An apology for the life of Mr. T......... C....., comedian: Being a proper sequel to the Apology for the life of Mr. Colley Cibber, ... Supposed to be written by himself. ...

CHAP. VII.

The Author's Ambition in the remarkable Year 1••••0.—His commencing Author. The Reasons for it. The Author and Alexander compared. Mr. Colley Cibber privately takes away King John from Drury-Lane Theatre.—The Author's Speech as a theatrical Pa∣triot.—The Drury-Lane Company r••volt from High∣more, and go to the Hay-market. The A••t of Par∣l••••ment for licensing the Stage considered by the Au∣thor a•••• Mr. Colley Cibber.—Reflecti••ns on the Author •••• Pasquin.—A theatrical State Secret.

THE Theatre has, with Humour and Pro∣priety been compared to a Political State, but the Nature of its Government has never been fixed: Some affirm the natural Constitution of a Theatre is a Republick; some say it is a limited, others an unlimited Monarchy: What is the best, or what the original Form of Government was, or what future Kind of Government it may have, the most shrewd theatric Politician cannot affirm. Whatever my Notions may be as to national Government, yet, as to a Theatrical State, I must ingenuously confess myself Anti-monarchical: I am for a Government by a few; a Triumvirate▪ and I will tell you roundly, Reader, my Reason. The Stage never succeded better than un∣der the Triumvirate; and as I can never be a sole Monarch, this is the best Form I can think of, which would give me Power equal to a Monarch, though not the titular Honour; for my Co-partners in Empire should be little more than Cyphers, ••••gnifying, roundly,

Nothing. They might indeed be Triumvirs; but then, like Duke Trincalo in the Play, I would Triumvir over them. This may seem too vain a Conjecture of my own Parts, and too vain a Contempt of the Understand∣ing of others; but in the Sequel of this Story you will find, that as I was the Bustle-master General, I was also the Commander-General, and Treaty-master Ge∣neral; if with all these Commissions I could not secure to myself as much or more Power than most Monarchs in fact have, I ought to be stigmatiz'd for the errantest Dolt that ever pretended to Machiavelism.

But after this Pro-aemium let me introduce Matters of Fact, for which it will be necessary to premise some few Things regarding myself before the Triumvirate was dissolv'd, and Mr. Colley Cibber sold his Share in the Patent, as they will the better connect what Relations, Observations, Contemplations, Ruminations, Quotations, and Argumentations which may ensue.

From the little hopes which the Publick conceived of me as an Actor who would make any Figure, by In∣dustry, Application, and what join'd to them is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the All in All, Genius, I rose into a gradual Esteem of the Town: But lest my Significance as an Actor should not be glaring enough, I was resolved, young as I was, at a Time when the whole Nation was in a Bustle, to make my Share in it. In the Year 1720, when all Men thought of raising Estates, and bubbling the World out of what Money they could, I had a violent Ambi∣tion of getting much Money, and making much Noise. Would you think it, but I will confess the Simplicity of my Heart: I thought then that were I a South-Sea Di∣rector,

That I wou'd do—Ye Gods!—What I wou'd do!

But as I was, resolv'd I was to act something adventrous within my Sphere; and, unlike the other Projectors, I built my Scheme on a valuable Foundation; and, ac∣cording to City Phrase, I had the Credit of the best Man in England to make use of: In short, as all were commencing great Men, I was resolv'd to commence Author, and accordingly alter'd a Play of Shakespear's

and had it brought on the Stage; nor was the Suc∣cess of it much unequal to my Hopes. This indeed was thought striking a bold Stroke; to alter Shakespear was a Task that some Persons, merely bigotted to Antiquity, shudder'd at the Name, they calling it sacrificing, violating, affronting, and I don't know what, the Manes of that Bard: But sure all unprejudic'd Persons will not deny, that some historical Plays of Shakespear want what we now call Jeau de Theatre, that is, a—, a—something necessary to make Shakespear be. . . . more . . . more, in brief more Jeu de Theatre. My parental Exemplar had alter'd Richard the IIId before, that is, he had cull'd the Flowers of two or three Plays, and had bunch'd them up into a Nosegay, for the Devil a Line did he write him∣self; some indeed he alter'd, but some say for the worse: In this Manner I alter'd Henry the Sixth; and that the present and future Age might know that I had alter'd it, I printed it with my own Name, in capital Letters, in the Title-Page. This is mention'd to shew ••hat I did patrassare in my first setting out in a Theatre; but here I allow non passibus aequis. From this Instance, however, the Publick saw there was some Spirit of Au∣dacity, and the Dawn of Genius in me. From this no∣table Aera I became more singularly remarkable both on and off the Stage: I had some few small Parts given me, in which I succeeded beyond Expectation; but as by this Time I knew so much of a Theatre, that I was sensible Original Parts made the strongest Influence in the Au∣dience, I endeavour'd to get all the little, sprightly, or humourous Parts which I thought I could hit; the first in which I was more particularly taken Notice of, was the Country Foot-Boy in the Conscious Lovers. The Part was but a few Lines, yet I, without Affectation say, that I struck in to the aukwardly-pert cunning of such an unlick'd Cub, so naturally, that I had as many Claps as Speeches. I valued not the Length of a Part so much as its Humour, and if I had Applause when I was on the Stage, I was better satisfied than being on the Stage long∣er, and having no Applause at all: Other young Actors of the House thought in regard to me, what Wilks and Powel

did as to Mr. Cibber, sen.—* 1.1

"They generally measured, says he, the Goodness of a Part by the Length of it: I thought none bad by being short, that were closely natural, nor any the better for being long, without that Quality. But in this I doubt as to their Interest they judg'd better than myself, for I have generally observ'd, that those who do a great deal not ill, have been preferr'd to those who do but little, though never so masterly."

