No More Learning

63
youth, who was but newly come apprentice, telhng him the prices, in Whitney's hearing. Our adven
turer led the lad through as many bye-streets as he could, in order to carry him out of his knowledge, till
a house in Suffolk-street, which had a
into Hedge-lane, he desired the young man to stay at the door, while he carried in the silks to shew them to the lady, who lodged there ; the youth very readily agreed, and Whitney went into the house, and asked the people for somebody whom they did not know ; and, upon their telling him no such person lived in that neighbourhood, he desired leave to go through, which was granted, and he got clear off with his prize, which he immediately, carried to
his two ladies, and divided between them. After which he revelled with them in all manner of excess for several days, and then withdrew himself.
He was resolved, however, that nobody but him self should enjoy the fruit of his industry, and since he could not have the profit of his cheat, he thought proper to restore the mercer his goods again. To this end he writes a letter where the women lived, and the shop-keeper, getting a warrant and constable, went and found the silks in their possession; all the excuse they could make, as receiving them from . the
observing thoroughfare
64
MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
right bwner, availed nothing ; they were hurried before a magistrate, who comnaitted them to TothilUJields Bridewell, where their backs were covered with stripes
of the cat-and-nine-tails, instead of the eleemosynary silks, which they made so sure of.
Whitney had now become a confirmed highway man, and meeting a gentleman on Bagshot-heath, he
him' I commanded to stand and deliver, to which the
other replied, Sir, 'tis well you spoke first ; for
just going to say the same thing to yoii. — Why, are
you gentleman I quoth Whitney. —
a thief then ? Yes,
gentleman! told i some Pther trav^ellers by what stra tagem he had escaped being, robbed on the road. Whitney had so altered his habit and speechj that the gentleman did not know him again ; so that he heard ail the story without being taken any notice of. Among other things, he heard him tell one of the company softly, that he had saved an himdred pounds
by his contrivance. The person to whom he had
whispered
this, was going the saitne vifayiithe next
have had bad success to very
said the stranger, but
day. Whitney upon this wished him better liick, and took bis- lekve,: really supposing him to be what': he pretended. — At night it was the fortune of Whitney and this person to put up at the same inn, whew our
was
WILLIAM HI. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 65
morning, and said, he had also, a considerable sum about him, and, if he pleased, should be glad to travel with him for security.
When morning came, the travellers set out, and Whitney about a quarter of an hour after them ; all the discourse of the gentlemen was about cheating the highwaymen, if they should meet any. When Whitney, at a convenient place, had got before them, and bid them stand, the gentleman whom he met
before not knowing him, he having disguised him self after another manner, briskly cried out. We were going to say the same to you. Sir. — Were you so?
quoth Whitney, and are you of my profession then ? — Fes, said they both. If you are, replied Whitney, I. suppose you remember the old proverb, two of a trade can never agree, so that you must not expect any favor, on that score. But to be plain, gentlemen,
the trick will do no longer; I
you very,
and must have your hundred pounds. Sir; and your considerable sumI, SzV, turning to the other, let it be.
well,
shall make bold to send a brace bullets through each ofyour heads. You, Mr. High-
waymaui should have kept your secret a little longer, and not have boasted so soon of having outwitted a
what it will, or
of
VOL. I.
K
know
66 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
thief; there is now nothing for you to do, but deliver or die!
These terrible words put them both into a sad consternation: they were loth to lose their money, but more loth to lose their lives ; so, of two evils they chose the least, the tell-tale coxcomb disbursing his hundred pounds, and the other a somewhat larger sum, prpfessing that they would be careful for the future not to count without their host.
Another time, Whitney met with one Mr. Hull^an old usurer, in the Strand, as he was riding across Hounslow-heath. He could hardly have chosen a wretch more in love with money,; and, consequently, who would have been more unwilling to have parted with it. When the dreadful words were spoken, he trembled like a paralyric, and fell to expostulating the case in the most moving expressiotis' he was master of, professing tiiat he was a very poor man, had a large
family of children, and should be utterly ruined if he was so hard-hearted as to take his money from him. He added, moreover, the illegality of such an action, and how very dangerous it was to engage in such
evil courses. Whitney, who knew him, cried out in a great passion : Sirrah, do you pretend to preach
WILLIAM III. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 67
morality to an honester man than yourself; you make
grind I a prey of all mankind, and to death with
eight and ten per cent. This once, however. Sir, shall oblige you to lend me what you have without
bondi consequently m,ore viords.
without interest; so make no
Old Hull, hereupon, pulled out about eighteen guineas, which he gave with a great deal of grumbling; telling him withal, that he should see him one time or another ride up Hotborn-hill backwards. Whitney was going about his business till he heard these words, when he returned, and pulled the old gentle man off his horse, putting him on again with his face towards the horse's tail, and tying his legs; Now, says he, you old rogue, let me see what a figure a man makes when he rides backwards, and let nie have the pleasure, at least, of beholding you first in that posture. So giving the horse three or four good cuts with his whip, he set him a running so fast, that he never stopt till he came to Hounslow town, where the people loosed our gentleman, after they had made themselves a little merry with the sight.
always affected to appear generous and K2
Whitney
68 MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
noble ; meeting one day with a gendeman on New market-heath, whose name was Long, and having robbed him of a hundred pounds, in silver, which
was in his portmanteau, tied up in a great bag, the gentleman told him that he had a great way tb go, and, as he was unknown upon the road, should meet with many difficulties, if he did not restore as much as would bear his expences. Whitney opened the mouth of the bag, and holding it to Mr. Long, Here, says he, take what you have occasion for. Mr. Long put in his hand, and took out as much as he could hold : to which Whitney Imade no opposition', but only
thought you
more conscience. Sir.
