The poet's appearance altogether was highly prepossessing.

With a strong tendency to satire, but without a particle of malice or ill-nature in its display.

Gay, by his strokes of pleasantry, whether in his writings or conversation, never lost a friend.

On the contrary, he was a universal favourite, and numbered amongst his intimate acquaintances the choicest spirits of the time,--Pope, Swift, Arbuthnot, and "all the better brothers." His demeanour was polished; his manners singularly affable and gentle; and he was remarkable, for the generosity of his temper.

In worldly matters Gay was not fortunate.