As I have ??aid, it has been a Cu??tom to give Actors Notice of a
Di??charge: I mu??t at the ??ame time ob??erve, That it never was a Cu??tom
to di??charge any, but upon Neglect of their Bu??ine??s, or ??uch as were
obnoxious to the Publick; this Maxim extended even to tho??e of the
lowe??t Cla??s; but to tho??e, on who??e Performances the Town had been
plea??ed to ??tamp a Value, by their Indulgence and Applau??e, the Stage
was always a Support, even after Age or any Accident had made 'em
incapable of their Profe????ion; for the then Patentees thought it as
great a Piece of In??olence to deprive the Publick of their Plea??ures, as
of Cruelty and Inju??tice to deny tho??e a Sub??i??tence who had contributed
towards 'em; for they knew and acknowledged, that the Publick was the
only Support of all, con??equently had an indi??putable Right to be
plea??ed in the be??t manner po????ible.
It is pretended by the Managers, that they have the ??ame Right to
di??charge an Actor that a Ma??ter has to turn away a Servant, than which
nothing can be more fal??e and ab??urd; for, when a Ma??ter di??mi????es a
Servant, there are many thou??ands be??ides to apply to; but when the
Managers di??mi??s an Actor, where are they to apply? It is unlawful to
act any where but with them; Nece????ity or Inclination brings every one
to the Stage; if the former happens to be the Ca??e, they will not
readily find an Employment; and if the latter, they will not be fit for
one; ??o that it will appear an Act of great Inju??tice and Oppre????ion.
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