Event Comment: Benefit for ye Author (Cross). Places for Boxes to be taken of Hobson at the stage door. Tickets to be had of Mr Miller, in the strand; Mr Dodsley in Pall Mall; at the Half-Moon Tavern, near Holborn Bars, and of Mr Hobson. Just Publish'd Mahomet and Palmira. A Tragedy as it is acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, by a Gentleman of Wadham College. [This would seem to be James Miller's Mahomet, with the printer capitalizing on Johnson's production at dl.] Receipts: #175 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author Tickets to be had as 9 and 14 Feb. [The Gentleman's Magazine this month gave a nine-column article to the Plan and Specimens of Irene a Tragedy by Mr Samuel Johnsin acted at Drury Lane from 6-20 February inclusive." In it plot was first retold, then excerpts from speeches were given which illustrated the beautiful expression of the moral values contained in the play: "To instance every moral which is inculcated in this performance, would be to transcribe the whole; but, however difficult I shall select a few." No comments are made upon the stage presentation, all is presented upon the basis of examination of the text. William Shenstone thought not much of it as a play. See Letter to Lady Luxborough 22 March.] Receipts: #110 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: This month, as recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books, was published A General History of the Stage, from its origin in Greece down to the present time. With the Memoirs of most of the principal performers that have appeared on the English and Irish Stage. With notes antient and modern, foreign, domestic, serious, comic, moral, merry, historical, and geographical. Containing many theatrical anecdotes; also several pieces of poetry never before published. Collected and digested by W. R. Chetwood, twenty years prompter to His Majesty's Company of Comedians at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Printed for W. Owen

Event Comment: [M$Macklin apparently gave this lecture four times and advertised a fifth as follows]: @W 1 March 1749, at the Black Bull, Pudding Lane, 7 p.m., 1s.@F 3 March, Globe Tavern, Fleet St. (The Subsequent Lectures will conclude with a Rehearsal of some favourite Scenes taken from the Plays therein treated of.)@M 6 March, James St. at twelve o'clock.@W 8 March, Queens Arms, Spittlefields, at seven o'clock.@M 13 March, James St. Prices: 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s. "it is no Joke" at half past twelve.

Event Comment: Benefit for ye Fire at Honiton (Cross). For the sufferers at the town of Honiton by fire. This Benefit was given at the request of a gentleman of Distinction, who is Mr Garrick's particular Friend (Powel). Being the last time of the company's performing till the Holidays. Receipts: #200 (Cross). Charges to the sufferers, #70; tickets were: #199 10s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Havard. [Stage arranged as on 7 March.] Tickets and places at Havard's House in Broad Court the upper end of Bow St., and of Hobson at the stage door. The manager of the Smock Alley theatre Dublin in order to support decayed players, has resolved to apply the whole receipts of one night every year towards raising a fund for the purpose, which is to be increased by the players allowing a small portion of their salaries to be deducted weekly. A scheme worthy the imitation of the managers and players of our theatres. -Gentleman's Magazine, March 1749, p. 238

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry. Tickets to be had of Berry at Mr Pope's, Peruke Maker in Russel St., Covent Garden and of Hobson at the Stage Door. [From the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books for this month: An Account of the Life of that Celebrated Tragedian, Mr Thomas Betterton, containing a distinct relation of his excellencies in his profession and character in private life, and interspersed with an account of the English theatre during his time. Printed for J. Robinson.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel)

Event Comment: First time of performance. The Company to be waited on by two Knights, from the Land's End, and a Brace of Cats from Italy. The Ladies and Gentlemen are desired to leave their Lapdogs and Spaniels at home because of the Cats. To begin exactly at twelve

Event Comment: The rehearsal of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks, by a band of 100 musicians, to an audience of above 12,000 persons.--Deutsch, Handel, p. 666., from Gentleman's Magazine, April 1749

Event Comment: Benefit for Simpson, Raftor, Usher. Tickets and places of Hobson at the stage door. Receipts: #180 (Cross); charges, #63 (Powel). [This month, the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books listed as published Remarks on Three Plays of B. Johnson, viz: The Fox, Silent Woman, and Alchymist, by James Upton.] This week will be published The Hen Peck'd Captain,...as it was intended to be acted...on Saturday last. Taken from The Campaigners; or, the pleasant Adventures at Brussels with a Preface by R. Cross, prompter (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: [Note by Croza says in view of the actions against him he was not the "Undertaker of the Operas" but came under Articles with an English Gentleman, who employed Mr V-i as Director and Mr C-d as Treasurer, that V-i received 3 per cent of the gross every night (General Advertiser). The persons referred to are Vaneschi and Crawford.

