Event Comment: Benefit Widow Harper. See Daily Advertiser, 30 April: The case of the Widow of the late John Harper, Comedian: Mr Harper, having been seiz'd about four years since with a Paralitic Disorder, which not only rendered him incapable of acting, but depriv'd him of the use of his limbs, and in some degree affected his senses so as to make him an object of great compassion; during which long and dreadful Indisposition of near four years all possible means were tried (tho' in vain) to recover him, which impair'd and hurt his Circumstances, so greatly, as not to permit him to leave a sufficent Support for his widow, who is in years and unprovided for. Mr Harper dying in January last, according to a custom in the theatre his widow is entitled to a Benefit, and the Comedy of The Miser is to be acted to-morrow night for her Benefit, at Drury Lane; but as she is incapable of making a proper interest for it, without applying to the Compassion and Generosity of the Publick, she hopes to be excused in giving them the Trouble of this her case. Tickets deliver'd out by Roger will be taken.See Garrick's Additional Benefit for her on 11 May.] Receipts: #50

Event Comment: With a Prologue on Shakespeare and his writings spoken by Garrick, and An Epilogue on Shakespeare's Women Characters spoken by Mrs Woffington-for the benefit of the author of the Prologue and Epilogue

Event Comment: Benefit Pierson, Treasurer. Garrick refused to act. So he got Bridges from Dublin to play for him. (Winston MS. from Dyer MS.). Tickets and places to be had at Pierson's House, the Green Door, the Upper End of Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields, and of Hobson at the Stage Door

Event Comment: Notices of performances on this date had appeared since 8 Sept., as at common prices and written by the late Sir Richard Steele, yet under the unsettled circumstances Fleetwood may not have assembled the players necessary for the production. Macklin, Garrick, Mills, Pritchard, Havard, Berry, Leigh, Blakes, Woodburn, Mrs Clive, Mrs Pritchard, and Mrs Mills had withdrawn and were attempting to form a company for acting at the New Haymarket. See Drury Lane Management in the Introduction

Event Comment: During this month was publish'd The Dramatic Congress, a short state of the stage under present management, by W. R. Chetwynd. The older actors and dramatists sit in Elysium and discuss the fate of the theatre under Fleetwood and Rich. Much on cartels and the decay of the stage, and the chicanery indulged in to starve the Macklin-Garrick revolters. Probably about this time was also publish'd Tyranny Triumphant...Or Historical and critical remarks on the famous Cartel lately agreed on by the masters of the two theatres, by Patrick Fitz-Crambo. Discusses the rumor that Rich shut up Lincoln's Inn Fields for six months and for #600 gave the key to the Manager of Drury Lane, leaving the actors to starve, and the town to be satisfied with whatever nonsense Drury Lane chose to put on

Event Comment: On Tuesday next will be presented The Relapse, or Virtue in Danger, the part of Lord Foppington to be perform'd by Mrs. Cibber. [This day appeared in the papers an account of the salaries of present-day actors compared with those in the time of Wilkes and Betterton, suggesting great overpayment of Garrick, Macklin, &c. This, according to Mrs Clive (Case, p. 8) was a false account.

Event Comment: Sir, As there have been many reports to my prejudice, I desire you will publish the true and only Reason why I have not yet appear'd upon the stage this winter. Many of the Persons concerned in the late struggle with the Manager, might have been left destitute had I deserted them, therefore I thought it incumbent on me to endeavor at this reconciliation with my own, upon reasonable terms; this I have accomplish'd, and hope I am excusable for not playing 'til it is determin'd. Tho I am sensible my affairs are too inconsiderable to be laid before the Publick, yet as I am their servants, and have been so much favour'd with their Indulgence, I thought it my Duty to convince 'em that it is neither Obstinacy, or Exorbitancy, but a quite different motive, that detains me so long from doing my utmost to contribtte to their Entertainment. I am, Sir your Humble Servant, D. Garrick.--London Daily Post and General Advertiser

Event Comment: The farce never acted before [by James Ralph]. Two acts taken from The Spanish Curate, by Beaumont and Fletcher. Macklin's Reply to Garrick's Answer published

Event Comment: The New Tragedy entitled Love's the Cause and Cure of Grief intended to have been acted this night is deferr'd till Monday Next. Daily Advertiser: The Fable of the Iron and the Earthen Pot. To Mr Macklin. Vers'd thou art in every Wile Thy conduct who can Reconcile? Who'll think thee knowing in Intrigue With Garrick e'er to join in League? Was not the Maxim to thee known That Leaguers. 'Twixt Equals suit alone? We grant thee Merit; yet how far Does Sol outshine the brightest Star? Thy strength hads't thou by duly weigh'd No Feuds had then to ills betray'd. Still if thou well or ill deserve Pity, methinks, to let thee starve Pity that thou shoulds't find too late Sage Aesop's Earthen Pot thy fate

Event Comment: WWilliam Hint in a Letter (Daily Gazetteer, 31 Oct.): Mr Sheridan? was cast most improperly, into the part of Horatio; which naturally call'd for Mr Delane? in that house....but why was Mr Garrick? left out of the play. Would he not have look'd, spoke and acted Lothario?

Event Comment: WWilliam Hint in letter (Daily Gazetteer, 31 Oct.): Here again we find Mr Delane ill cast for the sake of casting Mr Sheridan?; Still worse, Need I say how much better this play would have been acted had Mr Delane? play'd Pierre, and Mr Garrick? Jaffier

Event Comment: TThe Rehearsal, desir'd for this day is oblig'd to be deferr'd till Saturday, on account of the hurt Mr Garrick receiv'd upon the stage on Tuesday last

Event Comment: MMr Garrick lies very ill of a Fever at his Lodgings in Covent Garden.--Daily Advertiser

Event Comment: Benefit Turbutt and Neale. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Afterpiece: not acted these 5 years. [See 29 March 1742.] Tickets and places to be had at the Swan in Smithfield; and of Hobson at the stage door. The severe Indisposition of Mr Garrick continuing, we hope our friends will accept of his part being perform'd to the Best Advantage the shortness of time will permit, which we imagine will be more agreable than changing the play

Event Comment: Benefit Bridges, Blakes and Cross, prompter. Afterpiece: By Desire. Mr Garrick's Indisposition continuing, we have, at the particular desire of several ladies, chang'd our play. Tickets deliver'd out for the Stratagem will be taken. [On this Day appeared the Daily Advertiser a full column presentment by the Court of Westminster to the Justices of the Peace against unlicensed players]: This court being inform'd that common Players of Interludes have for several years...assembled...in Mayfair to erect Booths and exhibit Drolls and Shews...whereby numbers of His Majesty's subjects have been encouraged to assemble and commit riots and other Misdemeanours in Breach of His Majesty's Peace, and to the disturbance of the Neighborhood, and that some of the players are and now contracting for ground in order to erect Sheds, Booths and other places...for shewing and acting plays...&c, &c, &c...for the more effectual suppressing of the evils aforesaid, it is hereby recommended unto his Majesty's Justices of the Peace to meet together at such time as they shall appoint in order to proceed according to the law against all such offenders as shall be brought before them by the peace officers, who are required to be aiding the Justice of the Peace. [The gist of the Presentment lies in the statement]: that they [the Justices] shall apprehend all and every other person and Persons who in any other place or places within the said City and Liberty shall act or represent for gain, any Tragedy, Comedy, Opera, Play, Interlude, Farce, or any other Entertainment for the stage