CHA P. XVI. Pleads his The Author Ateps out of his Way. Theatrical Caufe, in Chancery. Plays acted at Hampton-Court. cal Anecdotes in former Reigns. and Managers always cenfur'd. The Difficulty of fupplying the Stage, with good Actors, confider'd. Courtiers, and Comedians govern'd by the fame Paffions. Examples of both. The Author quits the Stage. Why. H AVING brought the Government of the Stage through fuch various Changes, and Revolutions, to this fettled State, in which it continued to almoft the Time of my leaving it; it cannot be fuppos'd, that a Period of fo much Quiet, and fo long a Train of Succefs, (though happy for thofe, who enjoy'd it can afford fuch Matter of Surprize, or Amusement, as might arife, from Times of more Diftrefs, and Disorder. A quiet Time, in Hiftory, like a Calm, in a Voyage, leaves us, but in an indolent Station: To talk of our Affairs, when they were no longer ruffled, by Misfortunes, would be a Picture without Shade, a flat Performance, at best. As I might, therefore, throw all that tedious Time of our Tranquillity into one Chasm, in my History, and cut my Way fhort, at once, Ff to to my last Exit from the Stage, I fhall, at leaft, fill it up with fuch Matter only, as I have a mind fhould be known, how few foever may have Patience to read it: Yet, as I despair not of fome Readers, who may be most awake, when they think others have most occafion to fleep; who may be more pleas'd to find me languid, than lively, or in the wrong, than in the right; why should I fcruple (when it is so easy a Matter too) to gratify their particular Tafte, by venturing upon any Error, that I like, or the Weakness of my Judgment misleads me to commit? I think too, I have a very good Chance, for my Succefs, in this paffive Ambition, by fhewing myself in a Light, I have not been seen in. By your Leave then, Gentlemen! let the Scene open, and at once difcover your Comedian, at the Bar! There you will find him a Defendant, and pleading his own Theatrical Cause, in a Court of Chancery: But, as I chufe, to have a Chance of pleafing others, as well as of indulging you, Gentlemen; I must first beg leave, to open my Cafe to them; after which, my whole Speech, upon that Occafion, shall be at your Mercy. In all the Tranfactions of Life, there cannot be a more painful Circumftance, than a Dispute at Law, with a Man, with whom we have long liv'd, in an agreeable Amity: But when Sir Richard Steele, to get himself out of Difficulties, was oblig'd to throw his Affairs, into the Hands of Lawyers, and Trustees, that Con Confideration, then, could be of no weight: The Friend, or the Gentleman, had no more to do in the Matter! Thus,, while Sir Richard no longer acted, from himself, it may be no Wonder, if a Flaw was found in our Conduct, for the Law to make Work with. It must be obferved then, that about two, or three Years, before this Suit was commenc'd, upon Sir Richard's totally abfenting himself from all Care, and Management of the Stage (which by our Articles of Partnership, he was equally, and jointly oblig'd with us, to attend) we were reduc'd to let him know, that we could not go on, at that Rate, but that if he expected to make the Business a Sine-cure, we had as much Reason to expect a Confideration for our extraordinary Care of it; and that during his Absence, we therefore intended to charge ourselves at a Salary of 17. 13 s. 4 d. every acting Day (unless he could fhew us Caufe, to the contrary) for our Management: To which, in his compos'd manner, he only answer'd; That to be fure, we knew what was fitter to be done, than he did; that he had always taken a Delight, in making us eafy, and had no Reason to doubt of our doing him Juftice. Now whether, under this eafy Stile of Approbation, he conceal'd any Diflike of our Refolution, I cannot fay. But, if I may speak my private Opinion, I really believe, from his natural Negligence of his Affairs, he was glad, at any Rate, to be excus'd an Attendance, which he was now grown weary of. But Ff2 whether whether I am deceiv'd, or right in my Opinion, the Fact was truly this, that he never once, directly, nor indirectly, complain'd, or objected to our being paid the above-mention'd daily Sum, in near three Years together; and yet ftill continued to abfent himfelf from us, and our Affairs. But notwithstanding, he had feen, and done all this with his Eyes open; his Lawyer thought here was ftill a fair Field, for a Battle, in Chancery, in which, though his Client might be beaten, he was fure his Bill muft be paid for it: Accordingly, to work with us he went. But not to be fo long, as the Lawyers were in bringing this Caufe to an Iffue, I shall, at once, let you know, that it came to a Hearing, before the late Sir Joseph Jekyll, then Mafter of the Rolls, in the Year 1726. Now, as the chief Point, in difpute, was, of what Kind, or Importance, the Bufinefs of a Manager was, or in what it principally confifted; it could not be fuppos'd, that the most learned Council could be fo well appriz'd of the Nature of it, as one, who had himself gone through the Care, and Fatigue of it. I was therefore encourag'd by our Council, to fpeak to that particular Head myfelf; which I confefs I was glad he fuffer'd me to undertake ; but when I tell you, that two of the learned Council against us, came, afterwards, to be fucceffively Lord Chancellors, it fets my Prefumption in a Light, that I ftill tremble to thew it in: But however, not to aflume more Merit, from its Succefs, than was really its Due, I ought fairly ty let you know, that I was not fo hardy, as to deliver my Pleading without Notes, in my Hand, of the Heads I intended to enlarge upon; for though I thought I could conquer my Fear, I could not be fo fure of my Memory: But when it came to the critical Moment, the Dread, and Apprehenfion of what I had undertaken, fo difcon'certed my Courage, that though I had been us'd to talk to above Fifty Thousand different People every Winter, for upwards thirty Years together; an involuntary, and unaffected Proof of my Confufion, fell from my Eyes; and, as I found myself quite out of my Element, I feem'd rather gafping for Life, than in a Condition to cope with the eminent Orators, against me. But however, I foon found, from the favourable Attention of my Hearers, that my Diffidence had done me no Differvice: And as the Truth, I was to speak to, need ed no Ornament of Words, I delivered it, in the plain manner following, viz. In this Cause, Sir, I humbly conceive there, are but two Points, that admit of any material Difpute. The firft is, Whether Sir Richard Steele, is as much obliged to do the Duty, and Bufinefs of a Manager, as either Wilks, Booth, or Cibber: And the fecond is, Whether by Sir Richard's totally withdrawing himself from the Bufinefs of a Manager, the Defendants are juftifiable, in charging to each of themselves the 17. 135. 4d. per Diem, for Ff3 their |