 than
Poverty, or rather what is the worst Consequence of Poverty, I mean Attendance
and Dependance on the Great. Many a Morning have I waited Hours in the cold
Parlours of Men of Quality, where after seeing the lowest Rascals in Lace and
Embroidery, the Pimps and Buffoons in Fashion admitted, I have been sometimes
told on sending in my Name, that my Lord could not possibly see me this Morning:
A sufficient Assurance that I should never more get entrance into that House.
Sometimes I have been at last admitted, and the great Man hath thought proper to
excuse himself, by telling me he was tied up. »Tied up,« says Adams, »pray
what's that?« Sir, says the Gentleman, the Profit which Booksellers allowed
Authors for the best Works, was so very small, that certain Men of Birth and
Fortune some Years ago, who were the Patrons of Wit and Learning, thought fit to
encourage them farther, by entring into voluntary Subscriptions for their
Encouragement. Thus Prior, Rowe, Pope, and some other Men of Genius, received
large Sums for their Labours from the Public. This seemed so easy a Method of
getting Money, that many of the lowest Scriblers of the Times ventured to
publish their Works in the same Way; and many had the Assurance to take in
Subscriptions for what was not writ, nor ever intended. Subscriptions in this
manner growing infinite, and a kind of Tax on the Public; some Persons finding
it not so easy a Task to discern good from bad Authors, or to know what Genius
was worthy Encouragement, and what was not, to prevent the Expence of
Subscribing to so many, invented a Method to excuse themselves from all
Subscriptions whatever; and this was to receive a small Sum of Money in
consideration of giving a large one if ever they subscribed; which many have
done, and many more have pretended to have done, in order to silence all
Sollicitation. The same Method was likewise taken with Playhouse Tickets, which
were no less a public Grievance; and this is what they call being tied up from
subscribing. »I can't say but the Term is apt enough, and somewhat typical,«
said Adams; »for a Man of large Fortune, who ties himself up, as you call it,
from the Encouragement of Men of Merit, ought to be tied up in reality.« Well,
Sir, says the Gentleman, to return to my Story. Sometimes I have received a
Guinea from a Man of Quality, given with as ill a Grace as Alms are generally to
the
