ther by a refolute exertion of his abilities to fupport himself, he could not bear to debar himself from the happiness which was to be found in the calm of a cot. tage, or lofe the opportunity of liftening, without intermiffion, to the melody of the nightingale, which he believed was to be heard from every bramble, and which he did not fail to mention as a very important part of the happiness of a country life.

While this fcheme was ripening, his friends directed him to take a lodging in the liberties of the Fleet, that he might be fecure from his creditors, and fent him every Monday a guinea, which he commonly spent before the next morning, and trufted after his usual manner the remaining part of the week to the bounty of fortune.

He now began very fenfibly to feel the miseries of dependence. Those by whom he was to be fupported began to prescribe to him with an air of authority, which he knew not how decently to refent, nor patiently to bear; and he foon difcovered, from the conduct of moft of his fubfcribers, that he was yet in the hands of little creatures."

Of the infolence that he was obliged to fuffer, he gave many inftances, of which none appeared to raise his indignation to a greater height, than the method which was taken of furnishing him with cloaths. Inftead of confulting him, and allowing him to fend a taylor his orders for what they thought proper to allow him, they proposed to fend for a taylor to take his measure, and then to confult how they should equip him.

. This treatment was not very delicate, nor was it fuch as Savage's humanity would have fuggefted to him on a like occafion; but it had fcarcely deserved

mention,

mention, had it not, by affecting him in an uncommon degree, fhewn the peculiarity of his character. Upon hearing the defign that was formed, he came to the lodging of a friend with the most violent agonies of rage; and, being asked what it could be that gave him such disturbance, he replied with the utmoft vehemence of indignation, "That they had sent for a tay

"lor to measure him."

How the affair ended was never enquired, for fear of renewing his uneafinefs. It is probable, that, upon recollection, he fubmitted with a good grace to what he could not avoid, and that he discovered no refentment where he had no power.

He was, however, not humbled to implicit and univerfal compliance; for when the gentleman, who had firft informed him of the defign to fupport him by a fubfcription, attempted to procure a reconciliation. with the Lord Tyrconnel, he could by no means be prevailed upon to comply with the measures that were propofed.

A letter was written for him to Sir William Lemon, to prevail upon him to interpofe his good offices with Lord Tyrconnel, in which he folicited Sir William's affiftance "for a man who really needed it as "much as any man could well do ;" and informed him, that he was retiring" for ever to a place where "he fhould no more trouble his relations, friends, or "enemies;" he confeffed, that his paffion had betrayed him to fome conduct with regard to Lord Tyrconnel, for which he could not but heartily ask his pardon; and as he imagined Lord Tyrconnel's paffion might be yet fo high, that he would not "receive a By Mr. Pope. Orig. Edit.

*

"letter from him," begged that Sir William would endeavour to foften him; and expreffed his hopes that he would comply with his request, and that "fo fmall "a relation would not harden his heart against him."

66

That any man fhould prefume to dictate a letter to him, was not very agreeable to Mr. Savage; and therefore he was, before he had opened it, not much inclined to approve it. But when he read it, he found it contained fentiments entirely oppofite to his own, and, as he afferted, to the truth; and therefore, inftead of copying it, wrote his friend a letter full of mafculine refentment and warm expoftulations. He very juftly observed, that the ftyle was too fupplicatory, and the reprefentation too abject, and that he ought at least to have made him complain with " the dignity of a gentleman in diftrefs." He declared that he would not write the paragraph in which he was to ask Lord Tyrconnel's pardon; for, "he defpised "his pardon, and therefore could not heartily, and "would not hypocritically, afk it." He remarked, that his friend made a very unreasonable distinction between himself and him; for, fays he, when you mention men of high rank " in your own character," they are "thofe little creatures whom we are pleased "to call the great ;" but when you address them "in "mine," no fervility is fufficiently humble. He then with great propriety explained the ill confequences which might be expected from fuch a letter, which his relations would print in their own defence, and which would for ever be produced as a full anfwer to all that he fhould alledge against them; for he always intended to publish a minute account of the treatment which he had received. It is to be remembered, to

the

the honour of the gentleman by whom this letter was drawn up, that he yielded to Mr. Savage's reasons, and agreed that it ought to be fuppreffed.

After many alterations and delays, a fubfcription was at length raised, which did not amount to fifty pounds a year, though twenty were paid by one gentleman; fuch was the generofity of mankind, that what had been done by a player without folicitation, could not now be effected by application and interest ; and Savage had a great number to court and to obey for a pension lefs than that which Mrs. Oldfield paid him without exacting any fervilities.

Mr. Savage however was fatisfied, and willing to retire, and was convinced that the allowance, though fcanty, would be more than fufficient for him, being now determined to commence a rigid œconomist, and to live according to the exacteft rules of frugality; for nothing was in his opinion more contemptible than a man, who, when he knew his income, exceeded it; and yet he confeffed, that inftances of fuch folly were too common, and lamented that some men were not to be trufted with their own money.

Full of these falutary refolutions, he left London in July 1739, having taken leave with great tenderness of his friends, and parted from the author of this narrative with tears in his eyes. He was furnished with fifteen guineas, and informed, that they would be fufficient, not only for the expence of his journey, but for his fupport in Wales for fome time; and that there remained but little more of the first collection. He promised a strict adherence to his maxims of parfimony, and went away in the ftage-coach; nor did his friends expect to hear from him, till he informed them of his arrival at Swanfea.

But when they leaft expected, arrived a letter dated the fourteenth day after his departure, in which he fent them word, that he was yet upon the road, and without money; and that he therefore could not proceed without a remittance. They then fent him the money that was in their hands, with which he was enabled to reach Briftol, from whence he was to go to Swansea by water.

At Bristol he found an embargo laid upon the fhipping, fo that he could not immediately obtain a paffage; and being therefore obliged to stay there fome time, he with his ufual felicity ingratiated himself with many of the principal inhabitants, was invited to their houses, diftinguished at their publick feafts, and treated with a regard that gratified his vanity, and therefore eafily engaged his affection.

He began very early after his retirement to complain of the conduct of his friends in London, and irritated many of them so much by his letters, that they withdrew, however honourably, their contributions; and it is believed, that little more was paid him than the twenty pounds a year, which were allowed him by the gentleman who proposed the subscription.

After fome stay at Bristol he retired to Swanfea, the place originally propofed for his refidence, where he lived about a year, very much diffatisfied with the diminution of his falary; but contracted, as in other places, acquaintance with those who were moft diftinguifhed in that country, among whom he has celebrated Mr. Powel and Mrs. Jones, by fome verfes which he inferted in The Gentleman's Magazine*.

Reprinted in the late collection.

Here