Event Comment: Benefit for Ray, W. Vaughan, G. Burton & ye Sub-Treasurer (Cross). Tickets of Ray, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, St Clement's Church; at the Black Swan Tavern, in Bartholomew Lane; the Old King's Head Tavern, Facing Somerset House; For Vaughan, at the One Ton Coffee House, St. James' Market; for Burton, at Pope's next the Stage Door, Russel St.; and of Hobson at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd for the Lady's Last Stake, or the Wife's Resentment will be taken. Receipts: #214 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for one Barry a Jeweller (Cross). A Charity Play, recommended by the City of London for Barry, Jeweller in Salisbury Court (being in great distress). Tickets at Grigsby's, Shadwell's, Janeway's and Sam's Coffee Houses by the Royal Exchange; Peele's, Nando's Anderton's and Temple Exchange in Fleet St., Marsh's Coffee House in Silver St., and at the stage door. Stage will be form'd into an Amphitheatre (General Advertiser). Mr Reinhold dy'd (Cross). A man no less admired for his private character than his publick performance. He has left behind him a Wife and Four small children in great distress; for the relief of whom the Managers of Drury Lane, and the actors have agreed to perform a play Gratis, some time next week; when it is hop'd the good nature of the publick will favour the intention of the performers. Tickets to be had of Mr Beard, at his house in North St., Red Lion Square, and at the theatre (General Advertiser, 16 May). Receipts: #60 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Macklin. Afterpiece: A Comedy in 2 acts written by Foote, with Prologue and Epilogue by him. Miss Macklin did Calista and a part in the farce,-all went well (Cross). A Comedy in answer to the French Farce A Frenchman in London, with a Dialogue Prologue, spoken by Macklin & his wife. Epilogue spoken by Miss Macklin. All by Foote. Part of Pit laid into the boxes, with an amphitheatre on stage, all at 5s. Full Prices (Winston MS 8). The Englishman at Paris has been better recev'd that I expected. Garrick, &c., &c....say kinder things of it than modesty will permit me to repeat. Upon the whole it was damnably acted, Macklin miserably imperfect in the words and in the character (a stain to Comedy). You might have seen what I meant,--an English Buck, by the power of dulness instantaneously transformed into an Irish chairman. Miss Roach, accompany'd by some frippery French woman occupy'd, to the no small scandal of the whole house, the Prince's box, whilst the duchess of Bedford &c., &c. were oblig'd to take up with seats upon the stage. The piece will be printed the 25th instant, which I will enclose to you (Samuel Foote to Mr Delaval, MS in Folger Shakespeare Library, written either 24 March, or, perhaps more likely, 24 April, since Foote states later in the letter he is leaving for foreign parts the first of May)

Event Comment: Benefit for Davies & Wife (Cross). Tickets at Davies's lodgings at Mr Evans, in Tavistock Row, Covent Garden; and at Stage Door. [The Bill announces Garrick as Lothario for last time this season.] Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for my Self & Wife, Miss Thomas had Tickets (Cross). Last time for mainpiece this season. Tickets of Cross at his house in Crown Court, Little Russel St., Covent Garden. Receipts: #195(Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Foley & Veale (Mrs Yates dy'd) (Cross). Tickets deliver'd out by Lewis and Reygle will be taken, also those deliver'd by Clough for the Provok'd Wife will be admitted. Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: This day publish'd at 3s. Printed on Five sheets of superfine paper, Five Principal Scenes in Romeo and Juliet, designed, drawn, and engraved by Mr Ant. Walker. Printed and sold by John Tinney, at the Golden Lion in Fleet St. The drawing and Engraving of the three following Plays of Shakespeare are in great forwardness, and the scenes of each play will be sold at a time: 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Merry Wives. These plates will serve for Mr Pope's edition of Shakespeare in quarto, Sir Thomas Hanmer's edn. 6 Vol. quarto, or for any of the Folio editions. And may be framed and glazed for furniture. There will be a few sets neatly coloured for Gentlemen and Ladies who chuse them so (Public Advertiser). [A set of these prints is available in the Folger Shakespeare Library. The Five Principal Scenes were: The scene in Capulet's Housev where Romeo kisses Juliet 's hand; the Balcony Scenev ; the scene in which Friar Lawrence hurries the young couple off to be married; the Apothecary scenev ; and the death scenev . If, as may be, these scenes were taken from--as they were certainly stimulated by--the Barry-Nossiter production, they may present a good likness of Maria Isabella Nossiter, who so captivated London that season. If, also, they were taken from the theatre production, they give evidence that Barry used a balcony, not only a window.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Ross-Mlle Auguste had Tickets-(Cross). Tickets deliver'd out for the Provok'd Wife will be taken. Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Passerini. [From charges and countercharges published in great length in the Public Advertiser, it appears that Sga Frasi had earlier arranged to produce Samson at the King's on this night for her benefit. Learning that the subscribers to the opera season could enter on their own tickets on this night she decided to change nights to avoid any losses, only to find that her singers were engaged at one theatre or another on other nights. Meanwhile, Signor Passerini got permission to have this night scheduled at King's for his wife's benefit, and Sga Frasi lost out all around. Passerini asserted that the charge for renting the Great Room, Dean St. Soho was 5 guineas for a night.

