Event Comment: Paid Gallini in part of his Bond #50 (Account Books, Egerton 2268). Mrs Cibber, being Indisposed with a violent Fever, which renders her incapable of performing in the Distrest Mother this day for her Benefit, she is therefore oblig'd to defer it till further Notice. On Tuesday next will be publish'd (Address'd to Mr Garrick) The Pretty Gentleman, or Softness of Manners vindicated from the False Ridicule exhibited unter the character of William Fribble, Esq:...Printed for M. Cooper in Paternoster Row. We hear the Comedy of the Suspicious Husband will be performed in a few days, and the continuance of Mr Garrick's Indisposition, rendering his appearance on the Stage entirely uncertain; the part of Ranger will be attempted by Mr Chapman.--General Advertiser

Event Comment: Benefit Yates. Main Piece never acted there. [By William Walker; see 1 Nov. 1703.

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 Quin. Play By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George, Prince Edward, Prince William, the Lady Augusta, and Lady Elizabeth. In which will be reviv'd a scene not acted these 30 years. Five rows of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes, and for the better Accomodation of the Ladies the Stage will be enclos'd and formed into an Amphitheatre, where servants will be allowed to keep places. Ladies are desired to send servants to keep places at three o'clock

Event Comment: Benefit for Sowdon. Last time of performing the Mainpiece this season. A Gent: play'd Puff in the farce--Bug (Cross). [Seems to have been a clear benefit, as Treasurer's Book lists no charges.] Cash #65 8s. 6d., plus tickets #95; Paid Reynolds for wax & [brickdust] 3s. 9d. Paid Mr Pope a Bill #7 14s. [wigmaker] (Treasurer's Book). Tickets of Sowdon at his lodgings, the Sign of the Sun, a Milliner's facing Exeter exchange in the strand, and of Hobson at the stage door. Tickets otherwise to be had at Will's Coffee House in Cornhill, and of Mr Thomas Sowdon in Blackman St., Southwark. We hear William Mills, Comedian, lies at the point of death, at his lodgings in Russell St., Covent Garden. Receipts: #170 (Cross); #160 3s. 6d. (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 Matthews and James. Rec'd Cash #44 9s., plus #116 12s. from tickets. Total #161 1s. Paid Mr Barsanti for music by order of Garrick #1 11s. 6d. Paid Mr Williams 1!2 year's rent K: passage #11 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Mr Mills bury'd at St Marks [Cross). Receipts: #160 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Palmer. Tickets at his lodgings, at Mr Watson's Linnen Draper, Corner Charles St., Covent Garden; and at Stage Door of Theatre. [Ray inserted a long plea for benefit support on the General Advertiser, saying that Mr William Barton, who keeps the Black Swan Tavern on Bartholomew Lane, will do his visiting and deliver his tickets for him since he, Ray, is so ill.] Receipts: #78 (Cross)

Event Comment: Yesterday George Frederick Handel, Esq; was couch'd by William Bromfield, Esq; Surgeon to her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, when it was thought there was all imaginable hopes of success by the Operation, which must give the greatest pleasure to all lovers of Music

Event Comment: By Command of the Prince of Wales. We hear their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Edward, Prince William, Prince Henry, Princess Augusta, and Princess Elizabeth will be this evening at Covent Garden to see the Siege of Damascus and the Italian Dancers

Event Comment: A Gentleman did Theodosius. First appearance. He played pretty (Cross). He is identified as William? Smith in Rich's Register

Event Comment: Benefit for a Gentlewoman depriv'd of Sight (her name is Ann Williams). Mrs Ridout dy'd (Cross). Part of Pit to be laid into Boxes, Amphitheatre to be formed on stage. Tickets of Mrs Sheward, at the Turk's Head in Newport St., Long Acre; Mr Dodsley, in Pall Mall; Mr Millan, at Charing Cross; Mr Millar in the Strand; Mr Newberry in St Paul's Churchyard; Mr Payne in Paternoster Row, Booksellers; and at stage door. Receipts: #260 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Ross, Wilford, Trott (Lobby Doorkeeper). Tickets deliver'd out by Williams, Mislebrook, Elliot, Hacket, and others will be taken

