Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Heron's Executors. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Daily Advertiser, 9 April: We hear, the late Mrs Heron, on Account of her long and expensive Illness, having contracted some Debts more than she apprehended her Effects would discharge, in order to do Justice to her Creditors, in almost her last Moments made her Entreaty, that the Profits arising from a Benefit Play . . . might be distributed amongst them. . .

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 19 Feb.: To the Author, &c. Sir, In a late Paragraph in one of your Papers [4 Feb.] it was insinuated, that there was a Design on foot for erecting a New Theatre, which by some Wise Heads was suppos'd to come from a certain Manager, in order to revive the Playhouse Bill this Session of Parliament; I think it proper therefore, in Justice to the Gentleman levell'd at, to inform the Publick, that it is actually intended for a Company of Comedians every Day expected here, late Servants to their Majesties Kouli Kan and Theodore, who in the mean time will entertain the Town in the true Eastern manner, at the New Theatre in the Hay-Market, with a celebrated Piece call'd A Rehearsal of Kings. I am, Sir, Yours, &c. Agent for the Company

Event Comment: Benefit Denoyer. By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Tickets at Denoyer's House in St. James's-Street, over-against Park-Place. Daily Advertiser, 7 March: On Saturday Night the Mob attempted to force into Drury-Lane Playhouse, and were so insolent, that Justice Deveil was oblig'd to go out and read the Proclamation concerning Rioters; the Guard was order'd to his Assistance, and some of the Offenders were apprehended and sent to Newgate. [For Occasional Prompter XXIV (on the alteration of Much Ado About Nothing), see Daily Journal, 5 March.

Event Comment: Founded on Shakespear's Much Ado About Nothing. By the Author of the Man of Taste. Daily Advertiser, 8 March: As the late tumultuous and riotous Behaviour of the Footmen at [dl] is become a Topick of Publick Discourse, a true and exact Account of the Disturbances they have made will be publish'd in this Paper: In the mean time we have the Pleasure to inform the Town, all proper Care being taken, every thing was very quiet last Night, and 'tis believ'd will continue so. The Director of the aforesaid Theatre having receiv'd a threatening Letter last Saturday in the Afternoon from the Footmen, a true Copy of it will be published in Tomorrow's Paper, with a Reward to those who shall discover the Author or Authors, so that he or they may be brought to Justice

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 15 Feb.: On Monday last Mr Lacy, who set up the Oratory in York Buildings, and was committed to Bridewell some time since, by two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace on the lade Act of Parliament, was brought by Habeas Corpus to the King's Bench, in order to be bail'd, but after several Learned Arguments by his Council, which were answer'd by the Attorney and Solicitor-General, the Court remanded him back again

Event Comment: By Command of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 18 Jan.: Whereas a Bottle was flung out of one of the Galleries into the Pit...on Saturday Night last, during the Time of Performance, which struck a Gentleman on the Head, and very much hurt him, I hereby promise to pay to any one that shall discover the Person who threw the same, so that he may be brought to Justice, the Sum of Twenty Guineas, to be paid on Conviction....John Rich

Event Comment: At Cibber's Academy in the Hay-Market...will be presented a Concert of Musick, Vocal and Instrumental. The Vocal Parts-Mr Brett, Mrs Hill, and others; the Instrumental by eminent Masters. The Doors to be open'd at Four, the Concert to begin at Five, and no Persons to be admitted after Seven o'clock. The Prices are Four Shillings, Half a Crown and Eighteen Pence. Places may be bespoke at the Academy. After the Concert will be exhibited Gratis, a Rehearsal, in Form, of the Play-(often acted with great Applause) call'd Romeo and Juliet. Written by Shakespear. The Characters personated by the Master of the Academy, his Assistants, Pupils, and Servants. With Proper Habits, Scenes and Decorations. [After Cibber announced his Academy, he received the following letter from the Justice of the Peace: I see by your advertisements, in regard to your Academical Performances, that they are of the same Nature as Mr L/c@y's were some Years ago, which brought him to a great deal of Trouble. Some strong Applications are making now to give you some; of which I think proper to give you Notice, in this private Manner, that you may avoid it.-Tho. de Veil. 31 Oct. Cibber, A Serio-Comic Apology. p. 12.

