Event Comment: mong the Addresses of the Lords and Commons to the Sovereign which appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine (Nov. 1751, pp. 513-14) one recommended that provision be made for suppressing audacious crimes of robbery and violence. A contributor called Mr Urban's attention to a "method of reformation earnestly recommended more than 40 years ago by an eminent Divine" (Dean Swift). In this treatise occured the following paragraph: "The Reformation of the Stage is entirely in the power of the Court; and in the consequence it hath upon the minds of younger people, doth very well deserve the strictest care. Surely a pension would not be ill employed on some men of wit, learning and virtue, who might have power to strike out every offensive and unbecoming passage from plays already written, as well as those that may be offered to the stage for the future, by which, and other wise regulations, the theatre might become a very innocent and useful diversion instead of being a scandal and reproach to our religion and country."] Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: t the Temple of Taste this evening the entertainment consisted of 1), an overture from Samson, 2), a Poetica address to the audience, 3), a concert on the harpsichord by a young Lady eight years old, 4), a Dissertation on Dress, 5), a Hautboy concerto, 6), an Essay toward a new-invented Astronomy, adapted to the Ladies, 7), a solo on the German Flute, and a general debate on the following propositions: Is Affectation more prevalent in Man than Woman?" 'Is not a good-natured illiterate man more beneficial to society than an illnatured philosopher" (General Advertiser).

Event Comment: [Continued approbation for the Temple of Taste]: The Second time it was receiv'd with uncommon approbation, particularly the Essay on a new-invented Astronomy, adapted to the Ladies, and the performances on the Harpsichord by a young lady but eight years old, who was allow'd by some Conoisseurs that were present, to play it extremely curious and masterly. Several Gentlemen spoke to the Questions, and met with unanimour applause; and the whole was conducted with the utmost Regularity and decency (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Widow of the Late Mr Lampe, and Miss Young. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Being Postiively the last time of acting it this season. Tickets deliver'd out for Macbeth will be taken

Event Comment: Written by Dr Young-the Profits of ye Author for a Charity-Went off wth Great Applause, only a little Laughin, at Simson (Dymas) for his Dress, or manner, I cant tell (Cross). Mainpiece: Never Acted Before. Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: For a Public Benefaction. [Perhaps for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts, to which Young gave #1,000 on 14 March, according to the Public Advertiser.] Tickets for the Benefaction to be had of Mr Dodsley, in Pall Mall; Mr Miller in the Strand and at the Stage Door. Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pritchard. Tickets of Mrs Pritchard in Great Queen St. Lincoln's Inn-Fields, and at Stage Door. Part of the Pit will be taken into the Boxes, and servants will be admitted to keep places on the stage. [A Complaint of the Tragic Poets, addressed to Dr Young appeared in the Public Advertiser, praising him on the Brothers: "And your last efforts prove your strength divine."] Receipts: #250 (Cross)

Event Comment: This day publish'd at 3s. Printed on Five sheets of superfine paper, Five Principal Scenes in Romeo and Juliet, designed, drawn, and engraved by Mr Ant. Walker. Printed and sold by John Tinney, at the Golden Lion in Fleet St. The drawing and Engraving of the three following Plays of Shakespeare are in great forwardness, and the scenes of each play will be sold at a time: 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Merry Wives. These plates will serve for Mr Pope's edition of Shakespeare in quarto, Sir Thomas Hanmer's edn. 6 Vol. quarto, or for any of the Folio editions. And may be framed and glazed for furniture. There will be a few sets neatly coloured for Gentlemen and Ladies who chuse them so (Public Advertiser). [A set of these prints is available in the Folger Shakespeare Library. The Five Principal Scenes were: The scene in Capulet's Housev where Romeo kisses Juliet 's hand; the Balcony Scenev ; the scene in which Friar Lawrence hurries the young couple off to be married; the Apothecary scenev ; and the death scenev . If, as may be, these scenes were taken from--as they were certainly stimulated by--the Barry-Nossiter production, they may present a good likness of Maria Isabella Nossiter, who so captivated London that season. If, also, they were taken from the theatre production, they give evidence that Barry used a balcony, not only a window.

Event Comment: [The Public Advertiser for 15 Feb. noted the following concerning this night's performance: Whereas several complaints, by letter and otherwise, have been lately made to the Managers of Drury Lane Theatre, of the ill Behavior of some persons in the Upper Gallery, who throw down Apples, Potatoes, and other things into the Pit.: This is therefore to assure the Ladies and Gentlemen that the Managers will take all imaginable care to discover and prosecute any person or persons, who shall, disturb, or insult them for the future. If any person will discover who it was that flung a hard piece of cheese, of near half a Pound Weight, from one of the Galleries last Tuesday Night [11 Feb.] and greatly hurt a young Lady in the Pit, shall receive Ten Guineas from Mr Pritchard, the Treasurer of the Theatre."] Receipts: #190 (Cross)

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. By Authority....By Bayes's New-raised Company of Comedians....All other parts [of mainpiece] to be attempted by the new Company; Most of whom never appeared on any stage before. Particularly, the part of Miranda , by a Young Gentlewoman. Being positively her first Essay in a Theatrical Capacity. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. To begin at 6:30 P.m. [No concert formula.

