With it he won approval as an original poet in his own day, and three centuries after critics still write in praise of it.
"These Pastorals were originally intended, I suppose, as a burlesque on those of Philips'; but, perhaps without designing it, Gay has hit the true spirit of pastoral poetry," Goldsmith said; and Dr.Johnson wrote: "The effect of reality of truth became conspicuous, even when the intention was to show them grovelling and degraded.

These pastorals became popular, and were read with delight, as just representations of rural manners and occupations, by those who had no interest in the rivalry of the poets, nor knowledge of the critical disputes."[4] Southey, too, had a kind word to say: "In attempting the burlesque Gay copied nature, and his unexpected success might have taught his contemporaries a better taste.

Few poets seem to have possessed so quick and observing an eye"[5]; and, coming to the present critics, Mr.Austin Dobson utters commendation: "The object went far beyond its avowed object of ridicule, and Gay's eclogues abound with interesting folk-lore and closely studied rural pictures."[6] With all his unworldliness Gay always had an eager, if not very keen, eye on the main chance, and finding himself surrounded by men of influence, he not unnaturally, in a day when men of letters often found their reward in Government places or in sinecures, looked to his acquaintances to further his interests.

Great Britain was at this time represented at the Court of Hanover by a Mission which was from 1709 in charge of the Secretary, J.D'Alais, except when Special Missions were dispatched.

Lord Rivers was Minister Plenipotentiary in 1710, and Thomas Harley went there as Ambassador Extraordinary in July, 1712, and again in the following February.