Event Comment: At Miller's Booth, the second Booth on the Right Hand coming into the Fair. Mainpiece: an Excellent Droll

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. At his home, Second Door at the Right Hand in Park Place

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by the famous Molliere. Daily Courant, 2 May: Monsieur deGrimbergue, Director of the French Comedians, hereby gives Notice, that he is extreamly sorry he could not give on Friday last all the Entertainment he had promised in his Publick Bills, by reason that Signora Violenta unluckily fell sick that very day; and Mons Dangeville refused to Dance, being puft up by the Applause he had the good Fortune to meet with; fancying he hath a Right to do so whenever he pleases

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: [Written by Shakespear. With new Scenes and Cloaths. At the Desire of several Persons of Distinction the Pit and Boxes will be put together at 3s. Boxes on the Stage 4s. Gallery 1s. [The Prologue is in The Comedian, No. VII, October 1732, with a long essay on the major theatres of the present season.] Daily Advertiser, 4 Oct.: A very splendid and crowded Audience...testify'd their Approbation both of the Decorations and Performance. The principal Embellishments are as follows: On a large Oval over the Pit is represented the Figure of His Majesty, attended by Peace, Liberty, and Justice, trampling Tyranny and Oppression under his Feet; round it are the Heads of Shakespear, Dryden, Congreve, and Betterton. On the Coving on the Left Hand is painted the Scene of Cato pointing at the dead Body of his Son Marcus; in the Middle, that of Julius Caesar stabb'd in the Senate-House; and on the Right, that of Marc Anthony and Octavia, where the Children are introduc'd in All for Love. On the Sounding-Board over the Stage is an handsome Piece of Painting of Apollo and the Nine Muses. [See also Daily Post, 4 Oct. and Gentleman's Magazine, II (October 1732), 1028.

Event Comment: Never Acted before. [By William Popple.] Grub St. Journal, 26 Feb. 1736: It was play'd the first night to about a 30l. house; three parts of which were the Author's friends, who came on purpose, right or wrong, to applaud it: notwithstanding which, little or no applause was given

Event Comment: We shall continue to act this Droll all this Week, beginning at Ten in the Morning and ending at Nine at Night. N.B. This the Proprietor attempts pursuant to his Right, with due Deference to the Laws and the strictest Decorum by which his Servants shall continue to act Tragedies, Comedies, &c. the whole Year. At Petty's Playhouse, Tottenham Court, Hamstead Road

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Otway. At Common Prices. 6 p.m. N.B. There is a new Passage to the Pit.,. also a large Lobby for the Servants that keep Places. Receipts: #65. Egerton 2320: ye first night of Mr Right's appearance. Cato given out, but cou'd not be play'd, Mrs Cibber not being ready in Maria we cou'd play no Play but the Orphan Mrs Thurmond having left us

Event Comment: Benefit Leveridge. Mainpiece: Written by Beaumont and Fletcher. @And this I promise, hoping 'twill be right, All shall be over about Nine at Night.

Event Comment: As 27 Nov. 1738. Mainpiece: Alter'd from Shakespear. Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 48: In the Year 1738, having, as he [Colley Cibber] said, Health and Strength enough to be as useful as ever, he came to Terms with Mr Fleetwood for his performing Richard, Fondlewife, Sir John Brute, &c. All his Comedy Parts he was right in, but in Richard he found his Mistake; his usual Strength and Spirit failed him most unhappily. I went behind the Scenes in the third Act, and asking him how he fared? He whispered me in the Ear, "That he wou'd give fifty Guineas to be then sitting in his easy Chair by his own Fireside.

Event Comment: AA Compleat List (1747), pp. 182-83: [After some resentment at Quin's refusing a part in Fatal Retirement, 12 Nov.]. When coming on one Night to play the Part of Pierre...and he was treated in the same Manner, he came forward, and speaking to the Audience said, 'That he had met with Insults of that kind for several Nights past, and that he judged they came from the Friends of the Author of a Play lately acted at that House, called Fatal Retirement; that the Author of it desired him to read it before it was acted, which he did, at his Requests, and likewise, at his Request, gave him his sincere Opinion of it, which was, that it was the very worst Play he had read in his Life; and therefore he had refused to act a Part in it, &c.' After his Speech was ended, he found a thundering Applause from the Audience, and went thro' the whole Play without any farther Disturbance. But we ought not entirely to form out Judgment of its being the very worst Play, from what this Gentleman was pleased to say of it, in the Heat of his Resentment for being ill-treated; nor wonder that an Audience should applaud a Sentence which condemned an Author, at a Time when it was the Fashion to condemn them all, right or wrong, without being heard; and when Parties were made to go to new Plays to make Uproars, which they called by the odious Name of The Funn of the first Night. For the Afterpiece, A Compleat List, p. 183: And on the very Night I am speaking of it, at the End of the Play, was acted for the first [second] Time a new Farce, called, An Hospital for Fools, of which one single Word was not heard that the Actors spoke, the Noise of these First-Night Gentlemen was so great; however, the Actors went thro' it, and the Spectatbrs might see their Mouths wag, and that was all

