Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Not acted in 50 Years. It is hoped no Gentleman will take it ill, he cannot be admitted behind the scenes, the play being so full of characters, that any company there will be of great prejudice to the performance. [The play advertised as ready on 15 Feb., but held off until after the first performance of Papal Tyranny at cg so as not to detract from Cibber's first night.] The Principal Characters New Dress'd

Event Comment: Know all men by these presents, that Colley Cibber, Esq; of the Parish of St/James's in the County of Middlesex, for and in consideration of the sum of Eighty Pounds of lawful Mony of Great Britain to him in hand paid by John Watts of London, Stationer, he the said Colley Cibber, Esq; hath bargained, sold and assigned, and set over, and by these presents doth bargain, sell, assign and set over all that the full and sole right and title, of, in and to the copy of a Tragedy, intitled, Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John, written by the said Colley Cibber, Esq; to have and to hold the said copy of the said tragedy unto the said John Watts, his heirs and assigns for ever, notwithstanding any act or law to the contrary: In witness whereof the said Colley Cibber, Esq; hath hereunto sett his hand and seal this twentieth day of February, 1744/5. [Signed] C. Cibber. [Witnesses] James Webster, John Mark Bimson. [Original Document in Folger Shakespeare Library, validated by three Sixpence stamps, and Cibber's seal. Case No. 993 among Cibber documents.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Charke. 6 p.m. 5s., 3s., 2s., will be presented a Concert, etc. [In the bill for 21 Feb. it is announced as: By Permission...will be reviv'd an Historical Play, not acted these sixty years.] Tickets and Places to be had of Mr Meredith, at the Theatre. [Puffs in the Daily Advertiser announce their pleasure that Mrs Charke is actually going to play a woman's role. A rehearsal was held on 1 March.

Event Comment: A Tragedy not acted these Twenty Years. Benefit a Person under Misfortunes. [See 31 Dec. 1727.

Event Comment: Benefit Muilment. Mr Garrick's Indisposition not suffering him to play, I have prevail'd upon Mr Mills to endeavour to play his part, as well as the shortness of the time will permit, which I hope will be more agreeable to my Friends than changing the Play. Being the last time of performing till the Holidays. [Craftsman No. 580 this day, quoted in the Gentlemen's Magazine, included a brief plea for the present ministry to get the Play-house Act repealed.

Event Comment: Benefit Turbutt and Neale. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Afterpiece: not acted these 5 years. [See 29 March 1742.] Tickets and places to be had at the Swan in Smithfield; and of Hobson at the stage door. The severe Indisposition of Mr Garrick continuing, we hope our friends will accept of his part being perform'd to the Best Advantage the shortness of time will permit, which we imagine will be more agreable than changing the play

Event Comment: Benefit Mr and Mrs Hale. Mainpiece not acted these 14 years [see 15 May 1734]

Event Comment: Benefit LaLauze. Mainpiece not acted this season. By particular Desire of several persons of Quality. Tickets of LaLauze, at Widow Gwinn's, near the Castle Tavern in Drury Lane

Event Comment: Benefit Leviez, Desse, and Powell (Deputy Treasurer). [The latter was probably John Powell, who later ingratiated himself with Lord Holland, became an accountant in the office of Paymaster General of His Majesties Forces and in 1783 was accused with Mr Bembridge of concealing a large sum in Accounts chargeable to Lord Holland, 1757-65. He committed suicide 26 May 1783, under the stress of the investigation, and the verdict of death as a result of Lunacy was issued. See account in Gentlemen's Magazine (1783) pp. 454, 539, 613. He is there described as having been a Teller in Drury Lane Theatre, a person who acts as a check upon the door keepers of the playhouse, by counting the number of people in the house, which he does from a small box, conveniently situated for that purpose.

Event Comment: Both pieces by particular Desire, the Afterpiece not acted these 4 years [see 29 April 1742] being the most Tragical Tragedy that was ever Tragedized by any company of Tragedians

Event Comment: A historical note about the patent for May Fair by Edward Shepherd. Daily Advertiser, 1 May: Whereas a Patent was granted by King Charles the First, and confirm'd by King James II, to the Proprietor of Great and Little Brookfield, then in the Parish of St. Martin in the Fields, now in the Parish of St. George, Hanover Square, to hold a Fair during the Space of fifteen Days, to begin the 1st Day of May next, and every May Day forever: the present Proprietor thinks it proper to apprize the Publick thereof, that it may not be thought that he attempts to do any thing but by Virtue of the said Patent, and no Ways to disturb the Publick Peace, or act in Contradiction to the Laws of the Realm. [Alluded to in 2 May news of the Daily Advertiser, as being proclaimed by Edward Shepherd.

Event Comment: HHussey's Booth. To act every day from noon to 10 p.m. during the time of the Fair

Event Comment: Mainp1ece, a Comedy written by Colley Cibber, Poet Laureate. Not acted in 30 years [see 18 Oct. 1718. An Epilogue for Mrs Woffington in the Character of Brittania was sent this day to the Licenser.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A reviv'd tragedy not acted these 30 years. [See descriptive account at gf, 28 Oct.

Event Comment: Not acted these ten years [see 18 Dec. 1738]

Event Comment: Containing the Death of the Duke of Buckinghamv; the Tryal and Divorce of Queen Katherinev; the Death of Cardinal Wolseyv; The Christening of Queen Elizabethv; With many other Historical passages. Not acted in 6 years [but see 24 April 1742]. At the Desire of Several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: Mainpiece not acted these 6 years [see 7 Oct. 1738]

Event Comment: Afterpiece not acted these 6 years [see 8 Oct. 1741]

Event Comment: Containing an account of that notorious Pretender in the Reign of Henry VIII. Aith a short account of Lambert Simnel, a Pretender to the Crown, fostered in like manner by Richard Simon, a Priest of Oxfordshire, with many other Historical passages, similar to the present times [and a synoptic account of the play follows]. A reviv'd Historical Play (not acted in the Memory of Man, and written by an anonymous author, in Shakespeare's Style).--Daily Advertiser, 18 Dec. Prices, Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit 2s. First Gallery 1s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. [These prices continue.

Event Comment: Farce not acted in ten years [see 8 Jan. 1733]

Event Comment: [Long letter on operas in Daily Advertiser.] Barrington acted the part of Teague, in which he introduced several humorous Irish songs; which were received with universal applause, he being allowed by the whole audience to be the most complete Teague that ever appeared on the stage.--General Advertiser, 3 Jan

Event Comment: Mainpiece a reviv'd Comedy, not acted these 5 years [see 1 May 1741]

Event Comment: Farce not acted in 6 years [see 30 May 1739]. [Another letter on operas in Daily Advertiser.

Event Comment: There is now in rehearsal and is to be acted in few days an New Historical Play call'd The Alternative, Tyranny or Liberty

Event Comment: We hear the New Historical Play, call'd King Henry the Seventh, or the Popish Imposter, now in rehearsal at Drury Lane will be acted on Saturday next