The Case of Mrs. Clive | Page 7

Present Theatrical Disputes, Newberry Library, Rare Book
Room.
Case Between the Managers, Univ. Chicago, Austrian Coll., PN 2596.
L6C22.
An Impartial Examen, Harvard, Thr 465. 20. 23.
Queries to be Answered, Harvard, Thr 465. 20. 22.
Queries upon Queries, Harvard, Thur 465. 20. 12.
A Full Answer to Queries, Harvard, Thr 465. 20. 12.
Disputes between the Director, Univ. Chicago, Austrian Coll., PN 2596.
L7D832.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
The facsimile of _The Case of Mrs. Clive_ (1744) is reproduced from a
copy of the first edition (Shelf Mark: PN 2598. C45A2) in The Lilly

Library, Indiana University. The total type-page (p. 9) measures 145 X
78 mm.

* * * * *
THE CASE OF MRS. CLIVE [Price Six Pence.]
* * * * *
THE CASE OF MRS. CLIVE Submitted to the PUBLICK.
[Illustration: Printer's trophy-style decoration]
_LONDON:_
Printed for B. DOD at the Bible and Key in _Ave-Mary-Lane_ near
_Stationers-Hall_. MDCCXLIV.
[Price Six Pence.]
* * * * *
THE CASE OF MRS. CLIVE Submitted to the PUBLICK.
In order to put an End to ſome falſe Reports, which have been
raiſed in Relation to my not acting this Seaſon, as well as to
beſpeak the Favour of the Publick, I have, by the Advice of my
Friends, ventured to addreſs my ſelf to them, from whom I have
received many and great Marks of Favour, and whoſe further
Protection I now Å¿tand in need of.
I know Appeals of this Nature, which relate to Diſputes that happen
at a Theatre, are by ſome thought preſuming and impertinent,
ſuppoſing they are too trifling to demand Attention: But, as I
perſuade my ſelf that Injuſtice and Oppreſſion are by no
means thought Matters of Indifference by any who have Humanity, I
hope I Å¿hall not be thought to take too great a Liberty. I am the more
encouraged to hope this from Experience; it having been obſerved,
that thoſe Performers, who have had the Happineſs to pleaſe on
the Stage, and who never did any thing to offend the Publick, whenever
they have been injured by thoſe who preſided over Theatres, have
ſeldom, if ever, failed of Redreſs upon repreſenting the
Hardſhips they met with: And, as I at this time, apprehend my ſelf
to be greatly oppreſſed by the Managers of both Theatres, I hope I
ſhall be juſtified in taking this Method of acquainting the Publick
with my Caſe, ſubmitting it to their Determination.
Before the Diſputes happened betwixt the Manager of _Drury-Lane_

Theatre and his Actors, I had articled for Five Years to receive Three
Hundred Pounds a Year, tho' another Performer on that Stage received
for Seven Years Five Hundred Guineas, per Year; and at the Expiration
of my Agreements the Manager offered me an additional Salary to
continue at that Theatre.
And ſince I have mentioned thoſe Diſputes, which ended ſo
greatly to the Diſadvantage of the Actors, I muſt beg Leave to
endeavour to Å¿et that Matter in a clear Light, which hitherto has been
miſrepreſented to the Publick: I think my ſelf obliged to this, as
the Hardſhips I at preſent labour under are owing to that
Diſagreement; if any think I treat this Matter too ſeriouſly, I hope
they will remember, that however trifling Å¿uch Things may appear to
them, to me, who am Å¿o much concerned in 'em, they are of great
Importance, Å¿uch as my Liberty and Livelihood depend on.
As only two Theatres were authoriſed, the Managers thought it was
in their Power to reduce the Incomes of thoſe Performers, who could
not live independant of their Profeſſion; but in order to make this
appear with a better Face to the Town, it was agreed to complain of the
Actors Salaries being too great, and accordingly a falſe Account was
publiſhed of them in the daily Papers, by whom I will not ſay:
Whether, or no, Å¿ome particular Salaries were Å¿o, I will not pretend
to determine; yet, in the whole, they did not amount to more than had
been allowed for many Years, when the Theatre was under a frugal and
exact Regulation; when the Managers punctually fulfilled, not only all
Engagements to their Actors, but to every other Perſon concerned in
the Theatre, and raiſed very conſiderable Fortunes for
themſelves.
But ſuppoſing the Expence of the Theatre too high, I am very
certain it was not the Actors refuſing to ſubmit to a proper
Reduction of them, which made Å¿o many of them quit the Stage, but
from great Hardſhips they underwent, and greater which they feared
would happen from an Agreement ſuppoſed to be concluded
betwixt the two Managers, which made 'em apprehend, that if they
ſubmitted to act under ſuch Agreements, they muſt be
abſolutely in the Managers Power; and the Event has proved that
their