Event Comment: Benefit for Will Hill. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire of his friends. N.B. The Gentlemen are desired to meet Mr Hill after the Play at the Rose Tavern, Temple Bar. [He had advertised since 15 April that "Gentlemen and Ladies who intend to honour him with their presence," should take tickets at: the Thatched House, St. James's St; Jack Bridell's, the One Tun in the Strand; Half moon in Holborn; Rose, Temple Bar; King's Head, in the Poultry; Castle, Lombard St; Bell, East cheap; King's Head, Tower Hill, Rummer, Bishopsgate St; West India and Jerusalem Coffee Houses near the Royal Exchange; Chapman's, Swordcutler, in Exchange Alley; and at Will Hill's Lodgings, Mr Geves's in Abchurch Lane.

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer and Shuter. Last time of acting mainpiece this season. Tickets of Hobson at the stage Door. At Sadler's Wells near Islington will this day be opened a Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music, divided into two parts; the vocal parts to be perform'd by Hemskirk, Bell, Mrs Yates, and Mrs Hooper. Between the two parts of the concert will be introduced several curious Performances, among which will be a fine representation of the Italian Shadows, which have not been performed in England these 30 years. The whole to conclude with a Grand piece of Fireworks, decorated with machinery and paintings entirely new, Each person to be admitted for a pint of Wine. To begin at 5 o'clock (General Advertiser). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: [The theatres this night met competition from (I) an Assembly at the king's Theatre in the Haymarket, tickets 26s. each, to admit one Gentleman and two ladies. (2) another Assembly at the Five Bells Tavern, behind the New Church, in the Strand, where was opened the Temple of Taste, where will be exhibited a grand concert of Music. Also an attempt towards the Introduction of a new rational entertainment, consisting of an Occasional Prologue by a Gentleman; a panegyric on the Utility of Public Speaking, in which the Design is particularly illustrated; Propositions made from a Gentleman in the Chair, to be debated by the company, such as the Gay and Polite may be supposed to understand, and speak upon with success; to conclude with an Original Epilogue; the whole interspers'd with several grand concertos, Overtures, and Full pieces of Musick. This design, which has for its object the interest of Knowledge, Eloquence and Politeness, needs no Apology, and can be opposed by those, with whom to be at variance, is Virtue. No subject of so Sacred Nature as Religion, will be there canvass'd nor anything that can give Occasion to Indecency, or unmannerly reflection on any Undertaking or Party.-In this attempt all Men of Taste are interested, as they will have an opportunity not only of being pleased, but giving pleasure by considering every subject with candour, and reasoning upon it, with Eloquence and propriety. To this entertainment, the Ladies are likewise invited, who have an unexceptionable right to be present at all Attempts, calculated for the promotion of knowledge, and as their appearance will naturally secure polite behavior, so they may reap some advantage from the Circulation of ideas, which is such an Assembly must necessarily take place. The price of entrance-half a crown each. To begin precisely at seven. The room which is very commodious, will be elegantly illuminated. The SUBJECT for the first Night's Debate will be, "If the Custom of Portioning Daughters was entirely suppress'd, would it not be a good Expedient towards the promotion of Matrimony and the felicity of that state." It continued on four Wednesday nights. Then seems to have died.

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of his Majesty. [The Assembly at the Temple of Taste in the Five Bell's tavern (see 20 Feb.) received a puff this day: 'On Thursday Night there was a brilliant appearance of Ladies and Gentlemen, at the opening of the Temple of Taste, who express'd much Satisfaction at the entertainment they met with, which was not only instructive, but extremely polite and pleasing; if any Complaint was made, it was that (nothwithstanding is lasted full three hours) instead of being tir'd with the Performance, as at many Publick exhibitions, they seem'd to think they had too little of it; As we are always glad to embrace any Opportunity of shewing our zeal for the Service of the Publick, we can but applaud an Undertaking than which nothing appears more rational and better calculated for the general good" (General Advertiser).

Event Comment: Benefit Decay'd and Antient Masons. The Brothers are desir'd to meet at the Day of Performance at the Five Bells Tavern in the Strand, at 4 p.m. Tickets to be had of Mr Lauder at the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pritchard (Cross). Mainpiece: Not acted these 30 years. This day publish'd. Price 1s. Reflections upon Theatrical Expression in Tragedy. [By Roger Pickering. This is a defense of the theatrical profession, "which in all countries is considered low and contemptible." Author's thesis: "A master of theatrical expression in all its extensive significancy must be possess'd of such accomplishments, as to set the profession above all contempt." Garrick is mentioned as best example. True tragic expression "requires Genius, Education, Reading, Experience...and a solidity of thought which never accompanies abject morals" (p. 11). Includes an interesting treatise on acting-sections on figure, voice, ear, memory, management of feet and legs. Comments on costume: "Taste in dress demands that an actor be conversant in the mode of dress ancient and modern, in other countries as well as in our own...Alexander and Cato were not masters of the snuff box, nor Greek women of French heels." The appendix asks why all our plays are not dressed in character in point of time and place, and why they do not contain at least one "scene" proper to the country. The author (p. 61) sees need for variety in acting same role, especially when a play has a continuous run of several nights. He calls (p. 77) for creation of appropriate mood for the play by selection of proper music between the acts. Wants a softening of the prompter's bell. Concludes by damning contemporary audience manners, especially those of the stage loungers (pp. 79-81).] Receipts: #314 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. Books of the afterpiece to be had at the Theatre. Afterpiece: Founded on the plan of the old Ballad of that name. The songs adapted to old English, Irish and Scotch tunes. [Shuter's Prologue is Larpent MS 218, wherein he enters in character of a Ballad singer, interrupting the music as the overture comes to a close. He sings snatches from some ten old ballads, stopping in the midst of each to comment on the superiority of modern circumstances which parallel those referred to in the old ballads. As the bell rings he introduces the afterpiece.

