Event Comment: Benefit for Hobson. Tickets and places of Hobson at the stage door of the Theatre.
Presentment of the Grand Juryv
for the
County of Middlesex: We the
Grand Jury sworn to enquire
for our Sovereign Lord The
King, and the body of this county, have observed from most of the presentments delivered to us by the Constables of this County, that they have been, as we apprehend and fear, very remiss in their duty, by returning their several districts to be quiet and in good order. Whereas the contrary does most manifestly appear, in many instances as well from the accounts or advertisements we read in the daily Papers, printed and dispersed within the County (inviting and seducing, not only the inhabitants, but also all other persons, to several places kept apart
for the encouragement of Luxury, Extravagance, and Idleness, and we fear other wicked, illegal purposes, which by such means go on with impunity, to the destruction of many families) as otherwise to the great Dishonour of the Kingdom...especially at a time when we are engaged in expensive Wars, and so much overburdened with Taxes of all sorts, both Parliamentary and Parochial, that it is much as a prudent man can do, without a taste to extravagant and illegal pleasure to support himself and family according to his degree and station in life under the most regular economy. [If unchecked this bad example will lead to National destruction]. We do accordingly hereby present as places riotous, of great extravagance, luxury, idleness, and ill fame, the several house &c following: [lists two gambling houses, then the Proprietors of the avenues leading to the several playhouses
for not preventing wicked loose and disorderly persons from loitering at the front of their several houses on nights of the play to the prejudice of playgoers.] 4.
Saddlers Wells, near
Islington; 5. New Wells,
Goodman's Fields; 6.
New Wells,
Clerkenwell; 7. The Proprietors of a Place call'd
Hallam's New Theatre at
Mayfair. Prays that the court will close all listed. N.B. Many people believed that after this presentment, the places mentioned would be shut up or re
formed, but they advertise and continue the same diversions as be
fore.-
Gentlemen's Magazine (May, 1744), pp. 278-79