Event Comment: As alter'd by Mr Dryden and Sir William Davenant, from Shakespear. Last night the Play of the Tempest, with all the Musick and Decorations belonging to it, was perform'd at the New Wells in Goodman's Fields.--Daily Advertiser, 15 Feb

Event Comment: HHorace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann, 29 March: The Town flocks to a new play of Thomson's call'd Tancred and Sigismunda: it is very dull: I have read it. I cannot bear modern poetry; these refiners of the purity of the stage, and of the incorrectness of English verse, are most woefully insipid. -Toynbee, Letters of Horace Walpole, II, 82

Event Comment: Will be perform'd several new exercises of Rope Dancing and Tumbling, by M. Duge, Vangable and others, divided into two Parts. Boxes [as 26 Dec. 1744]. Between the two Parts of the Exercises will be given gratis the Tempest as alter'd by Mr Dryden and Sir William Davenant from Shakespear. 7 p.m

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd by Roger, Marr, Leigh, &c for Sir Courtly Nice will be taken. [Absence of additional parts in advance bill of 5 April suggests cutting of them in acting text.

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Davis will be taken. [Bransby doubled in Oxford and Tyrrel. The General Advertiser quoted a long Epilogue on the Birthday of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland Written by the Farmer (who had taken over the role of Swift's Drapier) and spoken by Garrick in Dublin. It also quoted the following long puff for Ray's Benefit to come]: Sir, As long acquaintance best entitles us to friendly good natured offices, and as no more proper time can be found to confer them than when the person is in the Decline of life, give me leave to recommend (thro' your means) Mr Ray of Drury Lane Theatre, the oldest actor now belonging to that House, to the Favour of the Town, at his ensuing Benefit next Saturday. A person who once agreeably entertained the Public, should always feel the warmth of their Indulgence, tho' the Infirmities of Old age may have render'd him less pleasing than formerly. This Application is therefore meant to those friends of his, whom Distance of time, and change of Situation may have made it impossible any other way to acquaint them, that The Merchant of Venice is to be acted for his Benefit on Saturday next; therefore 'tis hoped they will be so kind as to send for his Tickets to Mr Hobson, in the Playhouse Passage, or to Mr Ray's lodgings, the second Door in Queen's Court, Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields, and the Favour will ever be greatly acknowledged by him

Event Comment: This Day at Noon, exactly at Twelve o'Clock...Mr Foote begs the favour of his Friends to come and drink a Dish of Chocolate with him; and 'tis hoped there will be a great deal of good company, and some joyous Spirits; he will endeavour to make the Morning as Diverting as possible. (Tickets for the Entertainment to be had at George's Coffee House, Temple Bar, without which no Person will be admitted.--Daily Advertiser, 24 April only.) Any Gentlemen or Lady, with or without Tickets, will be admitted. Sir Dilberry Diddle will be there and Lady Betty Frisk has absolutely promised. [Repeated 27 April.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Horton. [A "puff" for Leveridge's forthcoming benefit (31 March) in a letter to the General Advertiser, followed by 3 stanzas of verse]: Sir, The Remembrance of the pleasure I have often receiv'd, in a series of years, by hearing Mr Leveridge's Performances on the stage, occasion'd the following Lines: which however artless they are wrote, will I dare say give no offense to the good natur'd part of Mankind. I am your constant reader. T.H.: @I Whilst Garrick justly claims applause,@Old Leveridge humbly sues,@That you'll not quite neglect his cause@Nor now his suit refuse.@Whilst youthful vigor tun'd his voice@With song he rais'd the heart;@To cheer that voice, now chilled with Age@Becomes a noble part.@Then shew that faithful service past@Your thoughts does still employ;@And by your num'rous Presence grac'd@Revive old age with joy.

Event Comment: To the Author of the General Advertiser: Sir: I beg leave by means of your paper, to acquaint the friends of Tom Harbin, that he intends shortly to have a Benefit at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden: Having in consequebce of the advice of many of them, apply'd himself to Mr Rich, on that account who very generously and readily said he would contribute anything in his power to serve him; and as one night of the week might be better than another, (as his Interest lay) he gave him his choice, whereupon he chose Wednesday, as being a night of most leisure amongst people eminent in trade, on whom the city depends. He persuades himself that those who have laughed with him, will not laugh at him for requesting a favour (which his circumstances could never be supposed to put him above accepting) from persons of affluent fortunes, which the generality of his friends are; and who Experienc'd good nature, he doubts not, will serve him on this occasion. In a few days Publick notice will be given of the time, the Play, &c. I am &c. Jack Friendly, Grigsby's Coffee House, Nov. 7, 1748. [See General Advertiser, 8 Nov. See also 14 Dec.

