48
This year was made remarkable by the dissolution of a marriage solemnized in the face of the church. Salmons Review.
The following protest is registered in the books of the house of lords:
Dissentient: Because we conceive that this is the first bill of that nature that hath passed, where there was not a divorce first obtained in the spiritual court; which we look upon as an ill precedent, and may be of dangerous consequence in the future. HALIFAX. ROCHESTER.
49
See Mr. Boswells doubts on this head; and the point, fully discussed by Malone, and Bindley in the notes to Boswell. Edit. 1816. i. 150, 151. Ed.
50
On this circumstance, Boswell founds one of his strongest arguments against Savages being the son of lady Macclesfield. If there was such a legacy left, says Boswell, his not being able to obtain payment of it, must be imputed to his consciousness that he was not the real person. The just inference should be, that, by the death of lady Macclesfields child before its godmother, the legacy became lapsed; and, therefore, that Johnsons Savage was an impostor. If he had a title to the legacy, he could not have found any difficulty in recovering it; for had the executors resisted his claim, the whole costs, as well as the legacy, must have been paid by them, if he had been the child to whom it was given. With respect for the legal memory of Boswell, we would venture to urge, that the forma pauperis is not the most available mode of addressing an English court; and, therefore, Johnson is not clearly proved wrong by the above argument brought against him. Ed.
51
He died August 18th, 1712 R.
52
Savages preface to his Miscellany.
53
Savages preface to his Miscellany.
54
See the Plain Dealer.
55
The title of this poem was the Convocation, or a Battle of Pamphlets, 1717. J. B.
56
Jacobs Lives of the Dramatick Poets. Dr. J.
57
This play was printed first in 8vo.; and afterwards in 12mo. the fifth edition. Dr. J.
58
Plain Dealer, Dr. J.
59
As it is a loss to mankind when any good action is forgotten, I shall insert another instance of Mr. Wilkss generosity, very little known. Mr. Smith, a gentleman educated at Dublin, being hindered by an impediment in his pronunciation from engaging in orders, for which his friends designed him, left his own country, and came to London in quest of employment, but found his solicitations fruitless, and his necessities every day more pressing. In this distress he wrote a tragedy, and offered it to the players, by whom it was rejected. Thus were his last hopes defeated, and he had no other prospect than of the most deplorable poverty. But Mr. Wilks thought his performance, though not perfect, at least worthy of some reward, and, therefore, offered him a benefit. This favour he improved with so much diligence, that the house afforded him a considerable sum, with which he went to Leyden, applied himself to the study of physick, and prosecuted his design with so much diligence and success, that, when Dr. Boerhaave was desired by the czarina to recommend proper persons to introduce into Russia the practice and study of physick, Dr. Smith was one of those whom he selected. He had a considerable pension settled on him at his arrival, and was one of the chief physicians at the Russian court. Dr. J.
A letter from Dr. Smith, in Russia, to Mr. Wilks, is printed in Chetwoods History of the Stage. R.
60
This, says Dr. Johnson, I write upon the credit of the author of his life, which was published in 1727; and was a small pamphlet, intended to plead his cause with the publick while under sentence of death for the murder of Mr. James Sinclair, at Robinsons coffee-house, at Charing-cross, price 6d. Roberts. Savage sent a copy of it to Mrs. Carter, with some corrections and remarks. See his letter to that lady in Mrs. Carters life by Mr. Pennington, vol. i. p. 58.
61
Chetwood, however, has printed a poem on her death, which he ascribes to Mr. Savage. See History of the Stage, p. 206
62
In 1724.
63
Printed in the late collection of his poems.
64
It was acted only three nights, the first on June 12,1723. When the house opened for the winter season it was once more performed for the authors benefit, Oct. 2. R.
65
To Herbert Tryst, esq. of Herefoulshire. Dr. J.
66
The Plain Dealer was a periodical paper, written by Mr. Hill and Mr. Bond, whom Savage called the two contending powers of light and darkness. They wrote, by turns, each six essays; and the character of the work was observed regularly to rise in Mr. Hills weeks, and fall in Mr. Bonds. Dr. J.
67
The names of those who so generously contributed to his relief having been mentioned in a former account, ought not to be omitted here. They were the dutchess of Cleveland, lady Cheyney, lady Castlemain, lady Gower, lady Lechmere, the dutchess dowager and dutchess of Rutland, lady Strafford, the countess dowager of Warwick, Mrs. Mary Floyer, Mrs. Sofuel Noel, duke of Rutland, lord Gainsborough, lord Milsington, Mr. John Savage. Dr. J.
68
This the following extract from it will prove:Since our country has been honoured with the glory of your wit, as elevated and immortal as your soul, it no longer remains a doubt whether your sex have strength of mind in proportion to their sweetness. There is something in your verses as distinguished as your air. They are as strong as truth, as deep as reason, as clear as innocence, and as smooth as beauty. They contain a nameless and peculiar mixture of force and grace, which is at once so movingly serene, and so majestically lovely, that it is too amiable to appear any where but in your eyes and in your writings.
As fortune is not more my enemy than I am the enemy of flattery, I know not how I can forbear this application to your ladyship, because there is scarce a possibility that I should say more than I believe, when I am speaking of your excellence. Dr. J.
69
Mr. Savages life.
70
She died October 11, 1753, at her house in Old Bond street, aged above fourscore. R.
71
It appears that during his confinement he wrote a letter to his mother, which he sent to Theophilus Cibber, that it might be transmitted to her through the means of Mr. Wilks. In his letter to Cibber he says: As to death, I am easy, and dare meet it like a manall that touches me is the concern of my friends, and a reconcilement with my mother. I cannot express the agony I felt when I wrote the letter to her: if you can find any decent excuse for showing it to Mrs. Oldfield, do; for I would have all my friends (and that admirable lady in particular) be satisfied I have done my duty towards it. Dr. Young to-day sent me a letter most passionately kind. R.
72
Written by Mr. Beckingham and another gentleman. Dr. J.
73
Printed in the late collection.
74
In one of his letters he styles it a fatal quarrel, but too well known. Dr. J.
75
Printed in his works, vol. ii. p. 231.
76
See his works, vol. ii. p. 233.
77
This epigram was, I believe, never published:
Should Dennis publish you had stabbd your brother,
Lampoond your monarch, or debauchd your mother;
Say, what revenge on Dennis can be had,
Too dull for laughter, for reply too mad?
On one so poor you cannot take the law,
On one so old your sword you scorn to draw,
Uncagd then, let the harmless monster rage,
Secure in dullness, madness, want, and age.
Dr. J.