udence, an excellence for which he was not so often
distinguished; he does not forget to remind the king, in the most
delicate and artful manner, of continuing his pension.

With regard to the success of his address he was for some time in
suspense, but was in no great degree solicitous about it; and continued
his labour upon his new tragedy with great tranquillity, till the friend
who had for a considerable time supported him, removing his family to
another place, took occasion to dismiss him. It then became necessary to
inquire more diligently what was determined in his affair, having reason
to suspect that no great favour was intended him, because he had not
received his pension at the usual time.

It is said that he did not take those methods of retrieving his interest
which were most likely to succeed; and some of those who were employed
in the Exchequer cautioned him against too much violence in his
proceedings; but Mr. Savage, who seldom regulated his conduct by the
advice of others, gave way to his passion, and demanded of Sir Robert
Walpole, at his levee, the reason of the distinction that was made
between him and the other pensioners of the queen, with a degree of
roughness which perhaps determined him to withdraw what had been only
delayed.

Whatever was the crime of which he was accused or suspected, and
whatever influence was employed against him, he received soon after an
account that took from him all hopes of regaining his pension; and he
had now no prospect of subsistence but from his play, and he knew no way
of living for the time required to finish it.

So peculiar were the misfortunes of this man, deprived of an estate and
title by a particular law, exposed and abandoned by a mother, defrauded
by a mother of a fortune which his father had allotted him, he entered
the world without a friend; and though his abilities forced themselves
into esteem and reputation, he was never able to obtain any real
advantage; and whatever prospects arose, were always intercepted as
he began to approach them. The king's intentions in his favour were
frustrated; his dedication to the prince, whose generosity on every
other occasion was eminent, procured him no reward; Sir Robert Walpole,
who valued himself upon keeping his promise to others, broke it to
him without regret; and the bounty of the queen was, after her death,
withdrawn from him, and from him only.

Such were his misfortunes, which yet he bore, not only