ust, and should, have pleaded guilty to so just an
accusation.'

The fire of youth, with an imagination lively as his was, seldom, if
ever, go hand in hand with solid judgment. Mr. Hill did not give himself
indeed time for correction, having wrote it so very expeditiously, as
hardly would be credited. But (as Dr. Sprat, then bishop of Rochester,
used to observe) there is certainly visible in that book, the seeds of a
great writer.--He seldom in his riper years was guilty of the fault of
non-correction; for he revis'd, too strictly rather, every piece he
purposed for the public eye (exclusive of an author's natural fondness);
and it has been believed by many, who have read some of his pieces in
the first copy, that had they never been by a revisal deepened
[Transcriber's note: 'deepned' in original] into greater strength, they
would have pleased still more, at least more generally.

About the year 1709 he published his first poem, called Camillus; in
vindication, and honour of the earl of Peterborough, who had been
general in Spain. After that nobleman had seen it, he was desirous to
know who was the author of it; which having found by enquiry, he
complimented him by making him his secretary, in the room of Mr. Furly,
who was gone abroad with another nobleman: And Mr. Hill was always held
in high esteem with that great peer; with whom, however, he did not
continue long; for in the year 1710 he married the only daughter of
Edmund Morris, Esq; of Stratford, in Essex; with whom he had a very
handsome fortune: By her he had nine children, four of whom (a son, and
three daughters) are still living.

In 1709 he was made master of the Theatre in Drury-Lane; and then, at
the desire of Mr. Barton Booth, wrote his first Tragedy, (Elfrid, or the
Fair Inconstant) which from his first beginning of it he compleated in a
little more than a week.--The following year, 1710, he was master of the
Opera House in the Hay-Market; and then wrote an Opera called Rinaldo,
which met with great success: It was the first which that admirable
genius Mr. Handel compos'd, after he came to England; (this he dedicated
to Queen Anne).--His genius was adapted greatly to the business of the
stage; and while he held the management, he conducted both Theatres,
intirely to the satisfaction of the public.--But in a few months he
relinquished it, from some misunderstanding with the then lord
chamberlain; and though he was soon after sollicited to take that