Event Comment: At the Desire of Several Distinguished People of Quality. TThos. Newton to Garrick: All that we wanted was to see more of your face and the expressions of your countenance; and therefore beg you will remember to secure for us that stage-box, where we may see your looks in the scene with Lady Ann, and as you lie upon the couch, that is, that we may sit with the stage on our right hand, and the pit on our left.-Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 3-4

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Sir John VanBrugh. For the Entertainment of the Grand Master, and the brethren of the Honourable and Antient Society of Free and Accepted Masons, for the Benefit of a Brother, who has had great misfortunes. None to be admitted Without printed Tickets (Daily Advertiser). The Brethren are desired to meet the Right Honourable the Grand Master, at Mr Filkes, at the Bedford Arms in the Piazza in Covent Garden, at Four o'clock in the afternoon, in order to accompany him to the play. Stage form'd into an amphitheatre. Servants allowed to keep places

Event Comment: Benefit for daughter of the late Mr Ben Johnson. [Fleetwood let Johnson's Daughter have this Benefit for the money he owed to her father who died just after the last season and acted to the last (Winston MS.).] The Play with entertainments of singing and dancing Servants will be admitted to keep places on the stage, which for the better accommodation of the ladies will be form'd into side boxes. To prevent mistakes, the Ladies who have taken places are desir'd to send for tickets. Tickets to be had and places taken of Mr Johnson's daughter, at the third Door on the right hand in Beaufort buildings in the Strand; and of Mr Hobson at the stage door of the theatre

Event Comment: No Money will be taken behind the scenes, nor any money to be return'd after the Curtain is drawn up. The following Letter, signed A By-Stander was inserted in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser: As I am absolutely unconcerned in all the now subsiding Theatrical Disputes, I hope the following observations upon what happened last Tuesday Night at Drury Lane will not be thought unworthy the Publick attention. The Manager of a theatre is to regard the General sense of the Town, and not any Faction form'd thru pique or resentment; Such a Faction may be Noisy, it may be Insolent, but never can be Considerable enough to force either the Manager or the Publick into their terms. Their outrages are equally insults upon the Understanding of the Town, as they are injuries to the Property of the Manager. Therefore if the Manager shall at any time give way to such proceedings, Then and not till Then, the Publick has a right ot find fault with him. The stage Then becomes a property to the insolence of a few misled people; and all theatrical diversions, which in this and other countries used to be directed by Decency and Publick Approbation are sacrificed to a pitiful Personal Resentment. If the above propositions are undeniable, the following Queries are submitted to the Publick, and the answer to them will determine the Reasonableness of the Tuesday Night Riot: I. Whether the Rioters were not Inconsiderable in their numbers and Circumstances? II: Whether any Gentleman can answer to himself, for doing in a Body, a thing which no Gentleman can justify for doing by himself? III. Whether the Rioters can justify their breaking into the Boxes, and taking possession of the seats, which were taken by many persons of Quality and Distinction, at the same time refusing to pay anything; thereby robbing the Manager of all the money of the Boxes, and most part of the Pit? IV. Whether the Manager ought to suffer in his property for the private quarrel between any two actors, as was the case...? V: Whether if such insolences are not discountenanced in the most effectual manner by the Town, any publick diversion can continue longer than a noisy inconsiderable Cabal pleases? VI. Whether any other motive than a regard to Public Decency would have hindered the Manager and Mr. Garrick's friends (who were treble the number) from treating the rioters as they deserved? I should be glad to see the above questions fairly and impartially answered

Event Comment: [L$Leveridge's rhymed advertisement of 14 March repeated but with last two lines of Verse II as follows]: Which I with acknowledgment full of Delight Will gratefully sing on my Benefit Night,...which will be Tuesday April 17th, with The Miser. Tickets at Leveridge's Lodgings in Hanover St., the third door on the right hand from Long Acre, and of Mr Page at the Stage Door.--General Advertiser

