Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Hallam. Tickets at her Lodgings, at a Grocer's, Corner of James St, Long-Acre. Receipts: money #32 10s.; tickets #66 6s

Event Comment: Benefit Dan French of Hampstead. [The bill has a long song about the performance, written presumably by Dan French. For a full account of the expenses of this performance, see BM Add MSS 32, 251, p. 308.]

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: Benefit Ford. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. [Tickets at Ford's, in Brownlow Street, Long Acre.] Receipts: money #17 12s. 6d

Event Comment: [The Queen, Duke, and princesses present.] Lord Hervey to Henry Fox, 13 Nov.: I am just returned with the Queen from a long dull Opera, and a cold, empty House.--Ilchester, Lord Hervey and his Friends, p. 255

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. For a long essay on theatrical affairs, see The Occasional Prompter I in Daily Journal, 6 Dec

Event Comment: Benefit Quin. By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Written by Shakespear. [Tickets at Quin's Lodgings, King's Street, cg. For a long account of the disturbance at dl, 5 Aarch, see Daily Advertiser, 10 March, and for a letter on theatrical affairs, see Grub St. Journal, 10 March.] Daily Gazetteer, 12 March: On Thursday Night last a Footman, who was keeping Places at [dl] upon the Stage behind the Curtain, hearing some Gentlemen who were in the Pit, call to some Footmen who were in the Boxes to take off their Hats, leapt from his Seat, and opening the Curtain, cry'd out with a loud Voice, bidding the said Footmen keep on their Hats

Event Comment: Benefit J. Roberts. By Desire. For the Entertainment of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Non-Common Pleas, Mainpiece: Written by the Author of George Barnwell. Second and Third Pieces: Both written by the Author of Pasquin. To begin exactly at Half an Hour after Six, and all will be over by Half an Hour after Nine. Tickets (containing the Prologue to the Register, by way of Ode to the New Year, with the Musick engrav'd on a Copper Plate) may be had of Mr Henry Roberts, Engraver, at the Star over-against the Vine Tavern in Holborn, and at the Theatre in the Hay-Market. Daily Advertiser, 2 May: Sir, As at every one of our Theatres this Day there is a Benefit for Persons under Misfortunes, 'tis humbly hop'd that the more humane Pursuers o Pleasure will suspend their Curiosity for Vaux Hall for one Day, (out of a hundred) in Favour of so many Unfortunate, who have but the Chance of one single Night to relieve them from Afflictions which perhaps they have long labour'd under. And, as I have somewhere read, So humane Worth to God like Heights they'll raise, For the Preserver shares the Maker's Praise. I believe it is fully known, without troubling you with farther Particulars, that among the Number above mention'd, is included, Sir, Your very humble Servant, John Roberts

Event Comment: Benefit Poitier. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. [Tickets at Poitier's House in Brownlow Street, near Hanover Street, Long Acre.

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 14 Feb.: Two chief Singers being taken ill...Acis and Galatea...must therefore be put off performing a few Days longer

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 15 Sept.: [cg] is new painted and decorated, and will be open'd on Friday next...the Report of Mr Cibber and Mrs Horton being engag'd to another Theatre, is entirely without Foundation: That Company would have begun acting sooner, but for the finishing of a large additional Building, which is now cover'd in, whereby they will, on some Occasions, be enabled to add near 70 Feet to the Length of the Stage, which was before the longest in England, but will now exceed in Depth, any Theatre in Europe

Event Comment: For a long letter on musical performances, including Handel's, see London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 4 April, reprinted in Deutsch, Handel, pp. 515-17

Event Comment: Benefit Chapman. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Mr Chapman humbly begs the favour of those Ladies and Gentlemen who intend to honour him with their presence, to send for tickets to his House, the corner of Bow St., Covent Garden, and to excuse his paying his duty in person, on account of his long illness. Tickets deliver'd out for the Confederacy will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit Mlle Auguste. Tickets of Page at stage door and of Mlle Auguste at Mrs Butler's over against the Golden Fan in Hanover St., Long Acre

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: By Particular desire of persons of Quality. Afterpiece: By Desire. Lady Hertford wrote to her son Lord Beauchamp: Mrs Clive either was really suddenly taken ill, or was not in the humor to act Nell, so that the part was done by a frightful Mrs Philips, who could neither, sing, laugh, or do any other thing that was fit for a cobbler's wife; in short she spoiled the whole thing.-Hughes, Hertford, p. 233. Enlightenment as to Mrs Clive's health appears in the gossip sent by Lady Hertford to her son in a letter 23 Jan. 43: About ten days ago Mrs Woffington and Mrs Clive met in the Green room. Mrs Woffington came up to Mrs Clive and told her she had long looked for the favor of a visit from her and begged she would let her know when she designed her that pleasure, for she was often engag'd in an afternoon. Mrs Clive paused a little and then answered, Madam, I have a reputation to lose. Madam, said Mrs Woffington, so should I have too if I had your face. Whether this repartee has affected Mrs Clive's health I cannot tell, but she is extremely ill and in danger.-Hughes, Hertford, pp. 236-37

