The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

Chapter CII

Volume Four, Chapter CII 539 a patentee dares not disoblige;25 the other, insinuation, by ingratiating yourself with the manager: you must be recommended to his notice; you must cultivate his good graces with all the humility of adulation; write poems in his praise; if he be an actor, support his performance against all censure, though it should be founded upon demonstration ; and in public coffee-houses, as well as in private parties, magnify the virtues of his heart, in despite of truth and illustration. This, indeed, is the most effectual expedient, and what I advise you to practise, after you shall have been introduced to his acquaintance, by some person of weight; and if, by these means, and dint of perseverance , you can, in three or four years, see your comedy in rehearsal, you may think yourself extremely fortunate in your application: for a man, without interest or pretension , may present a petition to the captain-general of his majesty’s forces,26 demanding a commission for the first company that shall become vacant, and be as likely to meet with success, as an unsupported author that offers a performance to the stage. Though a patentee had no friends of his own to oblige, why the devil should he put himself to the expense and trouble attending the representation of a new play, and part with three benefit-nights,27 to please the vanity and fill the pockets of a stranger?” The northern bard began to argue with great vehemence and vociferation, against the advice and observations of the chairman, undertaking to prove from reason, as well as from experience, that one poet is of greater dignity and importance to the commonwealth , than all the patentees or players that ever existed. But he was over-ruled and silenced in the beginning of his harangue, by a decree of the council, which was unanimously of opinion, that the advice he had received was equally judicious and expedient, and that it would be his own fault, if he did not profit by the admonition. chapter cii. Further proceedings of the college. This affair was no sooner discussed, than another gentleman exhibited a complaint , signifying, that he had undertaken to translate into English, a certain celebrated author, who had been cruelly mangled by former attempts; and that, soon as his design took air, the proprietors of those miserable translations had endeavoured to prejudice his work, by industrious insinuations, contrary to truth and fair dealing, importing , that he did not understand one word of the language which he pretended to translate.1 This being a case that nearly concerned the greatest part of the audience, it was taken into serious deliberation: some observed, that it was not only a malicious effort against the plaintiff, but also a spiteful advertisement to the public, tending to promote an inquiry into the abilities of all other translators, few of whom (it was well known) were so qualified, as to stand the test of such examination. Others said, that over and above this consideration, which ought to have its due weight with the college, 540 The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle there was a necessity for concerting measures to humble the presumption of booksellers , who had, from time immemorial, taken all opportunities to oppress and enslave their authors; not only by limiting men of genius to the wages of a journeyman taylor, without even allowing them one sabbath in the week, but also in taking such advantages of their necessities, as were inconsistent with justice and humanity. “For example, (said one of the members) after I myself had acquired a little reputation with the town, I was caressed by one of those tyrants who professed a friendship for me, and even supplied me with money, according to the exigencies of my situation; so that I looked upon him as the mirrour of disinterested benevolence; and had he known my disposition , and treated me accordingly, I should have writ for him upon his own terms. After I had used his friendship in this manner for some time, I happened to have occasion for a small sum of money, and with great confidence made another application to my good friend; when all of a sudden he put a stop to his generosity, refused to accommodate me in the most abrupt and mortifying style; and though I was at that time pretty far advanced in a work for his benefit, which was a sufficient security...