Event Comment: [G$Genest, V, 119, suggests The Deuce is in Him for afterpiece with King as Prattle and Miss Reynolds as Bell. Treasurer's Book, however, states Queen Mab. Cunning Man-deferred. Mrs Arne Ill. Wonder reviv'd after two years. See 13 May 1765.] Receipts: #103 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid James Amson for a set of China for Love in the City, #11 2s. 11d. (Account Book). Receipts: #115 13s. 6d. (Account Book). [On 5 March appeared in the Public Advertiser the following squib]: To the Author of Love in the City. @If e'er again thy Muse engage@To laugh at Folly on the Stage,@Let Cockneys 'scape the stroke@Since 'tis with Men of Sense a Rule@That of all Fools, the Bo-Bell Fool@Can least endure a Joke. A.

Event Comment: Paid the person for performing the Bells 4 nights #1 10s. [in Jubilee?] (Account Book). Receipts: #242 8s

Event Comment: Paid Henry Williams for performing the Bells #1 10s. (Account Book). Receipts: #210 11s

Event Comment: Paid Wm Gard for performing in the Lyon 12 Nights #1 10s. Paid Thomas Singleton for the same #1 10s.; Paid Henry Williams for performing the Bells 4 nights #1 10s. (Account Book). [Epilogue is Larpent MS 306.] Receipts: #194 2s

Event Comment: LLalauze stated he had been 42 years an inhabitant of this country,--retained by Rich 32 years, who promis'd him an annuity of #50 a year whenever he was incapable of performing. This was not in his Will but the Executors allowed it him 3 years. Having sold the property they discontinued it; The new parties engag'd him last year but they would not this season. So Foote gave him the House of 14 Feb. at Haymarket gratis (Winston MS 10). Paid Henry Williams for performing the Bells 4 nights #1 10s. Paid Wm Gard 4 nights in the Lyon 10s.--and Thos Singleton for same 10s. (Account Book). Receipts: #188 13s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A tragedy [by John Hoole] never performed. Paid Williams for performing the Bells 3 nights #1 2s. 6d.; Paid Gard and Singleton each 7s. 6d. for performing 3 nights in the Lyon (Account Book). [Mainpiece reviewed in the Freeholder's Magazine, March.] Receipts: #227 6s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. [See 7 May 1766.] Charges #74 4s. Balance to Woodward #82 7s. plus income from 190 Box tickets, #47 10s.; Paid Williams 3 nights performing the Bells, #1 2s. 6d., and Gard & Singleton 3 nights for perfoming in the Lyon 7s. 6d. each (Account Book). Receipts: #156 11s

Event Comment: Benefit for Miles. Charges #73 16s. Balance to Miles #47 14s. plus #119 7s. from tickets (Box 226; Pit 331; Gallery 132). Williams, Gard & Singleton rec'd customary Pay for performing the Bell and the lion in the Pantomime [see 15 Feb.] (Account Book). Receipts: #121 10s

Event Comment: Last time of performing this season. Williams for performing the Bells 7s. 6d.; Gard and Singleton 2s. 6d. each for performing in the lion. LeLewes and Quick paid up deficiencies for last season, and Ansell and Green theirs for the 26th inst. (Account Book). Receipts: #155 17s

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. Mainpiece: Reviv'd not acted for 30 years [see 21 Jan. 1742]. [Bell's Shakespeare, 1773 (probably revised by Hull) has same cast plus some additions. See Hogan.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Comic Opera altered [by Colman] from Gay. The Music entirely new by Dr Arne. Now acted for the first time in 2 Acts. [The 1776 Edition in Bell's British Theatre lists: Achilles-Bellamy; Diphilus-$Dyer; Ajax-$Dunstall; Ulysses-$Owenson; Diomedes-$Fox; Argytes-$Baker; Deidamia-$Mrs Mattocks; Artemona-$Miss Brown; Philoe-$Miss Valois; Thetis-$Miss Catley. [$Miss Pearce">Mattocks; Peripas-$Reinhold; Lycomedes-$DuBellamy; Diphilus-$Dyer; Ajax-$Dunstall; Ulysses-$Owenson; Diomedes-$Fox; Argytes-$Baker; Deidamia-$Mrs Mattocks; Artemona-$Miss Brown; Philoe-$Miss Valois; Thetis-$Miss Catley. [$Miss Pearce may have played Lesbia).] Paid Banks for the Head of a Figure used in The Fair #1 1s.; Paid Mr Gard for performing 5 nights in the Fair and 3 in the Sorcerer #1. Paid Joseph Besford for performing 5 nights in the Fair 12s. 6d. (Account Book). [Afterpiece unfavorably reviewed in the Westminster Magazine.] Receipts: #149 18s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid for 2 extra Flutes & Guitars (29 ultimo incl.) #2 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [This month was published Bell's edition of Shakespeare's acting plays, 'as performed at the Theatres Royal in London, requlated from the Prompt Books of each House, by permission of the managers, with notes critical and illustrative by the author of the Dramatic Censors, 5 vols. 12 mo. Price 15s."] Receipts: #246 6s. (Treasurer's Book)