Event Comment: Benefit a Gentleman and his Family under great Distress. Prices. 3s., 2s., 1s. Tickets of Daniel Findon, Union Coffee House, Cornhill. [Blakey was down for Filch in the advance notice of 21 Jan.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Clive. Mainpiece alter'd from Dryden by Colley Cibber. Not acted these 30 years [see 27 April 1722]. Servants will be admitted to keep places on the stage, which will be inclos'd and form'd into Front and Side Boxes. Tickets and places to be had of Mrs Clive, at her House in Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields; and of Hobson at the Stage Door

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. Mainpiece: At the desire of several persons of Quality. Tickets at Ryan's Lodgings in Great Queen St

Event Comment: HHickford's Great Room, Brewer St. Benefit Brown. Tickets 5s. Tickets at Walsh, in Catherine St., Strand; Mrs Wamsley's/Musick/shop the Corner of Picadilly; Simpson's Musick shop in Swithin's Alley, Cornhill; Johnson's Musick shop, Cheapside; Brown's in Margaret St., near Cavendish Square; and at the place of performance

Event Comment: Benefit Arne. The demand for Places being more than Double what the Boxes will contain, Mrs Arne is oblig'd to lay the Pit and Boxes together, at 5s., where servants will be allow'd to keep places, as likewise on the stage, which will be form'd into front and side boxes. Ladies send servants by 3 o'clock. Tickets to be had, and places for the boxes to be taken of Arne next door to the Crown and Cushion in Great Queen St., by Lincoln's Inn Fields; and of Hobson at the stage door.--General Advertiser. Tom Arne sends his service; He is forced to put his Pit and Boxes together, which I reckon will be no advantage to him, ladies hoops taking up more room than the difference of price.--Mrs Cibber to Garrick, 8 April (Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 40)

Event Comment: Benefit Raftor and Miss Edwards. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Advertised as not acted for 5 years. Afterpiece not acted these 12 years [see 23 April 1734]

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: Last night at the New Wells in Goodman's Fields there was such a crouded audience to see the Performance that numbers were oblig'd to go away for want of Places. The Proprietor having been at great expence on this Occasion, in representing the Battle near Culloden House and defeating the Rebels, that it has given universal Pleasure to all that have seen it; which will be perform'd this night with several other new Performances.--General Advertiser, 29 April

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Davis will be taken. [Bransby doubled in Oxford and Tyrrel. The General Advertiser quoted a long Epilogue on the Birthday of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland Written by the Farmer (who had taken over the role of Swift's Drapier) and spoken by Garrick in Dublin. It also quoted the following long puff for Ray's Benefit to come]: Sir, As long acquaintance best entitles us to friendly good natured offices, and as no more proper time can be found to confer them than when the person is in the Decline of life, give me leave to recommend (thro' your means) Mr Ray of Drury Lane Theatre, the oldest actor now belonging to that House, to the Favour of the Town, at his ensuing Benefit next Saturday. A person who once agreeably entertained the Public, should always feel the warmth of their Indulgence, tho' the Infirmities of Old age may have render'd him less pleasing than formerly. This Application is therefore meant to those friends of his, whom Distance of time, and change of Situation may have made it impossible any other way to acquaint them, that The Merchant of Venice is to be acted for his Benefit on Saturday next; therefore 'tis hoped they will be so kind as to send for his Tickets to Mr Hobson, in the Playhouse Passage, or to Mr Ray's lodgings, the second Door in Queen's Court, Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields, and the Favour will ever be greatly acknowledged by him

Event Comment: YYeates's Great Theatrical Booth. 12:00 to 9:00 p.m. A Concert, etc. Boxes 2s. Pit 1s. 6d. First Gallery 1s. Upper Gallery 6d. [Notice repeated 6 and 12 May.

Event Comment: Afterpiece An Historical Dramatic Piece of on act (taken from Shakespear) with a representation of the Trials of the Lords for High Treason, in the Reign of King Henry V. The Characters dress'd in the Habits of the times. With proper Scenes and Decorations. On account of the Extraordinary Scenery, &c, and to prevent any interruption in the performance, it's desired no persons will take it ill that they cannot admitted behind the Scenes.--General Advertiser. [This adaption most certainly occasioned by the trial, which began in Westminster Hall on 28 July of Lord Kilmarnock, Lord Cromarty, and Lord Balmerino for participation in the Rebellion of '45! (Hogan, Shakespeare in the Theatre, p. 199).] An Historical Dramatic Piece of one act, taken from Shakespear, will be perform'd, after a play, at Drury Lane; it will be a Representation of the trials of Lord Cambridge, Lord Scroopv, &c for High Treason, in the reign of King Henry the Fifth. The Characters are to [be] dress'd in rich antique Habits of the times.--Daily Advertiser, 31 July. Last night the Dramatick Piece call'd The Conspiracy Discover'd; or French Policy Defeated, with a representation of the Trials of the Lords for High Treason, was acted at dl, with great applause, and will be performed again tomorrow night at the desire of several persons of Distinction.--General Advertiser, 5 Aug

Event Comment: At the Great Tiled Booth on the Bowling Green. Benefit Bennet. A Concert, etc. Prices 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s. This Benefit chiefly design'd for the use of my creditors

