Event Comment: To the Author of the General Advertiser: Sir: I beg leave by means of your paper, to acquaint the friends of Tom Harbin, that he intends shortly to have a Benefit at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden: Having in consequebce of the advice of many of them, apply'd himself to Mr Rich, on that account who very generously and readily said he would contribute anything in his power to serve him; and as one night of the week might be better than another, (as his Interest lay) he gave him his choice, whereupon he chose Wednesday, as being a night of most leisure amongst people eminent in trade, on whom the city depends. He persuades himself that those who have laughed with him, will not laugh at him for requesting a favour (which his circumstances could never be supposed to put him above accepting) from persons of affluent fortunes, which the generality of his friends are; and who Experienc'd good nature, he doubts not, will serve him on this occasion. In a few days Publick notice will be given of the time, the Play, &c. I am &c. Jack Friendly, Grigsby's Coffee House, Nov. 7, 1748. [See General Advertiser, 8 Nov. See also 14 Dec.

Event Comment: [M$Mrs Barrington, formerly Mrs Hale.] To the Author of the General Advertiser, &c. Sir: I am far from being of the opinion of too many of my countrymen, who exclaim against the performances of foreigners be they ever so extraordinary: on the contrary whenever I hear of a person who merits Encouragement from the Publick, I use all my interest in his favour; and will always continue so to do, though he should come from the extremity of the globe--Nor am I of the opinion of another class, who imagine no man can by a great performer unless he comes from a strange land. I am convinced we have an artist at present among us, as excellent in his way as ever was seen in Britain. He is an Englishman, and citizen of London; and without any instruction (as I am inform'd) performs all the surprizing Equilibres on the Slack Rope that were exhibited by the famous Turk. I have seem his performances once already and they gave me infinite pleasure. Tomorrow evening I intend to see them again, at the Theatre in the Haymarket, and heartily wish him the success he deserves, Yours, &c A. B. [See 23 Dec. 1749 note about Rich's engaging Caratha@the@Turk, and note, 28 Oct. 1749.] Receipts: #67 9s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Afterpiece: A new Musical Entertainment went off pretty well--some Noise &c. (Cross). Published at 3 o'clock that afternoon and sold at the theatre for 6d. (General Advertiser). No admission behind scenes or in Orchestra on account of the entertainment. [Music by C. Burney. Text by Moses Mendez]. Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: Publish'd at 3s. The Actor, in One Pocket Volume. A treatise on the art of playing, interspersed with Observations on the performances of Garrick, Quin, Barry, Berry, Macklin, Ryan, Havard, Woodward, Foote, &c; Mrs Cibber, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Ward, Mrs Elmy, Mrs Green, Mrs Clive, Miss Bellamy, &c. Also some anecdotes of Betterton, Booth and Wilkes and other celebrated performers; together with occasional remarks upon managers and audiences, and upon the principal Tragedies, Comedies, Masques and Farces. Printed for R. Griffiths in Paul's Church-yard. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dunstall and Mrs Dunstall. Mainpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 25 Jan. 1751.

Event Comment: This day publish'd at 3s. The Actor; or, A Treatise on the Art of Playing. A New Work written by the Author of the former [See dl 30 Oct. 1753]; and adapted to the present state of the Theatres. Containing impartial Observations on the Performance, Manner, Perfections, and Defects of: Garrick, Barry, Woodward, Foote, Havard, Palmer, Ryan, Berry, Mrs Cibber, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Gregory, Mrs Clive, Mrs Green, Miss Nossiter, Mrs Bellamy, &c., &c., in their capital parts. Printed for R. Griffiths

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. A great Noise, the whole House against us-When Garrick appear'd one from the Slips cry'd out Monsieur, & great Numbers Hiss'd-the play went on-wch done, the Mutiny began, amazing noise-no plating, except one Apple; ye pit to ye Boxes cry'd-now draw yr Swords, wch makes us think, the Riot was occasion'd by the Box people being so busy & turning some out of the pit & Gall: before. Some benches were pull'd up, & Mr Lacy gave up the Dance to appease 'em-being Sat: our friends were at ye Opera, & the common people had leisure to do Mischief (Cross). [Lynham in The Chevalier Noverre, quotes from the Journal Etranger of 25 Nov. 1775: 'The blackguards...tore up the benches and threw them into the Pit on the opposing party; they broke all the mirrors, the chandeliers, &c., and tried to climb onto the stage to masacre everybody; but, as there is a magnificent organization in this theatre, in three minutes all the decor had been removed, all the traps were ready to come into play to swallow up those who might venture up, all the wings were filled with men armed with sticks, swords, halberds, &c., and behind the scenes the great reservoir was ready to be opened to drown those who might fall on the stage itself."Cross lists no Receipts.

Event Comment: In a Few Days will be publish'd at 1s. (as it is perform'd at Drury Lane) The Winter's Tale: A Dramatic Pastoral in three acts, from Shakespeare. With proper Music, Songs,Dances, and Decoration. Printed for J. and R. Tonson. This Day publish'd The Winter's Tale, a Play alter'd form Shakespeare, by C. Marsh: @Think'st thou, the Swan of Avon spreads her Wings,@Her brooding wings, for thee alone, to plume@And nestle there, O Garrick? Thou deserv'st@Indeed much cherishing; thy Melody@Charms every ear. But sure it ill beseems@One Cygnet thus to stretch its little pinions,@Ambitiously intent, to fill that nest,@Whose roomy limits well may shelter numbers.@ Printed for C. Marsh, at Cicero's Head, in Round Court in the Strand. Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Carmichael, Prompter, Holtom, Miss Condill, and Miss Helm. Tickets deliver'd out by Mlle Vivier, Mlle Jansolin, &c. will be taken

Event Comment: Receipts: #65 19s. 6d. [First payroll of the season for 103 actors, actresses, servants, and dancers, covering four performances, was #112 9s. (Account Book).

Event Comment: Receipts: #74 15s. (Account Book). [Lee was to receive one third of the surplus over and above the charges of #100 for the night, but receipts did not make the expected charges.

Event Comment: Receipts: #41 13s. 6d. Paid J. Powell 6 nights Renters to instant: #72 6s.; Guards 6 nights #4 4s.; Mrs Rich 6 nights to instant #31 10s.; C. Rich ditto #6; J. Rich #20; Mr Gum for Scenemen #6 9s. 3d.; Performers 5 nights #185 11s. 6d.; Servants 6 nights #23 13s. [The expenditures for renters (100) at 2s. 4d. each per acting night, is a weekly constant. The amount for Mrs Rich of #5 5s. each acting night as well as that of #1 for C. Rich each acting night, is a constant. These will not be further recorded, nor will the nightly constant of 13s. for the guards, and 5s. 4d. nigthly for the barber.