Event Comment: On Monday next at Noon there will be a general Practice on the stage of the new comic Opera call'd Il Filosofo di Campagna

Event Comment: Benefit for the General Lying-in Hospital. (Upper Gallery 3s. 6d.) 3428 helpless women have already been received and preserved, besides 800 out-patients supplied with medicine &c. and many soldiers' and seamens' wives have been taken out of the streets penniless, starving and with Labour pains upon them and admitted at several hours of the night or day without any letter or recommendation whatever. [Long advertisement in Public Advertiser for all to support this charity and at the same time have the "opportunity of seeing a very pleasing Burletta."

Event Comment: Farce in two acts never performed before. Full prices. [See advertisement to Reed's 1761 edition where he accuses Foote of taking the character of Mrs Cole in the Minor from Mrs Snarewell.] A new farce wrote by one Reed, a ropemaker, brought out by Mr Foote--went off tolerable--hissed a little at the end (Hopkins MS Notes). [See advertisement for the Universal Register Office General Advertiser 18 Oct. 1750: This Office being much approv'd and encouraged especially by Ladies and Gentlemen in the Country, we have daily enquiries by those who are just come to town, and many letters from those in the country to procure houses and lodgings, both furnished and unfurnished, for single Gentlemen, Ladies, and Families for the winter; and also boarding houses as well in French Families as in English Families." Announces its books open to any who wish to register there. The afterpiece met with trouble from the Licenser. Larpent MS 189 and 196, indicate the exceptionable passages to be those using profanity, and those of Mrs Snarewell's capable of double entendre, principally about the comfort she received from Mr Watchlight who was called twice out of bed to pray-"so ernest in his ejaculations, &c."

Event Comment: On Monday next there will be a general practice of the new Comic Opera Le Pescatrici at noon on the Stage (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: On Monday morning next at nine will be a general practice of the Opera Il Mercato

Event Comment: On Friday morning at nine o'clock will be a general practice of the new Opera Tolomeo

Event Comment: Benefit for General Lying-In Hospital, Duke St

Event Comment: Benefit for the General Lying-in Hospital, Duke St. [a long advertisement in the Public Advertiser, similar to that for 16 April 1761, notes the service the hospital has performed for some 6000 destitute "female objects" wives of soldiers and sailors.] Second Gallery 3s. 6d. 6:30 p.m

Event Comment: MMr Foote's Oratorical Lectures will be continued in the New Theatre in the Haymarket this day, between Twelve and One noon. [In six parts]: 1. Oratory in general, 2. Its utility demonstrated from its universality, 3. Distinct species of oratory, 4. The present practice peculiar to the English, 5. Necessity of an Academy, 6. The propriety of appointing the author perpetual professor. The whole to be illustrated in apt instances by a set of pupils long trained to the art, one of which is amazing proof of the force of Genius when properly cultivated (Public Advertiser). [These lectures were given 36 times and referred thereafter this season as The Orators.

Event Comment: Benefit for The General Lying In Hospital, By Particular Desire of the Foreign Ambassadors and others of the Nobility. Part of Pit will be laid into Boxes, where Servants will be allowed to keep places

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. A new comic Opera...by several...composers. [A general Practice upon the Stage at 11 a.m. 6 Jan.

Event Comment: A new comic Opera...By Command of their Majesties. Music-Galuppi. Overture-J. S. Bach. Text-Goldoni. The first performance in England. Deferred from 30 Jan., because of Martyrdom of King Charles I. [A general Practice upon the Stage at noon 28 Jan.

Event Comment: [The following notice appeared in the Public Advertiser]: Whereas a very unjustifiable disturbance happened last night at this theatre; the managers think it incumbent upon them to acquaint the Publick that when the Opera of Artaxerxes was in rehearsal it was determined that no expence should be spared to render the performance as elegant as the nature of so peculiar an Entertainment would admit. This desire occasioned so considerable an increase of the nightly charge 'twas thought by many disinterested persons would justify additional prices; but to avoid giving the least umbrage, and in gratitude for the Public indulgence on other occasions, no such advance was attempted. When it is known that the extraordinary nightly expence attending this performance amounts to upwards of Fifty Pounds it is humbly apprehended no persons of justice and candour will think the Full Price an exorbitant gratification for such unusual disbursements. The Management therefore flatter themselves that a resolution to oppose the arbitrary and illegal demands of a particular set of persons, contrary to the general sense of audience, will not be deemed arrogant or unreasonable, especially when those demands are enforced by means subversive to Private Property, and in violation of that decorum which is due to all public assemblies

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera. Music by several composers. [General rehearsal had taken place at noon 13 April.

