Event Comment: Benefit Widow and Child of James Miller, the author. As the Play of to-night is entirely for mine and my children's Benefit, and was allotted (by the Manager) for that purpose a considerable time ago, has since been advertis'd in the Publick papers upwards of ten days, and the Boxes chiefly been taken by Ladies of Quality and Distinction, I humbly hope, as Charity and Humanity are my advocates, the Performance will be permitted without interruption. D. Miller.--General Advertiser. To Those who remained in the Pit in Drury Lane Playhouse on Thursday Evening, and were refus'd their money: GENTLEMEN: If you are sensible of the Insults that we receiv'd from the servants of the Manager (after we had remain'd orderly in the House expecting our money for the best part of an hour) being expos'd to the danger of our lives from several sticks, &c being thrown at us from the stage, and from the attack of Soldiers jumping into the Pit with their bayonets fix'd, you'll meet tomorrow several Gentlemen equally injur'd, at the Fountain Tavern in Catherine Street in the Strand, at two o'clock, as well as, Your most humble Servant, J. Johnston.--Daily Advertiser. [Daily Gazetteer contained a letter by Anti-Mimus on the manager's publication of reasons for his late extraordinary measures.

Event Comment: TThe Rehearsal, desir'd for this day is oblig'd to be deferr'd till Saturday, on account of the hurt Mr Garrick receiv'd upon the stage on Tuesday last

Event Comment: The Proprietor of Drury Lane Theatre having receiv'd letters from several Gentlemen pressing him to revive the Tragedy of King John; to comply with this request (as he shall always make it his business to oblige the Publick) he immediately put the play in rehearsal; but upon information that the author of a Play on the same subject, had insinuated that this was calculated only to prejudice him, the Revival was intended to be deferr'd till the run of his play should be over; but upon perusal of the Bills he finds this is no Alteration, as was thought, but a new Tragedy founded only upon that plan; therefore in compliance with the above request, and at the same time to take off all imputation of an injury to this author, the Proprietor has deferr'd the bringing it on till Tuesday next, the day after the author's benefit, when will be exhibited the Historical Play of King John, as written by Shakespear

Event Comment: Author's Day [i.e., Benefit Cibber]

Event Comment: Know all men by these presents, that Colley Cibber, Esq; of the Parish of St/James's in the County of Middlesex, for and in consideration of the sum of Eighty Pounds of lawful Mony of Great Britain to him in hand paid by John Watts of London, Stationer, he the said Colley Cibber, Esq; hath bargained, sold and assigned, and set over, and by these presents doth bargain, sell, assign and set over all that the full and sole right and title, of, in and to the copy of a Tragedy, intitled, Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John, written by the said Colley Cibber, Esq; to have and to hold the said copy of the said tragedy unto the said John Watts, his heirs and assigns for ever, notwithstanding any act or law to the contrary: In witness whereof the said Colley Cibber, Esq; hath hereunto sett his hand and seal this twentieth day of February, 1744/5. [Signed] C. Cibber. [Witnesses] James Webster, John Mark Bimson. [Original Document in Folger Shakespeare Library, validated by three Sixpence stamps, and Cibber's seal. Case No. 993 among Cibber documents.

Event Comment: By Command of their Highnesses Prince George, Prince Edward, and the Lady Augusta, By A Company of Dutch children, join'd with the English, German and Italians. A Pantomime Entertainment. Boxes and Pit 5s. Gallery 2s. 6 p.m. We hear the Company of Dutch/Children join'd with the English, Germans and Italians, will perform this day, tomorrow, Thursday and Friday next, and will exhibit something new every night, and some people of Quality have engag'd Boxes for each night.--Daily Advertiser

