Chamberlain styled those, Gentlemen of the Great Chamber; and they were so much in favour with the Monarch and his brother, that they not only frequently attended their performances, but even condescended to settle those petty disputes, which are common in all societies of men. It will be remembered, that before this æra, females were never admitted upon the stage. The fair sex had now a warm advocate in the breast of Charles II., and their rights to the sock and buskin were fully confirmed by his sanction. Through this circumstance, and an order that each Theatre should avoid acting plays previously selected by the other, rendered the gratification of the publick as complete as the encouragement afforded would permit.

As all things are subject to change, if not in every instance to decay, so the two proprietors found in due time their stock of plays was not sufficiently great to keep alive that spirit of curiosity necessary to fill a theatre; and as a certain consequence, the frequenters of them selected that which they considered the best, and their preference was decidedly in favour of Drury Lane. Alarmed at the prospect before him, Davenant had recourse to the most powerful means for recovering his ground; and those were musick and spectacle, rich dresses, and excellent dancers. His success was equal to his expectations, and his competitor

competitor lamented in vain the preponderance of levity over good sense. "Taste and fashion," says Cibber, "with us, have always had wings, and fly from one public spectacle to another so wantonly, that I have been informed by those who remember it, that a famous puppet-show in Salisbury Change (then standing where Cecil-street now is) so far distressed these two celebrated companies, that they were reduced to petition the King for relief against it."

It seems probable the grave and sententious manners of the Interregnum had so far prevailed, as to give a severe check to the two Theatres, after the first glow of curiosity and novelty had subsided. This cause, or apathy in the audiences, rendered a coalition between the patentees desirable, which was effected through the King's influence in 1684. As all competition was at an end, the actors were compelled to accept whatever terms the joint-proprietors offered; which were, the division of the profits into twenty shares; a moiety to the latter, and the remainder to the former, to be subdivided according to the merit of the individuals concerned. "These shares of the patentees," observes Cibber," were promiscuously sold out to money-making persons called Adventurers, who, though utterly ignorant of theatrical affairs, were still admitted to a proportionate vote in the management of them."

Before

Before I leave this subject, it will be proper to mention, that, though several fine women made their appearance on the stage soon after the restoration, yet they were not sufficiently numerous to fill all the female parts. This is illustrated by the case of Kynaston, a remarkable handsome youth, who was intended to appear one evening before Charles II.; but the Monarch arriving sooner than was expected, he sent to demand the reason why the performance had not commenced. The manager, knowing his partiality for a jest, declared the truth, that the queen was not then completely shaved.

After many ineffectual struggles and dissentions, the inevitable consequences of the state of theatrical affairs above described, Betterton obtained the Royal permission of William III. to establish a new company under his licence; and what was still more to the purpose, he procured the support and subscriptions of several persons of high rank; with which, and other means, he erected a Theatre within the walls of a tenniscourt, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

It was at this time of division, temporary prosperity, and subsequent distress, that each party were at a loss for expedients to fill their houses, that the patentee of Drury Lane playhouse opened his upper gallery to the domestics of the nobility gratis; "for before his time no footman

VOL. III.

H

footman was ever admitted, or had presumed to come into it, till after the fourth act was ended." The absurdity of the scheme must have been apparent to every person but the manager; and the futility of it appears from Cibber's saying, the custom was at length established as a right, and "became the most disgraceful nuisance that ever depreciated the Theatre. How often have the most polite audiences, in the most affecting scenes of the best plays, been disturbed and insulted by the noise and clamour of these savage spectators!" Nor was the above the only disadvantage entailed upon the stage by the adventrous enterprises or baits contrived by the patentee, who permitted the "unlicked cubs of distinction" to pass and repass, and lounge behind the scenes, both for money and gratis. The consequences of this indulgence may be imagined by the reader, but they were severely felt by the successive directors of the theatre; so much so, that Cibber declares himself and his colleagues were determined to discontinue the practice at the hazard of their lives; "and our only expedient was, by refusing money from all persons without distinction at the stage-door. By this means we preserved to ourselves the right and liberty of chusing our own company there; and, by a strict observance of this order, we brought what had been before debased into all the licences of a lobby, into the decencies of a drawing-room."

As

As an author, situated as I am, treating on past events, where personal knowledge is impossible, can only draw inferences from observation on facts related by others, it might be thought presumptuous in me to say the age was very immoral which permitted the representation of such plays as we find were offered to public view by Dryden, &c. &c. I shall therefore permit Cibber, who saw the effect they produced, to speak his opinion of the manners of the interval between 1660 and 1700. "It has often given me amazement, that our best authors of that time could think the wit and spirit of their scenes could be an excuse for making the looseness of them public. The many instances of their talents so abused are too glaring to need a closer comment, and are sometimes too gross to be recited. If, then, to have avoided this imputation, or rather to have had the interest and honour of virtue always in view, can give merit to a play, I am contented that my readers should think such merit the all that mine have to boast of. Libertines of mere wit and pleasure may laugh at these grave laws that would limit a lively genius; but every sensible honest man, conscious of their truth and use, will give these ralliers smile for smile, and shew a due contempt for their merriment.

"But, while our authors took these extraordinary liberties with their wit, I remember the ladies