Event Comment: Acted there but once. By Authority. Tickets deliver'd out by Miss Barton which could not get in on Thursday last, will be admitted this Night. [An Epistle from Mr Theophilus Cibber, to David Garrick, Esq. London: 1755, dated Nov. 20, 1755: When Th. Cibber returned from Guilford last July, he found a discharge from Covent Garden (p.5) He got a license from the Duke of Grafton to open Little Haymarket (p. 6). He began and acted ten nights in three weeks, with some success, but when Drury Lane opened, Th. Cibber was ordered to stop (p. 7). He then petitioned the Duke of Grafton to have The Haymarket for two or three times weekly for the rest of the season. He hoped that the Little Haymarket might be a nursery for young performers, as well as for new pieces (p. 24). See dl 24 Nov.

Event Comment: OOroonoko by a young Gentleman (Mr Holland) being his first attempt he perform'd very well, & had great Applause in stabbing the Governor (Mr Burton) in the last Scene, he struck him on the Cheek, & upon hearing him cry, O God! was so shock'd that he did not die so well as was expected-Burton was taken off, & dress'd by Mr Bromfield, was accidentally behind the Scenes (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: This night the Riot was very Great, the Gentlemen came with Sticks, & tho' the play went on quiet 'till the last Act, we had there a great Stop, notwithstanding we ended it, & then the rout went on, ye Boxes drove many out of the Pit, & broken heads were plenty on both Sides; the dance began,--was Stop'd--& so again & again--while this was doing numbers were assembl'd in the Passages of the pit, broke down & were getting into the Cellar, but were repuls'd by our Scene men &c.--heavy blows on both sides--Justice Fielding--& Welch came with Constables & a Guard; but without effect, tho' the Justices stood upon ye Stage--I thought ye proclamation must have been read--after ye battle in the Passages numbers went & broke Garrick's Windows in Southhampton Street, --part of ye Guard went to protect it-Garrick was oblig'd to give up the Dancers-& ye Audience disperc'd (Cross). This day publish'd at 1s. The Country Coquet; or, Miss in her Breeches, a Ballad Opera, as it may be acted at Drury Lane. @Men, some to business, some to pleasure take@But every woman is at heart a Rake.@ Pope By a Young Lady. Printed for and sold for J. Major, in Three-Tun Court, leading from the Ship in Ivy Lane into Newgate Market. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. This Morning at Ten will be publish'd at 6d. An Epistle from Mr The. Cibber to David Garrick, Esq; to which are prefix'd some occasional verses, Petitions, &c.: @Lowliness is young Ambition's ladder,@Whereto the Climber upwards turns his face;@But when he once attains the upmost Round,@He then unto the ladder turns his back,@Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees@By which he did ascend.@Shakespeare@"Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so we would have it; let them not say, we have swallow'd him up," Ps. XXXV. v.25. Printed for R. Griffiths. [A thirty-five-page apologia, and bitter attack upon Garrick for supposed complicity in prohibiting the license of the Haymarket to him.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Tomorrow Zara, Zara by a young Gentlewoman, who never yet appeared on any stage

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pond. Tickets to be had of Mr Pond, in Bridges St., Covent Garden, and of Mr Crudge at the stage door. [Possibly she was the Young Gentlewoman who played Zara 15 Dec.

Event Comment: MMiss Young so hoarse she cou'd not sing one Song--Yet all went Calm (Cross). Books of the Masque will be sold at the Theatre. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit Taswell, Rainton & Miss Young (Tickets) (Cross). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Holtom, Miss Young, Miss Ferguson, Mrs Stephens, Miss Helm, and Mr Jona. Tickets deliver'd by Redman, R. Smith, and Jarvis will be taken

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Miss Pritchard did Juliet for the First time of her Acting & Met with uncommon Applause, tho' so frightened the first Act, we Scarce cou'd hear her (Cross). Miss Pritchard's was a most remarkable first appearance--the Particularity of the public for her mother--Garrick's patronage and tuition, her own beautiful face, which was fascinating to a degree, had all great attraction. Mrs Pritchard, as Lady Capulet, leading in her daughter as Juliet, the distress of the young lady, the good wishes and tenderness of the town, all combined made an affecting scene--but that partiality dwindled away in the early part of the season (Genest, IV, 474, from Tate Wilkinson). Receipts: #226 (Cross)

Event Comment: Tormorrow Othello, Desdemona by a Young Gentlewoman, being her 3rd time of performing on any stage. N.B. The Comedy of Love for Love, which was to have been acted tomorrow for the Benefit of the Widow Ladbrooke, is, by her Deisre, deferr'd till further Notice

Event Comment: [K+King Richard III.] Containing the Distresses and Death of King Henry VIv, the artful acqusition of the crown by Richardv; the cruel murder of the young King Edward Vv and his brother in the Tower; the Landing of the Earl of Richmondv, and the Death of Richard in the Memorable Battle of Bosworth Fieldv; being the last that was fought between the Houses of Yorkv and Lancasterv; with many other historical passages

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Containing the Distresses and Death of King Henry VIv ; the Artful Acquisition of the Crown by Richardv ; the Cruel Murder of the young King Edward Vv and his brother in the Tower; the Landing of the Earl of Richmondv ; and the Death of Richard in the memorable Battle of Bosworth Fieldv ; being the last that was fought between the Houses of York and Lancasterv ; with many other historical passages [a regular notice appearing with performances of this play]. Receipts: #118 18s. 6d. [Paid to] Lee one third of the surplus of this night's receipts over the charge of #100, #3 19s. 6d. (Account Book)