Page:The Life of Mr. Richard Savage - Johnson (1727).djvu/18

 ance of the Gentleman, just mention'd for his Humanity, he obtain'd the Sum of fifty Pounds as a Present, from a Lady, whose Duty it seem'd to have been to take some Care of him; this Sum he was told should be made up two Hundred, but it being in the Height of the South-Sea Infatuation, by which this Lady was one of the imaginary Gainers, when that Grand Bubble broke, the other Hundred and Fifty Pounds evaporated with it; and the poor Gentleman who is the Subject of our Discourse would have been reduced to as great Extremities as ever, if his Merit had not recommended him to that Ornament of English Poesy, Aaron Hill, Esq; Miserable as he was in every other Part of his Life, his Intimacy and Friendship with this Gentleman was a Happiness he has been much envy'd for, by several, whose Accomplishments could not entitle them to so great a Share of his Esteem as himself.

In the Year 1724 Mr Savage wrote his Tragedy of Sir Thomas Overbury, which was acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane, and dedicated to Herbert Tryst, of the City of Hereford, Esq; In this Play he perform'd the principal Part himself, with much Applause: In an Advertisement to the Reader, printed before it, he acknowledges the Obligations he had to his best and dearest Friend, as he there calls him, Mr. Aaron Hill, for his many judicious Corrections in it. The