ter, those of the former are the supports of the
stage.

After suffering many eclipses of fortune, and being exposed to the
most cruel necessities, poor Otway died of want, in a public house on
Tower-hill, in the 33rd year of his age, 1685. He had, no doubt, been
driven to that part of the town, to avoid the persecution of his
creditors and as he durst not appear much abroad to sollicit
assistance, and having no means of getting money in his obscure
retreat, he perished. It has been reported, that Mr. Otway, whom
delicacy had long deterred from borrowing small sums, driven at last
to the most grievous necessity ventured out of his lurking place,
almost naked and shivering, and went into a coffee-house on
Tower-hill, where he saw a gentleman, of whom he had some knowledge,
and of whom he sollicited the loan of a shilling. The gentleman was
quite shocked, to see the author of Venice Preserved begging bread,
and compassionately put into his hand a guinea.

Mr. Otway having thanked his benefactor, retired, and changed the
guinea to purchase a roll; as his stomach was full of wind by excess
of fasting, the first mouthful choaked him, and instantaneously put a
period to his days.

Who can consider the fate of this gentleman, without being moved to
pity? we can forgive his acts of imprudence, since they brought him to
so miserable an end; and we cannot but regret, that he who was endowed
by nature with such distinguished talents, as to make the bosom bleed
with salutary sorrow, should himself be so extremely wretched, as to
excite the same sensations for him, which by the power of his
eloquence and poetry, he had raised for imaginary heroes. We know,
indeed, of no guilty part of Otway's life, other than those
fashionable faults, which usually recommend to the conversation of men
in courts, but which serve for excuses for their patrons, when they
have not a mind to provide for them. From the example of Mr. Otway,
succeeding poets should learn not to place any confidence in the
promises of patrons; it discovers a higher spirit, and reflects more
honour on a man to struggle nobly for independance, by the means of
industry, than servilely to wait at a great man's gate, or to sit at
his table, meerly to afford him diversion: Competence and independence
have surely more substantial charms, than the smiles of a courtier,
which are too frequently fallacious. But who can read Mr Otway's
story, without indignation at those idols of