Coming once to Doncaster,- he put up at the Red
Lion Inn, and made a great figure, having a pretty
said with a smile,
would have had
round sum in his possession.
here, he was informed that the landlord of the house was reputed rich, but withal so covetous, that he Would do nothing to help a poor relation or neigh bour in distress. On this Whitney set his wits to
Work, and gives out that he had a good estate, and travelled about the country merely for his pleasure^ and so artfully insinuated himself into the • good
While he resided
WILLIAM HI. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 69
opinion of his host, that he ran most plentifully into his debt, both for his own accommodation, and the keep of his horse.
It happened that while he remained here, there was an annual fair held ; upon the fair-day, in the morning, a small box, carefully sealed, and very weighty, came directed to him. He opened took out letter, which he read, and locked up, and gave
to his landlady, desiring her to keep in her cus tody for the present, because would be safer than in his own hands, and ordered the landlord, at the
same rime, to write out his bill, that he might pay him the next morning as soon as he had done this, he went out, as though to see the fair. In the afternoon he comes home again, great hurry, and- desired his horse might be dressed and saddled, he
mind to shew him in the fair,; and, if he could, to exchange him for one he had seen,- and which, he thought was the finest that ever he fixed his eyes on. — will have him, says he, possible, whether the owner will buy mine or no, and though he cost me forty guineas; he then asked for his land lady to help him to his box, but she was gone to the fair whereupon he fell swearing like madman, that he supposed she had locked up what he gave
having
;
it
a
a
a
if
it it
a I
in a
:
it
it,
fO MEMOIRS OF [william hi.
her, and taken the keys with her: Ifshe has<, quoth
he, 1 had rather have given ten guineas, for I
have no money at all, but what is in your possession. En
quiry was made, and it was found to ;be as he said, which put him into a srill greater passion, though it was what he wished for, and even expected, the whole having been invented for the sake of this
single scene.
The landlord quickly had norice of our gentle
man's anger, and the occasion of it; upon which he comes to him, and begs of him to be easy, offering to send him the sum he wanted, till his wife came home* Whitney seemed to resent it highly, that he must be obliged to borrow money when he had so much of his own; however, as there was no other way, he condescended, with abundance of reluctance^ to accept the proposal ; adding, that ' he desired ah account of all. he was indebted as soon as possible,
as it was not his custom to run hand over head. Having received forty guineas, the sum he pre
tended to want, he mounts his horse, and rides towards the fair, but instead of dealing there for another hcffse, he spurred his own through the crowd, asfestashe could conveniently, and made the best
of his way towards London. At night the people
WILLIAM III. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 71
of the inn. sat up very late for his coming home, nor did they suspect any thing the first, or even the stecond night, but at the end of two or three days the landlord was a little uneasy ; and, after he had waited a week to no purpose, jt came into bis head tp break open the box, in order to examine it. With this ^view he goes tp the magistrate of the place, prpcures his warrant, and, in presence of a constsible
and other witnesses, bfbke open the casket, and was ready to hang himself when he found the contents to be npthing but sand and stpnes.
This was, however, the last of Whitney's adven tures, fpr not long after his arrival in town he was 3pprehended in White Friars, upon the information of Mother Cozens, who kept a bawdy-house in MUr
ford-lane, over-against St. Clement's Chv-reh. The magistrate, who took the information, committed him to Newgate, where he remained till the next sessions at the Old Bailey. Being brought to trial, and found guilty, the Recorder passed sentence of death on him, and exhorted him to a sincere repentance, as it was impossible for him to hope for any reprieve, after such a course of villanies : and, on Wednesday, the 19th of December, 1694, he was carried to the place of execution, which was at Porter s Block, near
72 MEMOIRS OF [william lir.
Smithfield, Where he addressed the people in the fol lowing words :—
"
human and divine.
present, but has often heard my name, before my
/
very great
against
offender, both
God, and my CountrIy, by transgressing all laws,
¦
have been a
believe there is not one here
confinement, and have seen a large catalogue ofm,y crimes, Iwhich have been made public since; —why
is justI
, and
which rehension
then pretend to a
vindicate life stained with
should
so many enormIous deeds ? —The sentence passed on me
can see footsteps
the of a providence,
peace with heaven, the only thing that is now ofany concern to me. Join in your prayers with me, my
dear countrymen, that God would not forsake me in my last moments.
pI
have these things of
had before
and conviction.
at, in my ap sense which
Ilaughed
hope the
has enabled me to make my
profanely
Having spoke thus, and afterwards spent
private
being about thirty-four years of age.
a few turned off
moments in
devorion, he was
. SOP,
TIlc DrunKeTi rlr^'xn. iue•o Coliler of Eton.
