As affairs did not much prosper with him in Ireland, he came over to London, in company with another gentleman, and both commenced writers.  These two friends entered into an extraordinary agreement.  As the subjects which then attracted the attention of mankind were of a political cast, they were of opinion that no species of writing could so soon recommend them to public notice; and in order to make their trade more profitable, they resolved to espouse different interests; one should oppose, and the other defend the ministry.  They determined the side of the question each was to espouse, by tossing up a half-penny, and it fell to the share of Mr. Concanen to defend the ministry, which task he performed with as much ability, as political writers generally discover.

He was for some time, concerned in the British, and London Journals, and a paper called The Speculatist.  These periodical pieces are long since buried in neglect, and perhaps would have even sunk into oblivion, had not Mr. Pope, by his satyrical writings, given them a kind of disgraceful immortality.  In these Journals he published many scurrilities against Mr. Pope; and in a pamphlet called, The Supplement to the Profound, he used him with great virulence, and little candour.  He not only imputed to him Mr. Brome’s verses (for which he might indeed seem in some degree accountable, having corrected what that gentleman did) but those of the duke of Buckingham and others.  To this rare piece some body humorously perswaded him to take for his motto, De profundis clamavi.  He afterwards wrote a paper called The Daily Courant, wherein he shewed much spleen against lord Bolingbroke, and some of his friends.  All these provocations excited Mr. Pope to give him a place in his Dunciad.  In his second book, l. 287, when he represents the dunces diving in the mud of the Thames for the prize, he speaks thus of Concanen;

  True to the bottom see Concanen creep,
  A cold, long winded, native of the deep! 
  If perseverance gain the diver’s prize,
  Not everlasting Blackmore this denies.

In the year 1725 Mr. Concanen published a volume of poems in 8vo. consisting chiefly of compositions of his own, and some few of other gentlemen; they are addressed to the lord Gage, whom he endeavours artfully to flatter, without offending his modesty.  ’I shall begin this Address, says he, by declaring that the opinion I have of a great part of the following verses, is the highest indication of the esteem in which I hold the noble character I present them to.  Several of them have authors, whose names do honour to whatever patronage they receive.  As to my share of them, since it is too late, after what I have already delivered, to give my opinion of them, I’ll say as much as can be said in their favour.  I’ll affirm that they have one mark of merit, which is your lordship’s approbation; and that they are indebted to fortune for two other great advantages, a place in good company, and an honourable protection.’