Event Comment: This Day is Publish'd The Roman and English Comedy consider'd and compared. With Remarks on the Suspicious Husband; and an examen into the Merits of the present Comic Actors by S. Foote, Esq. This day is publish'd in Two Volumes a Companion to the Theatre or a View of our most celebrated dramatic pieces. In which the Plan, Characters and Incidents, of each are particularly explained. Interspersed with remarks Historical, Critical, and Moral. Price Bound 6s. Printed for J. Nourse, at the Lamb, over against Katherine St. in the Strand

Event Comment: [Benefit on one-half value of tickets basis to nine ticket holders. The General Advertiser notice lists beneficiaries as Harrington (Prompter); Stede, Carr, Mrs Bland, Mrs Rowley.] Tickets deliver'd by Mrs Daniel, Mrs Dumont, &c will be taken. /For Box Pit Gallery Value Half-Value/Harrington 7 29 22 #8 6s. #4 3s./Stede 7 52 59 #15 9s. #7 14s. 6d./Carr 6 53 46 #14 1s. #7 0s. 6d./Mrs Rowley 27 77 44 #22 14s. #11 7s./Mrs Dumont 36 31 32 #16 17s. #8 8s. 6d./Mrs Bland 9 56 91 #19 15s. #9 17s. 6d./Mrs Dupre 5 33 42 #10 8s. #5 4s./Mrs Daniel .. 45 109 #17 13s. #8 16s. 6d./Mrs Hitchcock 34 58 31 #20 6s. ........./Totals 131 434 476 #145 9s. #62 11s. 6d./ [Mrs Hitchcock seems to have received the full value of her tickets.] This Day is Publish'd A Treatis on the Passions so far as they regard the stage, with a critical inquiry into the Theatrical Merit of Mr G k, Mr Q n, and Mr B y, the first considered in the part of Lear, the last two oppos'd in Othello. By S. Foote, Esq

Event Comment: This day is publish'd written by Henry Fielding, Esq. the 4th edn. of An Old Man taught Wisdom; or the Virgin Unmask'd, a Farce, as it is now acting at Drury Lane. With the Music prefix'd to each song. Printed for I. Watts. Receipts: #170 (Cross); #171 12s. (Powel)

Event Comment: [M+Midwife, No II (at about this date) includes a Letter from Mary Midnight to David Garrick, Esq praising him as actor and even as manager, but asking why he neglects Fletcher's plays: "What is the reason that the public patience is so largely try'd, and the human understanding so shamefully insulted as it is, by a perpetual repetition of the Duke and No Duke, the Anatomist, and twenty things of like nature?" Concludes by remarking that the London Cuckolds is a scandal to virtue.] Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs James and Miss Minors. No building on stage. Tickets of Mrs James at her lodgings at Mr Saunder's Carpenter, in Little Wild St., Lincoln's Inn Fields; Miss Minors' at Mr Nicholl, a Baker in Catherine St., and at stage door. An Information was given to Henry Fielding, Esq; that a Set of Barber's apprentices, journeymen staymakers, maid-servants, &c. had taken a large Room at the Black Horse in the Strand, to act the tragedy of The Orphan; the Price of Admittance One Shilling. About eight o'clock the said Justice issued his warrant, directed to Mr Welch, High Constable, who apprehended the said actors, and brought them before the said Justice, who, out of compassion to their youth, only bound them over to their good behavior. They were all conducted through the streets in their Tragedy Dresses, to the no small Diversion of the Populace. (General Advertiser). Receipts: #138 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Charke. By Authority. Mainpiece: Not acted these Seventeen Years. Wrote by the late Mr Lillo. Afterpiece: Wrote by the late Henry Fielding, Esq. Founded on a true Tragic Event which happened in Penryn, in Cornwall, in the reign of James I

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: Speedily will be publish'd at 1s. 6d. Dedicated to David Garrick Esq a New Edition of the Orphan of China...acted at Paris with great applause. [A weekly writer says of this performance: "I could wish that our modern Play-wrights would endeavor to imitate this author in the judicious choice and dispositions of their Fable; and further think this very piece not unworthy the notice of our managers. The Translator has indeed, with great propriety, laid his version at Mr Garrick's door, since there is nobody so well qualified to take the orphan under their protection."] Printed for R. Baldwin in Paternoster Row. Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: This day Published The Englishman Returned from Paris, as it is performed at Covent Garden. By Samuel Foote, Esq: Printed for Paul Vaillant, at 1s

Event Comment: The Tragedy of the Roman Father, written by William Whitehead, Esq: the present Poet Laureate, will be reviv'd at Drury Lane soon after the Holidays (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: To be Lett. Elegantly Furnish'd, the House of the Late Colley Cibber, Esq: in Berkley Square, the Corner of Bruton Street (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #106 3s. Gave Porters of the several Inns, #3 14s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Authority. Mainpiece: Written by the late C. Cibber, Esq; Poet Laureate. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Nothing under full price can be taken during the whole time of performance. No persons can be admitted behind the scenes. Doors to open at Five and Curtain rise half an hour after Six

