Event Comment: This day is publish'd a Guide to the Stage; or Select Instructions and Precedents from the best Authorities towards forming a polite Audience; with some account of the Players, &c. Printed and sold by D. Job, at the Spread Eagle in King St. [An ironical post-Addisonian quip at theatrical behavior]: I boldly enter the lists as the first champion for theatric decorum. The next thing to be consider'd is disapprobation, which I think may be sufficiently shewn, by an attention to something else, by loud discourse, profuse laughter, and the like. I cannot help thinking it a little out of character, for a polite audience to distort their features by a hiss: however for the sake of some ambitious youths, who thus love to signalize themselves, I shall leave a new play to their mercy. They then are at liberty to exercise their several talents whether they hiss or groan most successfully, or have a greater genius for the cat-call. If you desire to know when you are to shew your dislike, my answer is, when anything displeases you, or in fine when you will provided you have a strong party to second you; for the best hiss or groan in the universe may be drown'd in a general applause. [Never laugh at what passes on stage save it be an error, blunder, or accident. In tragic scenes avoid being visibly moved by humming a tune, regarding the audience, engaging in conservation, or turning your back to the stage. When a female social rival calls attention to herself and away from the stage, let fall your handkerchief into the pit, or call out to an acquaintance in the opposite box, or burst into loud and unexpected laughter. You'll know when to applaud, for the actors will tell you.] On these occasions Cato looks more than unusually big, Hamlet stares with great emphasis, Othello has a most languishing aspect, Monimia is all sighs and softness, Beatrice will bridle, and pretty Peggy Wildair leers you into a clap. Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Beard ill (Cross). Robin Hood Defer'd. Love's Last Shift deferr'd till Wednesday next. The Comedy of All's Well that Ends Well (written by Shakespear); and the Comedy of Every Man in his Humour (written by Ben Johnson) are now reviving at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane (General Advertiser). Receipts: #60 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Being a sequel to Love's Last Shift. Receipts: #90 (Cross)

Event Comment: [T+Temple of Taste met for fourth time. Question debated, Can a Man love passionately and virtuously two ladies at a time?"]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Elmy. Mainpiece: By Particlar Desire. Tickets delivered out for All for Love will be taken

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A new farce by Doctor Heffinal [sic] for his benefit. O Sad! (Cross). Tickets at Forrest Coffee House, The Bedford, and Randall's, and author's lodgings at Mew's Coffee House. To the Printer of the Public Advertiser, 24 April: Sir, Let this suffice for a general answer to all unfriendly whispers or paragraphs against the new farce to be performed tonight at Drury Lane -its author never previously Caballed, never published his sentiments of any stage performance till after the run -then neither the writer nor manager could be injured -its principal characters are Lady Protea, a coquet alarmed at the apprehension of dying amid; Lord Epigram Strainwit, a pert coxcomical witling; Dr Matho, a Virtuoso, Antiquarian, and in love; Dreadnought Broadside, a sea-officer and strenuous Antigallican. I am &c. Receipts: #90 (Cross)

Event Comment: TThe Merchant of Venice, with Love-a-la-Mode, advertis'd to be perform'd this night is deferr'd till further notice, on account of the Indisposition of Macklin and Miss Macklin. Boxes #21 12s. (Account Book). Receipts: #114 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Last time of performing till the Holidays. Love in a Village oblig'd to be deferred on account of indisposition of a principal performer

Event Comment: Ash Wednesday. A comedy, by the author of Love in a Village [I. Bickerstaffe] and the Maid of the Mill, will be performed this season at one of the theatres (Winston MS 9). [See 23 April, Thomas and Sally.

Event Comment: Send Serv'ts at 3 p.m. Books of Opera at Theatre. Love in a Village deferr'd. Miss Brent ill

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Positively for the last time this season. Love in a Village oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of the Indisposition of Miss Brent

Event Comment: Paid Wilford for 10 nights Renters Money #100 (Account Book). [Duly noted in Account Book as third night for the comedy, but no indication of any fee to the author on this occasion. The following verse tribute to Miss Wilford appeared this day in the Public Advertiser: @"Strike the loud Harp and raise the tuneful Song;@On all your wings, Wind, bear her Fame along!@Her eyes are rolling suns, which dart a ray,@Bright as the splendor of a Summer Day;@Her arms are as the foam of Ocean white,@Like waves her Breasts heave slowly to the sight.@Her breath is sweeter than the vernal gale,@Which Zephyr wafts o'er Tempe's flowry vale;@Her cheaks are painted only by that hand@Which scatters roses through the blooming land;@And every ringlet of her glossy hair@Is trusted to some Love's peculiar care.@Her speech the songs of other Nymphs excels,@And on her lips persuasion blushing dwells;@Her smiles are as the streaming pow'rs of Light,@Which cheer and gild the rugged Front of Night.@To the quick Pipe and Tabor's lively sounds,@High as the Hind or Mountain Roe, she bounds;@And if to solemn Notes the cadence flow,@Stately she moves, majestically slow.@Deaf the prais'd ear-yet Modesty must own@The Female Archer by these Marks is known."@ Miss Wilford was the Female Archer.] Receipts: #151 13s. 6d.(Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid Fisher for tunes and use of the organ in Love in the City #1 (Account Book). Could not get into the Pit, 2s. Gallery or the slips at Covent Garden (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #228 19s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd of Bickerstaff for a fair copy for the prompter for Love in the City #1 1s. Paid Bickerstaff the balance of his night 24 Feb., #6 6s. (Account Book). Receipts: #224 17s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Redman, Miss Besford, Dumay, Mrs Naylor, Curtat. Tickets deliver'd for All for Love will be taken. [The Account Book has crossed out The Jovial Crew and indicated the performance of The Beggar's Opera.] Charges #64 10s. Deficit to the 5 beneficiaries #7 4s. 7 1!2d. apiece, covered by income from tickets: Redman #32 11s. (Box 38; Pit 83; Gallery 106); Besford #18 1s. (Box 23; Pit 42; Gallery 60); Dumay #62 9s. (Box 165; Pit 88; Gallery 80); Mrs Naylor #30 17s. (Box 39; Pit 90; Gallery 76); Curtat #18 16s. (Box 12; Pit 68; Gallery 56). Sarjant and Condell paid up their deficiencies. Receipts: #28 7s