As to the latter Part of the Sentence, Experience has prov'd equally, that to act much tolerably, and not so much masterly, are the Ways to rise to the Top of a Theatre: Mr. Cibber was himself a Master of a Company, and it is no very great odds, but Mr. T. C. may succeed to the same Post of ho∣nourable Profit.

As I rose into some Degree of Approbation, I succeed∣ed Mr. Norris, commonly call'd Dicky Norris in several of his Parts; which, with several others, which I was well receiv'd in, put me a little upon my Mettle; and I began to think, as I had heard my Father say, he was taken Notice of most for being an Author as well as an Actor, that I would pursue the same Measures. I soon came to a Resolution, for Ambition in great Souls acts with incredible Rapidity.—Aut Caesar aut nullus, I thought an excellent Apothegm; Nec mora, nec requies, Pen, Ink, Paper, a Collection of Plays, &c. being pre∣par'd, to Work went I. When I had thought of a Plot, struck out Hints for some Characters, and fix'd in the Name of a Comedy, I communicated, at a proper Opportunity, my Design to my Father. He heard me with an indolent Air, and gave me no Answer, but lol∣ling back in his great Chair, took a Pinch of Snuff, and fell asleep.—It is impossible to conceive the tumul∣tuous Passions that then agitated my whole human Frame:

Quick beat my Heart, my Pulse ran high, And Vengeance darted from my Eye; Upon my Brow sat lowring Care, And all the Horror of Despair.

—Yet I waited till he awoke, and repeated to him my Design of writing a Comedy.—

"A Comedy, Boy! Thou write a Comedy!"

—Yes, Sir, says I, why not? You wrote a Comedy before you was my Age.—

"True, Child; but, my Dear, I hope you don't think of this Affair seriously."

—Yes, Sir, I have thought on it, and have begun it, and half wrote it—

"Well, but harkye, Sir, What has put you on this Exploit? Fame, Fame, I suppose, and Parnassian Glory: Pr'ythe stick to thy Business as an Actor, and don't shew yourself in a double Capacity a moxcomb."

—Saying this, he took a Pinch of Snuff, and walk'd off.—Reader, you may believe I was not in a little Confu∣sion, and you may equally credit me, when I tell you I thought my Father as errant a conceited pragmatical self-sufficient Coxcomb as ever he represented. However, on I went with my Play, and when I had finish'd three Acts, I accidentally happen'd to be with him alone, when he surpriz'd me, by saying,

"Well, Boy, What is become of this Comedy of thine? Hast thou wrote a favourite Scene yet?"

I told him what Progress I had made, when, taking a Pinch, and smiling,

"Pr'ythe, says, he, what dest thou mean? What a Gad's Name, THE' inspires you in this Attempt?"

—That Principle, Sir, said I, that most of the World act upon, Interest. You know, Sir, I have not been the most frugal Oeconomist; my Finances low, my Debts high, and my Creditors impatient; a Comedy, Sir, from me would set all right: I am sure it will do; my writing it would make it run: The Name would raise a Curiosity. . . . .

"Yes, Sir, answer'd he, thy Name, for my Name-sake would se∣cure your being damn'd. . . . However, as this is the State of the Case, let me see your Play when you have finish'd it, and I will let you know more of my Mind. I like the Reason you give for writing, and therefore shall not oppose it."

. . . . Now my Heart bounded with Joy, and what will not the Gratification of our De∣sires work upon our Heart? I began to love my Father; I look'd on him in another Light, and instead of think∣ing him a Coxcomb, thought he talk'd like a very sensible Man. In a Fortnight my Play was finish'd, and I

brought it him, and read it: He told me it was a rough Pebble, yet might do with a little polishing; for it was a tolerable good first Play: In brief, it pleas'd him so much, that he lick'd the rude Poetic Cub into that Form in which it afterwards appear'd. On his Consent it should be brought on the Stage immediately, I could not help ruminating on the Happiness of my Case as an Author; for there was not one Author then living could have brought a Performance on the Stage without infinite Trouble, Vexation, Charge and Interest. I took Care it should get into Rehearsal at the Time the Managers had appointed, who were so civil as to compliment me with the prime Part of the Season. It may smell pragma∣tical in the Nostrils of Gravity, yet I cannot here help remarking what Ideas the Thirst of Fame and Interest will raise in a generous Mind. The Reader will think, Alexander the Great and I, can have no Analogy on this Occasion: But though my Character is not parallel to him, my Soul may. The Minds of two Men, though they are plac'd at some Distance, if they think in a right Way, will and must meet in one and the same Thought; so every one knows two parallel Lines, the least inclining to one another in the Progression, must and will meet in one and the same Point; as then an Analogy between Me and Alexander may be mathematically prov'd, I'll show it also by Example. The Maccdonian when he had meditated in Youth high Exploits, and noble Feats of Arms, his Breast all swelling with the Heaves and Throws of Ambition, he set before his Eyes the Acts of Achilles; inspired by these he shook his brandish'd Falchi∣on; on Conquest he resolv'd; . . . resolv'd and conquer'd: so I ruminating on dramatic Fame, Parnassian Glory, and three third crowded Nights, set before my Eyes the Writings of Colley Cibber; inspir'd by those, I brandish'd high my Pen, hurling Defiance in vile Critick's Teeth. On Triumph I resolv'd. . . . resolv'd and triumph'd. . . Now some smart theatrical Wou'dbe will say this Compa∣rison proves me no more like Alexander the Great, than that of Fluellin's i•• Henry the Fifth does him like Alexan∣der the Pig: This would give me no Pain.

