The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume V.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume V.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
'For the better explanation of this scheme it will be necessary to
observe, that while the shares were selling, he grew apprehensive that
the season would be past, before the fifty pounds per share they were to
furnish by the articles could be contributed: He therefore gave up
voluntarily, and for the general good, 20,000 l. of his own 25,000
guineas purchase money, as a loan to the company till the expiration of
the patent, after which it was again to be made good to him, or his
assigns; and this money so lent by the patentee, is all the stock that
ever has been hitherto employed by the company.
'But instead of making good the above-mentioned conditional covenant,
the board proceeded to unnecessary warmth, and found themselves involved
still more and more in animosities, and those irregularities which
naturally follow groundless controversy. He would therefore take upon
himself the hazard and the power of the whole affair, accountable
however to the board, as to the money part; and yet would bind himself
to pay for three years to come, a profit of forty shillings per annum
upon every share, and then deliver back the business to the general
care, above the reach of future disappointments.
'What reasons the gentlemen might have to refuse so inviting an offer is
best known to themselves; but they absolutely rejected that part of it,
which was to fix the sole power of management in the patentee. Upon
which, and many other provocations afterward, becoming more and more
dissatisfied, he thought fit to demand repayment of five hundred pounds,
which he had lent the company; as he had several other sums before; and
not receiving it, but, on the contrary, being denied so much as an
acknowledgment that it was due, withdrew himself intirely from the
board, and left them to their measures.
'Thus at the same time have I offered my defence, and my opinion: By the
first I am sure I shall be acquitted from all imputations; and confirmed
in the good thoughts of the concerned on either side, who will know for
the future what attention they should give to idle reflections, and the
falsehood of rumour; and from the last, I have hopes that a plan may be
drawn, which will settle at once all disputed pretensions, and restore
that fair prospect, which the open advantage of last year's success
(indifferent as it was) has demonstrated to be a view that was no way
chimerical.--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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