We learn from Thackeray that John Gay was of an old Devonshire family, born in 1688, the same year as Pope, and in his youth he was placed in the house of a silk-mercer. natural inclination, though, w writing.
A bard in those days had but to compose a sonnet or a copy of verses which caught some influential eye, and he was marked out for preferment in some office yielding good pay with little or no effort attached, and Addison, Steele, Congreve, as well as Gay (the last-named becoming Secretary to the '1 of Clarendon when Ambassador to Hanover), "touched the King's coin, and had at some period of their lives a happy quarter-day coming round for them."
Gay received £400 by the first "Beggar's Opera," and about £1,200 for the second, but he was a negligent and bad manager. He was likewise lazy, we are told, but he was such a charming, friendly, kindly wit that all who met him loved him.
Anyway, it will be a joy to hear again the ballads and the sallies in this delightful work. We shall laugh again and echo the sentiment: happy could I be with cit! to other dear charmer this will be our chance on March 29, 30, and 31
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.