Odi profanum vulgus & arceo.

But as to my Play: When it began to mellow in Re∣hearsal, and was almost ripe enough for the Stage; a pestilential Blast of Envy had like to have destroy'd it, and with it all my fair Hopes: A Rumour had gone a∣broad, that truly this Comedy was none of mine, but my Father's; and that he, not willing to stand the Bears any more, brought it out under my Name. As ridicu∣lous as this was, it gain'd Belief among many, therefore it was thought necessary that I should make a previous Apology to the Town to set Matters in a true Light, and to take off Prejudice: Accordingly I wrote a Letter to the Town, and printed it in one or more of the pub∣lick Papers, in which I told them that, upon my Word and Credit, it was all my own Doings, and that my Fa∣ther never wrote a Line of it, or saw it. Notwithstand∣ing this Letter, and the intrinsic Value of the Comedy, there was great Opposition made to the Play, and damn'd it had surely been, if the Epilogue spoke by my first Wife Jenny Cibber and me had not sav'd it; for my Father knowing how it would be, wrote an Epilogue as a Dia∣logue, between me and Jenny, in which she told me I was a Bloc••head to write, and that I was my Father's own Son; all which were strong Jokes with the Audi∣ence. I put on a pitiful Face, told her I wrote to pay my Debts, and that I would for the future, prove a good and loving Husband, if she would save my Play: The Audience being won by her Entreaty, to

"Give us, at least, an honest Chance to live,

The Play liv'd nine Nights.—This being the chief Incident of my Life as an Author, I have been some∣what prolix in the Account of it; and have yet some more Observations to make. I mention'd that I wrote a Letter to the Town previous to the Performance of my Play: Now there is a Parallel to this in the Conduct of Mr. Colley Cibber, which is not mention'd in his Apo∣logy, his Apology not reaching to that Time. Every one must remember that three Years ago Mr. Colley Cibber brought to Drury-Lane Theatre his Play, alter'd from

Shakespear, call'd King John: It was no sooner in Rehearsal, but slap the Criticks were at him directly; Letters, Epigrams, Odes, Jokes, and all the Ribraldry of Grubstreet flew about in the Papers, and it was said the Templars, and their Posse Legislatus, were engag'd to damn it. On this Mr. Cibber wrote a Letter, directed, To the Students of the Inns of Court, and very handsomly and mighty civilly desired them to do no such Thing. This Letter was new Fuel to the Flame; they fell soul of the Letter immediately, from whence he might easily conjecture how they would use his Play: But what could he do; the Play was just ready to be perform'd, the Actors perfect, Scenes painted, and much Time had been spent which the Master of the House would other∣wise have been using to his Interest, therefore he could not fairly withdraw it: However, he was resolv'd it should not be damn'd; and fearing the Master might insist on its being play'd, what does he, but at a Rehearsal, seeing his Play lying on the Prompter's Table, he takes up the Copy, and puts it up into his Pocket snug, and decently walk'd off with it, resolving he would not run the Risque of so precarious a Fortune.

I shall here, while I think of it, speak of a Theatri∣cal Conduct lately practised, nor can I speak of it in any Place more proper than in this: I mean that of Persons belonging to a Theatre addressing the Town by Letters.

I must confess, that I and my Father first practised this Art, with the same Success: It laid us open to the Criticism of Coffee-house Wits, who thought soberly on what we wrote hastily: There was such canvassing the Stile; this was not Grammar, and that was not Sense; one Thing was false English, another a Cibberism: But besides the Jokes, which if nothing else are nothing at a••l, they debated the Point over, and form'd them∣selves into Parties, which we experienc'd were not to our Advantage. I have, indeed, since the Time of my Play, address'd the Town, and with the same Success; for I find by our Theatric Squabbles and Altercations we make as much Amusement to the Town in a Morning, as by our Performance in an Evening. The Contentions

for the Part of Polly between Mr. Clive and my late—I was going to say Wife;—but a late Woman who was call'd by my Name: That Contest, I remark, furnish'd a co∣pious Topic for Conversation, Argument, and Publication, and ended with Noise and Uproars in the Play-house: There has been the same Thing practised by Monsieur Denoyer and Madamoiselle Roland, and before by Mon∣sieur Poitier and Madamoiselle Roland, versus Messieurs Quin and Fleetwood, and yet another, which made not a little Noise, between the two Harlequins, Messieurs Philips and Woodward. The Consequence of all these Addresses has been this; the Town is call'd into the Playhouse, as the dernier Resort, to judge of Things which the Master of the House is only Judge of: When the Judges come to this mixt Court of Judicature, where all present may pass Sentence, they are divided in Opi∣nion, and then the Question must be decided by Noise and Tumult, and they who are the greatest Rioters carry it. I do not find that any of these epistolary Ad∣dresses to the Town from theatric Performers have done them any Service, nor would I advise, on any Occasion, to have Recourse to such Expedients: How∣ever, there is no Rule without Exception. Mr. Rich, who has never suffered his People to make Appeals, nor ever made them himself, was at last drawn in by meer Necessity. A little, trifling, pragmatical, obscure 'Pothecary, that lives in some bye Street or Alley about Covent-Garden, one J—H—ll, publishes a Thing call'd the Opera of Orpheus, and in a scurrilous Preface to it, abuses Mr. Rich for having stole his Entertainment of Orpheus and Eurydice from his Orpheus, and instigated the Publick to do Justice for so notorious a Fraud; nor was this Pamphlet his only Attack: He run about the Town, made Parties, and People from his Representa∣tions, thought him really injured: Now it became ne∣cessary for Mr. Rich likewise to appeal to the Town, and to set the Affair in a true Light, and plainly narrate downright Matters of Fact: To this H—ll replied, with all the scoundrel Scurrility his little Wit could afford; and I also became an Object of his Malice. There was a candid Answer printed to his Pamphlet the Night be∣fore