Event Comment: Published at 1s. 6d. Romeo and Juliet, revised by Theo. Cibber, first rev[ived] in Sept. 1744 at the Theatre in the Haymarket. Now acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Great objects only strike the Gen'rous Heart@Praise the Sublime, o'er look the Mortal Part@Be there your judgment, Here your Candor shown@Small is our Portion-and we wish 'Twere none.-Prologue to Comus alter'd, &c. To which is added a Serio-Comic Apology for part of the life of Theophilus Cibber, Comedian, written by himself. Interspers'd with Memoirs and Anecdotes relating to the Stage managements, Theatrical Resolutions, &c., also Cursory Observations on some Pribcipal players. Particularly, Mr Quin, Ryan, Delane, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Ward, Miss Bellamy, Mr Garrick, Barry, Mrs Cibber, Mrs Clive, Mrs Pritchard and others. Likewise Original Letters that passed between the late Sir Thomas deVeil and Mr Theophilus Cibber relating to the Stage Act. "Each Puny Critic can Objections raise@The Greatest still is Knowing when to praise,"-Buckingham. Concluding with a Copy of Verses called The Contrite Comedian's Confession. Printed for C. Corbett &c. (General Advertiser). [This pamphlet details Cibber's troubles with Fleetwood during the years 1743-46.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); #151 11s. (Powel)

Event Comment: To the Printer of the General Advertiser, &c Sir: Imagine a heart satisfy'd beyond its wishes, and overflowing with gratitude; conceive this to be your situation, and then help me to words to empress my feeling. [Tom Harbin inserted a long letter of thanks to the numerous audience wnich appeared at his benefit the night before.

Event Comment: Benefit for Delane. To Mr H-. Sir: A Number of your Friends have wished to see performed the Oratorio of Joshua, which, if you would direct to be performed this season, would be much gratified, and in particular, Your Humble Servant, A Virtuoso (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit Sir Gregory Gazette and his Son Tim, viz. Messrs. Shuter and Costollo. To begin exactly half an hour after six. Prices: 4s., 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d

Event Comment: Les Comediens Francais representeront aujourdhui...par Suscription. [To begin at six o'clock.Prices: 5s., 3s., 2s. Mainpiece]: Comedie du Nouveau Theatre Italien. [Afterpiece]: Opera comique. On Tuesday night there was a great Disturbance...at the French Play, it being the Night of Opening; the first Act was very much disturbed and some Persons were wounded (Daily Advertiser, 16 Nov.). [Same paper carries advertisement offering reward for identification of five or six men who had assaulted a person in the gallery; "they seemed to come from the upper Side-Boxes on the right Hand of the Stage; they were of the first Party that came into the Gallery with Swords."] Whereas it has been maliciously reported...that I [Lord Trentham] was active in the Disturbance...last Tuesday Night: I do declare...that I was neither in the Pit nor Gallery where the Disturbance happened during the Time of Performance...nor was I present at the first and chief Disturbance (Daily Advertiser, 20 Nov.). [Lord Trentham was at the time running against Sir George Vandeput for parliament. The latter led by 100-150 votes until the very last moment when Trentham won by 175. A recount was called for.

Event Comment: By Desire. Paid salary list #305; Rec'd Cash #142 12s. plus #24 4s.; in tickets. Total #166 16s. Paid for the making a Robe for Mrs Clive by Garrick's order #1 2s. 6d.; Paid Mr Oram (Scene painter) on acct #6 6s. by order of Lacy; for a Great coat for Sir Francis Wronghead by order of Lacy 14s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #180 (Cross); #156 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Afterpiece [written by Mrs Clive]: A new farce partly singing, part speakg. Went off well (Cross). Music by Dr Boyce. Five rows of Pit &c. [Stage arranged as on 10 March. The framework for financial analysis of receipts appears in Treasurer's Book, but the figures are missing. The parts for The Rehearsal, according to the Larpent MS 86, were: Mrs Hazard, Nelly, Tom, Witling, Mr Cross; Miranda-$Miss Norris; Corydon-$Beard; Marcella, Miss Giggle, Sir Albany Odelove, Miss Sidell, Miss Daudle.] Receipts: #240 (Cross); charges, #60 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: TThe Sorcerer, a Pantomime Entertainment, originally performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, is preparing, with alterations, at Covent Garden (The scenes painted by Mr Lambert) and will be performed one day next week. [Another letter appeared in the General Advertiser on innocent entertainment for the lower classes (see 29 Jan. 1752), but severely criticized the existence of Prize fights, Cock-pits, and Gambling houses as the real nuisances and nurseries of theft and disorder."] It is whispered that the Townwill shortly be entertained with a phenomenon of the Monosyllable Fun,--the match between Sir Alexander Drawcansir, Kent. and their Lownesses of Grub Street, being certainly to be decided on the Stage; great bets depending on this Battle, it is thought the Knowing ones will be taken in (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Continued (by adjourment). Veniam quocumque vocaris, a properer motto for the Inquisitor than that he has chosen, being in English nothing more than, coming Sir. After the Inquiry the following questions will be debated: Whether these Argumentative Societies are useful of pernicious to the public, and if the former, Whether the superintendance of them should be given to the Inquisitor, Dr R-, or Tiddy Doll, being three gentlemen who have eloquently distinguished themselves from the Tub, Chaise, and Barrow. [Macklin was advertising at his Great Room Tit for Tat, with a trial of Sam. Smatter for a dramatic cheat and imposter.

