Event Comment: Benefit for the Author Tickets to be had as 9 and 14 Feb. [The Gentleman's Magazine this month gave a nine-column article to the Plan and Specimens of Irene a Tragedy by Mr Samuel Johnsin acted at Drury Lane from 6-20 February inclusive." In it plot was first retold, then excerpts from speeches were given which illustrated the beautiful expression of the moral values contained in the play: "To instance every moral which is inculcated in this performance, would be to transcribe the whole; but, however difficult I shall select a few." No comments are made upon the stage presentation, all is presented upon the basis of examination of the text. William Shenstone thought not much of it as a play. See Letter to Lady Luxborough 22 March.] Receipts: #110 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Cooke. [The Devil to Pay was advertised in today's bill, but "Mrs Clive was taken ill, the Anatomist was Play'd" (Cross). Stage and Pit arranged as of 7 March.] Tickets and places to be had of Cooke at Mr Clarke's an Upholsterer in James St., Covent Garden. Receipts. #200 (Cross); charges, #60 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for LaLauze. Mainpiece: Acted but once this season. Afterpiece: Never performed there before. In it will be introduced the Scene of Harlequin Restored. The Decorations entirely new. N.B. That the entertainment may not be interrupted in the performance, there will be no building on the Stage: And as Mr LaLauze has been at some expence in bringing this Entertainment on the stage, he humbly hopes that the Town will not take it amiss, that nothing under Full Price will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Shawford, Dickinson, and Jones. Receipts: #170 (Cross); charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Driscol, Banks, Carny, and Trott (Lobby Door Keeper). Tickets deliver'd by Elliot, Davis, Mrs Hanmore, &c will be taken

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. [Lee had returned to Covent Garden. See Winston MS 7.] Notwithstanding the reports of Mrs Cibber's Indisposition, we hear that she is not ill at Bath. We hear that the Comic part of the Little French Lawyer is alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher, and will be acted very soon at Drury Lane, the part of the little French Lawyer will be perform'd by Woodward (General Advertiser). [See 7 Oct.] Receipts: #170

Event Comment: The Farce, taken from Beaumont and Fletcher, damn'd (Cross). Acted but once, and not printed (Genest, IV, 290). Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: Paid Mrs Lambe 6 mo. interest #7 10s.; Paid Redman a Bill for writing parts 9s. 10d. Receipts: #111 14s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for James Sturgis Adams (a Person in Distress) (Cross). Gave Xmas Box to Duke's Servts #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Tickets for Boxes to be had at the following Coffee Houses, St. James, St. James's St; Somerset in the Strand; Grigsby's behind the Royal Exchange; and the Union, Cornhill. Receipts: #205 (Cross); charges, #80 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. Paid salary list #305 15s. 6d.; Mrs Hobson a bill 14s. 9d.; Paid Mr Mattocks as per order #1 1s.; Paid Mr Cartony for 12 yds. silver lace #9 12s.; Bought 12 lbs. Lampwicke #1 (Treasurer's Book). Next Monday will be reviv'd a Comedy (not acted these 30 years) call'd Friendship in Fashion, written by Otway. Receipts: #160 (Cross); #162 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Daily Advertiser: To Mr W-d, Sir, After the many defeats you have already suffer'd in the Mimical War between us, to which Ireland as well as England have been laughing witnesses; I was greatly surpris'd to hear that you again intended to provoke my future vengeance, by dressing at me in the character of Malagene, which you are to perform in the reviv'd play Friendship in Fashion. Whatever you may think, Mr W-d, these public exhibitions of particular persons by no means become the dignity of the stage, & though a disorder in my Finances may occasionally have urged me to some Pleasant attacks in this way, yet give me leave to say, I never was abandoned enough to think 'em justifiable...Your intended attack on me...as the character you are to represent is...indeed not that of the most nice Morality; who knows but that...some may cry, "Tis he from head to Foot." As you are sensible this would be doing me great Injustice, & in my present circumstances might be particularly injurious to me, I expect you will alter the Design

Event Comment: Benefit for ye Author. An apology made for Mrs Pritchard's hoarseness (Cross). Paid Calthorpe, makes 85 nights, #52 10s.; Paid Mrs Hobson for a tub 5s.; Norton 6 chorus #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #180 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bridges and Blakes. Rec'd Cash #47 3s., plus #100 4s. from tickets. Total #147 7s. (Treasurer's Book). Yesterday Morning died of a Dropsy, Mr William Mills, belonging to the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane; a person formerly well esteem'd in his profession, and if his infirmities in the latter part of his life render'd him less useful to the stage, yet he amply made amends for it, in the deserv'd character of an Honest man, and an indulgent Husband. -The Stratagem will be play'd on Sat. next, for the benefit of Mrs Mills (General Advertiser). Receipts: #160 (Cross); charges #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lawrence, Vaughan, and Green. Charges #70. Deficit covered by income from tickets: Lawrence #61 7s.; Vaughan #71 1s.; Green #57 9s. Each in addition receiv'd #10 for his attendance this season. [They were Box-Keepers.] Receipts: #17 7s

Event Comment: Benefit for the prisoners confined in the Marshalsea Prison, Southwark. Being their first application of this kind. Tickets to be had at The Marshalsea Prison, and of Hobson at the stage door. Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: [Performances] went off better. N.B. Mrs Clive spoke the Epilogue (tho' left out ye bills after ye 6th Night) every Night since ye first except those mark'd X [i.e., Oct. 24, 26, 30] it being call'd for by ye Audience (Cross). We hear M Devisse (the first dancer from the Opera at Paris) will in a few days perform at Drury Lane wiht Mlle Auretti, in a new Comic Dance, and the celebrated Dance of Pigmalion. Receipts: #70 (Cross)