the Entertainment came out: This Address to the Publick, from Mr. Rich, was necessary, and had the desired Effects: The first Night the Entertainment was crouded, and was received with general Applause; and the World has never since hear'd of that J—H—ll, who sunk into that Obscurity from whence he emerg'd.

But to return, Reader, to that Station in the Theatre from whence I digress'd. After having wrote my Play call'd the Lover, I began to think myself every Day of more and more Consequence; and having got an Insight into the Manner of Managing, I began to think I ••••s Equal to the Management of a young Company to play in the Sum∣mer Season. Accordingly I got Leave from Mr. Wilks, and the other Masters, to form a young Company, and, to play during the Vacation: This was no bad Thing for the Masters, nor the inferior Players; for the first receiv'd a settled Payment for the Use of a few old Scenes and Cloaths, and the latter generally five or six Days pay per Week for two Days Performance. Besides, I generally brought out some new Pieces and Farces, which not only turned to our immediate Account, but to the Good of the Actors, as Actors, and to the Masters, by becoming very gainful Performances the Winter or two following. To Instance this, I need say no more than that George Barnwell, the Devil to pay, the M••ck Doctor, and the Beggars Opera, the Part of Polly by Mrs. Clive, were first perform'd under my Manage∣ment of Summer Companies: From these young Com∣panies see what Performers have been chiefly sprung; Mrs Clive, Mrs. Buttler, and, though last, not least in Love—MYSELF. This Custom I continued till the Re∣volution of the whole Company under my Conduct, of which more hereafter. This Management of mine was an undoubted Proof of my Abilities, and I did imagine I might become a Manager in my own Right: But, alas! how frail are all human Hopes! On the Death of Mr. Wilks, Mr. Cibber, sen. sold out, at a proper Oppor∣tunity, his Share of the Patent to Mr. Highmore, a Gentleman who had a great liking to theatrical Affairs, and who had play'd some Parts on the Stage, meerly, I suppose, to shew what a Judge he was of acting, and

consequently of Actors. The Parts he play'd were H••tspur and L••thario. This Gentleman, besides his Liking to theatrical Affairs, had chiefly a Liking to theatrical Gain: He had heard, and partly seen what Profits the Managers had made for a long Course of Years, and had a Mind to purchase what he thought would prove so fine an Income: How his Expectations were answered, you will find related. Here I must disclose a Secret; When Mr. Cibber, sen. sold out his Share in the Patent, I was desperataly alarm'd, and look'd on it as a Piece of Injustice done to myself: For I thought his Share, or at least the major Part of his Share, would have devolved upon me as an Inheritance; therefore I looked on myself as a disinberited Son, and that Highmore had bought, clandessinely, my Birth-Right, or rather by sinister Means deprived me of it. This may serve for a Reason why I so heartily enter'd into the Measures I afterwards prosecuted: On Mr. Booth's Death the Patent became invested to the Property of Mr. Highmore, the Widow Booth, and the Widow Wilks. The whole Company began to murmur at being rul'd by so motley a Kind of Government as they were now falling under, viz. A Man who knew nothing of the Business, and two Women unfit for such a Province: Mr. Ellis was indeed deputed to act for Mrs. Wilks, b••t I believe that did not much better the Affairs: Mr. Ellis, however, became not only a Deputy to Mrs. Wilks, but Prime-Minister and Fac-Totum to Highmore. This could be no pleasant Situation for the other Actors, who had been so many Years labouring in the Theatre, and bo••e the Burthen of the Day; such as the elder Mills, Mr. Johnson, Miller, Griffin, and some others, who, though younger, had some Claim, as Mills, jun. and ••••self: I found this an admirable Time to put in Execution a Design I had plan'd, which was, at a pro∣per Opportunity, to fling off the Yoke, and set up for Masters and Managers ourselves: At one of our private Meetings all were complaining, yet no one proposed a Method of Redress, when I got up from my Chair and thus delivered myself.

Gentlemen,

MY Heart never beats with a stronger Joy than when I have a Power of thinking and acting right: I think the Glow that now warms my Bosom is raised by Truth and cherished by Sobriety. Long have you complained of the Tyranny you groan under, and long have looked with Indignation on your Chains: But what, O ye Gods! can avail lugubrious Lamentations? Of what Force is such female Rhe∣torick? . . . If you think you receive Injuries, deliver yourselves from them: If you would not be Slaves, be free: If you have a Will to be so, you have Power. Under what Bonds are you consined? By what Allegiance are you restrained? You have a glo∣rious Cause: You may be the Asserters of the Cause of Liberty. What though your Enemies have got the Patent, you have your own Talents, your own Endowments of Nature, and Acquisitions of Art. What is the Great Seal to you? You may say of that, as was said by a great and bold Man of Magna Charta, it was a Magna Farta. If you have Spirits, Resolution, and Conduct, a fair Road invites to Wealth, Fame, and Freedom. You may take their House of some of the Renters, and get Possession of it by Artifice, and set up yourselves: A Stratagem in War is no Crime: Or, failing in that, you may, pro tempore, take the little Hay-market House: Your Company will be better than theirs, and Novelty of Places will be changing the Scene, and give Success. Perhaps it may be objected we have no Exchequer, no Scenes, no Cloaths, with a long Et caetera. What then? You may have Credit enough. . . . Though some among you have not much Credit in a private Capacity, yet in a publick Capacity, as a Body cor∣porate, as it were, much Credit will be given: There are monied Men who will adventure Sums on such a Proceeding: Therefore, Sirs, no longer shew this Ina∣nity of Complaint; the Means of Freedom are in your own Possession, which, if you refuse, may you be

