belief, that by chaunting such inexplicable nonsense they are performing a sacrifice of praise agreeable to the great Author of their being? You a religious reformer! Are these the proofs of your mission?--You don't doubt that I shall have a call. In the mean time, let me give you one, repent; and, by way of atonement and mortification, summon your misguided flock; reveal your impious frauds, and restore the poor deluded people to their senses and their proper pastor. But if you will still persist, I must, after your example, conclude with wishing that those teachers among you, who are mad, were confined closely in Bedlam, and those who are wicked were lodged safely in Bridewell; and then, I think, the public would get rid of you all. But while you continue triumphantly at large, spiritualized and divine as you may boast yourselves, I shall still take the liberty to follow you as the boy did Philip, with a loud memento, that " you are merely men."

COPY OF THE

ORIGINAL LICENSE

UNDER WHICH

FOOTE

HELD THE

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

GEORGE the THIRD, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c., to all to whom these presents shall come greeting: Know ye, that we for divers good causes and considerations us thereunto moving, of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and in our motion, have given and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors, do give and grant unto our trusty and well-beloved Samuel Foote, of the parish of Saint Martins in the Fields, in the county of Middlesex, Esq., from the twenty-fifth

day of June, in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, and to continue for and during the term of the natural life of the said Samuel Foote, full power, license, and authority, to gather together, form, entertain, govern, privilege, and keep a company of comedians, for our servant to exercise and act between the fifteenth day of May and the fifteenth day of September in every year (except on Sundays, and at such times as the Chamberlain of our household shall judge it proper and expedient, either on account of mournings or otherwise, to stop performances on the stage), such tragedies, plays, operas, and other performances on the stage, only as have already been or shall hereafter be licensed by the Chamberlain of our household, within the house commonly called or known by the name of the Little Theatre in the Haymarket, or within any other House or Theatre, built or to be built, where he the said Samuel Foote can best be fitted for that purpose within the City of Westminster, or within the liberties thereof;

which said company shall consist of such members as the said Samuel Foote shall from time to time think meet. And we do hereby for us, our heirs, and successors, grant unto the said Samuel Foote full power, license, and authority, to permit such persons at and during the pleasure of the said Samuel Foote, from time to time, within the time aforesaid, to act plays and entertainments of the stage of all sorts, peaceably and quietly, without the impeachment or impediment of any person or persons whatsoever, for the honest recreation of such as shall desire to see the same. Nevertheless, under the regulations hereinafter mentioned, and such other as the said Samuel Foote, from time to time, in his discretion shall find reasonable and necessary for our service. And we do hereby, for us, our heirs, and successors, further grant to him, the said Samuel Foote as aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Samuel Foote to take and receive of such persons as shall resort to see or hear such tragedies, plays, operas,

or other performances on the stage, such sum or sums of money as either have been accustomably given and taken in the like kind, or as shall be thought reasonable, by the said Samuel Foote, in regard of the great expenses of scenes, music, and such new decorations as have not formerly been used. And further for us, our heirs, and successors, we do hereby give and grant unto the said Samuel Foote, full power to make such allowances out of the money which he shall so receive by the acting such tragedies, plays, operas, and other performances on the stage as aforesaid, to the actors and other persons employed in acting, representing, or in any quality whatsoever about the said House or Theatre, as he the said Samuel Foote shall think fit: And that the said company shall be under the sole government and authority of the said Samuel Foote; and all scandalous and mutinous persons shall, from time to time, be ejected and disabled from playing in the said Theatre. And for the better attaining