Two Years after this he got a _Comedy_ upon the Stage in _Drury-Lane_, called, LOVE IN A VEIL, built likewise on a _Spanish_ Plot, which he Dedicated to the Right Honourable George _Lord Lansdown_. This Play was indeed acted for his own Benefit, but it being very late in the Year, either _May_ or _June_, the Profits of it hardly answer'd the Trouble he was at in writing and getting it acted: It brought him acquainted however with some Persons who were good Friends to him afterwards, particularly a certain Knight, whose Name is not a little known by his Writings, and Mr. _Wilks_, one of the Patentees of that House; The first was so, for a short Time, but the latter, who is very remarkable, notwithstanding his Profession, for his Humanity and Generosity, has continu'd his Friendship to him to the last, and done him many very kind and charitable Offices: The other Gentleman gave him a constant Allowance, and was for a while so fond of him that, it is said, he proposed his natural Daughter to him, for a Wife, with a Thousand Pounds Portion, and his Interest, which was thought to be very good at that Time, to put him into some small Place in the Government; thinking, as their Births were alike, he could not reproach her, or use her ill, as some others might have Cruelty enough to do, upon that Account. But this was too much good Fortune to fall to the Lot of one who seems to have been born to taste but little of the Comforts of this Life; for some malicious Person, (and he must be so to a great Degree, who could think of injuring the most inoffensive Man living) had framed such a Story to the Knight of scandalous Things said by Mr. _Savage_ against him and his Lady, that he withheld his Bounty from him, and was not easily prevail'd upon to see him afterwards. Now was he again entirely to seek for every support of Life, when by the Assistance of the Gentleman, just mention'd for his Humanity, he obtain'd the Sum of fifty Pounds as a Present, from a Lady, whose Duty it seem'd to have been to take some Care of him; this Sum he was told should be made up two Hundred, but it being in the Height of the _South-Sea Infatuation_, by which this Lady was one of the imaginary Gainers, when that _Grand Bubble broke_, the other Hundred and Fifty Pounds _evaporated_ with it; and the poor Gentleman who is the Subject of our Discourse would have been reduced to as great Extremities as ever, if his Merit had not recommended him to that Ornament of _English_ Poesy, _Aaron Hill_, Esq; Miserable as he was in every other Part of his Life, his Intimacy and Friendship with this Gentleman was a Happiness he has been much envy'd for, by several, whose Accomplishments could not entitle them to so great a Share of his Esteem as himself.