perpetual Slaves, and be sold like a Herd of Sheep from one Purchaser to another: If you dare be other∣wise, by this honest Heart I will risque my Life and Fortune with you, and prove to you, that I cannot only, Fari quae sentio sed Agere quae Sentio, speak what I think, but act accordingly.

This Harangue had all the Success that I could wish; They resolved no longer to bear the galling Yoke of Tyranny, but assert that Liberty and Property which all true Britons are so tenacious of. When the Season was quite over, we thought it a proper Time, having gain'd some of the Renters to our Side, to endeavour to gain Possession of the Theatre; but in this we fail'd, though we attacked it, Vi & Armis. On this Disap∣pointment, we all agreed, that the only Place we could pitch our Tents at, and open our theatrical Campaign, must be at the little House in the Hay-market. Several Objections were made to the Situation of the Place, and the Smallness of the Theatre; but, as I had the Revo∣lution strongly at Heart, I talked them and persuaded them out of all their Objections. At Length it was resolved, in a full Council of War, that we would en∣camp at the Hay-market; we accordingly took the House of one Potter, a Carpenter, who was the Land∣lord, b••spoke all our dramatick Equipages and Furni∣ture, and held frequent Councils to settle the Operations of the ensuing Campaign. At the Fair of Bartholomew we gain'd some Recruits; but besides those Advantages over the Enemy, I myself went there in Person, and publickly exposed myself: This was done to fling De∣fiance in the Patentees Teeth; for on the Booth where I exhibited, I hung out the Stage-Mutiny, with Pistol at the Head of his Troop, our Standard bearing this Motto,—We Eat.—In a few Days after, the Patentees opened with Aesop, to which they added an occasional Scene, written formerly by Sir John Vanbrugh, on a prior De••ertion of Actors, wherein they thought they did great Service to the Patentees, and cast a severe Ro∣••••••ction on us: They next attack'd us by another old, worn-out, rh••psodical Affair of one Feildings, call'd

the Author's Farce, in which I and my Father were dai∣ly ridicul'd: But all this I laugh'd at in my Sleeve, well considering, that joking on the Cibbers could not hurt us. On the contrary, we open'd with Love for Love, and got up all the strongest Plays with a diligent Expedition. Our Company consisted of the old Veterans, who were al∣low'd by the Town to be greatly superior to our An∣tagonists; for excepting Mrs. Clive and Mrs. Horton, there was not one in their Company but was the con∣temptible Refuse of the Theatre. We had also re∣ceiv'd an additional Force, by receiving Mr. Mil∣ward, who having left Mr. Rich on some Disgust, join'd our Forces. The Patentees imagin'd that much depended on the Number of their Troops, and they had try'd considerable Reinforcements from strol∣ling Companies; but being all awkward and undisci∣plin'd, they were no more to compare to us than the County Militia to the King's Body-Guards * 2.1.—

"What rude, riotous Havock was made of all the late dramatic Honours of our Theatre! All became at once the Spoil of Ignorance and Self-Conceit! Shake∣spear was tortur'd and defac'd in every single Cha∣racter. Hamlet and Othello lost in one Hour all their good Sense, their Dignity, and Fame. Brutus and Cassius became noisy Blusterers, with bold unmeaning Eyes, mistaken Sentiments, and turgid Elocution: Not young Lawyers in hir'd Robes and Plumes at a Masquerade, could be less what they could seem, or more aukwardly personate the Character they belong'd to."

This exclamatory Invective of Mr. Colley Cib∣ber, on the Revolution which Betterton made, is so apropos to my Revolution, I could not forbear quoting it. As we met with much Success, and the Patentees with none at all, they thought to effect by Policy what they could not obtain by Force: They endeavour'd therefore to silence us, not by the Authority of the Lord Chamberlain, but that of an Act of Parliament, by which they would prove us Vagabonds. To effect this▪ Mr. Harper was taken up as a Vagabond, and was com∣mitted