Event Comment: Benefit for Cross & wife (Cross). Last time for mainpiece this season. Afterpiece: By Desire. Woodward's last time of performing Buck this season. Tickets of Cross at his house in Crown Court, Russel St. Receipts: #209 (Cross)

Event Comment: Last time of performing [the afterpiece] this Season. Tickets deliver'd out by Vernon, Sanderson, &c. for a Bold Stroke for a Wife will be taken this night. Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Text--Goldoni; first performance in England. Music by Sg Vinceni Ciampi. Play a New Italian Burletta. Printed books of the opera will be sold at the theatre. Ladies send servants at half three. [The Epilogue (Larpent MS 117) suggests lovemaking in crowded theatres (see 8 Jan. 1755)]: @Close pack'd they sit and woo with secret squeeze,@Attracting elbows, sympathetic knees...

Event Comment: Benefit for myself and Wife (Cross). Tickets at the Stage Door. N.B. At the desire of several Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr Cross has changed Virginia, which he had before advertised, to the above Play. Tickets delivered out for Virginia will be taken. Receipts: #147 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Simson and Wife and Mas. Simson. Tickets of Simson in Wild Passage, Wild St., near Lincoln's Inn Fields; at Grigsbys Coffee House, behind the Royal Exchange, and at stage door. Afterpiece: By particular Desire. Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Some Tickets to ye Wid Boucher &c. (Cross). Tickets deliver'd out for Provok'd Wife will be taken. Receipts: #209 (Cross)

Event Comment: [For the King (Cross). With New Music, Scenes, Machines, Habits, and other Decorations. Compos'd by Mr Noverre. All our Dancers appear. A good deal of hissing & Clapping & some Cries of No french Dancers; a great clapping too-the Dance is fine-(Mr Delaistre is a good Dancer) (Cross). [See for details of preparation, importation of dancers, especially of M Delaistre, The Chevalier Noverre, Father of Modern Ballet, Deryck Lynham (London, 1950), pp. 26-40. See also advertisement in Public Advertiser: 'Mr Noverre, whose entertainments of Dancing have been celebrated in almost all the courts of Europe, exhibits this evening his Chinese Festival at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, in pursuance of a contract made above a year ago with the managers of the said theatre: The Insinuation that at this time, an extraordinary number of French dancers are engaged, is groundless, there being at Drury Lane at present as few of that nation, as any other theatre now has, or perhaps ever had. Mr Noverre and his brothers are Swiss, of a protestant family in the Canton of Berne, his wife and her sisters Germans; there are above sixty performers concerned in the entertainment; more than forty of which are English, assisted only be a few French (five men and four women) to complete the Ballet as usual. As the intention of the Managers on this occasion is to give Variety to Entertainments of the town, it is not doubted it will meet with public approbation.'] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Last night the Prince of Wales, Prince Edward, Prince Henry, Prince Frederick, and Princess Augusta were at Covent Garden to see The Merry Wives of Windsor and The What D'ye Call It (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: MMr Vernon play'd his Wife's part & was well receiv'd (Cross). [The Public Advertiser, however, carried her name in the play notice.] Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for myself & Wife (Cross). Last time of performing the afterpiece this season. Tickets of Cross at Crown-Court, Russel St., Covent Garden, &c. Receipts: #256 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Lying In Hospital, Aldersgate St. Receipts: #76 15s. Income from Tickets #80 11s. (boxes 114; pit 273; gallery 111). Charges #84 (Account Book). Tomorrow the First Part of King Henry IV. [A long plea for attendance at this performance appeared in the Public Advertiser: "It affords me the greatest satisfaction when I peruse your paper, and find so many advertisements for charitable Benefits at the Theatres; which must greatly add to the Entertainment of the Stage, when we are sensible that the profits are to be appropriated towards the relief and support of the Indigent and distress'd; for the refief of whom, it must (at the same time it gives us secret pleasure) raise the astonishment of foreigners to see so many charitable piles raise their benevolent roofs in and about this great Metroplis. Amongst which I must beg leave to recommend to the Public, the City of London Lying In Hospital in Aldersgate Street (for the Benefit of which the Play of the Conscious Lovers will be performed this evening at Covent Garden); whose charitable doors have been opened for the relief of a much greater Number since the late dearth of Provisions, than its Annual Income (being supported by voluntary contributions) can possibly support, without further aid from the Public." The plea continues by emphasizing the need for expert and tender care for pregnant women, and by pointing out the satisfaction British sailors will have in knowing their wives may be delivered in this hospital.] [The Occasional Prologue (Written by Mr Lockman, Secretary to the Society of Free British Fisheries) was published in the Public Advertiser on 16 Dec.: @"Not sweeter Joy the wond'ring Indian feels,@When his far dazzling Glory Sol reveals@Than warms my heart at this auspicious Sight,@The splendid Audience of this cheerful night."@ Much emphasis on the misery of child-bearing, yet the need for a large population "to a commercial land." Also included was the Epilogue, by Lockman, "Intended for Mrs Hamilton," ending, "May each youth, here, breathe Bevil's gen'rous flame@Each virgin merit Indiana's fame."

Event Comment: On 21 March died of a Consumption, at Somerset House, Mrs George Garrick, wife of Mr George Garrick, a Lady in whom was united every amiable quality (Public Advertiser, 22 March.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Me & Wife (Cross). Afterpiece: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Receipts: #236 (Cross)

Event Comment: A Bold Stroke for a Wife, with Harlequin Sorcerer, had been advertised at the foot of the bill for 5 May, but not on 6 May