"Besides all this, when he comes to cast the Parts there is so great a Confusion amongst them for Want of proper Actors, that for my Part I am wholly discouraged. The Play with which they design to open is, The Duke and no Duke; and they are so put to it, That the master himself is to act the Conjurer, and they have no one for the General but honest George Powell.

"Now, Sir, they being so much at a Loss for the Dramatis Personæ, viz. the Persons to enact, and the whole Frame of the House being designed to be altered, I desire your Opinion, whether you think it advisable for me to undertake to prompt 'em: For tho' I can clash Swords when they represent a Battel, and have yet Lungs enough to huzza their Victories, I question, if I should prompt 'em right, whether they would act accordingly.—I am

"Your Honour's most humble Servant,
"J. Downes.

"P.S. Sir, Since I writ this, I am credibly informed, That they design a New House in Lincoln's-Inn-fields, near the Popish Chapel, to be ready by Michaelmas next; which indeed is but repairing an Old one that has already failed. You know the honest Man who kept the Office is gone already."

[ [58] The chief actor who remained with Rich was Booth. Among the others were Powell, Bickerstaffe, Pack, Keene, Francis Leigh, Norris, Mrs. Bignell, Mrs. Moor, Mrs. Bradshaw, and Mrs. Knight.

[ [59] An interesting advertisement was published on Rich's behalf in July, 1709, which gives curious particulars regarding the actors' salaries. I quote it from "Edwin's Eccentricities," i. 219-224, without altering the figures, which, as regards the pence, are rather eccentric:—

"Advertisement concerning the poor Actors, who, under pretence of hard usage from the Patentees, are about to desert their service.

"Some persons having industriously spread about amongst the Quality and others, what small allowances the chief Actors have had this last Winter from the Patentees of Drury Lane Play-house, as if they had received no more than so many poor palatines; it was thought necessary to print the following Account.

"The whole company began to act on the 12th of October, 1708, and left off on the 26th of the same month, by reason of Prince George's illness and death; and began again the 14th of December following, and left off upon the Lord Chamberlain's order, on the 4th of June last, 1709. So acted, during that time, in all 135 days, which is 22 weeks and three days, accounting six acting days to a week.

In that time£ s.d.
To Mr. Wilkes, by salary, for acting, and taking care of the rehearsals; paid16868
By his Benefit play;90149
Total 25915
To Mr. Betterton by salary, for acting, 4l. a week for himself, and 1l. week for his wife, although she does not act; paid112100
By a benefit play at common prices, besides whathe got by high prices, and Guineas; paid7645
188145
To Mr. Eastcourt, at 5l. a week salary; paid112100
By a benefit play; paid5186
163186
To Mr. Cibber, at 5l. a week salary; paid111100
By a benefit play; paid51010
1621010
To Mr. Mills, at 4l. a week for himself, and 1l.a week for his wife, for little or nothing112100
By a benefit play paid to him (not including thereinwhat she got by a benefit play)5814
170114
To Mrs. Oldfield, at 4l. a week salary, which for 14 weeks and one day; she leaving off acting presently after her benefit (viz.) on the 17th of March last, 1708, though the benefit was intended for her whole nine months acting, and she refused to assist others in their benefits; her salary for these 14 weeks and one day came to, and she was paid,56134
In January she required, and was paid ten guineas, towear on the stage in some plays, during the wholeseason, a mantua petticoat that was given her forthe stage, and though she left off three monthsbefore she should, yet she hath not returned anypart of the ten guineas10150
And she had for wearing in some plays a suit ofboys cloaths on the stage; paid2109
By a benefit play; paid6278
13267
Certainties in all 107738
"Besides which certain sums above-mentioned, the same actors got by theirbenefit plays, as follows:
£ s.d.
Note, that Mr. Betterton having had 76l. 4s. 5d.as above mentioned, for two-thirds of the profits bya benefit play, reckoning his tickets for the boxesat 5s. a piece, the pit at 3s. the first galleryat 2s. and the upper gallery at 1s.——But theboxes, pit, and stage, laid together on his day, andno person admitted but by his tickets, the lowestat half a guinea a ticket; nay he had much more, forone lady gave him ten guineas, some five guineas,some two guineas, and most one guinea, supposing thathe designed not to act any more, and he deliveredtickets out for more persons, than the boxes, pit,and stage could hold; it is thought he cleared atleast 450l. over and besides the 76l. 4s. 5d.45000
'Tis thought Mr. Estcourt cleared 200l. besides thesaid 51l. 8s. 6d.20000
That Mr. Wilkes cleared by Guineas, as it is thought,about 40l. besides the said 90l. 14s. 9d. 4000
That Mr. Cibber got by Guineas, as it is thought,about 50l. besides the said 51l. 0s. 10d.5000
That Mr. Mills got by guineas about 20l. as it isthought, besides the said 58l. 1s. 4d.2000
That Mrs. Oldfield, it is thought, got 120l. byguineas over and above the said 62l. 7s. 8d.12000
In all 88000
"So that these six comedians, who are the unsatisfied people, havebetween the 12th of October and the 4th of June last, cleared in all thefollowing sums:
£ s.d.
Acted 100 times, Mr. Wilkes certain25915
and more by computation4000
Both 29915
Acted 16 times, Mr. Betterton certain188145
and more by computation45000
638145
Acted 52 times, Mr. Estcourt certain163186
and more by computation20000
363186
Acted 71 times, Mr. Cibber certain1621010
and more by computation5000
2121010
Acted — times, Mr. Mills certain170114
and more by computation2000
190114
Acted 39 times, Mrs. Oldfield certain13267
and more by computation12003
25267
In all 195732