Event Comment: Benefit John Rich, Christopher M. Rich, and Hamilton. By Subscription. Pit and Boxes together at 7s. Gallery Box 4s. First Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d. Receipts: money #56 1s.; tickets #102

Event Comment: For the Entertainment of the Free Masons Ladies. Receipts: #123 19s. 6d Rich's Register: Benefit John Rich

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: TThe Suspicious Husband deferr'd by Garrick's Indisposition [repeated in the bills]. From The Museum, or Literary and Historical Register, No 25, 28 Feb. 1747, p. 382: On the Present State of the Theatre: I remember when you and I were last in Town together, some years ago, we were eternally repining at the wretched condition of the stage. Quin was then at the head of the Fraternity; but a very different man from what he is at present, and merely a bad copy of Booth; with all his mouthing and pageantry, but without his musical elocution, or his dignity. Whether Time or Emulation has had the greatest hand in Improving him, I know not; but certain it is, that he is improved, beyond what you will really imagine. He has got much more variety, and much more Spirit. He was always a tolerably just speaker; but then he has hardly anything more; he recited rather than acted....However, Rich has...got Quin, Garrick, Mrs Cibber and Mrs Pritchard to the new house. The consequence has been, that the stage was never, in my memory, so fashionable; not even in the Time of Mrs Oldfield's highest fame. A good taste both of acting and of plays themselves, is much more general than I ever expected to have seen it; and those who are skilled in such matters, tell me, that Rich will be a greater gainer this season than has been known for these many years. Receipts: #108 1s. 6d

Event Comment: MMr Barry flew from his articles & engag'd with Rich; Mrs Cibber (who did not play last season) is also engag'd there--Y: King went to Ireland--Macklin and Wife came from thence to Mr Rich (Cross). Passage open'd from Russel St. into the boxes where Ladies and Gentlemen may be set down from their coaches, and there is likewise a better accommodation made for Chairs to come up to the House, and be kept in waiting, at the end of the Passage from Bridges St. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Hobson at the stage door of the Theatre. [The notice about the Passage was continued through 20 Sept. The notice about prices was customary throughout the season. Neither will be repeated further here.] Receipts: #110 (Cross)

Event Comment: 'TTis said Miss Bellamy, who engag'd lately with Mr Rich is off again. Mr Colthorp who kept her, swears to kick Rich &c. Great noise about it in ye Bedford Coffee House (Cross)

Event Comment: [B$Barry's one-third of surplus came to #40 16s. 4d. The fourteen Renters who received payments on 23 Feb. were New Renters (i.e., they had purchased shares only since the beginning of the current season). The Hutchison Mure Esq Account (See cg 1757 Estimate of Constant Expenses) lists forty shares outstanding for Old Renters at 2 shillings per night. Rich, during the next thirty days, sold new shares until by 27 March 1758 he had on his books forty-five New Renters in addition to the 40 old ones. Their names will appear as they bought in. On this night (25 Feb.) George Wolley purchased one share. This was an appropriate time to sell stock in the theatre since Rich could now show a favorable balance on his nightly Account Books of #620 3s. 9d. with all bills paid, including interest to Old Renters.] Receipts: #202 9s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: During this month was published The Case of Authors...Stated with Regard to Booksellers, the Stage, and the Public by James Ralph. Pages 23-31 condemn both Garrick and Rich for their treatment of authors: "Those who have custody of the stage claim also custody of the Muse...There is no drawback on the profit of the night in old plays....To fly from Garrick in case of any contempt or neglect to Mr Rich, is enough to deter any man in his senses from embarking a second time on such a hopeless voyage.

Event Comment: MMr Woodward has enter'd into partnership with Mr Barry in a new Theater in Ireland & has taken from us Mr Walker and Wife (Miss Minors that was) Mr Vernon, Mr Jefferson and Wife-from Mr Rich, Mr Arthur, Mr White, Mr Chambers, Mr Finny (his Scene-man) & others (Cross). Receipts: #120 (Cross); #128 15s. (Winston MS 8). Places for Boxes to be had of Mr Varney at the stage door. No admittance behind scenes, nor any money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [This notice regularly occurs at foot of bill and will not be noted further this season. The box receipts recorded from Winston MS 8 seem to have been taken by him from the Huntington Library playbills (second set) annotated by J. P. Kemble from a Treasurer's Book.] Letter to Mr G@k on Opening of the Theatre, With Observations on Managers, Actors, Authors, and their Audiences and Particularly New Performers. 6d. Published by Cooke opposite Drury Lane Theatre. [It is a plea for more frequent appearances of Garrick, especially in lighter parts, now that Woodward has left; for especially good plays on Saturday nights; for striking from the repertoire all immoral, immodest and cruel plays; for being a sport about competition with Rich; for better regulation of the boxes, on a first-come, first-pay basis; for training up the most promising young actors gradually and not casting them in parts beyond their reaches; for more new plays; and for an advisory council in selecting them; for omission of personal satirical attacks in comedy.

