ch as heard from him.

It has always been a Custom in Theatres, that if ever any Actor or
Actress was to be discharged, or their Allowance lessen'd, they were
acquainted with it at the End of the Season; the Reason of this will
appear to be the giving them a proper Notice to provide for themselves:
This the Manager of _Covent-Garden_ did to all his Company whom he
designed to discharge, or whose Allowance was to be lessen'd, except to
me, which made me actually then conclude he determined I should
continue with him, 'till I was undeceived by his Play-Bills with the
Names of other Actresses in Parts I used to perform; so that he has not
only broke thro' the Customs of the Theatre, but those in practice
almost every where, in dismissing me, and has done me a real Injury in
such an unprecedented Act of Injustice; for had I been informed of his
Design at the End of the Season, I could have made Terms to have acted
in _Ireland_, where I had met with most uncommon Civilities, and
received very great Advantages, which I shall ever remember with the
utmost Gratitude, and take this and every other Opportunity to
acknowledge.

As I have said, it has been a Custom to give Actors Notice of a
Discharge: I must at the same time observe, That it never was a Custom
to discharge any, but upon Neglect of their Business, or such as were
obnoxious to the Publick; this Maxim extended even to those of the
lowest Class; but to those, on whose Performances the Town had been
pleased to stamp a Value, by their Indulgence and Applause, the Stage
was always a Support, even after Age or any Accident had made 'em
incapable of their Profession; for the then Patentees thought it as
great a Piece of Insolence to deprive the Publick of their Pleasures, as
of Cruelty and Injustice to deny those a Subsistence who had contributed
towards 'em; for they knew and acknowledged, that the Publick was the
only Support of all, consequently had an indisputable Right to be
pleased in the best manner possible.

It is pretended by the Managers, that they have the same Right to
discharge an Actor that a Master has to turn away a Servant, than which
nothing can be more false and absurd; for, when a Master dismisses a
Servant, there are many thousands besides to apply to; but when the
Managers dismiss an Actor, where are they to apply? It is unlawful to
act any where but with them; Necessity or Inclination brings every one
to the Stage; if the former happens to be the