Event Comment: By Command of the Prince of Wales. Present Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Edward, William, Frederick. Lady Augusta, and Princess Elizabeth. Receipts: #180 1s. Bought 3 1!2 dozen Wax Candles, #5 8s. 6d. [The complete payroll was met and a balance carried over of #120 13s. 9d. as profit.] (Account Book)

Event Comment: 22 M2 March Died at his lodgings in High Holborn Leveridge in his 88th year sung d[uring] reigns of William, Anne, George I. Retired about 8 years ago, lived with daughters (Winston MS 8). [See Cross' note, 4 Feb. 1755.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Unhappy Sufferers by the late Dreadful Fire in King's Stredt, Covent Garden (playbill). We gave our Night's pay for ye Sufferers by the fire in King's Street Covent Garden Sun: ye 23d. of Dec. (Cross). Sisters diner at Mrs B's. I slept [slipt?] in after the play at Drury Lane & see them in the Gallery, where I had a few words with Mr Williams (Hailey, "Brietzcke Diary," Vol. 197, p. 69). Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command. Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken places are desired to send their servants before 3 o'clock. No persons can possibly be admitted behind the scenes or into the Orchestra. Present their Majesties the Duke of York, Prince William Henry, Prince Henry Frederick, and Lady Augusta. [The Winston Theatrical Record lists the customary night's expenses as follows]: @Renters #12 1s.@Barber 5s. 4d.@Music #4 19s. 5d.@Tallow Candles #2 10s.@Wax Candles #1 6s.@Coals 10s.@Lamps #1 12s. 3d.@1 days Billstickers 11s. 6d.@1 days Bills #1 7s.@1 days Advertising 5s.@Wardrobe Bill (a day) #1 7s.@Property Bill (a day) #1 6d.@Extras (for Opera and Rape) #1 6s. 6d.@J. Rich #5 5s.@C. Rich #1@Guards (18) and a Serjeant #1@#36 6s. 5d.@ Extras that night: @Yeomen of His Majesties' guard #1 1s.@Yeomen of Her Majesties' guard #1 1s.@His Majesties' Footmen #1 1s.@Her Majesties' Footmen #1 1s.@Princess of Wales' Attendant #1 1s.@Their Majesties' Coachman 6s.@Total #5 11s.

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Income from Boxes #83 10s. Present Their Majesties, Lady Augusta; Prince William Henry, Prince Henry Frederick, Paid Vincent in full for 10 Lac'd Coats...8 Trumpet Banners and 2 Kettle drum banners #73 10s. Receipts: #232 11s. (Winston Theatrical Record)

Event Comment: Theatres closed for death of Prince William. Died Sunday 29 Dec

Event Comment: Rec'd stopages #5 12s.; Paid salary list #440 9s.; Williams one night, Musical Lady, 10s. 6d.; Chorus singers 2 nights #4 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #180 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd stopages #3 9s. 6d.; Paid salary list-#441 4s.; Chorus 1 night, #2 5s. 6d.; Paid Mrs Brown, not on list #1 12s. 6d.; Paid Mr Williams (violin) in Musical Lady 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #221 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Williams 2 nights in Musical Lady #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #162 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [T+Theatrical Monitor, No VI appeared this day with a blast, in the form of an occasional Epilogue, at the morals, language and plan of the Oxonian in Town. This was the first performance of Macklin's afterpiece in London. It had been played in Dublin. "Its curious idiom, half-brogue, and half Cockney, puzzled the audience, as did its highly topical Irish allusions. With his usual candor, Macklin observed: 'I believe the audience are right. (The play was withdrawn after this single performance.) There's a geography in humor as well as in morals, which I had not previously considered--'" Cooke, Macklin, p. 270. According to Kirkman, in his curtain speech Macklin "courageously admitted: 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very sensible tha there are several passages in this play which deserve to be probated and I assure you that they shall never offend your ears again!' As soon as Mr Macklin had finished this address, the audience testified their approbation of his determination, by loud and reiterated plaudits" (Kirkman, Memoirs of the Life of Macklin, II, 3). See Also Charles Macklin: An Actor's Life by William W. Appleton (Cambridge, Mass., 1960), p. 141.