Event Comment: To the Printer of the Public Advertiser: Sir, On seeing the Burletta of Galligantus at the little theatre in the Haymarket, I was agreeably surprised to see a performance of the kind carried on in so genteel a manner, no way inferior to any opera; and after the nicest inspection of the whole performance, I have the pleasure to inform the Nobility, Gentry, &c., I found all the performers were English, their Dresses very completely adapted, their voices excellent, and their actions quite genteel and comic, their music charming and set without the assistance of any Foreigner, it being composed by Mr J@@D@@, a Native of Ireland, whose excellency in that art needs no encomium. I am, yours A True Briton

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire.Afterpiece: Never perform'd before. Ladies and Servants by 3 o'clock. Part of Pit laid into boxes; No Building on Stage. [See Theatrical Review; or, Annals of the Drama, 1763, 1 April, pp. 142-46, for critique of the Sketch of a Fine Lady's Return from a Rout. Rather damns the writing and the performance on all counts, Moody's part being so bad, to save his face he commenced Hibernian in his dialogue" to amuse the ears of his audience. The parts are listed in Larpent MS 220: Sir Gregory Jenkings, Mr Nettle (a Lawyer), 1st Clerk, 2nd Clerk, Porter, Footmen, Lady Jenkings, Nancy Jenkings, Fanny Jenkings, Jane (Lady's Maid).

Event Comment: Benefit for the Colleges of Philadelphia and New York. Mainpiece a Sacred Ode written by Dr Brown set to select Airs, Duets and Choruses from Mr Handel, and other Eminent Composers, with the addition of several new songs. Pit and Boxes to be put together. No Persons to be admitted without tickets, which will be deliver'd at the Office of the theatre at 1!2 a Guinea each; and also at the following Coffee House, viz: the Smyrna, Pall Mall; the Mount, Grosvenor St; George's, Temple Bar; the Rainbow, Cornhill, the New York, Sweetings's Alley; and the Pennsylvania, Birchin Lane. First Gallery 5s. Second Gallerp 3s. 6d. Galleries to be opened at half past Four, Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at 1!2 after Six (playbill). This philanthropic enterprise, of which the theatrical benefit was but a part, seems not to have born much fruit for the respective Colleges. See Letter to the Governors of the Colleges of New York, respecting the Collection that was made in the Kingdom in 1762 and 1763, for the Colleges of Philadelphia and New York, to which are added Explanatory notes and appendix. By Sir James Jay, M. D. (London, 1771). The funds collected seem largely to have been used up in a law suit. The Governor of the College of New York, Rev. Dr Johnson, asked Jay to collect funds, which he did. Alderman Trecothick wrote Dr Johnson that the funds were not safe in Jay's hands. The Governors insulted Jay, and when they found they were wrong refused to apologize. They entered a bill against him in Chancery to gain the funds. It dragged out for four years. When the power of Attorney had been given to Trecothick, he claimed that a sum of #1437 15s. 6d. was unaccounted for by Jay, and was supposed to be in Jay's hands. Jay explained the Governors had not reckoned on reimbursement for his time and expenses for two years.

Event Comment: Benefit for Rooker, and Saunderson (machinist). No Building on Stage. [The Theatrical Review; or, Annals of the Drama (Volunteer Manager section for 1 May 1763, p. 212) comments upon a stage tradition of having the Mouse Trap" Play presented on stage with the players' backs to Claudius and Gertrude. The author wishes Garrick and Beard to revise this absurdity and bring the whole in more accord with reality. The same paper criticises Mrs Cibber as Ophelia. "I hope you will not let so flagrant an outrage to the decorum of the stage as the following pass unnoticed. As [Mrs Cibber] sat upon the stage, with Hamlet at her feet, in the third act, she rose up three several times, and made as many courtiess, and those very low ones, to some ladies in the boxes. Pray good Sir, ask her in what part of the play it is said that the Danish Ophelia is acquainted with so many British Ladies?" See similar comment on her Belvidera, 17 March 1760.