbetian, ibid. note. Cooke (Tho.) abused by Mr. Pope, ii. 138. Concanen (Mat.) one of the authors of the Week, ly Journals, ii. 299. declared that when his poemhad blanks, they meant treafon, iii. 297. of opinion that Juvenal never fatirized the poverty of Codrus, ii. 144. Corncutter's Journal, what it 'coft, ii 314. Critics, verbal ones, must have two poftulata allowed them, ii. I. Cat-calls, ii. 231. Curll (Edm) his panegyric, ii. 58. his Corinna, and what she did. 70. his prayer, 80. Like Eridanus, 182. Much favoured by Cloacina, 97, &c. Fost in a blanket, and whipped, ISI. Pilloried, ii. 3. Balm of Dulness, the true and the spurious, its ef- Carolina, a curious flower, its fate, iv. 409, &c. ficacy, and by whom prepared, iv. 544. C Cibber, hero of the poem, his character, i. 107. not absolutely stupid, 109. Not unfortunate as a coxcomb, ibid. Not a flow writer, but precipitate, though heavy, 123. His productions the effects of heat, though an imperfect one, 126. His folly heightened with 'frenzy, 125. He borrowed from Fletcher and Moliere, 131. Mangled Shakspeare, 133. His head disftinguished for wearing an extraordinary periwig, 167. more than for its reasoning faculty, yet not without furniture, 177. His elasticity, and fire, and how he came by them, 187. He was once thought to have wrote a reasonable play, --188. The general character of his verse and profe, 190. His conversation, in what manner extensive and useful, 192, &c. Once designed for the Church, where he should have been a Bishop, 200. Since inclined to write for the Minifter of State, 213. but determines to stick to his other talents; what those are, 217, &c. His apoftrophe to his works before he burns them, 225, &c. His repentance and tears, 243. Dulness puts out the fire, 257. Inaugurates and anoints him, 287. His crown, by whom wovcn, 223. of what composed, i. 303. who let 6 12. D Dulness, the goddess; her original and parents, i Her ancient empire, 17. Her public college, i. 29. Academy for poetical education, 33Her cardinal virtues, 45, &c. Her ideas, productions, and creation, 55, &c. Her furvey and contemplation of her works, 79, &c. And of her children, 93. Their uninterrupted succession, 98, &c to 108. Her appearance to Cibber, 261. She manifests to him her works, 273, &c. Anoints him, 287, &c. Inftitutes games at his coronation, ii. 18, &c. The manner how the makes a wit, ii. 47. A great lover of a joke, 34.-And loves to repeat the same over again, 122. Her ways and means to procure the pathetic and terrible in tragedy, 225, &c. Encourages chattering and bawling, 237, &c. And is patronness of party-writing and railing, 276, &c. Makes use of the heads of critics as scales to weigh the heaviness of authors, 367. Promotes slumber with the works of the faid authors, ibid. The wonderful virtue of fleeping inher lap, iii. 5,&c. Her Elysium, 15, &c. The fouls of her fons dipt in Lethe, 23. How brought into the world, 29. Their transfiguration and metempsychosis, 50. The extent and glories of her empire, and her conquests throughout the world, iii. 67 to 138. A catalogue of her po etical forces in this nation, 139 to 212. Pro- Dispensary of Dr. Garth, ii. 140. De Foc, Daniel, in what resembled to William De Foe (Norton) a scandalous writer, ii. 415. His great loyalty to King George, how proved, i. 106. A great friend to the stage-and to the How he proves that none but Nunjurors His respect to the Bible and Alcoran ibid. Of opinion that he poisoned Curll, ibid. in debt, ii. 118. Hisaccufation of Sir Richard Blackmore, - As no poet, ibid. Falsehoods, by John Dennis, of his really poisoning - And of contempt for the Sacred Writ - By Edward Ward, of his being bribed By Mift the Journalist, of unfair pro- Disproved by the teftimony of the Lords Addison and him, two or three lies, Test. 179. By Sir Richard Blackmore, of