Event Comment: t the chapel of the Foundling Hospital. Above 100 voices in performance. Tickets, 10s. 6d. [There] were present their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales....and a prodigious Concourse of the Nobility and Gentry (Deutsch, Handel, pp. 671, 672, from London Evening Post). 1,300 Tickets printed (Deutsch, Handel, p. 668, from Minutes of Hospital). Audience above a thousand (Deutsch, Handel, p. 670, from Gentleman's Magazine for May).

Event Comment: Benefit for Charles James Gaylard. A Concert, etc. at the New Theatre, James St. Prices: 3s., 2s., 1s. (Daily Advertiser).

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 29 Feb. 1748.] Containing the distresses and death of King Henry VIv; the Artful acquisition of the Crown by King Richardv; The cruel Murder of Prince Edward and his brother in the Towerv; the landing of the Earl of Richmond, and the death of King Richardv in the Memorable battle of Bosworth Fieldv, being the last that was fought between the Houses of York and Lancaster. [Customary advertisement for this play this season. It will not be repeated further.] This month was published Characters in Dancing; with a Rhapsody (Gentleman's Magazine). Receipts: #164 13s

Event Comment: By Ye King's Command but not (by order) in ye Bills (Cross). Present His Majesty, 2nd time this season. [The George Garrick Drury Lane MS Treasurer's Book makes its first entry Mon. 30 Oct. 1749, indicating an expenditure to date of #1,733 2s. 7d. as against an income of #3,455 6s. 6d. and that Mon. was the twenty-ninth night of performance. The Treasurer's Book carries full entries until the 165th night, Sat. 28 April 1750. First itemizing of expenditures begins Wed. 1 Nov. 1749 as follows: Paid to Pipe & Tabor to Sat., 10s. 6d.; to 2 French Horns and a Kettle Drum, 15s.; to 12 1!2 lbs. Wax Candles, #1 11s. 3d.; To Properties and King's servants, #3 2s. 5d. [N.B. The use of extra musical instruments (horns, flutes, cymbols, kettle drum) averaged 6s. per night for the 165 nights. The season extended to 174 nights; so the approximate total cost for instruments came to #52 4s. Properties expense averaged 5s. per night. The approximate total cost was #43 11s. No further itemization of these will be made.] This month was publish'd The Rosciad; a Poem, by Charles Churchill (Gentleman's Magazine, Register of Books). Receipts: #70 (Cross); #73 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Oram [Scene-painter] on acct. #10 10s. by order Lacy (Treasurer's Book). This month was published (Gentleman's Magazine, Register of Books) Some Considerations on the establishment of the French Strollers, the behaviour of their Bully Champions, and other seasonable matters at this critical juncture. Printed for R. Freeman. Receipts: #180 (Cross); #160 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Plummer. Mainpiece: By particular desire of Several Ladies and Gentlemen. A cheesemonger announced that his distresses arose from [an] unperformed engagement with the late manager of Drury Lane (Winston MS 7). Mr Plummer being reduced to great distress, by some unfortunate engagements for a late manager of Drury Lane Theatre, has obtained the Indulgence of a Benefit Night, and humbly hopes the Favour of the Publick on so charitable an occasion will effectually make it such, especially as it is the last time he intends to give them the like trouble (General Advertiser). Receipts: #40 5s. 6d