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door of the Theatre. [Only sagnificant changes from this regular notice will be recorded hereafter.] Paid Mrs Margaret Lamb 6 months interest on #315 due 8 Sept. #7 10s. (Account Book). Receipts: #155 15s. (Account Book). Estimate of a Constant@N.B. The Ground Rent and Taxes is calculated to be Paid in 150 Days.@Per Annum Per Day@To 50 Old Shares at 2s. --- #5@To 50 New Ditto at 2s. --- #5@T 50 New Ditto at 2s. --- #5@To Ground Rent for the Theatre #100@To Ditto for Buildings in Harte St. #30@To Ditto for Mr Thurmond's House in Bow Street Passage #25@ #155 #1 0s. 8d.@ #11 0s. 8d.@Taxes (Viz)@To Land and Window Taxes for Theatre #98 2s.@To Do for a House in Bow St. Passage #5 15s 6d.@To Poor's Rate for the Theatre #20@To Do for a House in Bow St. Passage #1 10s.@To Watch rate for the Theatre #8 6s. 8d@To Do for a House in Bow St. Passage 10s. 6d.@To Rector's rate for the Theatre #6 13s. 4d.@To Do for a House in Bow St. Passage 8s. 4d.@To Scavenger's Rate for the Theatre #6 17s. 4d.@To Do for a House in Bow St. Passage 6s. 4d.@To Water for the Theatre #4@ #152 10s.@ #1 4d.@To Renters, Ground Rent & Taxes #12 1s.@To Gawrds [sic] per Day 14s.@To Barbers Do 5s. 4d.@To Scenemen Do #2 10s.@To Music as Per List #4 9s 2d.@For 150 Days To Candles #3 3s.@Do To Coales 10s 10s.@Passages, Stage Etc. To Lamps #1 12s.@To Bills #1 7s.@To Advertisements 5s.@To Billsetters 4s. 6d.@#16 6s. Sallery [sic] #14 6s. Estimate To Wardrobe bill about #1 11s.@#2 Sallery #5 Estimate To Property Bill Do 7s.@To Chorus Singers Do 10s.@To Mr J. Rich #5 5s.@To Mr C. Rich #1@ #36 1s.@Nightly Charge@Musick List@Messrs Wood 5s.@Gillier 5s.@Miller 5s.@Chapman@ 3s. 4d.@Goodman 3s. 4d.@Woodson 5s.@Ward 6s. 8d.@Rolland 5s.@Rawlings 3s. 4d.@Vincent 6s. 8d.@Wrexell 5s.@Beale 5s.@Jones 4s. 2d.@Biche 3s. 4d.@Heron 4s. 2d.@Stockdon 3s. 4d.@Scovell 3s. 4d.@Lampe 3s. 4d.@Smart 3s. 4d.@Assistant Writer 10d.@Harpsicord 5s.@#4 9s. 2d.@Men Dressers Charg'd in the Wardrobe Bills@Messrs Mearns 2s. 6d.@Cason 2s.@Esbury 1s.@Fenwick 1s.@Winterton 1s.@Besford 1s.@Francis 1s.@Cawder 1s.@Hays 1s.@Hollingsworth 1s.@Cabell 1s.@Nicholls 1s.@Norris 1s.@Cole 1s.@16s. 6d.@Billstickers as per List@Messrs Abbott 2s.@Mislebrook 2s.@Dymuck 2s@Tidd 2s.@Gale 2s.@Cole 1s. 6d.@11s. 6d.

Event Comment: Benefit for a Clergyman's Widow under misfortunes. [Receipts: #88 2s. 6d. plus #87 19s. from tickets (Box 251; Pit 136; Gallery 48). Profits to Mrs Seede, the clergyman's widow, #90 15s. 6d.] Paid Mr J. Rich on account #531 (Account Book). [The profitable balance on the treasurer's books this night before deducting expenses and Rich's #500, withdrawal was #996 4s. 2d.] Charges: #85 5s. (Account Book)