Event Comment: [This Pastoral Serenata first appeared 21 March 1744 at the Crown and Anchor in the Strand, qv. At that time Beard, Savage, Mrs Clive and Miss Edwards sang in it.] By Subscription for three nights will be performed an English Pastoral Serenata, set to Music by Mr DeFesch. Pit and Boxes laid together at 5s. First Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d. On the 20th of March and 3rd of April will be performed a New Oratorio call'd Joseph, also set to Music by Mr DeFesch. For the encouragement of such persons as shall please to favour Mr Defesch by subscribing one Guinea, they shall be entitled to six tickets, each of which will admit one into the boxes, or Two into the Gallery. Nobody to be admitted into the boxes without printed tickets, which will be deliver'd at the theatre. Subscriptions to be taken till the 5th of March, at Mr DeFesch's at the sign of the Angel and Trumpet, in St. Martin's Lane, at the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; and at Mr Page's Stage Door-keeper. To begin at half an hour after six. This day is publish'd Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John. [No price given, but the 1st edition lists it as 1s. 6d. Watts would have had to sell about two thousand copies to cover his investment in copyright and printing costs.

Event Comment: Benefit Mr Dove and Mrs Dove. Boxes 3s., Pit 2s., First Gallery 1s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. [Theatre designated as the Late Wells in advance notices; as the New Wells on the day of performance.

Event Comment: Benefit Muilment. Mr Garrick's Indisposition not suffering him to play, I have prevail'd upon Mr Mills to endeavour to play his part, as well as the shortness of the time will permit, which I hope will be more agreeable to my Friends than changing the Play. Being the last time of performing till the Holidays. [Craftsman No. 580 this day, quoted in the Gentlemen's Magazine, included a brief plea for the present ministry to get the Play-house Act repealed.

Event Comment: Benefit for Increase of a Fund establish'd for the support of Decayed Musicians, or their families. Pit and boxes to be admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered this day, at the Office, at half a guinea each. First Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. 6d. The Galleries will be open'd at Four o'clock, Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at exactly Six o'clock. Tickets deliver'd out to the subscribers of this Charity will admit one person into any part of the House

Event Comment: 1 Benefit Paget. Tickets given for Comus taken this day, Several Gentlemen desiring to see him as Falstaff. [Originally scheduled for 4 April were Comus and a new Farce The Biter Bit; or, Vintner in the Suds.

Event Comment: Benefit Bridges, Blakes and Cross, prompter. Afterpiece: By Desire. Mr Garrick's Indisposition continuing, we have, at the particular desire of several ladies, chang'd our play. Tickets deliver'd out for the Stratagem will be taken. [On this Day appeared the Daily Advertiser a full column presentment by the Court of Westminster to the Justices of the Peace against unlicensed players]: This court being inform'd that common Players of Interludes have for several years...assembled...in Mayfair to erect Booths and exhibit Drolls and Shews...whereby numbers of His Majesty's subjects have been encouraged to assemble and commit riots and other Misdemeanours in Breach of His Majesty's Peace, and to the disturbance of the Neighborhood, and that some of the players are and now contracting for ground in order to erect Sheds, Booths and other places...for shewing and acting plays...&c, &c, &c...for the more effectual suppressing of the evils aforesaid, it is hereby recommended unto his Majesty's Justices of the Peace to meet together at such time as they shall appoint in order to proceed according to the law against all such offenders as shall be brought before them by the peace officers, who are required to be aiding the Justice of the Peace. [The gist of the Presentment lies in the statement]: that they [the Justices] shall apprehend all and every other person and Persons who in any other place or places within the said City and Liberty shall act or represent for gain, any Tragedy, Comedy, Opera, Play, Interlude, Farce, or any other Entertainment for the stage

Event Comment: Benefit Berry and Havard. Afterpiece: By Desire. The Anatomist appeared in the advance notice as afterpiece for this day

Event Comment: HHussey's Booth. To act every day from noon to 10 p.m. during the time of the Fair

Event Comment: Mainp1ece, a Comedy written by Colley Cibber, Poet Laureate. Not acted in 30 years [see 18 Oct. 1718. An Epilogue for Mrs Woffington in the Character of Brittania was sent this day to the Licenser.

