es as hardly afforded the
greater Part of them a Subsistence, I was offered, by the Manager of
_Drury-Lane_ Theatre, such Terms as bore no Proportion to what he gave
other Performers, or to those he had offered me at the beginning of the
Season. They were such as I was advis'd not to accept, because it was
known they were proposed for no reason but to insult me, and make me
seek for better at the other Theatre; for I knew it had been settled, by
some dark Agreement, that Part of the Actors were to go to
_Covent-Garden_ Theatre, and others to _Drury-Lane_; I did, indeed,
apprehend I should meet with better Terms at _Covent-Garden_, because
that Manager had made many Overtures to get me into his Company the
preceding Season, and many times before: But when I apply'd to him, he
offered me exactly the same which I had refused at the other Theatre,
and which I likewise rejected, but was persuaded to accept some very
little better, rather than seem obstinate in not complying as well as
others, and yielded so far to the Necessity of the Time, as to Act under
a much less Salary than several other Performers on that Stage, and
submitted to pay a Sum of Money for my Benefit, notwithstanding I had
had one clear of all Expence for Nine Years before; an Advantage the
first Performers had been thought to merit for near Thirty Years, and
had grown into a Custom.

When I was fixed at that Theatre I determined to stay there; I did, in
all things which related to my Profession, submit intirely to that
Manager's Direction, and, with the help of other principal Performers,
did greatly promote his Interest, as was evident from the Audiences
after we went to Act there; but I found, by his Behaviour to me, it was
designed I should not continue with him, but return the next Season to
_Drury-Lane._

The Agreements betwixt that Manager and me were verbal, but made before
two Gentlemen of Character and Fortune, on whom I must depend for the
fulfilling of them; they were for one Year. At the end of the
Acting-season the Manager sent an Office-keeper to me with some Salary
that was due, who required a Receipt in full; I told him a very great
Part of my Agreements were yet due, and requested to see the Manager,
who came and acknowledged them, and promised to bring one of the
Gentlemen who was present at our Ingagements in a Day or two and pay me,
and then he said he had done with me; but he has not paid me, nor have I
ever seen him since, or as mu