Horses, to Westminster-abbey, at eight o'clock in the evening, on the 23d of December. The pall was supported by the Earl of Chesterfield, the Lord Viscount Cornbury, the Hon. Mr. Berkeley, General Dormer, Mr. Gore, and Mr. Pope; the service being performed by the then Dean, Dr. Wilcox, Bishop of Rochester, the choir attending. He was interred in the South cross aisle, against the tomb of Chaucer, near the place where stands his monument. The Opera of Achilles was brought upon the stage soon after his death, and met with a very good reception, which was greatly promoted by the Duke of Queensberry, who was uncommonly assiduous in patronizing it, and who, as Mr. Pope observes, acted in this, and every thing else, more than the part of a brother to his deceased friend. It was also through the influence of his example that the profits of the representation were given by the managers of the playhouse to our Author's two widow sisters, Katharine and Johanna, relicts of Mr. Ballet and Mr. Fortescue, who, as heirs at law, shared his fortune (about the sum of 3000l.) equally between them; which disposition was agreeable to his own desire, and therefore it was that he made no will. He left several manuscripts behind him, some of which came into the hands of Mr. Pope, who, for that part of them, took care, no doubt, (as he promised Dean Swift) to suppress such as he judged unworthy of him. A few years after his death, there was published, under his name, a comedy called The Distressed Wife, the second edition of which was printed in 1750: and in 1754 there appeared a humorous piece inscribed to him, with the title of The Rehearsal at Goatham, EPITAPH. Or manners gentle, of affections mild; With native humour temp'ring virtuous rage; And uncorrupted ev'n amongst the great: Then follows this farther Inscription: Here lie the ashes of Mr. JoHN GAY, The most benevolent man: Who maintained Independency In low circumstances of fortune; In the midst of a corrupt age; And that equal serenity of mind Which conscious goodness alone can give, Favourite of the Muses, He was led by them to every elegant art; And fraught with graces all his own: Superior to many, Inferior to none. His Works continue to inspire Contempt of folly, however adorned; Reverence of virtue, however disgraced. You, who the sweets of rural life have known, But I, who ne'er was bless'd by Fortune's hand, |