^¥1
ANNE. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 73
ire^ojp ofiston«
Cobblers, in general, have the character of being great tipplers, and JEsop of EtPn was not of a dis
position
there is every reason to suppose him to have been deformed, similar to his fabled '^namesake of anti- qiiity. In the' feign of Queen Anne, when the Whig and Tory politicians so hberally bespattered one another, >Esop was determined not to remain
neuter, and, inspired by the classic- air bf Eton, he started in the treble pursuits of pblitics, poetry, and
cobbhng, and employed his pen and awl alternately^ to patch the state and old shoes and boots. The latter prCfeSsion, however, succeeded with him best; as his cobbling jobs enabled hini to keep St, Cris- pinV- weekly holiday regularly throughout the year,
¦ and the copious draughts of Sir John Barleycorn's delightful beverage enabled him' to exercise his muse
VOL. I. L
to falsify the common asserrion, that a cobbler, when drunk, is "as great as a lord. " The real name of this genius has not been handed down to us; but, from the appellation given him of iEsop,
[anne. though it does not
productions
were ever deemed worthy to be preserved in print. Mr. Granger observes of his rhymes, that he knew no better way to characterize them, than " by the three blue beans in a blue bladder. " The memory of Msop of Eton, and his works, have long ceased
to interest any one.
At the period in which JEsop of Eton flourished,
there were several other pretenders to the appellation of the Phrygian sage, and the name became so de graded as to be marked only with contempt. Tom Brown informs us, in one of his witty letters, that, " because ^Esop from Tunbridge had the good fortune
to please, an hundred other iEsops, from Epsom, Islington, and other parts of the kingdom, were im
mediately trumped up, till the very name ofJEsop at last grew scandalous. "
Tom Brown's Works, Vol. I, p. 24 1 .
74
MEMOIRS OF
in many a drunken rhyme,
appear that either his poetic or prosaic
BICK, ' Tlip Mimic Trumpeter. I
rA:^IE S
ANjJE. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 75
^ame$ ISick,
THE MIMIC TRUMPETER.
James Bick picked up a'tolerable living by fre quenting public-houses, ahd amusing the company in various tricks of Ventriloquism. He is said to have been related to John Shore Bick, Esq. serjeant*- trumpeter, but there- is no reason to suppose there was any other affinity in thefee people, than in the name. "^^James Bick particularly excelled in imi tating the trumpet, and he has beeur known toaccom-
pany-a band, -wliere that instrument was wanting, in
a manner so perfectly correct, that the finest ear COU Id "i not fed the: deficiency of the real from the counterfeit dieception. ¦ He lived and :flourished about the tatter end of ^ Queen Anne's ifeign, and w-as sucdeeded in his rflitnic art by one Clinch, of Barnet, who regulariy performed at Hicks's-hall Coffee-house, St. John's-street, Clerkenwell, of au
evening, and collected very considerable sums from his admiring auditors.
Bick's reputation, as a sham-trumpeter, was too L2
76 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
well established for Clinch to attack that instrument, and he wisely judged it best to stick to the horn, which, by incessant practice, he brought himself to excel in ; he greatly distinguished himself in mimic- ing the huntsman, pack of hounds, sham doctor, old woman, drunken man ; and the bells, the flute, double courtel, and the organ, with three voices. AH instruments were imitated by his natural voice, and he sung an Essex song, after a manner which none but himself could perform, as we are informed by the " Daily Post" of April 24, 1722. The time of Bick's death is not known, but Clinch died in
about the
year 1805, exhibited his tricks of Ventriloquism
almost every public-house throughout
polis.
December, 1734, when he had attained the age of seventy years. We have of late years witnessed the surprising powers of Ventriloquism. Askins, a man with a wooden-leg, performed
Sadler's Wells, at a
and George Romondo, a narive of Lisbon,
for a season or two at considerable weekly salary;
the metro Mathews, the Comedian, has lately set up in
this way, and his single exertions filled the theatre of the English Opera-house for a whole season, while the theatres of Drury-Lane and Covent-garden were
playing to empty benches.
in
^'M. a^x^f^cA>i
THOMAS BlilTTOK.
ANNE. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS.
Zt^omn^ ii^ritton.
77
Thomas Britton was born about the middle of
the seventeenth century, at, or near Higham-Ferrers, r¦I
in Northamptonshire. He . served an apprenticeship to a small-coal man, in London, and set up in the same trade in Clerkenwell. He made it his business to go about the streets, with his sack on his back, crying '' Small-coal. " His daily rounds through the town made him acquainted with a variety of book stalls, from which he collected a tolerable library of books, which he bccasionally sold at a good profit to
the nobility and gentry. About the commencement of the last century, a passion prevailed among several persons of distinction, for collecring old books and MSS. , and it was their Saturday's amusement, during winter, to. ramble through various quarters of the town in pursuit of these literary treasures. The Earls of Oxford, Pembroke, Sunderland, and Win- chelsea, and the Duke of Devonshire were of this party; and Mr. Bagford, and other collectors, assisted them in their researches. Britton appears to have
'
. , -fl
I".