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment in Two Interludes. The words to be sold at the theatre (General Advertiser). Some Gentlemen crowding behind ye Scenes, ye Audience resented it & ye farce was stop'd for half an hour--I drew lines with chalk, but Miss Norris applying publickly to Capt. Johnson, desiring he wou'd retire, He did & ye farce went on with great Applause. The words of this piece were by Mr Mendez, & set by Dr Boyce (Cross). Added to salary list, Mr Campioni. Paid him for cloaths #21, and for 51 days work, #42 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #140 (Cross); #142 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: With proper scenes, Machines, &c. [This is the Dryden-Davenant version.] Paid G. Garrick balance of his bill #6 13s.; Christmas Box to ye Beadle 3s. 6d.; Mr Norton 5 chorus #1 5s.; Xmas Jury #1 1s.; Mr Madden for an Embroidered Coat and a velvet suit of Cloaths #12 (Treasurer's Book). [This month was published A Dissertation on Comedy (by John Hippisley, Jr) in which the Rise and Progress of that Species of the Drama is particularly considered and deduced from the earliest to the present age. By a Student of Oxford. Printed for T. Lowndes (Gentleman's Magazine, Register of Books). The "Student of Oxford" seems to have been a Garrick apologist in the extreme: "But whatever reason there may have been formerly for this complaint [the immorality of the stage] since Mr Garrick's management the Stage is become the school of manners and morality: Ribaldry and Profaneness are no longer tolerated, Sense and Nature exert their influence; Pantomime daily declines, Dancers are but little encouraged; the Burletta performs to empty benches, and the British can now vie with the Athenian Drama when in its severest state of purity" (p. 15). Also, from the same source, Reflections on that Species of Dramatic Writing which it improperly call'd Serious Comedy: from the French of M Maillet du Boulley.] Receipts: #120 (Cross); #126 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Norton 4 Chorus #1 (Treasurer's Book). This month publish'd An Impartial Statement of the case of the French Players. Printed for Spavan (Gentleman's Magazine, Register of Books). Receipts: #160 (Cross); #126 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Citizen in Distress. Benefit for Mr Buss. Cash #47 1s. 6d. plus tickets #46 19s. Total income #94 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Tickets to be had at Pinchbeck's Toy Shop, in the Haymarket; the Mitre, Union St., Westminster; The Rummer, Charing Cross, the Gentleman and Porter, Fleet St.; Mr Dickenson, Printseller, Fleet St., Doctor's Commons Coffee House; the Dog Tavern, Garlick Hill; the Three Tuns Aldgate; and of Hobson at the stage door. Tomorrow, the Merchant of Venice, for the Benefit of a Young Gentlewoman under misfortunes, by the bankruptcy of her Guardian (General Advertiser). Receipts: #93 (Cross); charges, #80 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Play never acted. 'Tis hoped no gentleman will take it ill that he cannot possibly be admitted behind scenes this night (General Advertiser). This play was wrote by Mr Whitehead Tutor to my Lord Jersey,--it was receiv'd with Extravagant applause--& it was Agreed Mr-(Cross). Paid Mr Ackman for writing voice parts in Don Severio #1 1s.; Salary list #305 6d. Norton 6 chorus #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [Of some interest is the fact that a ship plying between London and Dublin was named the Roman Father, perhaps in response to the popularity of this play. See note of its safe arrival in Crookhaven in General Advertiser 25 Oct. 1750.] Receipts: #190 (Cross); #191 7s. 6d. [Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Jones. A Serenata. Books of which may be had at the theatre. To begin at twelve o'clock promptly (General Advertiser). To the Publick: Walking in St James's Park the other day, I followed two young Gentlemen along the Mall, and overheard one of them say to the other, "shall we go and offer sacrifice to the Manes of Milton?" To which the other reply'd "with all my heart." I must own I had some curiosity to know in what this ceremony would consist, and determined to observe them. I accordingly followed them at some distance, into Dodsley the Bookseler's in Pall Mall; where to my great satisfaction I found that this most acceptable sacrifice was only an offering of Charity to the Granddaughter of Milton; who on account of her age, her poverty, and her relation to that great Man, is to have a Benefit at Drury Lane Theatre on Wednesday next. I willingly joined in their devotions, and rejoice with the Publick on their having an opportunity of shewing their gratitude and Veneration to a man whose Genius reflects a lustre on the British Literature, and whose sentiments have added strength to the British liberties; to an author whose works have been the delight of our Fathers, and will be the Admiration of our sons: latest posterity; to an Englishman who is not only the Glory of our Country, but the Honour to Human Nature. This fair Opportunity of paying a respect to his Memory (the last of the kind that can be offered to us, as Mrs Foster is the only surviving branch of his family) must certainly be embraced with Eagerness and pleasure; all who have any pretence to an Elegant Taste, all lovers of Liberty, and every friend of the Muses, will surely crowd to the house on this distinguish'd night, and give at once an instance of the politeness of their manners, and the goodness of their hearts, I am, &c. A Lover of Milton (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry. Tickets at Pope's Peruke Maker Russell St. Rec'd Cash #93 3s., plus #92 11s. from tickets. Total #185 14s.; Paid Salary List #203 7s.; Norton 5 chorus #1 5s. (Treasurer's Book). To the Public, Gentlemen and Ladies, I am very sorry that a long, sharp, and severe fit of Illness prevents me the satisfaction of making my personal application to my friends as usual, against my Benefit; but finding myself every day rather worse than better, I hope you will be so kind as to take this notice, that the Stratagem, will be performed on Saturday the 21st of April; the part of Archer by Mr Garrick, for the benefit of Mr and Mrs Mills; with a Farce and all other usual Entertainments. From your most oblig'd Servant, William Mills. Mr Mills hopes his friends who intend to honour him with their company, will be so kind as to send to him for Places, Tickets, &c., or call upon him at Mr Gardner's Printing Office in Russel St., Covent Garden; or at Hobson's at the stage door (General Advertiser). Receipts: #180 (Cross); charges, #60 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Receipts: #600. At the chapel of the Foundling Hospital