made to whatever he had a mind to. For that this Method, added to his natural Talent of perfuading, would imperceptibly lead his Collegue into a Reliance on his fuperior Understanding; That however little he cared for Bufinefs, he fhould give himfelf the Air at leaft of Enquiry into what had been done, that what he intended to do might be thought more confiderable, and be the readier complied with: That Sir Thomas Skipwith had trufted too much to his Collegue; and was treated by him accordingly, without ever receiving any profits from it for feveral Years: Therefore if Mr. Brett could once fix himfelf, as I had advifed, upon a different Foot with this hitherto untractable Manager, the Bufinefs would foon run through whatever Channel he might have a mind to lead it. And though I allowed the greatest Difficulty he could meet with, would be in getting his confent to a Union of the two Companies, which was the only thing that could raife the Patent to its former Value, and which, I knew, this.clofe Manager would fecretly lay all poffible Rubs in the way to; yet it was visible there was a way of reducing him to Compliance; for though, it was true his caution would never part with a Straw, by way of Conceflion, yet to a high Hand, he would give up any thing, provided he were fuffered to keep his Title to it: If his Hat were taken from his Head in the ftreet, he would make no farther Refiftance than fay, I am not willing to part with it. Much lefs would he have the Refolution openly to oppofe any juft Measures, when he fhould find one, who with an equal Right to his, and with a known Intereft to bring them about, was refolved to go thro' with them.

Immediately after Mr. Brett was admitted as a joint Patentee, he made use of the Intimacy he had with the Vice Chamberlain to forward his Scheme of this intended Union, in which he fo far prevailed, that it was foon after left to the particular Care of the fame Vice Chamberlain, to give him all the Aid, and Power neceffary to the bringing what he defired to perfection. The Scheme was to have but one Theatre for Plays, and another for Operas, under feparate Interests. And this the Generality of Spectators, as well as the most approved Actors, had been fome time calling for, as the only Expedient to recover the Credit of the Stage, and the valuable Interests of its Managers.

I must refer my Reader to my play of the Wife's Refentment, where, in a Dedication to the then Marquis (now Duke of) Kent, and then Lord Chamberlain, which was published above thirty Years ago, the fituation of the Theatres, and the Hardthips of the Actors, are fully fet forth.

Such was the State of the Stage, immediately preceding the time of Mr. Brett's being admitted a joint Patentee, who, as he faw with clear Eyes, what was its evident Intereft, left no proper Meafures unattempted to make this fo long defpair'd of, Union practicable. The most apparent difficulty to be got over, in this Affair, was what could be done for Swiney, in confideration of his being obliged to give up thofe Actors, whom the Power and Choice of the Lord Chamberlain, had the Year before, fet him at the Head of, and by whofe Management thofe Actors had found themfelves in a profperous Condition. But an Accident at this time happily contributed to make

that

that Matter eafy. The Inclination of our people of Quality for foreign Operas, had now reached the Ears of Italy, and the Credit of their Tafte had drawn over from thence without any more particular Invitation, one of their capital Singers, the famous Signior Cavaliero Nicolini From whofe Arrival, and the Impatience of the Town to hear him, it was concluded, that Operas, being now fo completely provided, could not fail of Succefs; and that by making Swiney fole Director of them, the Profits must be an ample compenfation for his Refignation of the Actors. This Matter being thus adjufted, by Swiney's Acceptance of the Opera only to be performed at the Hay-market, the Actors were all ordered to return to Drury Lane, there to remain her Majefty's only Company of Comedians.

The

A fhort View of the Opera, when first divided from the Comedy. Plays recover their credit. The old Patentée uneafy at their Succefs. The occafion of Mr. Brett's throwing up his fhare in the patent. The confequences of it. The Managers, by endeavouring to reduce their price, lofe them all a fecond Time. principal Comedians return to the Hay-market, in fhares with Swiney. They alter that Theatre. Operas fall off. The Occafion of it. Farther Obfervations upon them: Patentee difpoffefs'd of Drury Lane Theatre. Mr. Collier, with a new Licence, heads the Remains of that Company.

The

PLAYS and Operas being thus established

upon feparate Interefts, they were now left to make the beft of their way into favour, by their different Merit. Although the Opera is not a plant of our native Growth, nor what our plainer Appetites are fond of, and is of fo delicate a Nature, that without great Expence, it cannot live among us; especially while the niceft Connoiffeurs in Mufick fall into fuch various Herefies in Tafte, every Sect pretending to be the true one; yet as it is called a Theatrical Entertainment, and by its Alliance or Neutrality has more or lefs affected

our

our Domestick Theatre, a fhort View of its. progrefs may be allowed a place in our Hiftory. After this new Regulation, the first Opera that appeared was Pyrrhus. The chief performers, in this were Nicolini, Valentini, and Mrs. Tofts; and for the inferior parts the beft that were then to be found. Whatever praifes may have been. given to the moft famous Voices that have been heard fince Nicolini; upon the whole I cannot but come into the Opinion that ftill prevails among feveral perfons of Condition, who are able to give a Reafon for their liking, that no Singer fince his Time has fo juftly and gracefully acquitted himself, in whatever Character he appeared, as Nicolini.

Mrs. Tofts, who took her firft Grounds of Mafick here in her own Country, before the Italian Tafte had fo highly prevailed, was then not an Adept in it: Yet whatever Defect the fashionably skilful might find in her manner, she had, in the general fenfe of her Spectators, Charms that few of the moft learned Singers ever arrive at. The Beauty of her fine proportioned Figure, and exquifitely fweet, filver Tone of her Voice, with that peculiar, rapid Swiftnefs of her Throat, were Perfections not to be imitated by Art or Labour. Valentini I have already mentioned, therefore need only fay farther of him, that tho' he was every way inferior to Nicolini, yet as he had the Advantage of giving us our firft Impreffion of a good Opera Singer, he had fill his Admirers, and was of great fervice, in being fo skilful a Second to his Superior.

Three fuch excellent Performers, in the fame kind of Entertainment at once, England till this Time had never feen: Without any farther Comparison then, with the much dearer bought

who