ck bushy beard, and his head covered with a huge mass of
brown periwig, which seems to have been ravished from the crown of some
scarecrow. This apparition, stalking in with great solemnity, made
a profound bow to the audience, who signified their approbation by a
general response of "How d'ye do, doctor!" He then turned towards us,
and honoured Jackson with a particular salutation, upon which my friend,
in a formal manner, introduced him to me by the name of Mr. Melopoyn.
This ceremony being over, he advanced into the middle of the
congregation, which crowded around him, and hemming three times, to
my utter astonishment, pronounced with great significance of voice and
gesture, a very elegant and ingenious discourse upon the difference
between genius and taste, illustrating his assertions with apt
quotations from the best authors, ancient as well as modern. When he had
finished his harangue, which lasted a full hour, he bowed again to the
spectators; not one of whom (I was informed) understood so much as
a sentence of what he had uttered. They manifested, however, their
admiration and esteem by voluntary contributions, which Jackson told
me, one week with another, amounted to eighteen pence. This moderate
stipend, together with some small presents that he received for making
up differences and deciding causes amongst the prisoners, just enabled
him to breathe and walk about in the grotesque figure I have described.
I understood also, that he was an excellent poet, and had composed
a tragedy, which was allowed by everybody who had seen it to be a
performance of great merit: that his learning was infinite, his morals
unexceptionable, and his modesty invincible. Such a character could not
fail of attracting my regard; I longed impatiently to be acquainted with
him, and desired Jackson would engage him to spend the evening in my
apartment. My request was granted; he favoured us with his company, and,
in the course of our conversation perceiving that I had a strong passion
for the Belles Lettres, acquitted himself so well on that subject, that
I expressed a fervent desire of seeing his productions. In this point
too he gratified my inclination; he promised to bring his tragedy to my
room next day, and in the meantime, entertained me with some detached
pieces, which gave me a very advantageous idea of his poetical talent.
Among other things I was particularly pleased with some elegies, in
imitation of Tibullus; one of which I b