A

PROJECT

FOR RAISING AN HOSPITAL

FOR

Decayed AUTHORS.

By JOHN GILBERT-COOPER, Esq;

I

SIR,

Sit down to write to you in Behalf of a Sett of Gentlemen in this Town, with whom you are not unacquainted, called Authors, whose Appearance in public, for many prudent Reasons, being feldom, and their Habitations far above the common Level with the rest of Mankind, they pass unnoticed by the Generallity of the World, and are looked upon by others as a Name without a Being. From whence this Want of Respect for so confiderable a Body of Men proceeds, I will not take upon me to say; but certain it is, that many worthy Wits by Profeffion are starving in Garrets, whilft the Gravitation of Dulnefs daily brings Hundreds to and from the Exchange, and the neighbouring Alleys, in their Chariots. What a fad Reflexion it is, that the most beautiful Ode in HORACE

will not raise Six-pence in the City, when an ordinary Knowledge of the Multiplication-Table will accumulate Eftates! This unaccountable Humour in the Nation, of preferring the Writings of the Bank Directors to thofe of the Sons of Parnaffus, has induced many a fine Poetical Genius to darn his own Stockings...

1

A Friend of mine, who accidentally became acquainted with two or three of these great Men, who nobly defy Poverty for the Sake of exhibiting their extraordinary Talents, took me one Day to vifit them in their Occupation. We were led, by the Master of the Houfe where they lodged, a Bookfeller by Trade, up a very handsome Pair of Stairs, where I imagined we should have been introduced to the Literati upon the firft Floor; but how great was my Surprize to be conducted up two or three Stories more, and then up a Ladder into a Cock-loft, where eight or nine of these illustrious Spirits where amusing themselves with Compofitions of various Sorts; not, as our Guide feemed to infinuate, for the Lucre of Porter and Pudding, but from the nobler Motive of benefiting Mankind by their Lucubrations. I must own their unfuitable Situation made me feel fome Concern for them, though they seemed to feel very little for themselves. But my Attention to their deplorable Circumstances was interrupted by a Miftake that my Ignorance of their Trade led me into; for, after the first introductory Salutations were over, they fell again to their former Employments, without taking any farther Notice or

us;

us; and, as I was very attentive out of Curiofity, I heard one of them call foftly across the Table to another who fat oppofite to him, "Prithee, MAT. PRIOR, lend me thy Simile of the Birds Neft." Upon my expreffing some Surprize at the Name of Mat. Prior, my Friend whispered me, that every one of the Gentlemen perfonated fome Poet of Note, and imitated, as well as he was able, his Stile and Manner; and that fuch Compofitions were published under the Titles of Remains, Pofthumous Works, &c. I cannot fay but my Indignation began to be kindled at a Proceeding fo injurious to the deceased, had not an Object of a different Nature excited my Laughter; for whilft thefe Deputy Harmonists were coupling their Rhimes together, an old Women of a venerable Aspect mounted the Ladder, and informed the Company that the Milk-Porridge was ready. The Pens were instantly struck behind the Ears, the Ink remained in Peace, and the Sound of Beams, purling Streams, Loves, Doves, and Groves, was heard no more. I imagined, as soon as the Vifit was over, that my Acquaintance with these Sons of the Mufes would be fo too; but I very foon after found my Error; for as I was walking in St. James's Park the next Sunday, I obferved three Gentlemen, in rufty philofophical black Coats, Brafshilted Swords, and Tie Wigs, rifing up from one of the Benches to meet me. When they were come a little nearer, I perceived one of them to be my Friend the Simile-Lender, the worthy Representative of Mat. Prior, who accofted me with the moft obliging Condefcenfion. As our Converfation, during

old

my

my Stay in the Park, was pretty long, I fhan't trouble you with a particular Account of it any farther, than to acquaint you that it began with animadverting on the damn'd Taste of the Town, as they called it, and concluded with their borrowing Half a Crown a-piece of me. Such is the Condition of many a great Soul in this Kingdom, who, magnanimoufly scorning to engrofs, to pound in a Mortar, or live like any other vile Mechanic, has rather chofe to confine himself fix Days in feven, feeling the inward Call of a poetical Spirit, than breath the fame Air with the illiterate Multitude! As many hundreds therefore are led into great Inconveniencies, not by their own Faults, but by this Writing-Devil that poffeffes them, I think it would be a Charity altogether worthy of the present public Spirit, to found an Hofpital for neceffitous Authors; fuch I mean as are not quite furious, for those of Course will be admitted into that founded by the late Dean of St. Patrick's for Lunaticks; and as no Scheme of this Sort has hitherto been made public, I beg Leave to lay before you the following.

The first thing to be confidered is a proper Spot to build an Hofpital upon; for which I think Tothill Fields would not be amifs, as they lie contigious to the Banks of the fertile Thames, whofe Streams have been the Subject of so many fine Compofitions, and may serve to recall even in old Age the Ideas of their former Rapture. The Structure fhould be of the old Gothick Collegiate Architecture, containing about two hundred Apartments, not regular and

uniform,