Possessed, at one time, of a share in the South Sea stock, he conceived himself worth twenty thousand pounds.

But, on the bursting of that bubble, his hopes vanished with it.

Neither did his interest,--which was by no means inconsiderable,--nor his general popularity, procure him the preferment he desired.

A constant attendant at court, he had the mortification to see every one promoted but himself, and thus bewails his ill-luck.
Places, I found, were daily given away, And yet no friendly gazette mentioned Gay.
The prodigious success of the "Beggars' Opera," which was produced about four years after the date of this history, rewarded him for all his previous disappointments, though it did not fully justify the well-known epigram, alluding to himself and the manager, and "make Gay _rich_, and Rich _gay_." At the time of his present introduction, his play of "The Captives," had just been produced at Drury Lane, and he was meditating his "Fables," which were published two years afterwards.
Behind the poet came Sir James Thornhill.

The eminent painter had handsome, expressive features, an aquiline nose, and a good deal of dignity in his manner.