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: FFoote read part of his The Minor on 9 Nov. 1759 in a course of Comic Lectures and left for Dublin on 10 Nov. (Theatrical Duplicity or, A Genuine Narrative of the Conduct of David Garrick, Esq. to Joseph Reed on his Tragedy of Dido. MS in Harvard Theatre Collection)

Event Comment: Receipts: #52 10s. 6d. Paid Jno Rich Esq as per receipt #52 10s

Event Comment: By Authority. 7 p.m. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. The little Theatre was at this time enlargening, it being very small before the alteration, and having but one gallery with the way into the pit at each angle of the front boxes (Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Samuel Foote, Esq. [London, 1777]. Printed for J. Brew)

Event Comment: This Week a Patent passed the Great Seal for the Establishment of a new Theatre, to Samuel Foote, Esq. only (Public Advertiser, London notes, p. 2, col. 3). Mr Barry and Mrs Dancer from Dublin are said to be engaged for this summer at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket (Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser, London notes, p. 2, col. 2, which corroborates the Foote patent)

Event Comment: [This evening] a cause came on to be tried in the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, in which Mr William Bates, Music Master, was Plaintiff and Spranger Barry, Esq the celebrated tragedian, defendent, upon a demand made by the plaintiff for a large sum of money due to him from the Defendent, for the performance of Miss Slack, the Plaintiff's apprentice, at the Theatre in Cork...After a short hearing a verdict was given in favour of the Plaintiff (Lloyd's Evening Post, 25-28 Nov.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Yates. Mainpiece [by R. Glover, Esq]. Pit and Boxes will be laid together. Ladies send Servants by 4 o'clock, and come as early as possible to prevent Confusion

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Masque (in three parts) [by George Colman] never perform'd, in which will be introduc'd the Principal Solemnities at the Installation of the Knights of the Garter. With New Music, composed by Dr Arne, Habits, Decorations and Scenes. Books of the Masque to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #220 10s. 6d. (Account Book). The greater part is borrowed with some variation from Ben Jonson [Masque of Oberon]. The same liberty has been taken with a few passages of Shakespeare, and a Chorus of the late Gilbert West, Esq. The final chorus is from Dryden...an effort to entertain the public by the combined powers of the most eminent proficients in the arts of Music, Painting and Poetry (Adv. to Printed Edn., Colman's Dramatic Works, IV, London, 1777)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Chapman for horsekeeping [for Jubilee] #12 6s. (Treasurer's Book). [Published this month A Letter to David Garrick, Esq. on his conduct as Principal Manager and Actor at Drury Lane. Printed for S. Bladon. Accuses Garrick of controlling the press, save for two papers, and thus getting more favourbale treatment than his position and actions deserve. "You are a mere actor. You affect to feel where you do not, and imitate tones, looks and gestures, while your heart is at ease. This should heighten our opinion of you as an artist, whatever we might think of you as a man. I believe you are not generally judged of in this manner. It is not difficult to impose on the world." The author (David Williams?) deprecates Garrick's supposed handling of the actors of his company, and desires to see more Shakespeare. Suggests Garricks' acting perfection lies in the extreme, in exaggerated gesture, and sudden bursts of passion." Suggests he is getting old and should try his hand at Shylock.] Receipts: #271 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Mr Ximenes...is a very spirited and very chaste performer (Theatrical Review, 13 March). This Day Publish'd (in Quarto, price 2s.) Sanitas, Daughter to Aesculapius, to David Garrick, Esq, a Poem

Event Comment: Being desired, for one night only under thr direction of Dr Arne at the Theatre Royal...will be performed the celebrated Catches and Glees, after which by Authority will be performed a new Burletta...alter'd and plann'd for Music from a favourite piece written by Henry Fielding, Esq. Music entirely new composed by Dr Arne, with a new Irish and Scots Medley Overture. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin at 6:00 p.m. Books of both performances to be had together at the Theatre at 1s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Payments: Mr D. Garrick's 3 Nights for the Christmas Tale, 30 Dec., 4 & 11 Jan., #84 charges deducted each night--#371 14s. (Treasurer's Book). At Isleworth, James Lacy, Esq.: one of the patentees of Drury Lane Theatre died (Gentleman's Magazine, 44, p. 47). [For full account of Lacy, see Covent Garden Magazine (229-34).] Rec'd of Mr Burges, 1 yrs. rent to Xmas last (#4 4s. King's Tax deducted) #16 16s.; Paid Mr Cropley (linen draper) 2 Bills #66 10s. 6d.; Mr Scott (laceman) #66 1s.; Messrs Lowe & Co. (glaziers) #18 6s.; Mr Burges (bricklayer) #65 8s.; Mr Waller (hosier) #24 5s.; Messrs Barrow & Co., oil, #53 7s. 6d.; Messrs Hopkins & Co. (ironmongers) #30 11s.; Mrs Vaughan (haberdasher) 2 bills, #14 10s. 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) 3 bills, #120 11s.; Mr J. French's draft to Mr Wise #5 10s.; Mr J. Johnston's Music Bill #24 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #246 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)