to Bridewell: But on the Trial of the Legality of his Commitment, it appear'd that he was not within the Description of the Act of the Twelfth of Queen Ann, against Vagabonds, he being a House-keeper, and having a Vote for the Members of Parliament for West∣minster: He was therefore discharg'd, and conducted through the Hall, amidst the triumphant Acclamations of his theatric Friends. Having carried this important Point, we had nothing to fear from the Patentees, knowing now that our Success depended solely on our own good Conduct, and the Favour of the Publick. I cannot but confess that we had dismal Apprehensions of the Force of the Act, which would have so fix'd the Power of the Patent, that we must invitis animis have return'd to the Dominions of our former Masters: We had indeed got a specious Colour of a Licence, and put at the Top of our Bill, By Licence of the Master of the Revels; for which titular Honour we paid him handsomely; yet we did this rather to induce the Pub∣lick to think we play'd by a legal Authority and under the Sanction of the Court, than for any Right which we thought it conferr'd on us. We could not be ignorant that Mr. Giffard's Company at Goodman's Fields was then playing against all the Opposition that could be made to it, against the Power of the City of London, and even their Remonstrances to the Court that it was a Nusance. In short, it was not then thought in the Power of the Crown to suppress a Playhouse, though acting without Royal Licence and Permission, because it was not evidently an illegal Thing. But the Case is now alter'd by a late Act of Parliament, which has fix'd all Power in regard to Theatres and theatrical Affairs in the Lord Chamberlain for the Time being: As this Act is of such Importance to the Theatres, and the passing it caus'd great Debates in both Houses, it may be proper to consider the Cause and Reasons given for having it enacted; in relating which, I may give some curious Anecdotes, and State-Secrets, which Mr. C. Cibber has omitted; yet I shall open my Narrative in his Words, as they are an Invective against a certain Person, for whom also I have a Word or two in Petto.

"* 2.2 These tolerated Companies gave Encouragement to a broken Wit to collect a fourth Company, who for sometime acted Plays in the Hay Market, which House the united Drury-Lane Comedians had quited. This enterprising Person, I say, (whom I do not chuse to name, unless it could be to his Advantage, or that it was of Importance) had Sense enough to know, that the best of Plays with bad Actors would turn but to a very poor Account, and therefore found it pe∣cessary to give the Publick some Pieces of an extraor∣dinary Kind, the Poetry of which he conceiv'd ought to be so strong, that the greatest Dunce of an Actor, could not spoil it. He knew too, that as he was in haste to get Money, it would take up less Time to be intrepidly abusive, than decently entertaining; that to draw the Mob after him, he must rake the Chanel, and pelt their Superiors; that to shew himself Some∣body, he must come up to Juvenal's Advice, and stand the Consequence.

"Aude aliquid brevibus gyaris & carcere dignum "Si vis esse aliquis.—Juv.

Such then was the mettlesome Modesty he set out with; upon this Principle he produc'd several frank and free Farces that seem'd to knock all Distinctions of Mankind on the Head. Religion, Laws, Govern∣ment, Priests, Judges, and Ministers were all laid flat at the Feet of this † 2.3 Herculean Satyrist. This Drawcansir in Wit, that spar'd neither Friend nor Foe; who, to make his Fame immortal, like ano∣ther Erostratus, set Fire to his Stage by writing up to an Act of Parliament to demolish it. I shall not give the particular Strokes of his Ingenuity a Chance to be remember'd, by reciting them; it may be enough to say, in general Terms, they were so open∣ly

flagrant, that the Wisdom of the Legislature thought it high Time to take Notice of them."

The Person of whom Mr. Cibber only gives the Out∣side Lines of his Pourtrait, is at present well known by those only: but that Posterity may know this iniquitous Son of Wit, who has fell under this heavy Censure of the Laureat for satirizing the just Measures of the pre∣sent all-just, all-wise, and all-powerful Minister; I will subscribe the Name of H—y F—d—g, Esq Author of Pasquin, the historical Register, Eurydice hiss'd, and others of the same political Cast. To these Farces, which were allegorical Satires on the Administration, the Town run with the utmost Avidity of Defamation and Scandal: He drew the Mob after him from Grov••s∣••or, Cavendish, Hanover, and all the other fashionable Squares, as also from 'Pall Mall, and the Inns of Court: I call them as the Apologist I quoted calls them, Mob; for there may be your Mobs of Quality as well as Mob•• of Raggimuffins; your Magnum vulgus & imum—Your great Vulgar and the small.—Well—These Mobs or Multitudes, or Concourse, or Audiences, call them what you will, resorted nightly to hear these Farces, and were dull enough not only to think they con∣tain'd Wit and Humour, but Truth also. It could not but regret me to see some noble Peers and Gentlemen I had entertain'd a very good Opinion of, as to their Parts and Capacities, sitting in the Side-boxes, and seem∣ingly delighted with the Performance: But I have Cha∣rity enough for these Gentlemen to think they did all this more out of Party-Zeal, and to byass the Mob, than from any Conviction, there was, in those Farces, either Sense, Humour, or Truth.—But what will not Men prostitute in a Party-Cause!—The Successes of these dramatic Peices made the M—r not a little uneasy, nor could the merry droll Mortal his Brother keep his Temper; for let some Men be as facetions as they please, and love a Laugh as much as they will, they don't like the Laugh to be always on them. I and my Father, who can bear as much laughing at, and have had as much laughing at as any two Persons in the Kingdom, not ex∣cepting the two honourable Gentlemen I just now men∣tion'd; yet though we carry it off in Company, it stings,

it hurts our Hearts to be the standing Objects of Rail∣lery; and I will not say, but if we could as well avenge the Insults on us, as the M . . . r could against him, but We might perform it. . . . But to the Point. From these farcical Satires, a dainty Opportunity offer'd itself to the great Man, not only to suppress those, but to bring all Stages, and all Stage-writings under such a Re∣striction, that nothing should be exhibited for the future that should give him the least Uneasiness. Here was an admirable Proof of deep Policy and Sagacity, to make the Satire of his Enemies be the Tools of his Interest: A Scheme was laid to accomplish his Design, it was put in Execution, and it succeeded.

I must here enter the Verge of private History, and by the following Anecdote show, that I have that great Talent of an Historian, not to dare to speak false, and not afraid to speak Truth.

