Event Comment: Mainpiece: For the entertainment of two young Africans. On Friday 10 February will be perform'd a New Oratorio, call'd Susanna, with a Concerto. Pit and boxes to be put together, and no person to be admitted without tickets, which will be deliver'd that day, at the Office in Covent Garden Theatre, at half a guinea each. First Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. 6d. Galleries opened at half past four. Pit and Boxes at Five. To Begin at Half an Hour after Six. [This advertisement repeated in the General Advertiser daily to 10 Feb. 1749.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. [A full column, front-page letter to the Author of the General Advertiser from one purporting to live many miles from London, but whose curiosity about the New Tragedy Irene brought him to see it, details his experience in the theatre the night of Tues. 14 Feb. Seems to be an illconcealed "puff." The writer listens to three critics in the pit decry the performance, then after seeing it himself concludes: "It was receiv'd with universal approbation...Upon the whole I dare affirm that the Judgment of Posterity will concur with me in distinguishing Irene as the best tragedy which this age has produced, for Sublimity of thought, Harmony of numbers, strength of expression, a scrupulous observation of Dramatic Rules, the sudden Turn of events, the tender and generous distress, the unexpected catastrophe, and the extensive and important moral." He inquires why the play has not been so favorably received as others, and concludes it is too finely and artistically conceived to please the masses. He closes by complimenting the Ladies of Great Britain for he "scarce ever saw so shining an assembly in the Boxes. Their early approbation of a Tragedy in which not only the words but the ideas are entirely chaste; a tragedy filled with noble sentiment and poetic beauty is at once a proof of their delicacy and penetration."] Receipts. #100 (Cross); #101 (Powel)

Event Comment: This month, as recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books, was published A General History of the Stage, from its origin in Greece down to the present time. With the Memoirs of most of the principal performers that have appeared on the English and Irish Stage. With notes antient and modern, foreign, domestic, serious, comic, moral, merry, historical, and geographical. Containing many theatrical anecdotes; also several pieces of poetry never before published. Collected and digested by W. R. Chetwood, twenty years prompter to His Majesty's Company of Comedians at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Printed for W. Owen

Event Comment: N.B. Being last time of performing the Mainpiece this season. Last time of performing the Afterpiece before the Benefits (General Advertiser). Receipts: #120 (Cross); #131 7s. (Powel)

Event Comment: Letter to Mr W-d-d in the General Advertiser signed F. [Woodward and Foote]: Oh! ho! is it come?-What at your Irish tricks again?-No my Dear, they won't do; I am too well establish'd here; Do you think we have so soon forgot your H-n Puffs: you defeat me in Ireland! Very likely; as if we did not know you!-but what you (or the whole Town) could mean by propagating such a report, the Devil take me if I know; unless you have taken an antipathy to the Irish, and found out this method to damn their judgment at once. Which by the Bye, Hal, would be a little ungrateful, considering how you profited by their ignorance. But let what will be the motive, if it produces a piece of Dullness equal to your last, I shan't quarrel at the means, or be uneasy now than then, Yours F. (From my Auction Room). [See 18 March.

Event Comment: Benefit for Delane. To Mr H-. Sir: A Number of your Friends have wished to see performed the Oratorio of Joshua, which, if you would direct to be performed this season, would be much gratified, and in particular, Your Humble Servant, A Virtuoso (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Other Decorations entirely new. A new Comic Opera [by Ciampi]. The New Comic Opera, entitled Le Tre Cicisbei Ridicoli, was perform'd last Tuesday at the King's Theatre in the Hay Market; though large Bills were stuck up in various Parts of the Town and Hand Bills dispers'd insinuating the Contrary (General Advertiser, 18 March)

Event Comment: At the Desire of the Loyal Regiment of Hungarian Volunteers, For the Benefit of a Brother Volunteer, M'Kenna, and Daniel. A concert, etc. Prices: 3s., 2s., 1s. (General Advertiser, 25 March)

Event Comment: Benefit for Cibber. Mainpiece. Reviv'd, not acted these 4 years [see 1 March 1746]. Afterpiece: Taken from the French of Dancourt, a Ballad Opera, performed by particular desire. Tomorrow, The Jubilee, for Benefit of Mrs Horton. [Baker, Biographia Dramatica, lists the afterpiece as written by James Wilder, taken from Dancourt. Cibber had announced (General Advertiser, 27 Feb.) for his benefit The Man of Mode, with Pasquin, with Alterations. In which would be performed The Rehearsal of a Comedy call'd The Election; or, Bribes on Both Sides, by the Author of Tom Jones.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Falkner. We hear that the two young Africans will be at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden this night, to see the Spanish Fryar, for the Benefit of Miss Falkner. [Page missing from the General Advertiser with the Bill this day.

Event Comment: To be performed in the evening instead of at noon it being Thanksgiving Day (General Advertiser, news column). [See 3 April.

