It is, indeed; but a precarious dependence.

Thank God, we, my lords, have a dependence of another kind.

We have a much less precarious support, and, therefore, cannot feel the inconveniences of the bill now before us; but it is our duty to encourage and protect wit, whosoever's property it may be....
I must own I cannot easily agree to the laying of a tax upon wit; but by this bill it is to be heavily taxed--it is to be excised; for if this bill passes, it cannot be retailed in a proper way without a permit; and the Lord Chamberlain is to have the honour of being chief gauger, supervisor, commissioner, judge and jury." At this time, however, it is to be noted that parliamentary reporting was forbidden by both Houses.

The general public, therefore, knew little of Lord Chesterfield's eloquent defence of the liberty of the stage.
The Act was passed in June, when the patent theatres, according to custom, were closed for the summer.

Some two months after their reopening in the autumn all dramatic representations were suspended for six weeks, in consequence of the death of Queen Caroline.