Immediately upon the Failure of this Opera, Sir _John Vanbrugh_ brought on his Comedy, called _The Confederacy_, taken, but very greatly improved, from _Les Bourgeoises à la Mode_, of Monsieur _D'Ancourt_. The Success of this Play was not equal to its Merit; for it is written with an uncommon Vein of Wit and Humour; which plainly shews that the difficulty of hearing, distinctly, in that large Theatre, was no small Impediment to the Applause that might have followed the same Actors on any other Stage; and indeed every Play acted there before the House was altered, seemed to suffer greatly from the same Inconvenience; for what few could plainly hear, it was not likely many could applaud. In a Word, the Prospect of Profits from this Theatre was so very barren, that Mr. _Congreve_, in a few Months, gave up his Share in it wholly to Sir _John Vanbrugh_; who, as he had a happier Talent of throwing the _English_ Spirit into his Translations, than any other Author who had borrowed from them, he in the same Season produced _The Mistake_, a Comedy, taken from _Le D'epit Amoureux_, of _Moliere_; and _The Country House_, a Farce, translated from _The French_, which has been acted at all the Theatres with general Applause. Sir _John_ soon afterwards, thoroughly tired of Theatrical Affairs, determined to get rid of his Patent on the best Terms he could; he accordingly made an Offer to Mr. _Owen Swiney_ of his House, Clothes, and Scenes, with the Queen's Licence to employ them, upon Payment of the Rent of five Pounds upon every acting Day, and not to exceed 700 _l._ in the Year; with which Proposal Mr. _Swiney_ soon complied, and managed that Stage for some Time after. Sir _John_ is not a little to be admired for his Spirit, and readiness in producing Plays so fast upon the Neck of one another; for, notwithstanding his quick Dispatch, there is a clear and lively Simplicity in his Wit, that neither wants the Ornaments of Learning, nor has the least Smell of the Lamp, as the Face of a fine Woman, with her Locks loose about her, may then be in its greatest Beauty; such were his Productions, only adorned by Nature. And there is, besides, something so catching to the Ear, and so easy to the Memory, in all he writ, that it has been observed by all the Actors of those Times, the Stile of no Author whatsoever gave their Memory less Trouble, than that of Sir _John Vanbrugh_. And indeed his Wit and Humour was so little laboured, that his most entertaining Scenes seem to be no more than his common Conversation committed to Paper. As his Conceptions were so full of Life and Humour, it is not much to be wondered at, if his Muse should be sometimes too warm to wait the slow Pace of Judgment, or to endure the Drudgery of forming a regular Fable to them.