Being hindered, by whatever means, from banishing him into another country, the formed foon after a fcheme for burying him in poverty and obfcurity in his own; and that his ftation of life, if not the place of his refidence, might keep him for ever at a distance from her, she ordered him to be placed with a fhoe-maker in Holborn, that, after the ufual time of trial, he might become his apprentice *.

It is generally reported, that this project was for fome time fuccefsful, and that Savage was employed at the awl longer than he was willing to confefs; nor was it perhaps any great advantage to him, that an unexpected discovery determined him to quit his occupation.

About this time his nurfe, who had always treated him as her own fon, died; and it was natural for him to take care of thofe effects which by her death were, as he imagined, become his own: he therefore went to her house, opened her boxes, and examined her papers, among which he found fome letters written to her by the Lady Mason, which informed him of his birth, and the reafons for which it was concealed.

He was no longer fatisfied with the employment which had been allotted him, but thought he had a right to fhare the affluence of his mother; and therefore without fcruple applied to her as her fon, and made use of every art to awaken her tenderness, and attract her regard. But neither his letters, nor the interpofition of those friends which his merit or his distress procured him, made any impreffion upon

* Savage's Preface to his Miscellanies.

her

her mind. She ftill refolved to neglect, though the could no longer difown him.

It was to no purpose that he frequently folicited her to admit him to fee her; fhe avoided him with the most vigilant precaution, and ordered him to be excluded from her house, by whomfoever he might be introduced, and what reafon foever he might give for entering it.

Savage was at the fame time fo touched with the discovery of his real mother, that it was his frequent practice to walk in the dark evenings * for feveral hours before her door, in hopes of feeing her as fshe might come by accident to the window, or crofs her apartment with a candle in her hand.

But all his affiduity and tendernefs were without effect, for he could neither foften her heart nor open her hand, and was reduced to the utmost miseries of want, while he was endeavouring to awaken the affection of a mother. He was therefore obliged to feek fome other means of fupport; and, having no profeffion, became by neceffity an author.

At this time the attention of the literary world was engroffed by the Bangorian controversy, which filled the prefs with pamphlets, and the coffee-houfes with difputants. Of this fubject, as most popular, he made choice for his firft attempt, and, without any other knowledge of the queftion than he had cafually collected from converfation, published a poem against the Bishop.

What was the fuccefs or merit of this performance, I know not; it was probably loft among the innu

*See the Plain Dealer.

It was called "The Battle of the Pamphlets." R. VOL. X.

U

merable

merable pamphlets to which that dispute gave occafion. Mr. Savage was himself in a little time ashamed of it, and endeavoured to fupprefs it, by destroying all the copies that he could collect.

He then attempted a more gainful kind of writing*, and in his eighteenth year offered to the ftage a comedy borrowed from a Spanish plot, which was refused by the players, and was therefore given by him to Mr. Bullock, who, having more intereft, made fome flight alterations, and brought it upon the ftage, under the title of WOMAN'S A RIDDLE, but allowed the unhappy author no part of the profit.

Not difcouraged however at his repulfe, he wrote two years afterwards LOVE IN A VEIL, another comedy, borrowed likewife from the Spanish, but with little better fuccefs than before: for though it was received and acted, yet it appeared fo late in the year, that the author obtained no other advantage from it, than the acquaintance of Sir Richard Steele, and Mr. Wilks, by whom he was pitied, careffed, and relieved.

Sir Richard Steele, having declared in his favour with all the ardour of benevolence which constituted his character, promoted his intereft with the utmost zeal, related his misfortunes, applauded his merit, took all the opportunities of recommending him, and afferted, that "the inhumanity of his mother "had given him a right to find every good man his "father."

* Jacob's Lives of the Dramatick Poets. Dr. J.

This play was printed firft in 8vo; and afterwards in 12m0, the fifth edition. Dr. J.

Plain Dealer.

Nor

Nor was Mr. Savage admitted to his acquaintance only, but to his confidence, of which he fometimes related an inftance too extraordinary to be omitted, as it afforded a very juft idea of his patron's character.

He was once defired by Sir Richard, with an air of the utmost importance, to come very early to his houfe the next morning. Mr. Savage came as he had promised, found the chariot at the door, and Sir Richard waiting for him, and ready to go out. What was intended, and whither they were to go, Savage could not conjecture, and was not willing to enquire; but immediately feated himfelf with Sir Richard. The coachman was ordered to drive, and they hurried with the utmost expedition to HydePark Corner, where they ftopped at a petty tavern, and retired to a private room. Sir Richard then informed him, that he intended to publish a pamphlet, and that he had defired him to come thither that he might write for him. They foon fat down to the work. Sir Richard dictated, and Savage wrote, till the dinner that had been ordered was put upon the table. Savage was surprised at the meannefs of the entertainment, and after fome hefitation ventured to ask for wine, which Sir Richard, not without reluctance, ordered to be brought. They then finished their dinner, and proceeded in their pamphlet, which they concluded in the afternoon.

Mr. Savage then imagined his task over, and expected that Sir Richard would call for the reckoning, and return home; but his expectations deceived him, for Sir Richard told him that he was without money, and that the pamphlet must be fold before the dinner could

U 2

could be paid for; and Savage was therefore obliged to go and offer their new production for sale for two guincas, which with fome difficulty he obtained. Sir Richard then returned home, haying retired that day only to avoid his creditors, and composed the pamphlet only to discharge his reckoning.

Mr. Savage related another fact equally uncommon, which, though it has no relation to his life, ought to be preferved. Sir Richard Steele having one day invited to his houfe a great number of perfons of the first quality, they were furprifed at the number of liveries which furrounded the table; and after dinner, when wine and mirth had set them free from the obfervation of rigid ceremony, one of them enquired of Sir Richard, how fuch an expenfive train of domefticks could be confiftent with his fortune. Sir Richard very frankly confeffed, that they were fellows of whom he would very willingly be rid. And being then afked why he did not discharge `them, declared that they were bailiffs, who had introduced themselves with an execution, and whom, fince he could not fend them away, he had thought it convenient to embellish with liveries, that they might do him credit while they ftaid.

His friends were diverted with the expedient, and by paying the debt discharged their attendance, having obliged Sir Richard to promife that they should never again find him graced with a retinue of the fame kind.

Under fuch a tutor Mr. Savage was not likely to learn prudence or frugality; and perhaps many of the misfortunes which the want of thofe virtues

brought