, was the son of a stone-cutter in North-Britain, and was born about
, was the son of a stone-cutter in
North-Britain, and was born about 1684. Cibber tells us
that he received an university education while he remained
in that kingdom, but does not specify where. He quitted
his own country, however, and repaired to London, with
a view of improving his fortune. Here he got into favour
with the earl of Stair and sir Robert Walpole; on the latter of whom he was for great part of his life almost entirely
dependent. He received, indeed, so many obligations
from that open-handed statesman, and, from a sense of
gratitude which seems to have been strongly characteristic
of his disposition, was so zealous in his interest, that he
was distinguished by the title of “Sir Robert Walpole’s
poet.
” Notwithstanding this valuable patronage, his natural dissipation of temper, his fondness for pleasure, and
eagerness in the gratification of every irregular appetite,
threw him into perpetual distresses, and all those uneasy
situations which are the inevitable consequences of extravagance. Nor does it appear that, after having experienced, more than once, the fatal effects of those dangerous
follies, he thought of correcting his conduct at a time he
had it in his power: for when, by the death of his wife’s
uncle, several thousand pounds devolved to him, instead
of discharging those debts which he had already contracted,
he lavished the whole away, in the repetition of his former
follies. As to the particulars of his history, there are not
many on record, for his eminence in public character not
rising to such an height as to make the transactions of his
life important to strangers, and the follies of his private
behaviour inducing those who were intimate with him,
rather to conceal than publish his actions, there is a cloud
of obscurity hanging over them, which is neither easy,
nor indeed much worth while, to withdraw from them.
His genius was of the third or fourth rate, yet he lived in
good correspondence with most of the eminent wits of his
time , particularly with Aaron Hill, who on a particular
occasion finding himself unable to relieve him by pecuniary assistance, presented him with the profits and reputation also of a successful dramatic piece, in one act,
entitled “The Fatal Extravagance.
” It was acted and
printed in Mitchell’s name; but he was ingenuous enough
to undeceive the world with regard to its true author, and
on every occasion acknowledged the obligations he lay
under to Hill. The dramatic pieces, which appear under
this gentleman’s name are, 1. “The Fatal Extravagance,
a tragedy,
” The Fatal Extravagance, a
tragedy, enlarged,
” The Highland Fair,
ballad opera,
” He seems to have been a poet of the third rate
he has seldom reached the sublime his humour, in which
he more succeeded, is not strong enough to last his versification holds a statd of mediocrity he possessed but
little invention and if he was not a bad rhimester, he
cannot be denominated a fine poet, for there are but few
marks of genius in his writings.
” His poems were printed