It is pretended by the Managers, that they have the Å¿ame 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 Caſe, they will not
readily find an Employment; and if the latter, they will not be fit for
one; ſo that it will appear an Act of great Injuſtice and Oppreſſion. If
it Å¿hould be objected, That the Actors Demands are Å¿o exorbitant, that
the Managers cannot comply with 'em? I have already endeavoured to Å¿how,
that tho' two or three Salaries might be thought Å¿o in general, they did
not amount to more than had been allowed, and very conſiderable Profits
ariſing to the Patentees. But there is a very melancholy Inſtance, that
the Actors Demands is not the Reaſon of diſmiſſing 'em, but the Will of
the Manager alone; since laſt Seaſon an Actor and Actreſs returned to
_Drury-Lane_ under Å¿uch Abatements as that Manager thought proper, and
Å¿uch as were in no degree equal to their Merit; and yet, at the
beginning of this Seaſon, were diſmiſſed, after having been from their
Infancy on the Stage, and having no other Profeſſions to live by, and
very numerous Families to Å¿upport.

The Manager of _Drury-Lane_ tho' he can't but know I am diſengag'd from
the other Theatre, has not made any Application to me to act with him,
which he has done to Å¿everal others who quitted that Stage at the Time I
did: The Reaſons which obliged me to leave him ſtill ſubſiſt: He owes
me a Hundred and Sixty Pounds, twelve Shillings, which he has
acknowledged to be juſtly due, and promiſed Payment of it by laſt
_Chriſtmas_ to a Perſon of too great Conſequence for me to mention here,
the greater Part of it Money I expended for Cloaths for his UÅ¿e. He