Event Comment: [Full column in Daily Advertiser describing Barry's and Mrs Macklin's acting techniques.] Barry from the Theatre in Dublin, perform'd the part of Othello, at Drury Lane, before a numerous and polite audience; and met with as great Applause as could be express'd.--General Advertiser, 6 Oct. Thomas Gray to Horace Walpole: You have probably been there since I left you, and consequently have seen the Mr Barry you desired some account of; yet as I am not certain of this and should be glad to know whether we agree about him, I will nevertheless tell you what he is, and the impression he made upon me. He is upwards of six feet in height; wdll and prortionably made, treads well and knows what to do with his limbs; in short a noble graceful figure. I can say nothing of his face but that it was all black, with a wide mough and good eyes. His voice is of a clear and pleasing tone, something like Delane's, but not so deep-mouthed, not so like a passing bell. When high strain'd it is apt to crack a little and be hoarse, but in its common pitch, and when it sinks into any softer passion, particularly expressive and touching. In the first scene, especially when he recounts to the Senate the progress of his love and the means he used to win Desdemona, he was quite mistaken, and I took a pique against him; instead of a cool narration he flew into a rant of voice and action, as though he were relating the circumstance of a battle that was fought yesterday. I expected nothing more from him, but was deceiv'd: in the scenes of rage and jealousy he was seldom inferior to Quin in the parts of tenderness and sorrow far above him. These latter seem to be his peculiarly; his action is not very various, but rarely improper, or without dignity, and some of his attitudes are really fine. He is not perfect to be sure, but I think may make a better player than any now on the stage in a little while. However, to see a man in one character, and but once, is not sufficient, so I rather ask your opinion by this, than give you mine.--Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Thomas Gray, II, 6-7

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Clive. Mainpiece written by Beaumont and Fletcher, never acted there. Servants allow'd to keep places on the stage which will be form'd into front and side boxes, and so commodiously enclos'd as to prevent the Ladies from taking cold. Ladies send servants by three. Tickets of Mrs Clive at her House in Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, and of Hobson at the stage door

Event Comment: Benefit Lowe. Mainpiece at the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Tickets to be had of Lowe at his Lodgings at Mr Venables, Wine Merchant in the great Piazza, Covent Garden

Event Comment: Text by the Rev. Dr Thomas Morrell; Music by Handel. [Dean quotes Lord Shaftesbury as saying the oratorio went off with great applause.

Event Comment: Benefit Goodfellow. As Mr Goodfellow's Friends have always express'd a very great dislike of his belonging to the Stage, he has Resolv'd upon taking this Benefit, to enable him to return to his former exployment

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: Yesterday died Mr Muilment, a Famous Dancer, who has given great entertainment to the town at both theatres; and was much esteem'd by all who knew him personally

Event Comment: CChettle's Great Theatrical Booth, opposite Greyhound Inn. To begin at 12 o'clock. Prices 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s., 6d. Italian Fireworks. [Notice repeated 24, 25, 26 Aug.

Event Comment: By Desire, at the Great Til'd Booth, Bowling Green, a Concert, etc. To begin at seven o'clock (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Play to begin at 6 o'clock. 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. As the Admittance of Persons behind the Scenes has occasioned a general Complaint on Account of the frequent Interruptions in the Performance, tis hop'd Gentlemen won't be offended, that no Money will be taken there for the future. [This notice appears on succeeding bills for the season and will hence not be repeated. See note on public objection to nonadmittance behind scenes 22 Feb. 1748.] Receipts: #150 (Cross); #I26 12s. (Clay MS). Nichols Literary Anecdotes, II, 319-20: There is one part of theatrical conduct which ought unquestionably to be recorded to Mr Garrick's honour, since the cause of virtue and morality and the formation of public manners are very considerably dependent upon it, and that is the zeal with which he ever aimed to banish from the stage all those plays which carry with them an immoral tendency, and to prune from those which do not absolutely on the whole promote the interests of vice such scenes of licentiousness and libertinism as a redundency of wit and too great liveliness of imagination have induced some of our comic writers to indulge themselves in, and to which the sympathetic disposition of an age of gallantry and intrigue had given a sanction. The purity of the English stage was certainly much more fully establish'd during the administration of this theatrical minister than it had ever been during preceding managements; for, what the publick taste had itself to some measure begun, he, by keeping that taste within its proper channel, and feeding it with a pure and untainted stream, seems to have completed; and to have endeavoured as much as possible to adhere to the promise made in the prologue which was spoken at the first opening of that theatre under his direction, @Bade scenic virtue form the rising age@And truth diffuse her radiance from the stage.

Event Comment: A concert, etc. at the Great Tiled Booth. Benefit Yeates Jun. and Mrs Warner (his sister). Prices: 2s., 1s., 6d. To begin at six o'clock (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: PPrince &c. (Cross). Lost on Wednesday Night the 21st Instant at Drury Lane Playhouse. A Steel and Gold Sword, with a Silver Gripe, the maker's name Fleaureau. Whoever has taken it up, and will bring it to Mr Fleaureau, Swordcutler in the Haymarket, shall have a Guinea and a half reward, and no Questions asked. N. B.: No greater reward will be offered (General Advertiser). Receipts: #190 (Cross); #176 5s. (Powel)