our Miniſtry to indulge him this Mark of their Diſtinction. He writ a Comedy during his Confinement; and a Circumſtance which appears to me very extraordinary is, that we don't meet with ſo much as a ſingle ſatyrical Stroke againſt the Country in which he had been ſo injuriouſly treated.
The late Mr. Congreve rais'd the Glory of Comedy to a greater Height than any Engliſh Writer before or ſince his Time. He wrote only a few Plays, but they are all excellent in their kind. The Laws of the Drama are ſtrictly obſerv'd in them; they abound with Characters all which are ſhadow'd with the utmoſt Delicacy, and we don't meet with ſo much as one low, or coarſe Jeſt. The Language is every where that of Men of Honour, but their Actions are thoſe of Knaves; a Proof that he was perfectly well acquainted with human Nature, and frequented what we call polite Company. He was infirm, and come to the Verge of Life when I knew him. Mr. Congreve had one Defect,