[anne. been employed by them ; and, as he was a very
fS MEMOIRS OF
modest, decent, and unassuming
sharer in their conversation when they met, after their morning's walk, at a bookseller's shop in Ave-
Britton used to pitch his coal-sack on a bulk at the door, and, drest in his blue-frock, step in, and spend an hour with the company. But
it was not only by a few bookish lords that his ac quaintance was cultivated ; his humble roof was fre quented by assemblies of the fair and the gay, and this small-coal man has the singular honour of having set the first example, in this country, of that elegant and rational amusement, a music;u concert. His attachment to music caused him to be known to many amateurs and performers, who formed themselves into a club at his house, where capital pieces were played by some of the first professional persons. Dr. Pepusch, and even Handel, here displayed their powers on the harpsichord, and Dubourg played his first solo on the violin. Britten's house was an old mean buildi- ing, of which the ground-floor was a repository for coals ; over this was the concert-room, long, low, and narrow, and ascended to by a pair of stairs from the outside, scarcely to be mounted without crawling ; yet some of the finest ladies of the land were seen
maria-lane.
man, he was a
ANNE. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 79
to trip up them without airs or hesitation. This
commenced iu 1678, and it is affirmed that it was at first absolutely gratuitous, but, in process of time, probably after Britton had taken a
more convenient room in the next house, a sub scription was paid of ten shillings a-year each ; for
which, however, he provided musical instruments. He had also a very good collection of ancient and modern music, bv the best authors.
The singularity of Britten's mode of life, and the contrast between his station and his connections, caused a variety of opinions to prevail concerning him and his meetings. He was taken for an atheist, a Jesuit, a sectary, and a conjuror i and his concerts were thought to be meetings for seditious or magical
purposes. He was, however, a plain honest man,
of an open, ingenuous countenance, and cheerful
temper, and a sincere votary of the arts and studies
in which he engaged. His taste for chemistry he
imbibed from his neighbour, Dr. Garencieres; and
his ingenuity enabled him to contrive a moving labo
ratory, built by himself, at a small expence, with which he performed many curious experiments; of
the nature of these we are not informed, but as many
music-meeting
80
MEMOIRS OF [anne.
of the books he had picked up related to the Rosycru- cian philosophy, it is not improbable that he might waste some of his small-coal in search after the grand secret.
He appears rather to have been a general virtuoso than a real proficient in any one branch, yet he played upon the viol de gamba at his own concerts; and the noted antiquary, Thomas Hearne, has at tested his real skill in rare books and old manuscripts.
He sold a large collection of these some years before his death, the printed catalogue of which Hearne says he has often looked over with wonder; and another collection of books and music, which was the chief property he left behind him, was sold by his
widow.
The circumstances of his death were as extraordi
nary as those of his life, if the story is to be credited. A Ventriloquist was introduced into his company by an acquaintance, who was fond of mischievous jests ; this man, in a voice
apparently coming from a distance, announced to poor Britton his approach
ing end, and bid him prepare for
the Lord's Prayer, on his knees. mystical and magical books had
by repeating Britton, whose
made
probably
it,
anne. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. SI
him credulous, obeyed the injunction, went home,
took to his bed, and actually died in a few days.
This was in September, 1714. He was buried, with
a very respectful attendance, in Clerkenwell church yard.
VOL. I. M
82 MEMOIRS OF
Banul ^mQt^&*
[anne.
Daniel Burgess, a pulpit buffoon, and inaitator of Hugh Peters, amused his congregations more by the levity of his manners, and coarseness of his jfikes, than benefited them either by precept or example.
He was the son of a. clergyman, at Gollingburn-Ducis, Wilts, where he was . born, in 16*5. ": Mr. BjLjrgess went to Iri^land,. under th^eprptection of Lord Qjrery, the Lprd-president of Mtijister, where he, taught a schpol; at Cliarieyil ; but, r. etprning;to Ehglandiat the Restoration, he became a Nojirqonfprmist, thp^gll npt a Puritan; fPr he was, as facetious,, as his-' merry monarch, and his jokes were suited to the nature of his company, and the age he lived in, , The t#es and jests of Hugh Peters have been collected,,; ang 'pub lished in a small volume, but the quips, cmi^, jests,
and puns of Daniel Burgess would form a small
Encyclopaedia
'robe of righteousness,'. Ijjf,'^^aid he, any, of you would have a suit for a twelvemonth, let him repair to Monmouth-street ; if for his life-rime, let
of wit and mirth.
PreE|c|i>n. g of Job's
him
I i). AW. TK \i IIITM OE S S
. . .
/J7 VS
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 83 apply to the Court of Chancery ; and if for all eter
ANNE. J
nity, let him put on righteousness. "
Observing but a small congregation one day at his sermon, he sud
denly called out, " Fire ! Fire ! Fire ! " The affrighted
audience exclaimed, "Where? Where? Where? " —
" In hell, to burn such wretches as regard not the glad tidings of the gospel. "
Some modern preachers have not disdained to copy the style and manner of Daniel's address from the pulpit. The Rev. Mr. Whitfield, previous to one of his sermons, loudly vociferated, "I espy a whore! I'll throw my bible at her ?