Event Comment: nnounced as 1 Nov., but 5 p.m. Cibber's continuance of performances brought the following response]: In Pursuance of my Promise that I would do nothing against your Theatre, or you, without first giving you Notice, I do hereby acquaint you, that I am obliged to proceed against you, and that I shall, with another of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, stop all your Theatrical Performances, of which take Notice.-Thomas de Veil, 8 Nov. Cibber, A Serio-Comic Apology, p. 18

Event Comment: Yesterday Mr Rich paid into the Chamberlain's Office at Guildhall, the sum of #602 7s. to the Veteran's scheme, being the three night's receipts arising from the Beggar's Opera, performed at cg: And he thinks it incumbent on him in justice to the several persons interested in the Said theatre, to declare, that when the above scheme was by him proposed, they all most generously subscrib'd their demands for these three nights in order to enlarge the sums to be rais'd for the above purpose.-General Advertiser. [The Gentlemen's Magazine, Dec. 1745, states the idea of this gift was proposed by Mrs Cibber, and that the tallow chandlers also gave the candles.

Event Comment: Not Acted these Eight Years [see 24 April 1741]. Benefit Cibber, Jr. Tickets and places of Hobson at the Stage door. Tickets ddliver'd out for All's Well at Covent Garden theatre will be taken to the above mentioned play this night. [Mrs Clive's Prologue recommended the cause of Liberty to the Ladies of Great Britain. Cibber had pleaded in his advance advertisement on 5 April in the General Advertiser.] As I have in justice to my creditors assigned over so much of my salary as reduces the remainder to a very small pittance, I very much depend on the encouragement and indulgence of the town at my Benefit. [On the day of the benefit he inserted in the General Advertiser a long, double column address to the Publick puffing his Benefit, and scotching a rumor industriously and invidiously spread that he came to Drury Lane only to impede Mrs Cibber in her performance there. In this he washes in public the linen of his domestic affairs at some length, professing his virtue, forbearance, and generosity, and Mrs Cibber's unfairness and ingratitude, citing her salary as about #700 per year, not a penny of which would she afford for his relief from creditors, or to bail him out of the Fleet prison where he languished six months. He alleges that she was instrumental in forming a cartel between the rival theatrical managers with precluded his employment by either house, and that she refused to act a benefit for him when he was in debtor's prison.

Event Comment: Altered from Dryden by Colley Cibber....a Man who was in the Upper Gallery...threw an apple from thence, with an intent, as is suppos'd to hit some person who was looking through the Curtain, but struck a Lady of Quality in the face, who sat in the stage box; upon which the manager order'd the Constable attending the House to make inquiry after the person who did it, and he was immediately apprehended, on the information of several people who sat near him, and was, by the Lady's desire carried before a Justice, who would have committed him for the assault; but on his begging Pardon, and promising never to offend in the like manner, she was pleas'd to forgive him, and he was discharg'd.--As it was a Publick Affront some Gentlemen would have had him brought on the stage to make a Public acknowledgment of his folly;--and tis hop'd that will be the punishment hereafter, for those who offend in the like manner.--General Advertiser, 3 Nov

Event Comment: At the Old Theatre. Advertisement for the Publick Good: Whereas a pack of Strolling Players, who by the Laws now in force are liable to be punished by His Majesty's Justices/of/the/Peace as vagrants and vagabonds, lately infested the villages of Clapham, Stackwell and Borough of Southwark and other places in the County of Surrey and have made several riots and have contracted several debts with His Majesty's liege subjects and have given out printed handbills and Tickets for several of their benefits, particularly that the play called the Recruiting Officer and the Entertainment called Flora, or Hob in the Well would be performed on Monday Night Last at Yeates Old Theatre in the Bowling Green in Southwark and Several Gentlemen and Ladies were prevailed on and paid for majy tickets and went in coaches expecting to see and hear the proposed entertainments but the said strollers neither performed nor returned the money advanced for such tickets though demanded, this Advertisement is therefore hembly recommended to the serious consideration of the justices of the peace for the said county of Surrey and also to give a friendly caution to unwary people not to be imposed upon by such persons in the future.--Daily Advertiser, 8 Nov. [See 27 Nov. at hay] On Tuesday last the Court Leets for the Town and Borough of Southwark...Likewise directed the Constables to use their utmost Endeavours toward suppressing the Acting of Plays...and avoiding all unlawful Games and Plays....By the Statue, no Plays to be acted but in Westminster, or Place of his Majesty's Residence, on forfeit of #50.--London Courant, 6 Nov

