The same year he also published his Poem upon his Majesty’s Journey to Cambridge and New-market, and dedicated it to the Queen.  Another of his performances is a poetical piece, intitled A Letter to his Excellency Ulrick D’Ypres, and C——­, in Answer to his excellency’s two Epistles in the Daily Courant; with a Word or Two to Mr. Osborn the Hyp Doctor, and C——.  These several performances were very well received by the public.

In the year 1733 he began a weekly pamphlet (in the nature of a Magazine, though more judiciously composed) called The Bee, which he continued for about 100 Numbers, that bind into eight Volumes Octavo, but at last by quarrelling with his booksellers, and filling his pamphlet with things entirely relating to himself, he was obliged to drop it.  During the progress of this work, Dr. Tindall’s death happened, by whose will Mr. Budgell had 2000 l. left him; and the world being surprised at such a gift, immediately imputed it to his making the will himself.  This produced a paper-war between him and Mr. Tindall, the continuator of Rapin, by which Mr. Budgell’s character considerably suffered; and this occasioned his Bee’s being turned into a meer vindication of himself.

It is thought he had some hand in publishing Dr. Tindall’s Christianity as old as the Creation; and he often talked of another additional volume on the same subject, but never published it.  However he used to enquire very frequently after Dr. Conybear’s health (who had been employed by her late majesty to answer the first, and had been rewarded with the deanery of Christ-Church for his pains) saying he hoped Mr. Dean would live a little while longer, that he might have the pleasure of making him a bishop, for he intended very soon to publish the other volume of Tindall which would do the business.  Mr. Budgell promised likewise a volume of several curious pieces of Tindall’s, that had been committed to his charge, with the life of the doctor; but never fulfilled his promise[4].

During the publication of the Bee a smart pamphlet came out, called A Short History of Prime Ministers, which was generally believed to be written by our author; and in the same year he published A Letter to the Merchants and Tradesmen of London and Bristol, upon their late glorious behaviour against the Excise Law.

After the extinction of the Bee, our author became so involved with law-suits, and so incapable of living in the manner he wished and affected to do, that he was reduced to a very unhappy situation.  He got himself call’d to the bar, and attended for some time in the courts of law; but finding it was too late to begin that profession, and too difficult for a man not regularly trained to it, to get into business, he soon quitted it.  And at last, after being cast in several of his own suits, and being distressed to the utmost, he determined to make away with himself.  He had always thought very loosely of revelation, and latterly became an avowed deist; which, added to his pride, greatly disposed him to this resolution.