" at which every female in the chapel stooping their heads, to avoid the menaced threat, fearing in his wrath he might mistake the right aim ; '* Aye," exclaimed he, I see a guilty con science needs no accuser. "
The Rev. Rowland Hill, likewise, would some times condescend to a little facetiousness ; — while building his chapel in the Blackfriar's-road, he ob served considerable progress making towards erecting the first Surry Theatre, which he noticed in an address to his followers in the. following words :—" You have a race to run now, between G— — and the devil ; the children of the last are making all possible haste in building him a temple, where he may receive the
m2
84 MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
donation and devotions of the children of vanity ! now
exert yourselves in the cause of righteousness, and
never let it be said but what God can outrun the devil. "
Burgess assigned a curious motive for the Hebrews being called Israelites, " the reason because God ever hated Jacobites and, therefore, Jacob's sons were not so called, but Israelites. " — Burgess, in his
doctrine as well as politics, was in direct opposition to the popular fire-brand, Dr. Sacheverel this was so well known, that when the high and low church party
were at the summit of their intemperate zeal, Sach- everel's mob, infuriated by the hangman's burning the sermons of their idol, in revenge set fire to the meet- ing-hpuses
of their opponents, the Whigs, in which conflagration, that of Daniel Burgess, as one of the most conspicuous, became first illuminated, at the expence of the pulpit and pews. His vein of mirth did not forsake him to the last, nor was his waggery
and jokes confined to the meeting-house, but enlivened the company in which he joined, both at home and abroad.
Burgess once dining with gentleman of his con gregation, large Cheshire-cheese, uncut, was brought to table, " Where shall cut ? " asked Daniel
;
it
a
I
a
;
;
is,
anne. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 85
" Any where you please, Mr. Burgess," answered the gentleman. Upon which Daniel handed it to the ser vant, desiring him to carry it to his house, and he would cut it at home.
He published many works, a catalogue of which is
added to his funeral sermon, from his " Golden Snuf fers," to his " Larin Defence of Non-conformity. "
There were several Puritan preachers of the name of Burgess, who are mentioned by Dr. Calamy.
Daniel Burgess died towards the end of January, and was buried the 31st of that month, 1723.
86 MEMOIRS OF
S^oj^n Wtmi$*
[anne.
John ©ENNis, well-known under the Appellation of Denniis ih6 Critic, was the son of a s&dler, and citizen of London, Where he' was born in 1657. He received, a literary education, first at Hari-ow-school, and afterwards at 'Caius College, Cambridge. He remained seven years at the University, and quitting
with the degree of M. A. , made the tour of France
and, Italy,' which he was enabled to accomplish by the
liberahty of his father and rich uncle, the latter of
whpm leaving him small 'fortune,';;shortly after his retiirnl, enabled; him to form an 'acquaintance with
the most distinguished poets and men of letters of the time, by. whom he was regarded as a person of know ledge and talents. He followed nbfparticular pro
fession, but devoted himself to literary life. He endeavoured to make, himself known as pbet, critic, and dramatic writer, and exerted himself with con siderable assiduity, though with but little success his poetry was turgid, heavy, and obscure.
;
a. a
it
a
a
it,
ANNE. J REMARKABLE PERSONS. 87
For the stage, he wrote both comedy and tragedy, and appears to have had some knowledge of the me chanism of the drama ; but his performances were, in general, valued by the public at a much lower rate than he himself put upon them. His tragedy, entitled '* Liberty Asserted," which became popular, on ac count of the virulent abuse of the French nation, (with which it abounded,) was of such political con sequence in his own eyes, that he imagined Lewis XIV. would make a point, at the peace, of having him; delivered up to his resentment. Under this appre
hension, he actually applied to the Duke of Marl borough for his good offices, when the treaty of Utrecht was in agitation. The Duke gravely remark
ed, "that he himself had made no application for security in the articles of peace, and yet he could net but think he had done the French king almost as much harm as Mr. Dennis had done. " Another time, being upon a visit to a friend, who lived on the coast of Sussex, he saw a ship making towards land, when, taking it into his head that this was a French vessel come to seize him, he exclaimed, that he was betrayed, and made the best of his way to London, without leave of his host.
taking" Appius Virginia" performed,. When his and was
88 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
Dennis, to augment the terror ofthe scene, invented a new species of thunder, more sonorous and alarming than that before in use, and which, indeed, was so well approved as to be employed to the present day.
His tragedy soon disappeared from the stage; but Dennis soon after heard his own thunder at the per formance of Macbeth. " S'death," cried he, "how these rascals use me ! they will not let my play run, yet they steal my thunder. "
His last tragedy, enritied " Coriolanus, or the Fatal
given out for the next night. Dennis was equally surprised and enraged. He published his tragedy,
with a dedicarion to the Duke of Newcastle, in which he states his case, charging the "three insolent actors," who were managers, * with a conspiracy against him, and against genius in general^ and assum ing the most ludicrous self-consequence.
Dennis was a sour, morose, and ill-natured man ; his irritable temper often involved him in personal
* Booth, Wilks, and Cibber.
