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MITCHELL, JOSEPH, a dramatist
of the eighteenth century, was born about the year 1684. His father, who is
described as a stone-cutter, appears to have been in decent circumstances,
as he gave his son a liberal education, including a course at one of the
Scottish universities, but which of them is not now known. On completing his
education, Mitchell repaired to London, with the view of pushing his fortune
in that metropolis, and was lucky enough to get into favour with the earl of
Stair and Sir Robert Walpole. How he effected this, whether by the force of
his talents, or by what other means, is not known; but his hold on the
patronage of the latter especially, seems to have been singularly strong, as
Sir Hubert almost entirely supported him during his after life. The zeal and
gratitude of Mitchell, in return for this benevolence, and which took the
shape of literary effusion, sometimes in behalf of, and sometimes
complimentary to his patron, became so marked, as to procure for him the
title of Sir Robert Walpole’s poet. The reckless and extravagant habits of
Mitchell, however, kept him constantly in a state of great pecuniary
distress, notwithstanding the liberal patronage of Walpole; and so
inveterate were these habits, that a legacy of several thousand pounds,
which was left him by an uncle of his wife, scarcely afforded him even a
temporary relief.
Although Mitchell’s abilities
were of but a very moderate order, he yet ranked amongst his friends many of
the most eminent men of his times, particularly Mr Aaron Hill. To this
gentleman he on one occasion communicated his distressed condition, and
sought assistance from him. Mr Hill was unable to afford him any pecuniary
relief, but he generously presented him with both the profits and reputation
of a little dramatic piece, entitled Fatal Extravagance; a piece which he
seems ingeniously to have adapted at once to relieve and reprove the object
of his benevolence. This play was acted and printed in Mr Mitchell’s name,
and the profits accruing from it were considerable; but though he accepted
the latter, he was candid enough to disclaim the merit of being its author,
and took every opportunity of undeceiving the world on this point, and of
acknowledging his obligations to Mr Hill.
Of Mitchell, there is little
more known. His talents were not of a sufficiently high order to attract
much notice while he lived, or to prompt any inquiry after his death. He
died on the 6th July, 1738. The following dramatic productions appear under
his name, but the last only is really his, and it is not without
considerable merit:—Fatal Extravagance, a tragedy, 8vo, 1720; Fatal
Extravagance, a tragedy, enlarged, l2mo, 1726; and The Highland Fair, an
opera, 8vo, 1731. In 1729, he published, besides, two octavo volumes of
miscellaneous poetry. |
