Event Comment: Benefit for the Widow of the Late Chapman. Tickets deliver'd out by the Widow Johnson and Mrs Wallis will be taken. Yesterday Morning died Mr John Laguerre, an eminent Painter belonging to the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden; a facetious companion, universally esteemed in every Scene of Life! (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Gift for ye Sufferers by ye fire in Cornhill (Cross). [A column and a half "Letter to the Author" appeared in the General Advertiser this day, laying historical background for Ford's Lover's Melancholy]. The history of the stage before the Restoration is like a Foreign Land, in which no Englishman had ever travelled; we know there were such things as Playhouses, and one Shakespear a great writer, but the historical traces of them are so imperfect, that the manner in which they existed is less known to us, than that of Eschylus or the theatres of Greece. For this reason, 'tis hoped that the following Gleaning of Theatrical History will readily obtain a place in your paper. 'Tis taken from a Pamphlet written in the reign of Charles I, with this quaint title, "Old Ben's Light Heart made heavy by young John's Melancholly Lover"; and as it contains some historical anecdotes and altercations concerning Ben Johnson, Ford, Shakespear, and the Lover's Melancholy it is imagined that a few extracts from it at this juncture, will not be unentertaining to the Public. [The substance of the remainder retails Jonson's critical cantankerousness and his wounded pride at the failure of the New Inn, quoting some epigrams made at Jonson's expense on his allegation that Ford was a plagiary. This second "puff" for the play, presumably also written by Macklin, formed the basis for a Steevens-Malone controversy late in the century, centering on the existence or nonexistence of the pamphlet referred to by Macklin as "Old Ben's Light Heart made Heavy, &c." A summary account of the evidence appears in the Dramatic Works of John Ford, by Henry Weber (Edinburgh, 1811) I, Intro. XVI, XXXI.] Receipts: #210 (Cross); #208 1s. (Powel)

Event Comment: [See Occasional Prologue spoken at cg by Mr Barry (28 Sept. 1750): @When vice and folly overruns the state,@Weak politicians lay the blame on fate...@If Shakespeare's Passion, or if Johnson's art@Can fire your fancy, or can warm your heart,@That task be ours;--but if you damn, their scenes@And heroes must give way to Harlequins.@We too can have recourse to Mime and Dance@Nay there I think we have the better chance;@And should the town grow weary of the Mute@Why--we'll produce--a Child upon the flute@ This infant piper referred to again satirically in a Guide to the Stage, 2nd ed., 1751, p. 7.] Rec'd of Mr Warner for arrears at his Benefit 16 May last, #5 14s. As this belong'd to last season's Account, I shall make an allowance, and accordingly subtract it from the sum total (Powel). Receipts: #70 (Cross); #92 12s. (Powel)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Written by Ben Johnson. Receipts: #110 (Cross); #100 17s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: Tomorrow will be publish'd, at 1s. 6d. Irene. A Tragedy, acted at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, by Mr Samuel Johnson, Printed for R. Dodsley in Pall Mall, and sold by M. Cooper in Paternoster Row. [In 1749 was published an Essay on Tragedy, with a Critical Examen of Mahomet and Irene (T. P. Barton@Collection, Boston Public Library).

Event Comment: Benefit for Simpson, Raftor, Usher. Tickets and places of Hobson at the stage door. Receipts: #180 (Cross); charges, #63 (Powel). [This month, the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books listed as published Remarks on Three Plays of B. Johnson, viz: The Fox, Silent Woman, and Alchymist, by James Upton.] This week will be published The Hen Peck'd Captain,...as it was intended to be acted...on Saturday last. Taken from The Campaigners; or, the pleasant Adventures at Brussels with a Preface by R. Cross, prompter (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Ben Johnson. Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: BBarry's Occasional Prologue printed in the General Advertiser.@ When Vice or Folly over-runs a State@Weak Politicians lay the blame on Fate.@When Rulers useful subjects cease to prize,@'And damn for arts that caus'd themselves to rise:'@When jealousies and fears possess the throne,@And kings allow no merit--but their own,@Can it be strange that men for flight prepare,@And strive to raise a Colony elsewhere?@This custom has prevail'd in every Age,@And has been sometime practis'd on the Stage.@ For--Entre Nous--these Managers of Merit,@Who fearless arm,--"and take the Field with Spirit,"@Have curb'd as Monarchs with their haughty Mien,@And Herod--have out Heroded--within (Pointing to the Green Room)@O! they can torture twenty-thousand ways:@Make bouncing Bajazet retreat from Bayes.@The Ladies too with every power to charm@Whose face and fire an anchorite might warm@Have felt the fury of the Tyrant's arm.@By selfish arts expell'd our ancient Seat,@In search of Candour--and in search of Meat,@We, from your favour, hope for this retreat.@If Shakespear's passion, or if Johnson's art@Can fire the Fancy, or can warm the heart,@That task be ours;--But if you damn their scenes@And heroes must give way to Harlequins,@We too, can have recourse to mime and dance,@Nay, there I think, we have the better chance,@And should the Town grow weary of the Mute,@Why--we'll produce a Child upon the flute.@But be the food as 'twill, 'tis you that treat!@Long have they feasted--permit us now to eat!

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By particualr Desire. Written by Ben Johnson. The Alchymist being desired for this day, the Way of the World is oblig'd to be deferr'd till tomorrow, and Macbeth till Friday. Receipts: #80 (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: Not acted in 5 years. [See 11 Dec. 1744. For further comment on Dexter, see Genest, IV, p. 341.] One Mr Dexter did Oroonoko , a Gent of Ireland--who never appear'd upon a Stage before--he had ye Greatest applause ever heard & indeed deservedly a Sweet Voice, great feeling--his name was not in ye Bills--only by a Gent (Cross). We hear that a Comedy call'd Eastward Hoe; or, The Prentices, written by Ben Johnson, Chapman, and Marston, is now reviving at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, and will be acted the 29th. [A four page double column account of the text of Oroonoko appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine, 1752, pp. 163-67.] Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: The Tragedy of Phaedra and Hippolitus, written by Smith; and the Comedy call'd Every Man in his Humour written by Ben Johnson, are now reviving at the theatre Royal in Drury Lane. and will be acted there alternately next week. Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: This day is publish'd Every Man in His Humour, a Comedy written by Ben Johnson, with Alterations and Additions (as it was performed at Drury Lane). Printed for J. and R. Tonson in the Strand. Receipts: #200 (Cross)