 meanest Beggar, and purchased too with as much Time spent in Attendance, as,
if it had been spent in honest Industry, might have brought me more Profit with
infinitely more Satisfaction. After about two Months spent in this disagreeable
way with the utmost Mortification, when I was pluming my Hopes on the Prospect
of a plentiful Harvest from my Play, upon applying to the Prompter to know when
it came into Rehearsal, he informed me he had received Orders from the Managers
to return me the Play again; for that they could not possibly act it that
Season; but if I would take it and revise it against the next, they would be
glad to see it again. I snatch'd it from him with great Indignation, and retired
to my Room, where I threw myself on the Bed in a Fit of Despair - »You should
rather have thrown yourself on your Knees,« says Adams; »for Despair is sinful.«
As soon, continued the Gentleman, as I had indulged the first Tumult of my
Passion, I began to consider coolly what Course I should take, in a Situation
without Friends, Money, Credit or Reputation of any kind. After revolving many
things in my Mind, I could see no other Possibility of furnishing myself with
the miserable Necessaries of Life than to retire to a Garret near the Temple,
and commence Hackney-writer to the Lawyers; for which I was well qualify'd,
being an excellent Penman. This Purpose I resolved on, and immediately put it in
execution. I had an Acquaintance with an Attorney who had formerly transacted
Affairs for me, and to him I applied: But instead of furnishing me with any
Business, he laugh'd at my Undertaking, and told me »he was afraid I should turn
his Deeds into Plays, and he should expect to see them on the Stage.« Not to
tire you with Instances of this kind from others, I found that Plato himself did
not hold Poets in greater Abhorrence than these Men of Business do. Whenever I
durst venture to a Coffee-house, which was on Sundays only, a Whisper ran round
the Room, which was constantly attended with a Sneer - That's Poet Wilson: for I
know not whether you have observed it, but there is a Malignity in the Nature of
Man, which when not weeded out, or at least covered by a good Education and
Politeness, delights in making another uneasy or dissatisfied with himself. This
abundantly appears in all Assemblies, except those which are filled by People of
Fashion, and especially among the younger People of