Event Comment: Benefit for Simpson, Raftor, Usher. Tickets and places of Hobson at the stage door. Receipts: #180 (Cross); charges, #63 (Powel). [This month, the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books listed as published Remarks on Three Plays of B. Johnson, viz: The Fox, Silent Woman, and Alchymist, by James Upton.] This week will be published The Hen Peck'd Captain,...as it was intended to be acted...on Saturday last. Taken from The Campaigners; or, the pleasant Adventures at Brussels with a Preface by R. Cross, prompter (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: [Note by Croza says in view of the actions against him he was not the "Undertaker of the Operas" but came under Articles with an English Gentleman, who employed Mr V-i as Director and Mr C-d as Treasurer, that V-i received 3 per cent of the gross every night (General Advertiser). The persons referred to are Vaneschi and Crawford.

Event Comment: At Phillips's Great Theatrical Booth opposite Cow Lane. With the surprising performances of an Englishman and a Citizen of London [Lort] who performs all the Equilibres on the Slack Rope that were performed by the muchfamed Turk. Prices: 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s., 6d. To begin at Twelve. [Time and prices the same at all booths.] Afterpiece: With the Escape of Harlequin into a Glass Bottle, also the last new additional Scene of Sig Jumpedo Jumping Down his own Throat. [An unhappy evening, for "last night the gallery of Phillips' booth fell down, with a great number of people in it, by which accident several persons were hurt, and some dangerously. This misfortune could be owing to nothing but the carelessness of the workmen, who upon such occasions deserve to be severely punished" (General Advertiser, 24 Aug.). The Daily Advertiser noted that Mr Stringellow, a goldsmith, in Aldersgate St., and Thomas Hodges, a journeyman-plaisterer in Golden Lane, were killed.

Event Comment: [M$Mrs Barrington, formerly Mrs Hale.] To the Author of the General Advertiser, &c. Sir: I am far from being of the opinion of too many of my countrymen, who exclaim against the performances of foreigners be they ever so extraordinary: on the contrary whenever I hear of a person who merits Encouragement from the Publick, I use all my interest in his favour; and will always continue so to do, though he should come from the extremity of the globe--Nor am I of the opinion of another class, who imagine no man can by a great performer unless he comes from a strange land. I am convinced we have an artist at present among us, as excellent in his way as ever was seen in Britain. He is an Englishman, and citizen of London; and without any instruction (as I am inform'd) performs all the surprizing Equilibres on the Slack Rope that were exhibited by the famous Turk. I have seem his performances once already and they gave me infinite pleasure. Tomorrow evening I intend to see them again, at the Theatre in the Haymarket, and heartily wish him the success he deserves, Yours, &c A. B. [See 23 Dec. 1749 note about Rich's engaging Caratha@the@Turk, and note, 28 Oct. 1749.] Receipts: #67 9s

Event Comment: We hear that Mrs Cibber is so extremely ill at the Bath, that her life is despaired of (General Advertiser). Receipts: #107 4s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. [Lee had returned to Covent Garden. See Winston MS 7.] Notwithstanding the reports of Mrs Cibber's Indisposition, we hear that she is not ill at Bath. We hear that the Comic part of the Little French Lawyer is alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher, and will be acted very soon at Drury Lane, the part of the little French Lawyer will be perform'd by Woodward (General Advertiser). [See 7 Oct.] Receipts: #170

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Farce of one Act, never performed before (General Advertiser). Taken from Beaumont and Fletcher. Well receiv'd till ye last Scene, then hiss'd greatly (Cross). Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: On Saturday last the Farce of The Little French Lawyer from Beaumont and Fletcher, was acted at Drury Lane to a crowded House; every scene except the last, was receiv'd with Universal Applause; but that meeting with Disapprobation, it is now alter'd, and will be perform'd again tomorrow night (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: The Play of Hamlet is oblig'd to be deferr'd. [An extra notice appeared in the General Advertiser: This evening the Play of the Provok'd Wife will be perform'd at Drury Lane, the parts of Sir John and Lady Brute to be performed by Garrick and Mrs Pritchard."] Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By particular desire. [Afterpiece call'd Merlin in the Treasurer's Account Book, but listed as Royal Chace; or, Harlequin Skeleton in the General Advertiser.] Receipts: #58 10s. 6d

Event Comment: This is to acquaint the Publick that the Famous Turk Carata, who has already had the honour to entertain the town with his surprising Exercises on the SLACK ROPE, is arrived with a numerous company of Turks, Men and Women, and that he is to perform Tuesday the 31st Instant, at the New Theatre in the Haymarket. There will be dancing and music after the Turkish manner (General Advertiser). [His charges were: Box, 5s.; Pit, 3s.; Gallery, 2s. See notes for 29 Sept., and 23 Dec.] Receipts: #90 8s. 6d

Event Comment: We hear there are Orders given to the City Officers, not to permit (on any Account) the Play Bills for the French Company to be fixed up in their Liberties (General Advertiser)