Event Comment: Receipts: Money #78 10s.; tickets #24 2s., the latter for Mrs Gould and Mrs Shelton, each of whom received half the value of the tickets (Account Book); #100 (Rylands MS.)

Event Comment: Benefit a Gentlewoman under Misfortunes. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Farquhar. Receipts: money #74 5s.; tickets #46 14s. (Account Book); #120 (Rylands MS.). [According to the Account Book, the individual for whom it was a benefit received half the value of the ticekts.]

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Macklin and Mrs Bennet. Tickets deliver'd out by Leigh, Carter and Miss Story will be taken. Tickets and places to be had of Bradshaw &c., and of Mrs Macklin at No. 12 in Wild Court, Wild St. Afterpiece: The Most Grave, Whimisical, Serious, Operatical Tragedy of Half and Act. Receipts: #150

Event Comment: On Friday Night last as Mr Lowe, belonging to Drury Lane Playhouse was going down Snow Hill, he was stopt by two fellows, one of whom, without speaking a word, gave him a most violent blow on the Temple, with a great stick, which stunned him so that he fell back against a shop Window, and remained insensible for some time; as soon as he recover'd he felt in his pockets and found they had robb'd him only of 11 shillings in silver, being (as he supposes) disturb'd by some people passing by, for they had not taken his watch, nor a Guinea and a half which he had also in his pockets

Event Comment: At Cibber's Academy in the Hay-Market...will be presented a Concert of Musick, Vocal and Instrumental. The Vocal Parts-Mr Brett, Mrs Hill, and others; the Instrumental by eminent Masters. The Doors to be open'd at Four, the Concert to begin at Five, and no Persons to be admitted after Seven o'clock. The Prices are Four Shillings, Half a Crown and Eighteen Pence. Places may be bespoke at the Academy. After the Concert will be exhibited Gratis, a Rehearsal, in Form, of the Play-(often acted with great Applause) call'd Romeo and Juliet. Written by Shakespear. The Characters personated by the Master of the Academy, his Assistants, Pupils, and Servants. With Proper Habits, Scenes and Decorations. [After Cibber announced his Academy, he received the following letter from the Justice of the Peace: I see by your advertisements, in regard to your Academical Performances, that they are of the same Nature as Mr L/c@y's were some Years ago, which brought him to a great deal of Trouble. Some strong Applications are making now to give you some; of which I think proper to give you Notice, in this private Manner, that you may avoid it.-Tho. de Veil. 31 Oct. Cibber, A Serio-Comic Apology. p. 12.

Event Comment: Profits subscribed to the Veteran Scheme at Guildhall. Mrs Cibber to Garrick, 11 Dec.: Though Mr Rich had no performance at his house...Drury Lane Playhouse was not above half full till the latter account. Then it was a good house but not near so great as we had all last winter to the Orphan. He had built up the stage, but as nobody came there he shut in a flat scene to hide it, and the next day he played the Tender Husband to fifteen pounds.-Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 46

Event Comment: Benefit Marten and White. Receipts: #15 8s., plus #157 16s. from tickets, but the distribution unspecified. Charges #60. James White, however, paid over his half of the deficiency (#22 6s.) immediately (Account Books, Egerton 2268). Tickets sold at the door will not be admitted. (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Last time of performing the play this season (General Advertiser). Paid Duke of Bedford half year's Ground Rent in full to Lady? Day? #100. Receipts: #165 14s

Event Comment: PPrince &c. (Cross). Lost on Wednesday Night the 21st Instant at Drury Lane Playhouse. A Steel and Gold Sword, with a Silver Gripe, the maker's name Fleaureau. Whoever has taken it up, and will bring it to Mr Fleaureau, Swordcutler in the Haymarket, shall have a Guinea and a half reward, and no Questions asked. N. B.: No greater reward will be offered (General Advertiser). Receipts: #190 (Cross); #176 5s. (Powel)

