pereft Perfons to be applied to, made a Tender of the two Shares, on fuch Terms as, in the joint Opinion of all Parties, fhould be thought reasonable. But Mr. Me replied, that Mr. Garrick would not be concerned in a third Part; probably, from an Apprehenfion, that the other two Proprietors might concur in laying him under difagreeable Restraints. Mr. Lacy then offered the Shares to Mr. Ellis of the Tower, who had always been tampering with the Theatres. But he, though strongly inclined to the Thing, could not prevail on himself to part with the Means. He He would not give 1000l. he would not give Sool. for it, exclufive of the Debts. In fhort, it became manifeft, that, unless he was permitted to fet his own no Price upon it, he would not have it at all. Somewhat piqued at this Manner of Proceeding, fomewhat concerned for the Slight thus thrown on the Theatre, and as it may be prefumed, not anfwerable to the real Value of it, Mr. Lacy made an Offer to Mr. Riddle to pay off the Mortgage, as well as the other Debts of the Theatre, which together amounted to 12,000l. exclufive of Mr. Fleetwood's Annuity, if he would join his Intereft with him in procuring E 4 a new a new Patent, to commence at the Expiration of the old. It is proper here to remark, that the Cloaths, Scenes, &c. &c. &c. of a Theatre, which coft fuch an immenfe Sum, are of little Value, without a Power properly to make use of them, they being calculated for theatrical Purposes only. To this Propofal Mr. Riddle agreed; and Mr. Lacy, in Confequence, became a Suitor to his Grace the late Duke of Grafton, as Lord Chamberlain, for the Favour specified. His Grace's Reply was to this Ef fect: That he faw no Injury resulting from who was not the lefs favourable to him, because Mr. Roberts, his Secretary, loft no Opportunity of inforcing his Suit.. He was obliged to them all, and, to do him Juftice, he never lofes any Opportunity of manifefting his Gratitude. There was yet another Circumstance, which, it is not altogether improbable, was of fome little Weight in Mr. Lacy's Scale. It hath been often remarked, that the Duke of Gn paid a particular Regard to thofe Families which had fuffered in the Caufe of King Charles I. and it was not unknown to his Grace, that the Lacys of Ireland, from fuch a Renewal to any Body; on the contrary, it would be of Service to many. Therefore, if he, Lacy, would make good his Propofal to Riddle, the King's Receiver, he would lay the Af-fair before his Majefty. It is, however, true, that Mr. Lacy had many great and powerful Patrons befides, who did him the Honour of their good. Offices. The late Lady Bn, who was a Friend to no Body by Halves, engaged the then Marquis of Hn to fupport him with all his Intereft; and to his Goodnefs he owed the Countenance of the late Duke of D --e his Father, and the Concurrence of the Treafury, then under the Direction of Mr. Pm, who |