The Case of Mrs. Clive | Page 9

the Publick of their Pleaſures, as of Cruelty and Injuſtice to
deny thoſe a Subſiſtence who had contributed towards 'em; for
they knew and acknowledged, that the Publick was the only Support of
all, conſequently had an indiſputable Right to be pleaſed in the
beſt manner poſſible.
It is pretended by the Managers, that they have the Å¿ame Right to

diſcharge an Actor that a Maſter has to turn away a Servant, than
which nothing can be more falſe and abſurd; for, when a Maſter
diſmiſſes a Servant, there are many thouſands beſides to
apply to; but when the Managers diſmiſs an Actor, where are they
to apply? It is unlawful to act any where but with them; Neceſſity
or Inclination brings every one to the Stage; if the former happens to be
the Caſe, they will not readily find an Employment; and if the latter,
they will not be fit for one; Å¿o that it will appear an Act of great
Injuſtice and Oppreſſion. If it ſhould be objected, That the
Actors Demands are Å¿o exorbitant, that the Managers cannot comply
with 'em? I have already endeavoured to Å¿how, that tho' two or three
Salaries might be thought Å¿o in general, they did not amount to more
than had been allowed, and very conſiderable Profits ariſing to the
Patentees. But there is a very melancholy Inſtance, that the Actors
Demands is not the Reaſon of diſmiſſing 'em, but the Will of
the Manager alone; since laſt Seaſon an Actor and Actreſs
returned to _Drury-Lane_ under Å¿uch Abatements as that Manager
thought proper, and Å¿uch as were in no degree equal to their Merit;
and yet, at the beginning of this Seaſon, were diſmiſſed, after
having been from their Infancy on the Stage, and having no other
Profeſſions to live by, and very numerous Families to ſupport.
The Manager of _Drury-Lane_ tho' he can't but know I am diſengag'd
from the other Theatre, has not made any Application to me to act with
him, which he has done to Å¿everal others who quitted that Stage at the
Time I did: The Reaſons which obliged me to leave him ſtill
ſubſiſt: He owes me a Hundred and Sixty Pounds, twelve
Shillings, which he has acknowledged to be juſtly due, and
promiſed Payment of it by laſt _Chriſtmas_ to a Perſon of too
great Conſequence for me to mention here, the greater Part of it
Money I expended for Cloaths for his Uſe. He offer'd me, laſt
Seaſon, not near half as much as he afterwards agreed to give another
Performer, and leſs than he then gave to ſome others in his
Company; ſo that I muſt conclude, as every one knows there are
Agreements betwixt the Managers, that there is a Deſign to
diſtreſs me, and reduce me to ſuch Terms as I cannot comply
with.
I am ſorry I am reduced to ſay any thing in favour of myſelf; but,

as I think I merit as much as another Performer, and the Managers are
ſo deſirous to convince me of the contrary, I hope I ſhall be
excuſed; eſpecially when I declare, that at this time, I am not in the
leaſt vain of my Profeſſion.
As to my Performances, the Audience are the only, proper Judges: But
I may venture to affirm, That my Labour, and Application, have been
greater than any other Performers on the Stage. I have not only acted in
almoſt all the Plays, but in Farces and Muſical Entertainments; and
very frequently two Parts in a Night, even to the Prejudice of my
Health. I have been at a very great Expence in Maſters for Singing;
for which Article alone, the Managers now give five and Å¿ix Pounds a
Week. My additional Expences, in belonging to the Theatre, amount to
upwards of one Hundred Pounds a Year, in Clothes, and other
Neceſſaries; and the pretended great Salaries, of ten and twelve
Pounds a Week, which have been ſo artfully, and falſly
repreſented to the Town, to the Prejudice of the Actors, will, upon
Enquiry, appear to be no more than half as much, Å¿ince they
performed half Seaſon, at the Theatres, very ſeldom above three or
four Days a Week; Å¿o taking in the long Vacation, when there are no
Plays at all, to thoſe Days the preſent Managers omit acting, a
Salary which appears to be great, will be found, in effect, to be very
moderate; and thoſe which are leſs, not a Sufficiency.
I have now finiſhed all I propoſed; I have ſhown in how
aggravating a manner, without any Reaſon aſſigned, and at a
Time a very conſiderable Sum of Money was owing to me, I have
been turn'd out of _Covent-Garden_ Theatre. The Manager of
_Drury-Lane,_ tho' he can't but know what juſt