Event Comment: MMrs Cibber to Garrick, late Jan.: It is surprising that dl goes on acting; one night with another, to be sure, they have not received above 40 pounds; the actors are paid only three nights a week; though they play every night. But the top stroke of all was Macklin's play! It was entirely new-dressed, and no expense saved in the clothes. I shall say nothing of the piece, because you may read it; but be as vain as you will about your playing Bayes, you never made an audience laugh more than Henry VII has done. There for the first time I saw your rival, Mr Goodfellow; I should have said the rival Mr Lacy wants to make you; do not be quite dispirited about it, for Perkin Warbeck is much below anything I ever yet saw. Here I must ask Mr Stevens's pardon, to whom I have done injustice, for I think he may dispute the pass downstairs with Perkin, and as his head seems to be the heaviest of the two, I think he has the best right to it.--Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 49

Event Comment: WWalpole to Sir Horace Mann: We have operas but no company at them; the Prince and Lord Middlesex Impresarii. Plays only are in fashion; at one house the best company that perhaps ever were together, Quin, Garrick, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Cibber: at the other Barry, a favorite young actor and the Violette, whose dancing our friends don't like: I scold them, but all the answer is "Lord! you are so English."-Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Sir Horace Mann, II, 42

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd out by Miss Copin for the Merchant of Venice will be taken to the Conscious Lovers (General Advertiser). This day is publish'd, Price 1s., A Letter of Complaint to the Ingenious author of a Treatise on the Passions, so far as they regard the stage; with a critical Enquiry into the theatrical merit of Mr G-k, Mr Q-n, and Mr B-y, &c. With some further remarks on Mr M-n. And a few hints on our modern Actresses, particularly Mrs C-r and Mrs P-d. Magna est Veritas, & pravalebit. Printed for C. Corbett, over against St. Dunstan's Church, Fleet St. (General Advertiser). [Illuminating discussion of actors' abilities]: The Stage is much indebted to Mr M- for his incessant successful endeavours; he not only grac'd it with his own personal merits, but rais'd up several Branches who tho' they have not yet quite eclips'd Mr Giffard's Nursery from Goodman's Fields, will certainly in time prove stars of the first magnitude.--(p. 28). Touch Messrs. Giffard and Ryan and give them better voices; there is nothing else wanting. Help Mr Delane to a new manner and judgment to display the best pipe that ever was heard. Polish a little the rough Beauties of Mr L. Sparkes, give the sensible Mr Havard a few more spirits; and mend the Humour of Hippisley, Chapman, Barrington, and Blakes if you can. Poor Yates wants nothing but a front of brass, a necessary self-sufficient Manner of pushing himself upon a Publick.--(p. 31). If Mrs Giffard's Manner was equal to her understanding, she wou'd compell everybody to acknowledge her a surprising Performer. In Lady Macbeth she is excellent; and Hermione was very near eclipsing a much more popular actress; in short in every Part she performs, the severest of her enemies cannot but own she is more than decent.--(pp. 32-33). [Gives two pages each to discussion of Mrs Clive, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Cibber, and Mrs Pritchard.

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: [No after money. Mrs Cibber's advance notice for her Benefit the following Saturday states she]: having been oblig'd by her illness to put off her Benefit, which was advertised for the 19th of March, and not being able to get any other day than a Saturday, is afraid it should be inconvenient to some of the Gentlemen and Ladies who have done her the honour to take tickets, therefore begs leave to acquaint them that if they please to send their tickets before Thursday next to Mr Page at the stage door of the theatre in Covent Garden, the Money will be returned. Receipts: #136 5s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: At the Particular Desire of some Persons of Quality. [The song, apparently by Cibber, upon the victory off Cape Finisterre displeased Cross the night before, but met with sufficient popular appeal to have a run.] Receipts: #82 (Cross); #88 14s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Beard. Afterpiece: A Masque of Music, reviv'd, in two Interludes, preform'd at the end of the 3rd and 5th Acts. Written by Colley Cibber. Servants will be allow'd to keep Places on the stage, which (for the better accommodation of the Ladies) will be form'd into an Amphitheatre, illuminated and enclos'd, as at an Oratorio. Tickets for Boxes and Stage to be had of Beard at his house in Red Lyon Square, and of Page at the Stage Door. Ladies desired to send servants to keep Places by three o'clock (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Being the last time of acting the Mainpiece this season. Mrs Cibber Sick. Mrs Pritchard play'd Sullen (Cross). Receipts. #180 (Cross); #149 2s. (Powel)

Event Comment: House open'd Sept 16th. Mrs Ward engag'd from Covent Garden-Mrs Cibber not intending to play this Season. The first time I ever remember ye Company to play every Day so soon in ye Season (Cross). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places to be had of Hobson at the stage door be repeated here.] Receitps: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. [Lee had returned to Covent Garden. See Winston MS 7.] Notwithstanding the reports of Mrs Cibber's Indisposition, we hear that she is not ill at Bath. We hear that the Comic part of the Little French Lawyer is alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher, and will be acted very soon at Drury Lane, the part of the little French Lawyer will be perform'd by Woodward (General Advertiser). [See 7 Oct.] Receipts: #170

