Theatres, have ſeldom, if ever, failed of Redreſs upon repreſenting the
Hardſhips they met with: And, as I at this time, apprehend my ſelf to
be greatly oppreſſed by the Managers of both Theatres, I hope I ſhall be
juſtified in taking this Method of acquainting the Publick with my Caſe,
Å¿ubmitting it to their Determination.

Before the Diſputes happened betwixt the Manager of _Drury-Lane_ Theatre
and his Actors, I had articled for Five Years to receive Three Hundred
Pounds a Year, tho' another Performer on that Stage received for Seven
Years Five Hundred Guineas, _per_ Year; and at the Expiration of my
Agreements the Manager offered me an additional Salary to continue at
that Theatre.

And ſince I have mentioned thoſe Diſputes, which ended ſo greatly to the
Diſadvantage of the Actors, I muſt beg Leave to endeavour to ſet that
Matter in a clear Light, which hitherto has been miſrepreſented to the
Publick: I think my ſelf obliged to this, as the Hardſhips I at preſent
labour under are owing to that Diſagreement; if any think I treat this
Matter too ſeriouſly, I hope they will remember, that however trifling
Å¿uch Things may appear to them, to me, who am Å¿o much concerned in 'em,
they are of great Importance, Å¿uch as my Liberty and Livelihood depend
on.

As only two Theatres were authoriſed, the Managers thought it was in
their Power to reduce the Incomes of thoſe Performers, who could not
live independant of their Profeſſion; but in order to make this appear
with a better Face to the Town, it was agreed to complain of the Actors
Salaries being too great, and accordingly a falſe Account was publiſhed
of them in the daily Papers, by whom I will not Å¿ay: Whether, or no,
Å¿ome particular Salaries were Å¿o, I will not pretend to determine; yet,