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When he had brought this poem to its present state, which, without confidering the chafm, is not perfect, he wrote to London an account of his defign, and informed his friend, that he was determined to print it with his name: but enjoined him not to communicate his intention to his Briftol acquaintance, The gentleman, furprised at his refolution, endeavoured to diffuade him from publishing it, at leaft from prefixing his name; and declared, that he could not reconcile the injunction of fecrecy with his refolution to own it at its first appearance. To this Mr. Savage returned an anfwer agreeable to his character, in the following terms: "I received yours this morning; and not without

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a little furprize at the contents. To answer a quef"tion with a question, you ask me concerning Lon"don and Bristol, Why will I add delineated? Why "did Mr. Woolafton add the fame word to his RELIGION OF NATURE? I fuppofe that it was his will and pleafure to add it in his cafe; and it is mine to do "fo fo in my own. You are pleafed to tell me, that you "understand not why fecrecy is enjoined, and yet "I intend to fet my name to it. My anfwer is—I "have my private reafons, which I am not obliged to "explain to any one. You doubt my friend Mr. S▬▬ "would not approve of it-And what is it to me "whether he does or not! Do you imagine that Mr. "Sis to dictate to me? If any man who calls "himfelf my friend fhould affume fuch an air, I "would spurn at his friendship with contempt. You

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fay, I feem to think fo by not letting him know it— "And fuppofe I do, what then? Perhaps I can give "reafons for that difapprobation,. very foreign from "what you would imagine. You go on in- faying, "Suppofe

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"Suppose I should not put my name to it-My "fwer is, that I will not fuppofe any fuch thing, being determined to the contrary: neither, Sir, "would I have you fuppofe, that I applied to you "for want of another prefs; nor would I have you imagine, that I owe Mr. S―― obligations which "I do not."

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Such was his imprudence, and fuch his obftinate adherence to his own refolutions, however abfurd. A prisoner! supported by charity! and, whatever infults he might have received during the latter part of his stay in Bristol, once careffed, esteemed, and presented with a liberal collection, he could forget on a fudden his danger and his obligations, to gratify the petulance of his wit, or the eagerness of his refentment, and publish a fatire, by which he might reasonably expect that he should alienate thofe who then fupported him, and provoke thofe whom he could neither refift nor efcape.

This refolution, from the execution of which it is probable that only his death could have hindered him, is fufficient to fhew, how much he difregarded all confiderations that oppofed his prefent paffions, and how readily he hazarded all future advantages for any immediate gratifications. Whatever was his predominant inclination, neither hope nor fear hindered him from complying with it; nor had oppofition any other effect than to heighten his ardour, and irritate his vehemence.

This performance was however laid afide, while he was employed in foliciting affiftance from feveral great perfons; and one interruption fucceeding another, hindered him from fupplying the chafm, and perhaps

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from retouching the other parts, which he can hardly be imagined to have finished in his own opinion; for it is very unequal, and fome of the lines are rather inferted to rhyme to others, than to fupport or improve the fenfe; but the first and laft parts are worked up with great spirit and elegance,

His time was spent in the prifon for the most part in ftudy, or in receiving visits; but fometimes he defcended to lower amusements, and diverted himself in the kitchen with the converfation of the criminals; for it was not pleafing to him to be much without company; and though he was very capable of a judicious choice, he was often contented with the firft that offered for this he was fometimes reproved by his friends, who found him furrounded with felons: but the reproof was on that, as on other occafions, thrown away; he continued to gratify himself, and to set very little value on the opinion of others.

But here, as in every other fcene of his life, he made ufe of fuch opportunies as occurred of benefiting those who were more miferable than himself, and was always ready to perform any office of humanity to his fellow-prisoners.

He had now ceafed from correfponding with any of his fubfcribers except one, who yet continued to remit him the twenty pounds a year which he had promifed him, and by whom it was expected that he would have been in a very fhort time enlarged, because he had directed the keeper to enquire after the state of his debts.

However, he took care to enter his name according to the forms of the court, that the creditor might be obliged to make him fome allowance, if he was

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continued a prisoner, and, when on that occafion he appeared in the hall, was treated with very unusual respect.

But the refentment of the city was afterwards raised by fome accounts that had been spread of the fatire; and he was informed that fome of the merchants intended to pay the allowance which the law required, and to detain him a prifoner at their own expence. This he treated as an empty menace; and perhaps might have haftened the publication, only to fhew how much he was fuperior to their infults, had not all his fchemes been fuddenly destroyed.

When he had been fix months in prifon, he received from one of his friends *, in whose kindness he had the greatest confidence, and on whofe affistance he chiefly depended, a letter, that contained a charge of very atrocious ingratitude, drawn up in fuch terms as fudden refentment dictated. Henley, in one of his advertisements, had mentioned Pope's treatment of Savage. This was fuppofed by Pope to be the confequence of a complaint made by Savage to Henley, and was therefore mentioned by him with much refentment. Mr. Savage returned a very folemn proteftation of his innocence, but however appeared much difturbed at the accufation. Some days afterwards he was feized with a pain in his back and fide, which, as it was not violent, was not fufpected to be dangerous; but growing daily more languid and dejected, on the 25th of July he confined himself to his room, and a fever seized his fpirits. The symptoms grew every day more formidable, but his condition did not enable him

* Mr. Pope.

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to procure any affiftance. The last time that the keeper faw him was on July the 31ft, 1743; when Savage, feeing him at his bed-fide, faid, with an uncommon earnestnefs, "I have fomething to say to you, "Sir;" but, after a paufe, moved his hand in a melancholy manner; and, finding himself unable to re-collect what he was going to communicate, faid, "Tis gone!" The keeper foon after left him; and the next morning he died. He was buried in the church-yard of St. Peter, at the expence of the keeper.

Such were the life and death of Richard Savage, a man equally diftinguished by his virtues and vices; and at once remarkable for his weakneffes and abilities.

He was of a middle ftature, of a thin habit of body, a long visage, coarfe features, and melancholy aspect ; of a grave and manly deportment, a folemn dignity of mien, but which, upon a nearer acquaintance, foftened, into an engaging eafinefs of manners. His walk was flow, and his voice tremulous and mournful. He was eafily excited to finiles, but very feldom provoked to laughter.

He mind was in an uncommon degree vigorous and active. His judgement was accurate, his apprehenfion quick, and his memory fo tenacious, that he was frequently obferved to know what he had learned from others in a fhort time, better than those by whom he was informed; and could frequently recollect incidents, with all their combination of circumstances, which few would have regarded at the prefent time, but which the quickness of his apprehenfion impreffed upon him. He had the peculiar felicity, that his attention never deferted him; he was prefent to every object, and regardful of the moft trifling occurrences. He had the

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