When I was fixed at that Theatre I determined to ??tay there; I did, in
all things which related to my Profe????on, ??ubmit intirely to that
Manager's Direction, and, with the help of other principal Performers,
did greatly promote his Intere??t, as was evident from the Audiences
after we went to Act there; but I found, by his Behaviour to me, it was
de??igned I ??hould not continue with him, but return the next Sea??on to
_Drury-Lane._
The Agreements betwixt that Manager and me were verbal, but made before
two Gentlemen of Character and Fortune, on whom I mu??t depend for the
fulfilling of them; they were for one Year. At the end of the
Acting-??ea??on the Manager ??ent an Office-keeper to me with ??ome Salary
that was due, who required a Receipt in full; I told him a very great
Part of my Agreements were yet due, and reque??ted to ??ee the Manager,
who came and acknowledged them, and promi??ed to bring one of the
Gentlemen who was pre??sent at our Ingagements in a Day or two and pay me,
and then he ??aid he had done with me; but he has not paid me, nor have I
ever ??een him ??ince, or as much as heard from him.
It has always been a Cu??tom in Theatres, that if ever any Actor or
Actre??s was to be di??charged, or their Allowance le????en'd, they were
acquainted with it at the End of the Sea??on; the Rea??on of this will
appear to be the giving them a proper Notice to provide for them??elves:
This the Manager of _Covent-Garden_ did to all his Company whom he
de??igned to di??charge, or who??e Allowance was to be le????en'd, except to
me, which made me actually then conclude he determined I ??hould
continue with him, 'till I was undeceived by his Play-Bills with the
Names of other Actre????es in Parts I u??ed to perform; ??o that he has not
only broke thro' the Cu??toms of the Theatre, but tho??e in practice
almo??t every where, in di??mi????ing me, and has done me a real Injury in
??uch an unprecedented Act of Inju??tice; for had I been informed of his
De??ign at the End of the Sea??on, I could have made Terms to have acted
in _Ireland_, where I had met with mo??t uncommon Civilities, and
received very great Advantages, which I ??hall ever remember with the
utmo??t Gratitude, and take this and every other Opportunity to
acknowledge.
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