Event Comment: To the Author of the General Advertiser, Sir: I have frequently observ'd particular Notice has been taken in your paper of particular Merit, I hope therefore you'll allow room for this short Epistle--I am a great Lover of Public Diversions, especially such as can agreeably amuse, or afford the highest Mirth, without offense to Sense of Decency; Of this kind are the two new dances compos'd by Salomon, and perform'd by him, Mr Cook, Mr Muilment, Madem Violette, Sga Padouana, and the young little Salomon, and others. To say they are excellent in their way is barely doing 'em justice; but in these Dances they may be said to have excell'd themselves. The first, tho' a kind of Serious Pastoral Ballet afforded the Audience great Pleasure; and I believe never did three dancers in a Pas Trois, altogether equal the Execution of Sg Salomon, Madem Violette, and Mr Cook; there was an Elegance peculiar to herself that shone thro' her whole performance. The other Entertainment is the representation of a Fair, to which People of all degrees and nations are suppos'd to resort, it may not improperly be stil'd a very High Piece of Low Humour; and caused as much laughter and applause as the strongest Farce ever produc'd, without offending the Modesty of the Ladies. We have had many performers from abroad, but Sg Salamon and Violette so inimitably express their characters in this entertainment, that I think they excel what we have hitherto seen; and very much deserve the Encouragement of the Town, I am, &c

Event Comment: This comedy was wrote by Mr Moor, & except ye part of Faddle meet with Universal Applause (ye Author's first play) (Cross). New Scenes and Cloaths (General Advertiser). This C. was written by Moore--it is a good play--it was acted 11 times successively--Garrick's peculiar qualifications and happy use of them, added amazing spirit to the piece, and gave more consequence to Young Belmont than can well be imagined--Macklin, who never had in voice, figure or features much capacity for the fop cast, yet struck out some things in Faddle, that have not been since equalled, particularly in marking the obsequious knave throughout--Barry in the fourth act supported his character with emphatic dignity and in the last with melting tenderness--the part of Rosetta was undoubtedly conceived for Mrs Woffington, and she did it particular justice--the elegance, the notions of love, and the vanity of admiration, which are united in Rosetta, were natural to Mrs Woffington, so that she had the advantage of looking and speaking in her own character--the softness and pathos, which distinguished Fidelia sat with much ease on Mrs Cibber (Dramatic Censor, II, 206). [For contemporary account of plot and discussion of the play, see Gentleman's Magazine Feb. 1748, pp. 51-54; March 1748, pp. 114-17; May 1748, pp. 207-9; June 1748, pp. 257-59. See also G. Stayley, An Answer to an unjust criticism on the Foundling, listed in Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, May 1748, p. 240; A Criticism of the Foundling, in a letter to the author, listed in Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, March 1748, p. 144. The Larpent MS indicates many revisions. The substitution of Rake for Whoremaster, &c. Some Suggestive passages marked for excision. "The Disapprobation, which the Character of Faddle met with the first Night, made it necessary for me to shorten it in almost every Scene" (Dedication to 1st Edition).] Receipts: #200 (Cross); #200 5s. (Powel)

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser [see Woodward's mimicry of Foote, 22 Jan.]: We hear from Drury Lane that on Monday night Harry the Smuggler, who was tried and convicted last summer in the Haymarket, was found hanging in one of the cells of that prison: It seems he has long had a Design to make way with himself and at several times procured poison from Foppington, Harry Wildair, Tom Thimble, &c. but the Quantity, though it made him exceeding sick, not being sufficient to dispatch him, he at last tuck'd himself up in his own Tit for Tat. When he was cut down he look'd very ghastly, and great groanings were heard in the prison before, at, and after his committing the Fact....It is very remarkable that he had on the very coat, which, in Conjunction with one Abel Drugger, not yet taken, he stole from Sammy the Auctioneer; but from the diligent search made after Drugger, it is believed he will soon be brought to Justice. Receipts: #60 (Cross); #67 8s. (Treasurer's Book)