In the ‘Apology for his Life,’ Cibber gives a just reason for the scarcity of outspoken opposition to his partisan comedy which had a first run of eighteen consecutive days. ‘Happy was it for this _play_ that the very Subject was its Protection. A few Smiles of silent Contempt were the utmost Disgrace that on the first Day of its appearance it was thought safe to throw upon it. As the Satire was chiefly employed upon the Enemies of the Government, they were not so hardy as to own themselves such by any higher Disapprobation or Resentment.’ The Jacobites attacked him in other ways. They accused him of stealing a previous adaptation of Molière’s ‘Tartuffe,’ and the following advertisement showed the spirit of the accusation: ‘This day is published a translation of Molière’s “Tartuffe, or the French Puritan,” by Medbourne, in which may be seen the plot, characters, incidents, and most part of the language of “The Nonjuror.”’ [Sidenote: _ATTERBURY’S OPINION._] While this piece was being played, Atterbury, in a letter to Mar, describes the London Jacobites as ‘sitting silent and quiet, and pleasing themselves with the odd management here at home, without raising any expectations from abroad. And in the present situation of affairs I am glad they do not, for our domestic divisions and folly are sufficient for the present to keep up men’s spirits without being told that certain relief is near at hand.… What they see here pleases them so much that they can wait with a little patience for what they do not see or hear.’ And so ended the year of the Act of Grace. [Illustration: Flower and leaves] [Illustration: Decorative banner] CHAPTER XV. (1718.)