One corrupted, one immoral thought,
  A line which dying he could wish to blot.

He was a stranger to the most distant appearance of envy or malevolence, never jealous of any man’s growing reputation, and so far from arrogating any praise to himself, from his conjunction with Mr. Addison, that he was the first who desired him to distinguish his papers in the Spectator, and after the death of that great man was a faithful executor of his fame, notwithstanding an aspersion which Mr. Tickell was so unjust to throw upon him.  Sir Richard’s greatest error was want of oeconomy, as appears from the two following instances related by the elegant writer of Mr. Savage’s Life, to whom that gentleman communicated them.

’Savage was once desired by Sir Richard, with an air of the utmost importance, to come very early to his house the next morning.  Mr. Savage came as he had promised, found the chariot at the door, and Sir Richard waiting for him ready to go out.  What was intended, and whither they were to go, Savage could not conjecture, and was not willing to inquire, but immediately seated himself with Sir Richard:  The coachman was ordered to drive, and they hurried with the utmost expedition to Hyde-Park Corner, where they stopped at a petty tavern, and retired to a private room.  Sir Richard then informed him, that he intended to publish a pamphlet, and that he desired him to come thither, that he might write for him.  They soon sat down to the work, Sir Richard dictated, and Savage wrote, till the dinner which had been ordered, was put upon the table.  Savage was surprised at the meanness of the entertainment, and after some hesitation, ventured to ask for wine, which Sir Richard, not without reluctance ordered to be brought.  They then finished their dinner, and proceeded in their pamphlet, which they concluded in the afternoon.  Mr. Savage then imagined his task over, and expected that Sir Richard would call for the reckoning and return home; but his expectations deceived him, for Sir Richard told him he was without money and that the pamphlet must be sold before the dinner could be paid for; and Savage was therefore obliged to go and offer their new production to sale for two guineas, which with some difficulty he obtained.  Sir Richard then returned home, having retired that day only to avoid his creditors, and composed the pamphlet only to discharge his reckoning.’  As Savage has said nothing to the contrary, it is reasonable to conjecture that he had Sir Richard’s permission to use his name to the Bookseller, to whom he made an offer of it for two guineas, otherwise it is very improbable that the pamphlet should be sold at all in so short a time.