Resentment,"
altered from Shakespeare, caused him entirely to break with the managers. After three representations to poor houses, another play was
ANNE. J REMARKABLE PERSONS. 89
disputes with men greatly his superiors, among whom were Addison and Pope; and, though his attacks
upon
reason and plain sense, yet they shewed great insen-
them were not witiiout some foundation of
sibiHty to poetical beauty, and much coarseness of animosity.
His jealousy, of a successful rival provoked him, notwithstanding his Whiggism, to publish some very severe strictures on Addison's Cato, but they
did not deprive Cato of a single admirer, notwith
standing they might prove that it was not a perfect
piece. Still less could his homespun criticism injure such an exquisite fancy-piece as the Rape of
the Lock ; yet Pope, as irritable as himself, thought proper to give him a niche in the Dunciad ; and further persecuted him with a very laughable " Narrative of the Deplorable Phrensy of Mr. John Dennis. " It
is probable that the acrimony of the critic's temper was heightened by the narrowness of his circum stances. The private fortune he possessed seems
soon to have been spent.
Through the favor of the Duke of Marlborough,
he obtained the place of a land-waiter, at the Custom house, which his extravagance obliged him in a few years to seU, with the reservation of an annuity for
vol. I. N
90
MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
a certain term ; this he outiived, so that he was
unprovided for the necessities of old age. He was obliged to secure his person, by residence within the verge of the court, and his quiet was continually disturbed by the fear of bailiffs. * When he was far advanced in years, and afflicted with loss of sight, a play was acted at the Hay-market for his benefit, to which his old antagonist. Pope, wrote a
prologue. This act of generosity would have been
more to the poet's credit, had he not written his
prologue in a style of ironical ridicule upon the old
critic. Thomson, who took the most active part in
the charity, was complimented in Dennis's name,
with some elegant lines, said to be written by
totally
Savage.
kindness, dying in his seventy-seventh year, 1734.
The veteran did not long survive this
* Straying a little beyond the rules of the court once, on the evening of a Saturday, he saw a person, with an ill-favored coun tenance, near him ; with dismay and trembling he waited till the clock had struck twelve, when he exclaimed, " I value you not now, whether bailiff or not. " The gentleman, who had caused his alarm, understanding for what he had been mistaken,
was with diflSculty restrained, by the age of Dennis, from giving liim corporal chastisement.
fBorn 1606. )
ANNE. ]
'
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 91 . ,;:; u-'. -
Hetirs
confused jumble of dates which: ;Mr. . Neble has set down concerning this person,\ would lead one to imagine he never saw the inscription to the portrait; which is, "; Henry Evans, ! born at Haber- dam. County of Caernarvon, vEt. 104, 1710. " The reverend author; remarks, several persons of the above name have lived to great' ages:—Jonathan Evans> resident near Welch Pool, in the County of Mont- gpiriery, lived: to be: 117 years of age; and left a
spn aged ninety-one, and a daughter, eighty-seven.
JWe cannot much wonder at the hardy sons bf Wales ;' Hying more; than a century, upon their; mountains ;
but Mr; Henry Evans, transplanted from Cambria^
seven years old when Charles I. was beheaded by the regicides ; and this circumstance ascertains his birth to have been in 1642, and. his. death to have occurred in 1771.
N2
The
ISSjaniS*
Spital-fields, London j yet : reached the stiU greater age. of : 129, and. retained aU his faculties to the last. He was
certainly
. resided in
Spital-street,'i
92
MEMOIRS OF
[anne. But if Evans was one hundred and four years
of age in 1710, he must have been
years of age at the time of Charles's death ; and
little short of Henry Jenkins,
I am inclined to think, the resident in
Spitalfields, and the native of Caernarvon, were different persons. Parish certificates are some times made use of for deceptive purposes, as was the case in the year 1790; when Donald Mac Leod, a Scotch soldier, travelled from Edinburgh to London, on foot, for the purpose of applying to Chelsea Hospital for admission, or a pension for past services ; he vs^as accompanied by a female, of a middle age, who passed for his wife, and they sup ported themselves on the road, by a certificate be had obtained in Scotland, representing him then as in the one hundred and second year of his age ; in person he was athletic and healthy, and was, in truth, upwards
of seventy, but had taken his father's certificate, (who had been a serjeant in an Highland regiment) instead of his own. The circumstance of his ap parent great age and strength gained
if born, as the inscription
implies, in 1606, and deceasing in 1771j according to Mr. Noble's account, he must have lived to the great age of 165, an age
street,
forty-two
Spital-
many friends.
anne. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 93
and two different portraits were engraved and pub lished for his benefit, together with his memoirs ;— but, upon a strict enquiry, the cheat was discovered, the consequent disappointment and vexation of which brought the old man to the grave, in the year 1792.
94 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
:ff'Utcfftt.
