As only two Theatres were authori??ed, the Managers thought it was in
their Power to reduce the Incomes of tho??e Performers, who could not
live independant of their Profe????ion; 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 fal??e Account was publi??hed
of them in the daily Papers, by whom I will not ??ay: Whether, or no,
??ome particular Salaries were ??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 Per??on concerned in the Theatre, and
rai??ed very con??iderable Fortunes for them??elves.
But ??uppo??ing the Expence of the Theatre too high, I am very certain it
was not the Actors refu??ing to ??ubmit to a proper Reduction of them,
which made ??o many of them quit the Stage, but from great Hard??hips they
underwent, and greater which they feared would happen from an Agreement
??uppo??ed to be concluded betwixt the two Managers, which made 'em
apprehend, that if they ??ubmitted to act under ??uch Agreements, they
mu??t be ab??olutely in the Managers Power; and the Event has proved that
their Fears were not ill-grounded, as I doubt not but I ??hall make
appear.
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