his bur. Fleas and verbal critics compared, as equal judges Furius, Mr. Dennis called so by Mr. Theobald, i 106. Good nature of our author; instances of it in this Good sense, grammar, and verse, desired to give Gildon (Charles) abused our author in many - Printed against Jesus Christ, i. 296. Gentleman, his Hymn to his Creator, by Welsted, His wonderful Dedication to G. D. Esq. Gazetteers, the monstrous price of their writings, Drams, dangerous to a poet, iii. 146. iii. 179. Dedicators, ii. ors, ii. 198. ii. 314. the miferable fate of their works, ibid. H Handel, an excellent musician, banished to Ireland, - Did not know what he was about when Henley (John the Orator) his Tub and Eucharift, Haywood (Mrs.) What fort of game for her, ii. Madmen, two related to Cibber, i. 32. Moliere, crucified, i. 132. Moore (James) his story of fix verses, and of ri- His plagiarifms, same few of them, ibid. and ii 50. What he was real author of (befide the story above mentioned) vide Lift of fcurrilous Papers. Pope, ii. 283. Falsified Daniel's History, then accused others of falfifying Lord Clarendon's; proven a flanderer in it, ibid. abused Mr. Eufden and my Lord Chamberlain, i. 104. Odysley, Falfehoods concerning Mr. P.'s Propofals for that Work, Test. Difproved by those very Proposals, ibid. Owls and Opium, i. 271. Ofborne, bookfeller, crowned with a Jordan, ii, 190. Ofborne (Mother) turned to stone, ii. 312. P Pope, Mr. his Life. Educated by Jefuits-by a Parfon-by a Monk-at St. Omer's-at Oxford-at home-no where at all. Test. init. His father a merchant, a husbandman, a farmer, a hatter, the devil, ib. - His death threatened by Dr. Smedley, ibid. but afterwards advised to hang himself, or cut his throat, ibid. To be hunted down like a wild beast, by Mr. Theobald, ibid. unless hanged for treason, on information of Pasquin, Mr. Dennis, Mr. Curll, and Concanen, ibid. Poverty, never to be mentioned in fatire, in the opinion of the Journalists and Hackney Writers -The poverty of Codrus, not touched upon by Juvenal, ii. 143. When, and how far poverty may be fatirized, Leter, p vi. Whenever mentioned by our author, it is only as an extenuation and excuse for bad writers, ii 282. Personal abuses not to be endured, in the opinion of Mr. Dennis, Theobald, Curll, &c. ii. 142. Perfonat abufes on our author, by Mr. Dennis, Gildon, &c. ibid.-By Mr. Theobald, Teft.By Mr. Ralph, iii. 165-By Mr. Welfted, ii. 207.-By Mr. Cooke, ii. 138 - By Mr. Concanen, ii. 299. -By Sir Richard Blackmore, ii. 268. By Edw. Ward, iii. 34.-and their brethren, paffim. Erafmus his advice to him, ii. 50. Milbourne, a fair critic, and why, ii. 349. Madness, of what fort Mr. Dennis's was, according to Plato, i. 106. according to himself, ii. 268. how allied to Dulness, iii. 15. Personal abuses of others. Mr. Theobald of Mr. Dennis for his poverty, i. 106. Mr Dennis of Mr. Theobald for his livelihood by the Stage, and the Law, i. 286. Mr. Dennis of Sir Richard Blackmore for impiety, ii. 268. Dr. Smedley, of Mr. Concanen, ii. 299. Mr. Oldmixon's of Mr. Eufden, i. 104. Of Mr. Addifon, ii. 283. Mr. Cooke's of Mr. Eufden, 10д 106. ii. 413. Mercuries and Magazines, i. 42. May-pole in the Strand, turned into a church, ii. Politics, very useful in criticism, Mr. Dennis's, i. 28. Morris (Befaleel) ii. 126. iii. 168. Monuments of poets, with inscriptions to other men, iv. 131, &c. Medale, how fwallowed and recovered, iv. 375 N Nodding described, ii. 391. Needham's i. 324. Kös, where wanted, iv. 244. 0 Pillory, a poft of respect, in the opinion of Mr. and of Mr. Ward, ibid. Priori, Arguments à priori not the best to prove a Poverty and poetry, their cave, i. 33. Profaneness, not to be endured in our author, but very allowable in Shakfpeare, i. 50. Oldmizen (John) abused Mr. Addifon and Mr. Party-writers, their three qualifications, ii. 276. |