tock was exhausted and the British genius had failed: But it is some
satisfaction that these attempts seem now to be discouraged; we have
seen a late play of theirs (we call it a play, for it was neither a
tragedy nor a comedy) translated by a languid poet of our own, received
with the coolness it deserved.

But to return to Mr. Maynwaring. Upon his arrival in England, from
France, he was made one of the commissioners of the customs, in which
post he distinguished himself by his skill and fidelity. Of the latter
of these qualities we have an instance, in his treatment of a man, who
sollicited to be a tide-waiter: Somebody had told him that his best way
to succeed would be to make a present. The advice had been perhaps
good enough if he had not mistaken his man. For understanding that
Mr. Maynwaring had the best interest at the board of any of the
commissioners, with the lords of the treasury; he sent him a letter,
with a purse of fifty-guineas, desiring his favour towards obtaining the
place he sollicited: Afterwards he delivered a petition to the board,
which was read, and several of the commissioners having spoke to it, Mr.
Maynwaring took out the purse of fifty guineas, and the letter, telling
them that as long as he could prevent it, that man should never have
this, or any other place in the revenue[2].

Mr. Maynwaring was admitted a member of the Kit-Kat Club, and was
considered as one of the chief ornaments of it, by his pleasantry and
wit.

In the beginning of queen Anne's reign, lord treasurer Godolphin,
engaged Mr. Donne, to quit the office of auditor of the imprests, his
lordship paying him several thousand pounds for his doing it, and he
never let Mr. Maynwaring know what he was doing for him, till he made
him a present of a patent for that office, worth about two-thousand
pounds a year in time of business. In the Parliament which met in 1705,
our author was chosen a burgess for Preston in Lancashire[3].

He had a considerable share in the Medley, and was author of several
other pieces, of which we shall presently give some account.

He died at St. Albans, November the 13th, 1712, having some time before
made his will; in which he left Mrs. Oldfield, the celebrated actress
his executrix, by whom he had a son, named Arthur Maynwaring. He divided
his estate pretty equally between that child, Mrs. Oldfield, and his
sister; Mr. Oldmixon tells us, that Mr. Maynwaring loved this actress,
for nine or ten years