passed any thing that had
been remembered of that kind, yet the tribute of praise it received
from this famous university, surpassed even that. Booth, whose
reputation was now at its heighth, took the advantage of it, and
making his application to lord Bolingbroke, then at the head of the
ministry, he procured a new licence, recalling all former ones, and
Mr. Booth's name was added to those of Cibber, Dogget, and Wilks.
Tho' none of the managers had occasion to be pleased with this act of
justice done to Booth's merit, at the expence of, what they deemed,
their property, yet none of them carried their resentment so high as
Mr. Dogget, who absolutely refused to accept of any consideration for
his share in the scenes and clothes; this obstinacy had however no
other effect, than depriving him of his share, which brought him in
1000 l. a year; though Mr. Cibber informs us, that this was only a
pretence, and that the true reason of quitting the stage, was,
his dislike to another of the managers, whose humour was become
insupportable. This person we conjecture to have been Mr. Wilks, who,
according to Cibber's account, was capricious in his temper, though
he had otherwise great merit as a player, and was a good man, morally
considered; some instances of the generosity and noble spirit of
Wilks, are taken notice of in the life of Farquhar.

A few years after Mr. Booth rose to the dignity of manager, he married
the celebrated Miss Santlowe, who, from her first appearance as an
actress in the character of the Fair Quaker of Deal, to the time she
quitted the stage, had always received the strongest marks of public
applause, which were repeated when after a retreat of some years, she
appeared there again. By her prudence in managing the advantages
that arose to her from her reputation as an actress, and her great
diligence in her profession, she acquired a considerable fortune,
which was very useful to Mr. Booth, who, from the natural turn of
his temper, though he had a strict regard to justice, was not much
inclined to saving.

During the few years they lived together, there was the greatest
harmony between them, and after the death of Booth, his disconsolate
widow, who is yet alive, quitted the stage, and devoted herself
entirely to a private course of life. By degrees the health of Mr.
Booth began to decline, so that it was impossible for him to continue
to act with so much diligence as usual, but at whatever time he was
abl