Mr. Giffard had remov'd about this Time from Good∣man's Fields to Lincoln's-Inn Fields House, which he had hir'd of Mr. Rich; His Removal had not answer'd his End, and his Affairs began to grow desperate. He had never as yet given any prejudicial Offence to the Court, yet was s••ppos'd not to have such Obligations to it, as to deny, at this Juncture, the performing a Farce which might bring him a large Sum of Money. At this same Time, in a most vile Paper, call'd Common Sense, there was a libellous Production call'd the Golden Rump, which the Town and the Mob were Fools enough to think Wit and Humour: Now as the hitting in with the Humour of the multitudinous Mob is very advanta∣geous to a Theatre, a Dramatick Piece was wrote on the Golden Rump Subject, and call'd the Golden Rump, which was given Mr. Giffard to be perform'd; but before it was rehears'd it so happen'd, no Matter how or why, but so it happen'd, that Mr. Giffard went to Downing-Street with this Satirical Farce in his Pocket, which was delivered to a great Man for his Perusal; and it was found to be a scurrilous, ignomi∣nious, traiterous, scandalous, &c. &c. &c. Libel a∣gainst Majesty itself. It was immediately carried to. . . shown to . . . explain'd to . . . and remonstrated to . . . that if there was not an immediate Act of Parliament

to stop such Abuses, not Regal Dignity was safe from them.—Actum est.—'Twas done.—The Point gain'd in a Moment, and a proper Act order'd to be got.—Well, now, says some impatient Reader, What of all this? What Secret is this? By what Inference or Inuendo does this show the M . . . . . .'s Policy or Finesse? . . . Prithee don't be so mifty, and let me ask you a Question by Way of a Suppose.—Suppose Sir, this same Golden Rump Farce was wrote by a cer∣tain great Man's own Direction, and as much Scurrility and Treason larded in it as possible.—Suppose Giffard had a private Hint how to act in this Affair, and was promis'd great Things to play a particular Part in this Farce.—Suppose he was promised a separate Licence, or an Equivalent:—You may then suppose the M . . . . . . . a thorough Politician, who knew to ma∣nage bad Things to the best Advantage.—O! but, say you, I will not found my Belief on Supposes—Truth may be supposed: Suppose this Truth and you may be right.—If you are so ungenteel to require Proof de∣monstrative I have done with you, and can only refer you to the Author and Negociators of the Golden Rump.—This, however, is notoriously certain, that the Farce of the Golden Rump was carried to a great Man, and the Master of the Playhouse, who carried it, was promised something, which he has been some Time in a vain Expectation of, but will now, in all Probability, end in nothing at all.

But, laying aside private Anecdotes of the obtaining the late Playhouse Act, I must mention what was known to all: The Masters of the two Houses acting under the Patent made no Opposition to this Bill; they did all in their Power to promote it, because it would sup∣press, for the present, all Theatres but their own: They were so full of this Prospect, that they did not perceive they were at the same Time becoming ab∣solute Dependants on a M—r; for the Bill contain'd a Clause, that the Lord Chamberlain should have a Power of licensing other Theatres, if he so thought proper, within the City and Liberties of Westminster. The Actors were indeed alarm'd, and imagin'd this Act would lay them under Oppressions, from which they

could gain no proper Redress; for the constant imme∣morial Way of redressing Grievances, in the Govern∣ment of a Theatre, is to raise a Revolt, and bring about a Revolution: But the Security of the Masters of the Playhouses, and the Alarm of the Actors were both ill∣founded, as I shall, in the subsequent Narration, make appear. If the Lord Chamberlain can grant another Licence, why then should not the Actors, who may be aggriev'd by the present Masters, endeavour to gain one? I only ask that Question here; I may explain it in ano∣ther Place.

* 2.4 Mr. C. Cibber has made a copious and florid Disser∣tation, as well political as theatrical, on this Law: He proves Satire on a Minister, when represented on the Stage, is stronger than any Satire can be that is read in the Closet, therefore to license the Stage could bear no Analogy with licensing the Press: He lays it down also,

"that a theatrical Insult to the present Minister, is equal to the Stab Guiscard gave the late Lord Oxford:"

Then adds,

"Was it not as high Time to take this dan∣gerous Weapon of mimical Insolence and Defamation out of the Hands of a mad Poet, as to wrest the Knife from the lifted Hand of a Murderer?"

—In short, the Laureat has shewn himself a profound Poli∣tician, by becoming a voluntary Champion for that Law: He says, he writes on this Subject to shew the true Pourtrait of his Mind, and to shew how far he is or is not a Blockhead: Perhaps this was not the only Motive; if he had another Design than merely to give his shal∣low Reasons a little Exercise, and if it should succeed, the World must admire at the Depth of his Speculations. I shall illustrate this Remark when I come to descant on some Transactions of a very late Date, thinking it now Time to return to that Part of my History from whence I digress'd.

By the Release of Harper, we gain'd a compleat Conquest over the Pattentees; they indeed carried on the Campaign, but with such Losses and Disadvantage, that Mr. Highmore, the chief Sharer and Director, be∣gan

to think it the most prudent Method to make the best Retreat he could: Upon my Soul, though as an Enemy in the Field I could not be displeas'd with his Distress; yet, as he paid so many thousand Pounds to my Father, my honest Heart could not but feel for his being plung'd in an Affair he knew nothing of. I cannot blame my Father for so advantageously selling out; and, was my hereditary Claim laid aside, he acted prudently, and consequently honestly. But let that go: He made me some amends by giving High∣more no assisting Advice how to conduct his Theatre, which, if he had, must have greatly injured us; for no one knows that Province but myself and him. The new Purchaser therefore being left to himself, and his Prime Minister Mr. E-ll-s, Singers, Dancers, Tumblers, and other exotic Performers were hir'd at extraordinary Rates. This was but of very little Service, and the Posture of his Affairs grew daily into a worse and worse Situation.

