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

Event Comment: Benefit Phillips, former Harlequin to the Old House, now a Prisoner. [Theatrical Clippings, Folger Library. Performance not named, but bill says This Day.

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Fist Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No money to be taken behind the scenes. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Page at the stage door of the theatre. To begin exactly at Six o'clock. [Balance brought over from Day Book F, #411 os. 7d. This balance actually represents a deficit from which the night's receipts are subtracted to indicate the reduction of it. But first, from the night's receipts, were subtracted #37 9s. 10d., an amount which seems to represent standing nightly costs for music, light, heat, taxes, &c.] Receipts: #115 8s

Event Comment: [The first payroll of the season, covering three days of acting, amounted to #69 8s. 6d (30 men--#35 14s.; 24 women--#26 10s; 10 servants' accounts including an unspecified number of dressers and charwomen--#7 4s. 6d.).] Receipts: #42. 18s. 6d.

Event Comment: The Subscribers to the Opera are desired to take notice, that upon Saturday Morning Next, there will be a general Rehearsal of the New Opera call'd Anibale in Capua, upon the stage of the king's Theatre in the Hay Market, agreeable to the printed proposals. The Doors will be open'd at Ten, and the Rehearsal will begin at eleven precisely. No person whatever to be admitted without a subscriber's ticket. Attendance will be given this and every Day 'till the Operas begin, at the Office in the Haymarket, from ten in the Morning, till three in the Afternoon, in order to take in Subscriptions, and deliver out tickets.--General Advertiser

Event Comment: Subscription tickets will be delivered out this Day

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Command. Present the Duke, Princess Amelia, The Princess of Hesse. Paid Mr Day for the use of a Turkish Vase 2 nights in Tamerlane for Mr Bencraft #1 1s. Receipts: #144 12s. 6d

Event Comment: Ladies desired to send servants by three o'clock to keep places. [This note repeated for each performance of this play.] Paid Mr Smart the lace man on account #50. Paid Mrs Cleater (Mrs Cibber's Dresser) 5 days last week, 7s. 6d. Receipts: #178 14s

Event Comment: Attendance will be given this and every Day from Ten in the Morning 'till Three in the Afternoon, at the Opera House in the Haymarket, in order to take in Subscriptions for the Second Subscription to Operas; and whereas the number of Representations for the first Subscription has not been compleated; This is to give notice to the Subscribers, that by sending to the Office, they will have the Money for the deficient Number of Representations returned them; or if they please to go on with the Second Subscription, the Deficiency of the first which ends this Night will be made up to them in the Price of the Tickets for the Second Subscription

Event Comment: There is now in practice...two new dances which are to be perform'd there on Monday next, the first call'd The Turkish Pirate, the second the Laundress's Visiting Day both compos'd by Giuseppe Salomon, and to perform'd by him, Mlle Violette, the Padouana, M. Mechel, Salomon's Son, &c

Event Comment: A few days since died at Bristol, Mr Burk Thumoth, well known for his excellent manner of performing on the German Flute

Event Comment: Mr Quin begs leave to inform the Publick that the Tragedy of Venice Preserved, intended to be performed on Monday next for his benefit, will be put off to a further day (of which the notice will be given) on account of Mr Garrick's Indisposition. Receipts: #131 11s. 6d

Event Comment: Pit and Boxes to be put together, and no person to be admitted without tickets, which will be deliver'd that day, at the Office at Covent Garden Theatre at Half a Guinea each. First Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. 6d. The Galleries to be open'd at Half an Hour after Four o'clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Half an Hour after Six (General Advertiser). New Oratorio by Handel (Account Books, Egerton 2268). We hear that Mr Garrick, who has been lately very ill, is now out of danger (General Advertiser)

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: [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: Benefit Reinhold and Mrs Furnival (General Advertiser). This day agreement was signed between Lacy and Garrick as new partners in the patent for Drury Lane theatre. The total present liabilities of the theatre, including the mortgage to Green and Amber, the mortgage to Hutchinson Meure, with the arrears due to actors and tradesmen, were calculated at about #12,000. It was besides burdened with an annuity to Calthorpe of #300, and another of #500 to Fleetwood. Of this #12,000 Garrick, helped by his friends found eight. Each party was to draw #500 a year as manager, and Garrick was to received besides #500 a year salary for his acting; but was restrained from playing at any other house, except on terms of dividing profits with his fellow manager.--Fitzgerald, Life of Garrick, p. 112

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Being the most tragical tragedy that ever was tragedized by a company of tragedians. At the Particular Desire of Several Persons of Quality (General Advertiser). [The following unsigned statement of the financial condition of the theatre on 11 April is in the Harvard Collection of Documents dealing with affairs of Drury Lane, folio MS Thr. 12. This itemizes the outstanding liabilities to the amount of #8,808 14s. including #1,275 of arrears in actors' salaries]: I told Mr- the intended purchaser that the whole would not amount to #12,000. He said if it was more it should rest on me, for that was the utmost shilling he would give. But upon strict enquiry I find it will amount to #12,808 14s. This difference is not altogether owing to an error in calculation, but has been likewise heightened by a falling off of business, nor is it possible to ascertain the debt of a theatre for a day, it is of so fluctuating a nature. Q: whether this loss ought to light upon me, who have endeavored to get a purchaser & increased the value of the Estate to the utmost of my power? Errors excepted. [James Lacy or John Powel are the most likely authors of this statement. Whatever the authority, it is clear that settlement had not yet been made for transfer of ownership. For Powel, see G. W. Stone, Jr., The Authorship of Tit for Tat," Theatre Notebook, X (1955), 22-28.

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: MMr Foote thinks it his Duty to return Thanks to his Friends for the great Honour they did him Yesterday, and begs the Favour of their Company this Day at Twelve o'Clock on the same Occasion. It is desir'd by several Persons of Quality, that (to prevent confusion at going out) the Ladies and Gentlemen would pay for their Chocolate going in. [Repeated 29, 30 April.] [See Daily Advertiser on 30 April for Ed. Pinchbeck's objections against Foote's program.

Event Comment: Last time of performing the play this season (General Advertiser). Paid Duke of Bedford half year's Ground Rent in full to Lady? Day? #100. Receipts: #165 14s

Event Comment: At the request of several Persons who are desirous of spending an Hour with Mr Foote, but find the Time inconvenient, instead of Chocolate in the Morning, Mr Foote's Friends are desir'd to drink a Dish of Tea with him, at half an Hour after Six in the Evening. [Repeated 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 June (Positively the last Day. At the Desire of Qeveral People of Quality).

Event Comment: PPrologue omitted. Garrick ill [Genest, IV, 232). We hear the Celebrated Old Comedy call'd Abumazar [sic] from which Johnson is suppos'd to have taken his Alchymist, is now reviving at Drury Lane Theatre, and will be acted some day next week (General Advertiser). Receipts: #160 (Cross); #146 3s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. The 37th Day. Mr Foote begin to give Tea at Half an Hour after Six. Places to be had at the Theatre