Event Comment: Benefit for
Jones. A
Serenata. Books of which may be had at
the theatre. To begin at twelve o'clock promptly (
General Advertiser). To
the Publick: Walking in
St James's Park the o
ther day, I followed two young Gentlemen along
the Mall,
and overheard one of
them say to
the o
ther, "shall we go
and offer sacrifice to
the Manes of
Milton?" To which
the o
ther reply'd "with all my heart." I must own I had some curiosity to know in what this ceremony would consist,
and determined to observe
them. I accordingly followed
them at some distance, into
Dodsley the Bookseler's in
Pall Mall; where to my great satisfaction I found that this most acceptable sacrifice was only an offering of Charity to
the Gr
anddaughter of Milton; who on account of her age, her poverty,
and her relation to that great Man, is to have a Benefit at
Drury Lane Theatre on Wednesday next. I willingly joined in
their devotions,
and rejoice with
the Publick on
their having an opportunity of shewing
their gratitude
and Veneration to a man whose Genius reflects a lustre on
the British Literature,
and whose sentiments have added strength to
the British liberties; to an author whose works have been
the delight of our Fa
thers,
and will be
the Admiration of our sons: latest posterity; to an Englishman who is not only
the Glory of our Country, but
the Honour to Human Nature. This fair Opportunity of paying a respect to his Memory (
the last of
the kind that can be offered to us, as
Mrs Foster is
the only surviving branch of his family) must certainly be embraced with Eagerness
and pleasure; all who have any pretence to an Elegant Taste, all lovers of Liberty,
and every friend of
the Muses, will surely crowd to
the house on this distinguish'd night,
and give at once an instance of
the politeness of
their manners,
and the goodness of
their hearts, I am, &c. A Lover of Milton (
General Advertiser)