Event Comment: An English Opera. Benefit Mrs Lampe. 6 p.m. Prices 5s., 4s., 3s. Note. By Desire of several Ladies of Quality going to the Assembly, the Opera will be over by Nine o'Clock. Tickets at Mr Lampe's at the Golden Unicorn in Hanover St., Long-Acre

Event Comment: Benefit Anne Auretti. By Command of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Tickets to be had of Anne Auretti at Mr Chisholm's, the Golden Head in Great Newport St., near Long Acre

Event Comment: Benefit Leveridge. Tickets and places to be had of Page at the stage door, or at Leveridge's Lodgings, the third door on the right hand in Hanover St., turning out of Long Acre

Event Comment: Benefit Cross (Prompter), DeMaimbray (Mechanist), and Desse. Tickets deliver'd out by Nodder, Owen, Miss Lee, and others will be taken. [This month in the Gentlemen's Magazine appeared a long essay from Champion No. 5, entitled The Character of an excellent Actor, an appreciative essay on the difficulties of acting, and the excellence of Garrick. The author avows he never exchanged a word with Garrick in his life. In July the Gentlemen's Magazine publish'd a reply to the contention that shewing good plays and giving men a relish for them was a satisfactory method of instructing the young, concluding instead against stage entertainments because they may be and are productive of much ill; and can serve no good end but what may be more effectively attained by other means.

Event Comment: Benefit Taylor (Box-Keeper). Mainpiece At the Desire of Several Ladies of Quality. As Mr Taylor's long and violent illness has prevented his personal application, he humbly hopes those Gentlemen and Ladies who us'd to honour him with their Company, will continue their favour, and send for tickets to his house in Greek Street, Soho

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: No Money will be taken behind the scenes, nor any money to be return'd after the Curtain is drawn up. The following Letter, signed A By-Stander was inserted in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser: As I am absolutely unconcerned in all the now subsiding Theatrical Disputes, I hope the following observations upon what happened last Tuesday Night at Drury Lane will not be thought unworthy the Publick attention. The Manager of a theatre is to regard the General sense of the Town, and not any Faction form'd thru pique or resentment; Such a Faction may be Noisy, it may be Insolent, but never can be Considerable enough to force either the Manager or the Publick into their terms. Their outrages are equally insults upon the Understanding of the Town, as they are injuries to the Property of the Manager. Therefore if the Manager shall at any time give way to such proceedings, Then and not till Then, the Publick has a right ot find fault with him. The stage Then becomes a property to the insolence of a few misled people; and all theatrical diversions, which in this and other countries used to be directed by Decency and Publick Approbation are sacrificed to a pitiful Personal Resentment. If the above propositions are undeniable, the following Queries are submitted to the Publick, and the answer to them will determine the Reasonableness of the Tuesday Night Riot: I. Whether the Rioters were not Inconsiderable in their numbers and Circumstances? II: Whether any Gentleman can answer to himself, for doing in a Body, a thing which no Gentleman can justify for doing by himself? III. Whether the Rioters can justify their breaking into the Boxes, and taking possession of the seats, which were taken by many persons of Quality and Distinction, at the same time refusing to pay anything; thereby robbing the Manager of all the money of the Boxes, and most part of the Pit? IV. Whether the Manager ought to suffer in his property for the private quarrel between any two actors, as was the case...? V: Whether if such insolences are not discountenanced in the most effectual manner by the Town, any publick diversion can continue longer than a noisy inconsiderable Cabal pleases? VI. Whether any other motive than a regard to Public Decency would have hindered the Manager and Mr. Garrick's friends (who were treble the number) from treating the rioters as they deserved? I should be glad to see the above questions fairly and impartially answered

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Saunders, many years a Comedian, by Command of his Royal Highness the Duke. Tickets to be had of Mrs Saunders at her house, No 7, in Duke's Court, in the Great Almonry, Westminster, of Mr Morrison, at the Two Golden Balls in Long Acre; and of Mr Page at the stage door of the theatre. N.B.: Mrs Saunders humbly hopes those Gentlemen and Ladies who intend to favour her of their company, will excuse her not waiting on them, she not having been able to go out of her House these eighteen months