[Footnote 70: She died October 11, 1753, at her house in Old Bond street, aged above fourscore. R.] [Footnote 71: It appears that during his confinement he wrote a letter to his mother, which he sent to Theophilus Cibber, that it might be transmitted to her through the means of Mr. Wilks. In his letter to Cibber he says: "As to death, I am easy, and dare meet it like a man--all that touches me is the concern of my friends, and a reconcilement with my mother. I cannot express the agony I felt when I wrote the letter to her: if you can find any decent excuse for showing it to Mrs. Oldfield, do; for I would have all my friends (and that admirable lady in particular) be satisfied I have done my duty towards it. Dr. Young to-day sent me a letter most passionately kind." R.] [Footnote 72: Written by Mr. Beckingham and another gentleman. Dr. J.] [Footnote 73: Printed in the late collection.] [Footnote 74: In one of his letters he styles it "a fatal quarrel, but too well known." Dr. J.] [Footnote 75: Printed in his works, vol. ii. p. 231.] [Footnote 76: See his works, vol. ii. p. 233.] [Footnote 77: This epigram was, I believe, never published: "Should Dennis publish you had stabb'd your brother, Lampoon'd your monarch, or debauch'd your mother; Say, what revenge on Dennis can be had, Too dull for laughter, for reply too mad? On one so poor you cannot take the law, On one so old your sword you scorn to draw, Uncag'd then, let the harmless monster rage, Secure in dullness, madness, want, and age." Dr. J.] [Footnote 78: 1729.] [Footnote 79: His expression, in one of his letters, was, "that lord Tyrconnel had involved his estate, and, therefore, poorly sought an occasion to quarrel with him," Dr. J.] [Footnote 80: This poem is inserted in the late collection.] [Footnote 81: Printed in the late collection.] [Footnote 82: A short satire was, likewise, published in the same paper, in which were the following lines: For cruel murder doom'd to hempen death, Savage, by royal grace, prolong'd his breath. Well might you think he spent his future years In pray'r, and fasting, and repentant tears. --But, O vain hope!--the truly Savage cries, "Priests, and their slavish doctrines, I despise. Shall I---- Who, by free-thinking to free action fir'd. In midnight brawls a deathless name acquir'd, Now stoop to learn of ecclesiastic men? No, arm'd with rhyme, at priests I'll take my aim. Though prudence bids me murder but their fame." Weekly Miscellany. An answer was published in the Gentleman's Magazine, written by an unknown hand, from which the following lines are selected: