assisted
their circulation from malice or revenge; and perhaps many pretended to
credit them, that they might with a better grace withdraw their regard,
or withhold their assistance.

Savage, however, was not one of those who suffered himself to be injured
without resistance, nor was he less diligent in exposing the faults of
Lord Tyrconnel, over whom he obtained at least this advantage, that he
drove him first to the practice of outrage and violence; for he was so
much provoked by the wit and virulence of Savage, that he came with a
number of attendants, that did no honour to his courage, to beat him
at a coffee-house. But it happened that he had left the place a few
minutes, and his lordship had, without danger, the pleasure of boasting
how he would have treated him. Mr. Savage went next day to repay his
visit at his own house, but was prevailed on by his domestics to retire
without insisting on seeing him.

Lord Tyrconnel was accused by Mr. Savage of some actions which scarcely
any provocation will be thought sufficient to justify, such as seizing
what he had in his lodgings, and other instances of wanton cruelty,
by which he increased the distress of Savage without any advantage to
himself.

These mutual accusations were retorted on both sides, for many years,
with the utmost degree of virulence and rage; and time seemed rather
to augment than diminish their resentment. That the anger of Mr. Savage
should be kept alive is not strange, because he felt every day the
consequences of the quarrel; but it might reasonably have been hoped
that Lord Tyrconnel might have relented, and at length have forgot those
provocations, which, however they might have once inflamed him, had
not in reality much hurt him. The spirit of Mr. Savage, indeed, never
suffered him to solicit a reconciliation; he returned reproach for
reproach, and insult for insult; his superiority of wit supplied the
disadvantages of his fortune, and enabled him to form a party, and
prejudice great numbers in his favour. But though this might be some
gratification of his vanity, it afforded very little relief to his
necessities, and he was frequently reduced to uncommon hardships, of
which, however, he never made any mean or importunate complaints, being
formed rather to bear misery with fortitude than enjoy prosperity with
moderation.

He now thought himself again at liberty to expose the cruelty of his
mother; and therefore, I believe, about this time, p