[2] _Highmore_ was originally a man of fortune; but _White's_ gaming-house, and the patent of _Drury-Lane_ theatre, completely exhausted his finances. Having proved himself an unsuccessful actor as well as manager, in 1743 he published _Dettingen_, a poem which would have disgraced a Bell-man. In 1744 he appeared again in the character of _Lothario_, for the benefit of Mrs. _Horten_. From this period his history is unknown. If _Hogarth's_ representation of him, in the print entitled _The Discovery_, was a just one, he had no external requisites for the stage. [3] In a two-shilling pamphlet, printed for _J. Mechell_ at _The King's Arms_ in _Fleet street_, 1740, entitled "An Apology for the life of Mr. _T---- C----_, comedian; being a proper sequel to the apology for the life of Mr. _Colley Cibber_, comedian; with a historical view of the stage to the present year; supposed to be written by himself in the stile and manner of the Poet Laureat," but in reality the work of _Harry Fielding_; the following passages, illustrative of our subject, occur. "In that year when the stage fell into great commotions, and the _Drury Lane_ company, asserting the glorious cause of liberty and property, made a stand against the oppressions in the patentees--in that memorable year when the Theatric Dominions fell in labour of a revolution under the conduct of _myself_, that revolt gave occasion to several pieces of wit and satirical flirts at the conductor of the enterprize. I was attacked, as my father had been before me, in the public papers and journals; and the burlesque character of _Pistol_ was attributed to me as a real one. Out came a _Print_ of _Jack Laguerre's_, representing, in most vile designing, this expedition of ours, under the name of _The Stage Mutiny_, in which, gentle reader, _your humble servant_, in the _Pistol_ character, was the principal figure. This I laughed at, knowing it only a proper embellishment for one of those necessary structures to which persons out of necessity repair." p. 16, &c.--Again, p. 88.--"At the Fair of _Bartholomew_, we gained some recruits; but, besides those advantages over the enemy, I myself went there in person, and publickly _exposed_ myself. This was done to fling defiance in the Patentee's teeth; for, on the booth where I exhibited, I hung out _The Stage Mutiny_, with _Pistol_ at the head of his troop, our standard bearing this motto,--_We eat._"--Whether this account which _Cibber_ is made to give of his own conduct is entirely jocular, or contains a mixture of truth in it, cannot now be ascertained. _Hogarth_ might have transplanted a circumstance from _Bartholomew_ to _Southwark_ Fair; or _Fielding_, by design, may have misrepresented the matter, alluding at the same time to _Hogarth's_ print. [4] Mr. _Victor_, speaking of this transaction, observes, that "the general observation was, what business had _a gentleman_ to make the purchase?"