Event Comment: Benefit for Cross, and Burton. Rec'd cash #36 15s., plus #116 6s. from tickets. Total #153 1s.; Paid Norton 6 Chorus #1 10s.; Paid Mr Dolmain (Embroiderer) #3 (Treasurer's Book). Tickets to be had of Mr Page at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd out by Grandchamps will be taken. Publish'd this day, the third edn. of Colley Cibber's Apology for his Life at 6s. With an Historical view of the stage during his own time, to which is now added A short account of the Rise and Progress of English Stage: also a dialogue on old plays and old players. Printed for R. Dodsley (General Advertiser). Receipts: #154 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: MMr Barry flew from his articles & engag'd with Rich; Mrs Cibber (who did not play last season) is also engag'd there--Y: King went to Ireland--Macklin and Wife came from thence to Mr Rich (Cross). Passage open'd from Russel St. into the boxes where Ladies and Gentlemen may be set down from their coaches, and there is likewise a better accommodation made for Chairs to come up to the House, and be kept in waiting, at the end of the Passage from Bridges St. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Hobson at the stage door of the Theatre. [The notice about the Passage was continued through 20 Sept. The notice about prices was customary throughout the season. Neither will be repeated further here.] Receipts: #110 (Cross)

Event Comment: Last Tuesday Signior Pasquali, Master of the Band of Music at the Theatre Royal, Mr Cibber and some other prominent players arriv'd from England to act the ensuing season [in Dublin]. Mrs Bland arriv'd [in Dublin] last Sunday from England and will appear tomorrow night in the character of Miranda in the Busy Body. Receipts: #180

Event Comment: Both ye Houses play'd on ye same day, Romeo & Juliet, Mr Barry & Mrs Cibber at Covent Garden against Mr Garrick & Miss Bellamy at Drury Lane--Miss Bellamy never appear'd upon this stage before, & was greatly receiv'd--both houses too added a Scene of Juliet's funeral (Cross). Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: CCovent Garden drops ye play, & tonight does the Beg. Opera (Cross). Dropped because Mrs Cibber would act in Romeo no longer (Winston MS 7). Daily Advertiser: On the Run of Romeo and Juliet: @Well--what tonight, says angry Ned,@As up from bed he rouses,@Romeo again! and shakes his head,@Ah! Pox on both your houses!@I. H-tt Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: No persons to be admitted behind the scenes nor any money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up. [A customary notice throughout the remainder of the season until benefit time.] Tomorrow (not acted these two years) Jane Shore. The part of Alicia to be attempted by Miss Jane Cibber, being her first time of appearing upon that stage these two years. Receipts: #40 (Cross)

Event Comment: There is now in Rehearsal and will be speedily performed at Covent Garden a Comedy call'd The Refusal or the Lady's Philosophy written by Colley Cibber, Esq: Poet Laureate

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Tragi-Comi-Pastoral Farce not acted these 5 years. [See 13 Nov. 1746.] Tomorrow Othello. The Part of Othello by Barry, Desdemona by Mrs Cibber

Event Comment: No play at Covent Garden (Cross). Because Mr Barry & Mrs Cibber would not play (Winston MS 7)

Event Comment: KKing John deferred on account of Mrs Cibber's Indisposition

Event Comment: To the author of the General Advertiser, from White's Coffee House, St James's, 1 Feb., SIR: On the 6th of December last I was seiz'd with a fever, which in 24 hours was so violent that I became extremely delerious, insomuch that I obstinately refused all manner of medicines. This continued till about December the 16th, when all my friends thought me near expiring, and the more because I was then in the 80th year of my age. At this time my relations gave me a dose of Dr James's Fever Powder in some Tamarinds, unknown to me, which, as it had no taste, I did not discover. This gave me one stool, and the next morning I was much better. From that Time my Relations gave me the same medicine, without my knowledge, in small beer, Tea, and every thing I took. This was attended with so good an Effect, that in three days the Fever, with all its symptoms, entirely left me, insomuch that I am now perfectly recover'd. This I esteem my duty to the Publick to communicate for the general advantage of Mankind, I am, Sir, your humble servant, Colley Cibber. This day is publish'd, By Authority, the Comic Tunes in the Entertainment of Queen Mab, as they are performed at Drury Lane, for the Violin, German Flute, or Harpsichord, Price 1s. 6d. Printed for J. Oswald at his music shop in St Martin's Churchyard, in the Strand

Event Comment: A Quarrel in ye Green room between old Cibber & Mrs Clive occasioned by his saying, the stage wanted a handsome Woman, &c. (Cross). Receipts: #70 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. Mr Ross Castalio --well. Barry & Mrs Cibber, play'd Romeo & Juliet this Night a C. Garden (Cross). [Inspector No 187 appeared with comments on Ross and further ones on Mossop as actors (Daily Advertiser and Literary Gazette).] Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. We are assured that Mr Barry is so well recover'd from his late illness, that he will appear on Thursday next, in the character of Lord Townly in the Provok'd Husband; and that Mrs Cibber will perform the part of Lady Townly

Event Comment: We hear that Mrs Cibber's Benefit, which was advertis'd for the 3rd of March, is oblig'd to be deferr'd till Tuesday the 17th