Event Comment: [By Elkanah Settle.] Never Acted before. Preface: I was reduced to the Necessity of bringing it in in the long Vacation, and consequently with a very narrow Expectation of Profit from the Product of so barren a Season. And as the then Emptiness of the Town cou'd give it but a few, though those all friendly Auditors, I sit down contented with the general Reception it has met

Event Comment: Henry Cromwell to Alexander Pope, 7 Dec.: We have had a poor comedy of Johnson's (not Ben) which held seven nights, and has got him three hundred pounds, for the town is sharpset on new plays (Pope, I, 136)

Event Comment: At the Desire of some Persons of Quality who are leaving the Town

Event Comment: Whereas Wm Penkethman having formerly diverted the Quality and Gentry in Bartholomew-Fair and May-Fair, with Drolls, Musick, and other delightful Entertainments, he [will] entertain the Town and during the Time of Southwark-Fair, with that most celebrated Droll

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Knight. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Receipts: money #27 17s. 6d. and tickets #23 13s. The Epilogue was printed in Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 7 April, with a note: The Author of the following Epilogue would never have thought of publishing such a Trifle, but to let the Town see that scandalous Piece (as some were pleas'd to call it) not fit to be spoken. Mrs Knight's Zeal to the Government (which she has always express'd at the Worst of Times) cannot be enough applauded....It was wrote with no other Design than to do her some Service on her Benefit-Day; but has had indeed a quite contrary Effect, and kept back that Part of her Audience whose Money is as good as other Peoples, tho' their Principles (as being Tories) are the worst in the World

Event Comment: Not Acted these Fourteen Years. Written by the late Mr Farquhar. N.B. In Consideration of the Diversion the French Children have given the Town, Mr Rich has engag'd their Stay in England for some time longer, and on Thursday next they will perform again. Receipts: #25 1s

Event Comment: Benefit J. and Ch. Rich. This Company will perform every Wednesday and Friday during the short stay they shall continue in England. Receipts: #147 14s. 6d

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Weekly Packet, 20 Feb., announces forthcoming plays: The Imperial Captives by a gentleman unknown to the town and Sewell's The Lottery. Fenton's Herod and Mariamne is deferred to winter

Event Comment: Not Acted these Ten Years. As it was alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher, by C. Cibber. Daily Journal, 5 Jan.: Last Night the Rival Fools...was violently hiss'd, upon which Mr Cibber, in a very civil manner, address'd himself to the Audience, and told'em, 'That they did not offer that Play as one of their most polite Entertainments, that they had been reflected on by the Town for not pushing forward their young Actors; that this Play had been revived for no other Purpose, that it was impossible for the old ones to last forever, and therefore he beg'd the Audience to be silent, and give those who were desirous of it the liberty of hearing.' This Speech was interupted by a thundering Clap, and produced a good effect for an Act, and then the hissing began again, and grew so violent towards the latter end, that they were obliged to give the Play out two or three times, and much ado had the ingenious Mr Penkethman to be heard at last. (See also Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 6 Jan.

Event Comment: At the Request of the Inhabitants of the Town and Corporation of Windsor. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. At common Prices. Receipts: #60 15s. 6d

Event Comment: Written by Beaumont and Fletcher. St. James's Journal, 8 Dec.: The Revival of Philaster was an Attempt that deserv'd more Success than it met with: The natural Rise of the Distress in that Play, that Simplicity of Passion in the young Maid, with the many fine Passages throughout, pleas'd every one who has a just Taste of those Entertainments; and notwithstanding the Success of the Conscious Lovers, the Town are certainly ne'er the better Judges, while that Piece of Fletcher is acted to an empty House

Event Comment: Admission as 7 Nov. 1722. London Journal, 2 March: The new Opera Tickets are very high, and like to continue so as long as Mrs Cotzoni is so much admired. They are traded in at the other End of the Town, as much as Lottery Tickets are in Exchange-Alley

Event Comment: [By Richard Savage.] Edition of 1724: I think it my Duty also, to return Thanks to the Town, for their favourable Reception of this Play; and for the Applause their Indulgence bestow'd on the Performance of the Young Actors: Particularly for my own Success, in a double Capacity, as Actor and Author

Event Comment: [By John Gay.] True Briton, 22 Jan.: I was a Spectator, the first Night, at...The Captives; when I was Witness to a Ceremony, which I can never judge to be either beneficial to the Author, or contribute much to the Entertainment of the Town. There were large Quantities of Brandy distributed amongst the Footmen in the Boxes, and that in so plentiful a manner, that several of them were carried out of the House dead drunk. This, it seems, is call'd, Christening a Play

Event Comment: For an essay on the taste of the town, see London Journal, 17 April

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. By the Italian Company of Comedians newly arriv'd. Pit and Boxes together by tickets only at 4s. Gallery 2s. N.B. Whereas the Number of Subscribers for this Company that are in Town, is very little, some of the first Representations will not be on thair Account. Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 1 Oct.: Last Wednesday Night his Majesty and their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, together with great Numbers of the Nobility and Persons of Distinction...saw the Comedy...The Faithful Wife

Event Comment: With all the Original Decorations of Rising, Sinking, and Flying. Daily Post, 30 Oct.: The Play of King Henry the Eighth...having met with a very favourable Reception from the Town, we hear that the Players propose to add several different Characters of Dignity to the Procession of Queen Anne Bullen , with other proper Decorations

Event Comment: Receipts: #183 4s. Probable attendance: boxes, 240 paid and 4 orders; stage, 79 paid; pit, 292 paid and 4 orders; slips, 64 paid and 1 order; first gallery, 433 paid; second gallery, 204 paid. Daily Journal, 5 March: Mrs Barbier, in Compliance to the Town, has wav'd her right to the Beggar's Opera and the Tickets delivered out for Saturday the 16th, will be taken on Monday the 18th to Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, for her Benefit

Event Comment: DDaily Journal, 16 Dec.: The Musical Society of Gentlemen, who for some time have play'd at the Swan in Exchange Alley, are to perform next Wednesday in the Great Room in the Crown Tavern...that Room being judged the best in Town for Performances of that Kind