Event Comment: Mainpiece Written by Shakespear. On Monday next The Recruiting Officer, The whole receipt of the house to be subscribed to the Veteran Scheme at Guildhall. [This advertisement was carried on the two following days.]

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd out for this day will be taken

Event Comment: Profits subscribed to the Veteran Scheme at Guildhall. Mrs Cibber to Garrick, 11 Dec.: Though Mr Rich had no performance at his house...Drury Lane Playhouse was not above half full till the latter account. Then it was a good house but not near so great as we had all last winter to the Orphan. He had built up the stage, but as nobody came there he shut in a flat scene to hide it, and the next day he played the Tender Husband to fifteen pounds.-Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 46

Event Comment: There will be no play 'till tomorrow on account of one to be performed this evening at the other theatre; the receipt of which is to be subscribed to the Veteran Scheme at the Guildhall. We hear Mrs Cibber is soon to perform the part of Polly, three nights at cg, and the Proprietor has agreed to lend his house, free of all charges; and we hear the company will contribute their pay on those days, that the performance may be entirely charge-free; the receipts of each night to be subscribed to the Veteran's scheme at Guildhall

Event Comment: Yesterday being the Fast Day appointed by Authority the same was observed in the cities of London and Westminster with strict Solemnity

Event Comment: [This day H. L. in an article in the Westminster Journal (quoted in the Gentlemen's Magazine, p. 21) offered a plan for taxing theatre tickets, as a source of government revenue, on a pro-rated basis--Box ticket a stamp tax of 1s; Pit a Stamp of 9d; 1st Gallery 6d; Upper Gallery 3d.

Event Comment: Note, Madem. Violette, a New Dancer from Vienna, will perform this day for the first time

Event Comment: Not Acted these Eight Years [see 24 April 1741]. Benefit Cibber, Jr. Tickets and places of Hobson at the Stage door. Tickets ddliver'd out for All's Well at Covent Garden theatre will be taken to the above mentioned play this night. [Mrs Clive's Prologue recommended the cause of Liberty to the Ladies of Great Britain. Cibber had pleaded in his advance advertisement on 5 April in the General Advertiser.] As I have in justice to my creditors assigned over so much of my salary as reduces the remainder to a very small pittance, I very much depend on the encouragement and indulgence of the town at my Benefit. [On the day of the benefit he inserted in the General Advertiser a long, double column address to the Publick puffing his Benefit, and scotching a rumor industriously and invidiously spread that he came to Drury Lane only to impede Mrs Cibber in her performance there. In this he washes in public the linen of his domestic affairs at some length, professing his virtue, forbearance, and generosity, and Mrs Cibber's unfairness and ingratitude, citing her salary as about #700 per year, not a penny of which would she afford for his relief from creditors, or to bail him out of the Fleet prison where he languished six months. He alleges that she was instrumental in forming a cartel between the rival theatrical managers with precluded his employment by either house, and that she refused to act a benefit for him when he was in debtor's prison.

Event Comment: Benefit I. Sparks. Tickets deliver'd out by Lloyd, Mason, Caustin, &c will be taken, and tickets deliver'd out by Brooks, Bride, Mrs Barclay, Mrs Fenn, and others for the Country Wife for Thursday last will be taken this night. Being the last time of the Company's performing this season. [The advance notice of this night had included the Musical Entertainment of Neptune and Amphitrite (compos'd by Arne), but this is omitted from the notice of the day.

Event Comment: The Subscribers to the Opera are desir'd to send their Silver Tickets on Saturday next, and the three succeeding Days of Performance, to the Opera Office, where a Half Guinea Ticket extraordinary will be delivered to each, or a proportionable Part of Money return'd as Equivalent for four representations, which the Season already too far advanced, cannot admit of being exhibited, thro' the absolute Necessity there was of postponing the proper Time of beginning the Opera. Forty-Two Representations are past