100 THE DUCHESS OF QUEENSBERRY.

for his sake; another great lady in danger of being chassée likewise; about seven or eight duchesses pushing forward, like ancient circumcelliones in the church, who shall suffer martyrdom upon his account first. He is the darling of the city, and if he should travel about the country he would have hecatombs of roasted oxen sacrificed to him."

The happy result was, John Gay made over twelve hundred pounds by the sale of his opera, and gained the permanent friendship and protection of the Duke and Duchess of Queensberry, with whom he lived for the remainder of his days.

* A sect of African heretics smitten with the desire of being martyrs.

DR. JOHNSON'S IRENE.

FIRST PRODUCED, 6TH FEBRUARY, 1749.

Dr. Johnson Comes to Town-Life in the Great CityWriting his Tragedy at Greenwich-David Garrick Becomes Patentee of Drury Lane Theatre-Johnson's Abuse and Jealousy-Irene Submitted to the Manager -Anger and Alteration-The Tragedy ProducedAaron Hill's Description-In the Pit-Receipts of the House.

I

DR. JOHNSON'S IRENE.

IN the thirty-seventh year of the last century, Samuel Johnson had determined on seeking his fortune in London town-" the great field of genius and exertion," as Boswell terms it, "where talents of every kind have the fullest scope and fullest encouragement." The future lexicographer, then in his twenty-seventh year, was considered a scholar of ability, a philosopher in embryo, and a dramatic poet, whose verse had filled his friend Mr. Walmesley with hope "he would turn out a fine tragedy writer" some day. Sharing the opinion expressed by his patron, Johnson regarded a play he had composed as a means certain of securing him fame and fortune. It was named Irene, and took the form of tragedy. Its first lines had been written

104

TRAMPING TO LONDON.

whilst he kept the famous school at Edial, where

were taught the Latin and Greek languages by Samuel Johnson," to young gentlemen whose domestic comforts fell to the charge of Mrs. Tetsy Johnson, a lady gifted by nature with "a bosom of more than ordinary protuberance." The tragedy was, however, completed elsewhere, for after a struggling existence of eighteen months the school dissolved, and the pupils who had so often gathered in tittering groups outside their master's bedroom door, that they might witness through the keyhole his "tumultuous and awkward fondness for Mrs. Johnson," were despatched to their various homes. Being free to face the world, Johnson turned his steps towards the great capital, carrying in his pockets the unfinished manuscript of his precious tragedy, and the sum of twopencehalfpenny. He was accompanied on his journey by one of his pupils, young David Garrick, who, years hence, was destined to produce the play at Drury Lane.

For some time after his arrival in London, few lines were added to the tragedy. The world knows how he existed during the first months