The celebrated author of this celebrated opera was born to experience variety of fortune; such as plunged him into the bitterest despondency, and such as elevated him to the height of joy.

John Gay was born near Barnstaple, in Devonshire, 1688, and received his education at the grammar school there.² He was of an ancient family,³ and yet was bred a mercer: But having a small independent fortune, and a mind superior to the state in which his relations had placed him, he purchased his freedom from the indentures which bound him to a shopkeeper, in the Strand,⁴ and quitted the counter, where he had attended for several years.⁵

His first production, a poem, called "Rural Sports," printed in 1711, and dedicated to Pope, gained him the acquaintance and friendship of that poet, and introduced him to many other distinguished persons.⁶

The year following, he was made secretary to the Duchess of Monmouth; and, soon after, accompanied Lord Clarendon, in the same capacity, to Hanover.⁷

Gay seems to have fixed his inclination upon a b 2[Page 4]certain possession, which poets, of all other classes of men, appear most to have despised—money.

With the various earnings of his pen, both as secretary and author, poor Gay, in search of riches, placed all he had accumulated, in the bank of the famous South Sea company—His warmest wishes were soon accomplished, and his little fortune became treble.—He was advised to settle out, and purchase an annuity, with his increased store—he waited to have it still augment,—and lost every guinea he was worth in the world.⁸

The poet had neither wife nor child, to share in this severe misfortune, and yet, it seemed to have struck to his heart.

He was, for a time, inconsolable,—almost driven to despair. But the treasure he still possessed in affectionate and enlightened friends, who sought every method to dissipate his care, at length prevailed; and he began, once more, to write for money, and to save it.⁹

He now produced his tragedy of "The Captives"—had the honour of reading it to the Princess of Wales, afterwards Queen Caroline;¹⁰ and the greater honour, of receiving her royal command, to write a book of Fables, which was dedicated, by permission, to the young Duke of Cumberland, and most graciously accepted.¹¹

Gay's hopes were again elated; he looked forward to advancement, from so powerful and liberal a patronage;—but in 1727, when this princess ascended the throne,¹² another South Sea bubble broke, and he [Page 5]was offered a place at court, which he conceived it an indignity to suppose he would accept.

He refused to be gentleman-usher to one of the young princesses, as an office, in which his peculiar talents would be wholly useless; but though he considered, that insult had been here added to disappointment, yet, as this misfortune occurred without any imprudence or fault of his own, he sunk not under its weight, as when he lost his fortune, in the pursuit of increasing it;—but, irritated by a manly pride, against courts and courtiers, was now inspired to compose this admirable drama of "The Beggar's Opera."

It came out in the season of 1727-8¹³ —and on this occasion the author experienced a joy, equal in its excess, to any of his past and bitterest sorrows.

Never had dramatic work been so attractive; and as the nature of the entertainment was wholly new to an English audience, the author had eulogiums for his invention, beyond the common share allotted to successful authors.

"The Beggar's Opera" was acted sixty-three nights,¹⁴ without intermission and charmed every auditor, except those who were the objects of its satire. Anecdotes, almost incredible, are related of its popularity on its first coming forth; and yet, their truth can be easily conceived, when the present force of this excellent work is recollected. At this period, when English operas are no longer a novelty, and some very good ones have appeared, still, no entertainment of the kind, is allowed to hold an exact equality with this produc-b 3[Page 6]tion. At such high estimation, a certain discount is, however, taken from its value. It fails of moral precept.—Nor is that accusation all; it has the fatal tendency to make vice alluring. The skill of the author is here supremely excellent, though it is grievous he did not show it in a better cause; for, who, but Gay, could have made highwaymen, thieves, and cheats of every denomination, endearing to the delicate, the elegant, and even the honourable spectator?¹⁵

Still it is to be observed, that the author has rendered the only honest person in the play, by far the most interesting character. Polly Peachum is endowed with such superior charms, from the unoffending qualities she possesses, that, when she was first represented, every actress who performed the part, made her fortune by marriage;—and Miss Fenton, the original Polly, so fascinated the Duke of Bolton, that he elevated her to the highest rank of a female subject, by making her his wife.¹⁶

It is painful to state, that, after this brilliant success, Gay wrote again, and his drama failed of a kind reception.¹⁷ It seems a paradox, yet it is true, that the author, who has once written well, should write no more; whilst he, who is unsuccessful, had best proceed.—The first may lose a reputation by perseverance, and the last may regain one.