which was, his entertaining too mean an Idea of his firſt Profeſſion, (that of a Writer) tho' 'twas to this he ow'd his Fame and Fortune. He ſpoke of his Works as of Trifles that were beneath him; and hinted to me in our firſt Converſation, that I ſhould viſit him upon no other Foot than that of a Gentleman, who led a Life of Plainneſs and Simplicity. I anſwer'd, that had he been ſo unfortunate as to be a mere Gentleman I ſhould never have come to ſee him; and I was very much diſguſted at ſo unſeaſonable a Piece of Vanity.
Mr. Congreve's Comedies are the moſt witty and regular, thoſe of Sir John Vanbrugh moſt gay and humourous, and thoſe of Mr. Wycherley have the greateſt Force and Spirit. It may be proper to obſerve, that theſe fine Genius's never ſpoke diſadvantageouſly of Moliere; and that none but the contemptible Writers among the Engliſh have endeavour'd to leſſen the Character of that great comic Poet. Such Italian Muſicians as deſpiſe Lully are themſelves Perſons of no Cha-
racter
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