Andrew Fletcher, who was a thorough-paced republican, has been variously represented by dif ferent writers, but all agree in one particular, that
to the violence and turbulent disposition of his
manners. He was son of Sir Robert Fletcher, of
Saltoun, in Scotland, and born in 1653. His father,
who died while he was child, directed he should
be placed under the tuition of Dr. Gilbert Burnet,
then rector of Saltoun, frohi whom he imbibed his
free principles in government. He spent
^ntit^itt
years of his youth in foreign travel, and peared as public character in the station of
com missioner for East Lothian, in the Scotch parliament,
when the Duke of York was lord-commissioner. He distinguished himself in such manner,
by his opposition to the measures of the court, that he
thought
upon his non-appearance to summons from the lords of the council, he was outlawed, and his estate confiscated. In 1683 he came over to England, to
adviseable to withdraw to Holland
and,
some first ap
a ,
a
a
it
a
;
a
is,
>*^
"=-? r-=l^. m. cJjJmoA^
(Of Saltan. . )
¦jfi^'v^X
¦i . ¦;
ANNE. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 95
consult with some of his republican friends, but pru- , dently returned to the Continent.
In 1685, he engaged in the enterprise of the Duke of Monmouth to dethrone James XL, but was greatly disgusted at the act of Monmouth's adherents pro
claiming him king ; an unfortunate circumstance occasioned his quitting that party almost as soon as he had joined them. Fletcher having taken the horse of a country gentleman, engaged in the same cause, on
some remonstrance by the owner, drew out a pistol, and shot the man dead. This action excited such resentment against him, among the friends and countrymen of the deceased, that it became neces sary for the duke to dismiss him from the armyj
and he made his escape from justice,
on board a vessel which conveyed him to Spain, and, fortunately for him, saved him from suffering the fate that attended the unfortunate Monmouth and his deluded followers.
He is said to have undergone many hazards in Spain ; but, at length, he made his way into Hungary, where he engaged in the war against the Turks. — But his restless disposition suffering him to rest no where long, brought him back to join in the confe rences which were held among the Scottish refugees
by getting
96 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
in Holland, for the purpose of effecting a revolution ;
and, when that event took place, he returned to
Scotland, and resumed the possession of his estate,
and held it by his own law, without asking leave of
king or parliament. Jealousy of kings, indeed,
seems to have been wrought into his very nature, and he thought it was scarcely possible to provide too
many securities against their love of absolute sway. In his own disposition he was arbitrary and tyran nical, and in one of his discourses on the affairs of Scotland, he proposes a provision for the poor,
domestic slavery.
Mackay, in his Memoirs, drew the
following character of him while living :—" He is a gentleman,
steady in his principles, of nice honor, with abun dance of learning ; brave as the sword he wears, and bold as a lion ; a sure friend, but an irreconcileable enemy; would lose his
life readily to serve his country, and would not do a base thing to save it. His thoughts are large as to religion, and could never
be brought within the bounds of any particular sect ; nor will he be under the distinction of Whig or Tory, saying, " these names are only used to cloak the knavery of both parties. " It however, evi dent that Fletcher was not so brave as
Mackay
by
is,
ANNE. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 97
supposed ; ,nor was he accurate, when he said, that " he would lose his life readily to serve his cotintry, but would not do a base thing to save it. '' He exiled himself from Scotland, when he should have
stayed ; and fled to a ship, after he had committed a murder.
Ifhis most particular friend, however high in rank,
accepted
moment he was his enemy ; apologies only added to his violence and obloquy. He talked and wrote against all bodies of men. Had the law taken its proper course, he must have died as a malefactor, for his unprovoked enormity at Taunton. One of his servants wishing his dismissal, Ihe asked, " Why do
an office under government, from that
Ie? " "
you leave m — Because your
temper. ''—"
sooner on than it is sooner off than it is on. "
my passion
am passionate, but is no
Bishop Burnet, in noticing Andrew Fletcher, gives him the following character: —" A gentleman of a fair estate in Scotland, attended with the improve ment of a good education, he has written some ex cellent tracts, but not published in his name ; and has a very fine genius; is a low, thin man, brown complexion, full of fire, with a stern, sour look, and
VOL. I.
o
cannot bear
—" But then. Sir, it is no
98 MEMOIRS OF [annb.
fifty years old. " Dean Swift calls him, " A most
arrogant, conceited pedant in politics ; cannot endure
the least contradiction in any of his visions or para doxes. "
Andrew Fletcher died at London, in 1716.
ANNE. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 99
Munitl Mttot*
Daniel Defoe, the son of a butcher, was bprn at London, about -the year 1663; the father's name was James Foe, and. why the son prefixed the De to
the surname does not appear. *
Daniel received his eduieatipn at N^wington-green,
and early displayed his attachment, tp the cause of
libeity and Protestantism^ by joining the ill-advised insuirection under the Duke of Monmouth, in the west; and he had the good fortune to escape, and
* In a pamphlet, intituled " The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures, of Mr. D de F , of London, hosier, who has lived above fifty years by himself, in the kingdoms of tforlh and South Britain. The various shapes he has iippeared in, and the Discoveries he has made for the Benesfit of his Country. " The author makes De Foe to s^y, he always hated the English, and took a pleasure in depreciating and vilifying of them, wit ness his True-bom Englishman ; and that he changed his name merely to ^ake it sound like French. The subject of the tract is a dialogue between De Foe, Robinson Crusoe, and his Man Friday. London, 1719.
