That Sir John was capable of a great force of thinking, appears abundantly clear from that scene between Aesop and a country gentleman, who comes to complain of the bad conduct of those in power.  The dialogue is at once sensible and animated.  Aesop shews him what he reckoned the oppressions of the administration, flowed from the prejudices of ignorance, contemplated through the medium of popular discontent.  In the interview between the Beau and the Philosopher, there is the following pretty fable.  The Beau observes to Aesop, ’It is very well; it is very well, old spark; I say it is very well; because I han’t a pair of plod shoes, and a dirty shirt, you think a woman won’t venture upon me for husband.—­Why now to shew you, old father, how little you philosophers know the ladies.—­I’ll tell you an adventure of a friend of mine.’

    A Band, a Bob-wig and a Feather
  Attack’d a lady’s heart together,
  The band in a most learned plea,
  Made up of deep philosophy,
  Told her, if she would please to wed
  A reverend beard, and take instead
      Of vigorous youth,
      Old solemn truth,
  With books, and morals into bed,
     How happy she would be.

    The Bob, he talk’d of management,
  What wond’rous blessings Heav’n sent
  On care, and pains, and industry;
  And truly he must be so free,
  To own he thought your airy beaux,
  With powdered wigs, and dancing shoes,
  Were good for nothing (mend his soul)
  But prate and talk, and play the fool.

    He said, ’twas wealth gave joy, and mirth,
      And that to be the dearest wife,
      Of one who laboured all his life,
  To make a mine of gold his own,
  And not spend sixpence when he’d done
      Was Heaven upon earth.

    When these two blades had done, d’ye see. 
  The Feather (as it might be me)
  Steps out sir from behind the skreen. 
  With such an air and such a mien,
  Look you, old gentleman, in short,
  He quickly spoil’d the statesman’s sport.

    It prov’d such sunshine weather,
  That you must know at the first beck
  The lady leapt about his neck,
    And off they went together.

The reputation which Sir John gained by his comedies was rewarded with, greater advantages, than what arise from the usual profits of writing for the stage.  He was appointed Clarencieux King at Arms, a place which he some time held, and at last disposed of.  In August 1716 he was appointed surveyor of the works at Greenwich Hospital; he was likewise made comptroller-general of his Majesty’s works, and surveyor of the gardens and waters, the profits of which places, collectively considered, must amount to a very considerable sum.  In some part of our author’s life (for we cannot justly ascertain the time) he gratified an inclination of visiting France.  As curiosity no doubt induced him to pass over to that country, he lost no time in