Event Comment: [The following letter appeared in the General Advertiser]: To Mr Ryan, Sir: As the Author whom you have judiciously, I think, call'd in to your Assistance on your Benefit Night is little known; his Name not having appeared upon the Stage in our Days; and from whence some may be apt to think it scarce worth while to produce him now;--it was thought advisable by many of your Friends, of which Number I profess myself, to draw up the following Account of him and his Dramatic Works, that such as are Strangers to him may have some further Inducement to favour you with their Company. Mr Thomas Randolph lived in the Reign of King Charles I, was Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; but died young. He was a Man of pregnant Wit, gay Humour and of excellent Learning; which gain'd him the Esteem of the Polite Part of the Town, and particularly recommended him to the Favour of Ben Johnson, who adopted him one of his Sons, and held him in equal Esteem with the ingenious Mr Cartwright, another of the Laureat's adopted Sons:--The Plays he wrote were: [he lists 5 plays, commenting from Cokayne and Rich of Christ's Church College, Oxon, and West on the ethical quality of the last one, The Muses' Looking Glass]. In short, Sir, I doubt not but his old nervous Wit will still please, and join'd with the New Masque you have added, excite Curiousity enough to answer your Design; since by your Steadiness it was absoluteley necessary you should hava Novelty, as well as Interest, to procure half so good a House, as we all wish you, and especially, Your Humble Servant, I. M. [See 14 March afterpiece.

Event Comment: [Benefit for Berry and Mrs Green. Stage form'd into Front and Side Boxes. Tickets of Hobson at stage door; or Berry at his lodgings in Little Bridges St., Covent Garden; and Mrs Green at her Lodgings at the Green Canister in Great Shier Lane, Carey St., Lincolns Inn. [This day one B. B. (presumably Macklin) inserted a letter to the author of the General Advertiser in that paper framing the historical background for the Lover's Melancholy, to be performed as benefit for his wife on 22 April. It gave a short account of the author (John Ford), his works in general, and of that dramatic piece in particular, and sought to align Ford as an intimate and profess'd admirer of Shakespeare. See comment for 23 April]. Receipts: #207 (Cross); house charges, #63 N.B.: Mr Berry paid, but at the rate o 60 pounds for his benefit, therefore I must make a draw back of #1 10s. for his half (Powel); cash, #88 9s. tickets, #118 12s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: The Thirty-second Day. To begin at 6:30 p.m. [Published this month, A Catalogue of Curiosities, Chiefly Theatrical which are to be sold by Auction. Dedicated to Foote by Peter Skewball. A twenty-two-page pamphlet containing suggestive comments about certain actresses. "Lot 13 Two young Actresses of different complections, who having been two years under the care of a certain physician are warranted sound, very little the worse for use...Lot 33 a Coquet Crying by Mrs C-; Lot 34 A Venus half naked at See Saw by Mrs W-; Lot 35 A Very Stanch actress, somewhat overfed, and of great Virtue (Mrs Pritchard?)." N.B.: This is the greatest curiosity in the Catalogue.

Event Comment: A Comic Opera. Tickets at half a Guinea. [Latilla's comic opera; but music for this production by Pietro Auletta. See Loewenberg, Annals of Opera, Cols. 187-88.] Books will be delivered this morning at Mrs Sylvester's (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Will Hill. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire of his friends. N.B. The Gentlemen are desired to meet Mr Hill after the Play at the Rose Tavern, Temple Bar. [He had advertised since 15 April that "Gentlemen and Ladies who intend to honour him with their presence," should take tickets at: the Thatched House, St. James's St; Jack Bridell's, the One Tun in the Strand; Half moon in Holborn; Rose, Temple Bar; King's Head, in the Poultry; Castle, Lombard St; Bell, East cheap; King's Head, Tower Hill, Rummer, Bishopsgate St; West India and Jerusalem Coffee Houses near the Royal Exchange; Chapman's, Swordcutler, in Exchange Alley; and at Will Hill's Lodgings, Mr Geves's in Abchurch Lane.

Event Comment: Benefit for Cross and Burton. Last time of acting Mainpiece this season. Afterpiece: A farce of my own, call'd the Henpeck'd Captain; or, the Humours of the Militia--damn'd before half over (Cross). [Afterpiece never printed. The Larpent MS lists the following characters: Capt. Teazable, Clermont, Mons Durtete, Brigadier? Sersnet, Capt? Druget, Col? Damask, Capt? Citern, Capt? Oldport, Capt? Patty@pan, Lt? Suet Pestle, Muster Master, Serjeant, Monsieur, Mrs Teazable, Angellica, Gusset. The men are all reserve officers in the Militia who parade occasionally in fine uniforms. See note, 1 May about publication.] Receipts: #139 (Cross); charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for LaLauze, who deliver'd #87 10s. in tickets. Total House value #151 2s. Charges #60. [By arrangement with Rich he received only half of the night's profits (i.e., above the house charges) or #41 19s. [Account Book).] Receipts: #63 12s