o2
100 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
writer, he joined that of a trader, and was first en gaged as a hose-factor, aud afterwards as a maker of bricks and pantiles, near Tilbury-fort ; but his com mercial schemes proved unsuccessful, and he became insolvent. It is to his credit that, after having been
amended. The first of his writings which excited the . public attention was " The True-born English
man. "
return unnoticed to London. He eariy
taste for literature, and wrote a political pamphlet before his twenty-first year. With the business of a
released from his debts by a composition, he
most of them in full, when his circumstances were
Its purpose was to furnish a reply to those
who were continually abusing King William and some of his friends as foreigners, by shewing that the present race of Englishmen was a mixed and heterogenous
breed, scarcely any of which could lay claim to native purity of blood. His " Shortest Way
with the Dissenters, or Proposals for the Establish ment of the Church ;" became a subject of complaint in the House of Commons, and was voted a sedi tious libel, and burnt by the common hangman, and a prosecution was ordered against the publishers. Defoe at first secreted himself, but upon the appre hension of his printer and
bookseller, he came
imbibed a
paid
anne. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 101
forward, in order to secure them, and stood his trial ;
was convicted, and sentenced to fine, imprison
ment, and the pillory. He underwent the infamous
punishment with the greatest forritude, and so far
from being ashamed of his fate, that he wrote " A
Hymn to the Pillory. " Pope, who thought introduce him in his Dunciad, characterises him in the following line :—
Earless on high stood unabash'd Defoe.
By this it should seem the barbarous custom of cutting off the ears of libellers was still practiced.
It was generally thought he was treated with un reasonable, and unmerited severity, and, at last, ob tained his liberation from Newgate by the interpo sition of Harley, afterwards Earl of Oxford; and the Queen herself compassionating his case, sent money to his wife and family. He continued, after he had regained his liberty, to write upon political subjects, and in 1706 he pubhshed, by subscription, his largest piece in verse, which was " Jure Divino," a satire, in twelve books. It was intended to expose the doctrine of the divine right of kings, and to decry tyrannical government.
fit to
He seems, at this time, to have enjoyed the favor of Queen Anne, by
102 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
whom he was employed, according to his own asser tion, in certain honourable, though secret, services ; and, when the union with Scotland was projected, he was sent by the ministers into that country, for the purpose of rendering the measure popular.
His knowledge of commerce and revenue caused him to be frequently consulted by the committees of
parliament
there, and he endeavoured to conciliate
the good-will of the nation by a poem, entitled
" Caledonia," highly comphmentary to its inhabit
ants. After the union was completed, he wrote
the history of in folio volume, 1709; and, in
the same year, he published *' The History of Ad
The most celebrated of aU his works, " The Life
and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe,'' appeared in
1719, and no work in any language has been more
continues to be standard success in this performance,
dresses. "
At this time he was living in tranquillity and comfort at Stoke Newington.
popular.
Its editions have been numberless, and has been translated into almost afl modern languages, and
number of other lives and adventures, which are now
published
died at London,
library book. Defoe's induced him to write
collectively with his other works. Defoe April, 1731.
in
a
it, a
a
BLI]^I> GHAIS^JSTY.
ANNE. J
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 103
iSItnti (! Brrantts.
This miserable, wretched, drunken object, who was blind of one eye, used to annpy the passengers in the streets of London, while sober, with licking her blind eye with her tongue, which was of a most enormous length, and thickness; indeed, it was of such a prodigious size, that her mouth could not contain and she cPuld never clbse her lips, or, to use common expression, keep her tongue within her teeth. This wonderful feat of washing her
eye with her tongue, was exhibited with view of obtaining money fi:om such as crowded around her and, no sooner had she obtained sufficient means,
but she hastened to the first convenient liquor-shop, to indulge her propensity in copious libations and when properly inspired, would rush into the streets, with all the gestures of frantic maniac, and roll and dance about,, until she became little sobered, which was sometimes accelerated the salutary apphcation of pail of water, gratuitously bestowed upon her, by persons whose door-way she had taken possession
a
a
it,
by
a
a
;
;
a
104 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
of, as shelter from the persecuting tormen tings of boys and girls who generally followed her.
UPON LADY GRANNY, IN HER SUPPOSED GRANDURE.
" That Fools have fortune we may now aver. Since Granny laughs at them y* laught at her;
So fame reports, then let no n3^ph despair. Since so deform'd a wretch so well can fare ; Let none suppose her Dancing days are fled.
Who see how finely Grannt's brought to bed : Have patience. Lasses, 'till the hour approach,
And then, like Grannt, you may keep your Coach. "
* UPON GRANNY IN HER NATIVE POVERTY.
" The scene is alter'd—Granny's glory. Coach and Fortune's all a story;
Yet, tho' her honor's now neglected. She's merry still, no whit dejected ; Which shows that wit may be a trouble. And only make misfortune double. While Granny always blith and jolly. Enjoys the pleasure of her folly. "
It should seem, from the above lines, this woman had been used, in early days, to scenes of gaiety and splendour, but if she really had ever kept her coach.