A

PROJECT

FOR RAISING AN

HOSPITAL

FOR

Decayed AUTHORS.

-By JOHN GILBERT-COOPER, Efq;

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, whofe Appearance in public, for many prudent Reasons, being feldom, and their Habitations far above the com mon Level with the rest of mankind, they pass unnoticed by the Generality of the World, and are looked upon by others as a Name without a Be ing. From whence this want of Refpect for fo confiderable a Body of Men proceeds, I will not takę upon me to fay ; but certain it is, that many worthy Wits by Profeffion are ftarving in Garrets, whilft the Gravitation of Dulness daily brings Hundreds to and from the Exchange, and the neighbouring Allies, in their Chariots. What a fad Reflexion

2

it

it is, that the moft beautiful Ode in HORACE will not raife 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 reduced many a fine Poetical Genius to dearn his own Stockings.

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 visit them in their Occupation. We were led by the Master of the House 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 illuftrious Spirits were amufing themfelves 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 benefitting Mankind by their Lucubrations. I muft own their unfuitable Situation made me feel some concern for them, though they seemed to feel very little for themselves. But my Attention to their deplorable Circumstance was interrupted by a Mistake 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 of

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 Bird's Neft." Upon my expreffing fome 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 Harmonifts were coupling their Rhimes together, an old Woman of a venerable Afpect mounted the Ladder, and informed the Company that the Milk-Porridge was ready. The Pens were inftantly ftuck 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 foon 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 observed 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 old Friend the Simile-Lender, the worthy Representative of Mat. Prior, who accofted me with the most obliging Condefcenfion. As our Converfation, during

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 apiece of me. Such is the Condition of many a great Soul in this Kingdom, who magnanimoufly fcorning to engrofs, to pound in a Mortar, or live like any other vile Mechanic, has rather chose to confine himself fix Days in feven, feeling the inward Call of a poetical Spirit, than breathe 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 prefent public Spirit, to found an Hofpital for neceffitous Authors; fuch I mean as are not quite furious, for thofe 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 laid before the Publick, I beg Leave to infert the following in your Mufseum.

The first thing to be confidered is a proper Spot to build an Hospital upon;, for which I think Tothill Fields would not be amifs, as they lie contiguous to the Banks of the fertile Thames, whofe Streams have been the Subject of so many fine Compofitions, and' may ferve 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,