“Orator” Henley, and Rock, a noted quack doctor, were well known men, Dr. John Hill was a surgeon, a botanist, an unprincipled satirical writer, an actor, and finally a dramatic author, in which latter character his want of success caused Garrick to remark:—
“For physic and farces, his equal there scarce is:
His farces are physic, his physic a farce is.”
Hill was knighted through the favour of Lord Bute, and died in 1775.
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On [page 156], Parodies, the Shakespearian forgeries of W. H. Ireland were referred to, they gave rise to many bitter caricatures and satires. Amongst others appeared the following parody, by some ascribed to William Mason, by others to Steevens.
“Four forgers[53], born in one prolific age,
Much critical acumen did engage:
The first was soon by Doughty Douglas scar’d,
Tho’ Johnson would have screen’d him had he dar’d.