Event Comment: Benefit Leveridge. Tickets to be had at his lodgings in Hanover Street, the third door on the right hand from Long Acre, and of Page at the stage door of the theatre. The Man in the Moon, about nine at night Will wait you all home, with his fullness of light

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: 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: Epilogue Of Thanks by Leveridge. Benefit Leveridge. Tune-A Cobler there was. /I The Many great favours I often have known/With greteful acknowledgment proudly I own,/Which prompts me to beg in this musical way,/The Grant of three hours at my Benefit play/Derry Down, &c/II Against which good time give me leave to express/My earnest desire in this humble address/That your wanted indulgence again may promote/Dick Leveridge's play with your Int'rest and Vote./Derry Down, &c/ Tickets to be had at Mr Leveridge's Lodgings in Hanover St, the third door on the Right Hand from Long-Acre, and of Page, at the stage door

Event Comment: To the Author of the General Advertiser. Sir: When I read the letter in your paper [see 7 Nov.] concerning Tom Harbin's intention of having a Benefit at Covent Garden, I own I was much pleas'd, as it would give me the opportunity of making him merry, who has often made me so: But I have since been in some concern to hear he was to perform himself--I would not have him appear in an Ill-Light; and as it is easy to conceive what confusion a Man unus'd to the stage must be in, to appear on it, I would in Friendship advise him to desist from that design.-If he does it from an opinion of his Capacity, I am sorry for him: but if it is only to draw people together, I think he need not have any Apprehensions on that Account:--For there ever was and ever will be in London, a number of Persons of Fortune and Generosity, sufficient to do what he wants, whenever they have an Inclination to serve a man they like.--And as he is Generally allow'd to be what is call'd a Fiddle in Company, and plays as often as anybody, it would be but right to keep him in tune: For my part I shall use my interest in his Favour and wish him success with his Acquaintance. I am &c. T. Meanwell. Lloyd's Coffee House, 14 Nov. [See 14 Dec.

Event Comment: MMr Garrick did Richard (Cross). This day is publish'd, Dedicated to the Right Honorable John, Earl of Orrery, Sejanus a Tragedy, as it was intended for the stage, with a Preface; wherein the Manager's reasons for refusing it are set forth. By Mr Gentleman. Printed for R. Manby and H. S. Cox on Ludgate Hill. [Garrick turned it down and Gentleman accepted his judgment without animosity.] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: [The theatres this night met competition from (I) an Assembly at the king's Theatre in the Haymarket, tickets 26s. each, to admit one Gentleman and two ladies. (2) another Assembly at the Five Bells Tavern, behind the New Church, in the Strand, where was opened the Temple of Taste, where will be exhibited a grand concert of Music. Also an attempt towards the Introduction of a new rational entertainment, consisting of an Occasional Prologue by a Gentleman; a panegyric on the Utility of Public Speaking, in which the Design is particularly illustrated; Propositions made from a Gentleman in the Chair, to be debated by the company, such as the Gay and Polite may be supposed to understand, and speak upon with success; to conclude with an Original Epilogue; the whole interspers'd with several grand concertos, Overtures, and Full pieces of Musick. This design, which has for its object the interest of Knowledge, Eloquence and Politeness, needs no Apology, and can be opposed by those, with whom to be at variance, is Virtue. No subject of so Sacred Nature as Religion, will be there canvass'd nor anything that can give Occasion to Indecency, or unmannerly reflection on any Undertaking or Party.-In this attempt all Men of Taste are interested, as they will have an opportunity not only of being pleased, but giving pleasure by considering every subject with candour, and reasoning upon it, with Eloquence and propriety. To this entertainment, the Ladies are likewise invited, who have an unexceptionable right to be present at all Attempts, calculated for the promotion of knowledge, and as their appearance will naturally secure polite behavior, so they may reap some advantage from the Circulation of ideas, which is such an Assembly must necessarily take place. The price of entrance-half a crown each. To begin precisely at seven. The room which is very commodious, will be elegantly illuminated. The SUBJECT for the first Night's Debate will be, "If the Custom of Portioning Daughters was entirely suppress'd, would it not be a good Expedient towards the promotion of Matrimony and the felicity of that state." It continued on four Wednesday nights. Then seems to have died.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Leviez. No Building on stage. Tickets at his, the lowest House on the Right-Hand in Beaufort Buildings in the Strand; and at Stage Door of Theatre. Receipts: #125 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Liviez, the Ballet Master (Cross). Full Prices. Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Tickets at last house on right hand in Beaufort Buildings, Strand; and at The Stage Door. Receipts: #220 (Cross)