Event Comment: Benefit for the General Lying-In Hospital

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. No money to be return'd after the curtain is drawn up. To begin at 6 o'clock. No persons to be admitted behind Scenes. [Customary notice on each bill. Only significant differences will be noted hereafter. Special notice appeared on all Bills this season from 19 Sept.-19 Nov. 1763]: Whereas many Complaints have been made of Interruptions, in the performances at this theatre, occasion'd, by the Admission of Persons behind the Scenes; in Order to prevent the Like for the Future, it is humbly hop'd, no Nobleman or Gentleman, will insist on a Privilege so displeasing to the AUDIENCE in General; whose APPROBATION it is the DUTY, as well as the INTEREST, of the Managers, to endeavour, on all Occasions, to deserve

Event Comment: Benefit the General Lying-In Hospital. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. Subscriber's tickets will be admitted

Event Comment: A New Opera, the Musick by Dr Arne. [A general rehearsal had been put on for subscribers on Friday.

Event Comment: Benefit for The General Lying-In Hospital. Tickets to be had at the Smyrna Coffee House, Pall Mall, and at the Stage Door. N.B. Tickets deliver'd for The Distress'd Mother will be admitted

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Mr Garrick played Lusignan and Lord Chalkstone. It is almost impossible to express how finely he played both characters. The Prologue was called for. Mr Garrick went on directly to speak it--as soon as he appeared a general clap and a loud huzza,--and there was such a noise from the House being so crowded, very few heard anything of the prologue.--As soon as the play began there was a great disturbance in the Gallery, and some called out, Guards Guards! that they could not go on.--Mr Lacy went on the Stage, and looked up to the gallery, and came off again without saying anything.--They soon grew quiet, and the play went on.--Monsr Rousseau sat in Mr Garrick's box (Hopkins Diary). [Account in the Public Advertiser of the original story upon which VanBrugh founded some circumstance in his Provok'd Wife, signed Heartfree. The Gentleman's Magazine, January, in the Historical Chronicle section noted that Jean Jacques Rousseau arrived in England on 13 Jan. and "was at the play on the 23rd, and presented himself in the upper Box fronting his Majesty."

Event Comment: [The title alone had a certain startling appeal. The General Advertiser reminded its readers twenty years before (11 Nov. 1748) "Clandestine marriages are illegal and punishable by the Statute of the 7th and 8th of King William, Chap. 35 under which Law the Parson shall forfeit One Hundred Pounds; and every man married without Banns or Licence shall forfeit ten Pounds, to be recovered with costs, by any Person that shall inform."

Event Comment: VViscomica to the Printer of the Public Advertiser: As burlettas have been laid aside some years, and they are a species of entertainment I am particularly fond of, as there is vivacity in the music, and great humour and satire in the performance, I was much pleased with the thoughts of being as well entertained as I had heretofore been; and more so when I found I could gain admittance to so good a place for hearing, for the trifling sum of three shillings; a place in which I never dared to shew my face before, not being on a footing with the riotous company that used to be admitted there, to attend their several masters' call; a nuisance, from which I rejoice the managers have at length, after so many hints and solcitations, found out a method to deliver their audience. I remember to have seen a darkish way down a flight of steps to a dismal winding staircase, which I was told led to the footman's gallery, and, supposing that the road I was to take on this occasion, was very agreeably undeceived by being shewn up about halfway to the five shilling gallery, and by a turn through an arch introduced to a new and convenient staircase leading to this region of the gods, where I was surprised to find myself arrived before I thought I was half-way up. The managers have indeed made this place very neat and commodious, by rendering the descent much less steep, lowering and matting the benches, painting and lighting the whole place; so that I found myself as much at my ease there, as in any other part of the house, and much better situated than I had expected; likewise, by their following Mr Garrick's example, in removing the pendant lustres, and lighting after the foreign manner, you have a full view of the whole stage; by which the magnificance appears greatly increased. The performance was beyond my expectations, as I think the performers excel any in their way which have appeared in this country; but I need not expatiates upon a subject the town in general have been, or I dare say will be, as good judges of as yours, &c

Event Comment: By Particular Desire of the Right Honorable and Honorable The Governors (Being the Last Time of performing till the Holidays). Not acted this season. For the Benefit of the General Lying-In Hospital, Quebec Street, Oxford Road. Charges #85 5s., Balance to Hospital #5 6d. Hospital also receiv'd #156 10s. from tickets (Box 544, Pit 116, Gallery 31). Paid for 1 year's watch for theatre due at Xmas #12 10s. and for the House in Bow Passage 12s. 6d. Paid Dunstall the balance due for the theatrical Fund #136 17s. (Account Book). Receipts: #90 5s. 6d. (Account Book)