I cannot but here observe to the Reader how different our Conduct was at the Hay-market: I must ingenuously confess, though we kept our simple Heads above Water, we had got out of our Depth; for after our first Run of Novelty and Interest was over, our Audiences grew thin, which Deficiency we supplied by Orders of our own; for in the Theatres, as in Shops, the Appearance of Business brings Customers. Nevertheless, we found large Deficiencies in the Office; and by the Accounts in our Books we had contracted a very considerable Debt; yet we conceal'd the State of our Case as much as pos∣sible, resolving to beat our Antagonists our of the Field, and by such a Conquest set every Thing right. If the Patentees at Drury-Lane had either known our Con∣dition, or had Prudence and Courage enough to bear with their own for another Season, I know not what the Consequences might have been: I may say it now, I believe we should have been forc'd to a Cessation of Arms, and capitulated on the best Terms we cou'd have got.

Mr. Rich had either gain'd better Intelligence of the State of our Affairs, or from the State of those at Drury-Lane, had found the Patentees were heartily

tir'd of their expensive instead of lucrative Offices: From one of these Reasons, or both, he had formed a Scheme, which, had it been carried into Execution, must have proved very gainful to the Patentees, and very agreeable to the Town, as it would have given them the best Plays, play'd by the best Performers in England: But as well concerted as it was for these In∣tentions, it was destructive of the natural and legal Li∣berty of the Actors: They would have become mere Servants to two co-join'd Patentees; nor could have had, on any Disgust or Affront, any Power to revolt. The Scheme was for to have Drury-Lane Patent pur∣chased of the Patentees who were tired of it, at a cheap Rate, and then the Patentees of Covent-Garden and Drury-Lane to enter into a joint Partnership, and engage the best Actors, who should act occasionally at both Houses, performing always a Comedy at one House and a Tragedy at the other. There were several other Conditions which would have prov'd beneficial to the Masters, which are needless to enumerate.

This Plan, though it has been long thought a new Finesse in theatric Policy, yet Cibber's Apology shows it is an old Stage-Cunning, practis'd, in some Measure, by Mr. R—h's Father, and Mr. Owen Swinney. This Design, however, could not be carried into Execution by Mr. R—h alone: There was wanting the Primum Mobile, the Sine qua non; the Purchase Money: On this Occasion he apply'd to Mr. Fl—t—d, who was his Friend, and proposed his purchasing the Patent, and to enter into a Sort of Partnership: This Proposal was set in so advantageous a Light, and such fair Hopes offer'd themselves, that Mr. Fl—t—d came into this Scheme, and purchased the Patent of Mr. Highmore and the o∣ther Patentees. On this Turn in Affairs, We at the Hay-market were under a most terrible Consternation; we look'd on ourselves as Persons who were never to enjoy that Liberty we had so strenuously endeavour'd to obtain: For this Conjunction of the Patentee Masters must have compell'd us to have returned under their Management, our Affairs being in a very sad Posture, and daily growing worse: But, very happily for us, a Breach happen'd between Mr. R—h and Mr. Fl—t—d at

a Time we could have least suspected it, and that gave us all we wanted, an Opportunity to make the best Terms with the latter, get rid of our Stock-Debt, and return to Drury-Lane: I shall not enter into the Reasons for this Breach of Friendship between the two Masters, as that Affair has been so differently represented; but Mr. R—h has been chiefly censured as having drawn a Gentleman into an Affair, which he would not otherwise have thought to have embarked in, and then leaving him to conduct his new Undertaking as he might: But let their Quarrel be what it would, it was advantageous to us; for Mr. Fl—t—d being work'd into the highest Resentment, was resolv'd to make up the best Com∣pany, and to hurt R—h by getting from him his chief Actors, and most necessary People: Mr. Quin was soon gained, but on such Terms as no hired Actor had be∣fore received. At the same Time Mr. Fl—t—d had entered into a Treaty with us at the Hay-market, and agreed to allow all the managing Actors two hundred Pounds a Year each, and to some a clear Benefit, and to others a Benefit at a lower Rate than usual. As in all the Transactions of that Affair I was Treaty-Master General, and negociated that important Peace with the Patentee, it may be expected I should enter into a long detail on that Subject. My Conduct in this Respect may be somewhat singular, but I can give some Reasons as an Apology for it: As this will be entering on a new Scene, I will halt a little as well to give my Reader a little Re∣lief as myself; for I don't know how it is, but I begin to perceive myself somewhat dull, and perhaps some People may have perceiv'd it a great while ago. If then, Sir Reader, your Patience and good Nature are worn out, fling down the Book, that you may, when you think proper, begin the next Chapter with a better Temper, and a Spirit more alert and lively,—and all that.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Coiley Cibber's Apology, p. 123.
• * 2.1

  Vide C. Cibber's Apology, p. 116.
• * 2.2

  Vide C. Cibber's Apology, p. 164.
• † 2.3

  This is to be taken in a double Sense, the Person struck at having since called himself Hercules Vinegar, and is the no∣torious Author of the Champion.
• * 2.4

  Vide C. Cibber's Apology, p. 165.