Event Comment: [The theatres this night met competition from (I) an Assembly at the king's Theatre in the Haymarket, tickets 26s. each, to admit one Gentleman and two ladies. (2) another Assembly at the Five Bells Tavern, behind the New Church, in the Strand, where was opened the Temple of Taste, where will be exhibited a grand concert of Music. Also an attempt towards the Introduction of a new rational entertainment, consisting of an Occasional Prologue by a Gentleman; a panegyric on the Utility of Public Speaking, in which the Design is particularly illustrated; Propositions made from a Gentleman in the Chair, to be debated by the company, such as the Gay and Polite may be supposed to understand, and speak upon with success; to conclude with an Original Epilogue; the whole interspers'd with several grand concertos, Overtures, and Full pieces of Musick. This design, which has for its object the interest of Knowledge, Eloquence and Politeness, needs no Apology, and can be opposed by those, with whom to be at variance, is Virtue. No subject of so Sacred Nature as Religion, will be there canvass'd nor anything that can give Occasion to Indecency, or unmannerly reflection on any Undertaking or Party.-In this attempt all Men of Taste are interested, as they will have an opportunity not only of being pleased, but giving pleasure by considering every subject with candour, and reasoning upon it, with Eloquence and propriety. To this entertainment, the Ladies are likewise invited, who have an unexceptionable right to be present at all Attempts, calculated for the promotion of knowledge, and as their appearance will naturally secure polite behavior, so they may reap some advantage from the Circulation of ideas, which is such an Assembly must necessarily take place. The price of entrance-half a crown each. To begin precisely at seven. The room which is very commodious, will be elegantly illuminated. The SUBJECT for the first Night's Debate will be, "If the Custom of Portioning Daughters was entirely suppress'd, would it not be a good Expedient towards the promotion of Matrimony and the felicity of that state." It continued on four Wednesday nights. Then seems to have died.

Event Comment: To begin at 7 p.m. at the Castle Tavern, Paternoster Row. The Price of Admission will be a half crown each. The house will be illuminated with wax candles. The Ladies are particulary desired to come early. [Notice repeated. The sixteenth night.

Event Comment: At the Foundling Hospital. To begin at 12 noon. Price half a guinea each. [Above 800 coaches and chairs and tickets amounted to 925 guineas (London Magazine, May 1753). Tickets brought #706 3s. 10d., Deutsch, Handel, from Minutes of Fondling Hospital.

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Marina Giordani. Full Prices (Cross). A new Italian Comic Opera. The Music composed by Balthazar Galuppi. Ladies desired to send servants by Half an Hour after Three. This day publish'd at 1s. La Cameriera Accorta, Opera Comico, per Musica, as it is acted at Covent Garden. With an English Translation. Sold by H. Woodfall

Event Comment: Text--Goldoni; first performance in England. Music by Sg Vinceni Ciampi. Play a New Italian Burletta. Printed books of the opera will be sold at the theatre. Ladies send servants at half three. [The Epilogue (Larpent MS 117) suggests lovemaking in crowded theatres (see 8 Jan. 1755)]: @Close pack'd they sit and woo with secret squeeze,@Attracting elbows, sympathetic knees...

Event Comment: Wrote by Mr Pope. Mr Barbauld's First Subscription Oratioro,...and set to Musick by Mr Charles Barbault, in Two Parts. One ticket for all three oratorios--one Guinea; for one performance half a guinea; gallery 3s. 7 p.m

Event Comment: At the Haberdashers Hall, Maiden Lane. For the Benefit of the City of London Lying-in Hospital, in Aldersgate St. Tickets Half a Guinea. To begin at 6 p.m. [Postponed from 2 Dec. because of indisposition of Signora Frasi.

Event Comment: At the Great Room, Dean St., Soho. At 6:30 p.m. Prices half a Guinea and 5s. Benefit Mrs Pontifex, Downey, West Wycombe, Bucks, whose Husband was murdered, and all Stock in their Farm destroyed by Fire

Event Comment: At the Great Room, Dean St., Soho. By Mr Handel. Benefit for Signora Frasi. Tickets Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. To begin at 6:30 p.m