Event Comment: Benefit Winstone, Taswell, Miss Budgell, Miss Cole. Tickets deliver'd for Sir Courtly Nice will be taken. Yeaterday Morning died, after a short illness, Mr Norton, Author of the new Tragedy call'd Mahomet, Perform'd at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane.-General Advertiser. On Friday died the Rev. Mr Miller of Roehampton, author of the Tragedy of Mahomet (which was acted last Friday, for the third time at Drury Lane Theatre), the Humours of Oxford, and other Dramatic performances.-Daily Advertiser, 30 April

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. The Fifth Day. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet still continues to be acted...to crowded audiences, with great applause....We hear two principal Actresses from the Theatre Royal in Dublin, are speedily to appear on that Stage; as are some more Performers, who are disengaged from the other Theatres

Event Comment: GGeneral Advertiser, 28 Sept.: We hear that Mr Lacy, Master of his Majesty's company of Comedians at D.L. has applied for leave to raise 200 men in defence of his Majesty's person and government, in which the whole company of players are willing to engage. [See 7 Oct.] On Saturday Night the Audience at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane were agreeably surpris'd by the Gentlemen belonging to that House performing the Anthem of God Save our Noble King. The Universal Applause it met with being encored with repeated Huzzas suffciently denoted in how just an abhorrence they hold the arbitrary schemes of our invidious enemies and detest the despotic attempts of Papal Power. [See also Daily Advertiser, 30 Sept. The newspapers at this time run a three phrase slogan in bold face type vertically in the margins: No Pretender. No Popery. No Slavery, accompanied by two more phrases staring boldly from the bottom margin: No Wooden Shoes! No Arbitrary Power!]

Event Comment: Died, after a lingering illness, Mr Robert Turbutt, belonging to the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, and Master of the Swan Tavern in Smithfield, a facetious and agreeable companion, greatly and justly esteem'd by all that knew him for his Sincerity where he profess'd a friendship.--General Advertiser, 27 Feb

Event Comment: Benefit Delane. Mainpiece: As written by Shakespear. Tickets deliver'd for Monday the 9th will be taken. Tickets to be had of Delane at his lodgings at the Unicorn in New Exchange Row in the Strand. Places of Hobson at the stage door. There is now in rehearsal at the Theatre Royal [dl] and speedily will be acted, a new Petit Piece in imitation of that species of writing on the French Theatre call'd The Suspicious Husband Criticiz'd; or the Plague of Envy (General Advertiser). [A Folger edition of 1750 entitled Chorus for Shakespear's Tragedy of King John lists songs by Sullivan, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Storer, and Mrs Mozeen; the play had no other performance at a London theatre in the interim between 1747 and 1750.

Event Comment: We hear that the play Venice Preserv'd is in Rehearsal at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, and is to be perform'd on Friday next; and that the part of Pierre will be attempted by a Gentleman who never appear'd on any stage before (General Advertiser). [This month was published A Letter to a certain Patentee, in which the Conduct of Managers is impartially considered, and a few Periods bestowed on those darlings of the Publick, Mr G k, Mr F te, Mrs P d, &c." Addressed to Rich it is criticism of his personnel policies as manager, with side comments on his morals, and some on his performances: of his Orpheus and Eurydice, the author agrees that three flaming scenes of Hell, now left out, should have been omitted from the beginning. The Serpent, however, generally behaves himself so well, that "I have had more real pleasure in his appearance than if he had been a living one." Dislikes his replacing Ryan with Hallam, dislikes his abuse of Mrs Pritchard, criticizes his casting Hippisley as Polonius, since Polonius requires more than Hippisley can give, the latter being able to act only in the comic way.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Widow of the Late Chapman. Tickets deliver'd out by the Widow Johnson and Mrs Wallis will be taken. Yesterday Morning died Mr John Laguerre, an eminent Painter belonging to the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden; a facetious companion, universally esteemed in every Scene of Life! (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Elmy. Tickets and Places of Mrs Elmy at the corner of Tavistock St. next Southampton St., Covent Garden; and of Hobson at the stage door. Being the last time of acting till the Holidays. Cash, #92 12s.; tickets, #56 8s.; total, #149 (Clay MS page reproduced in Oct. 1926 issue of Connoisseur, p. 93). A few days ago arriv'd in Town Mr Sheridan, Manager of the Theatre Royal in Dublin, and we hear as his stay is to be but short, he intends to perform only once, for the benefit of the poor sufferers by the late Fire (General Advertiser). [The fire happened the 25th in "Exchange alley (London) and in the space of 10 hours consumed a great number of houses occupied by persons in middling circumstances and with large families." Subscriptions were raised and distributed by a committee of ten bankers. See General Advertiser.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: DDelectando pariterque monendo. At Yates's Great Theatrical Booth (from the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane) facing the Hospital Gate. During the short Time of Bartholomew Fair, will be presented an instructing and diverting Droll, call'd The Consequences of Industry and Idleness, or The Apprentice's Guide. To begin at Twelve noon. [Notice repeated 25, 26 27 Aug.

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: Play Never acted there. Characters New Dress'd. toller: [tolerable -?-] (Cross). We hear a new Tragedy called Mahomet and Irene will be acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane after Christmas (General Advertiser). Receipts: #160 (Cross); #155 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: Published at 1s. 6d. Romeo and Juliet, revised by Theo. Cibber, first rev[ived] in Sept. 1744 at the Theatre in the Haymarket. Now acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Great objects only strike the Gen'rous Heart@Praise the Sublime, o'er look the Mortal Part@Be there your judgment, Here your Candor shown@Small is our Portion-and we wish 'Twere none.-Prologue to Comus alter'd, &c. To which is added a Serio-Comic Apology for part of the life of Theophilus Cibber, Comedian, written by himself. Interspers'd with Memoirs and Anecdotes relating to the Stage managements, Theatrical Resolutions, &c., also Cursory Observations on some Pribcipal players. Particularly, Mr Quin, Ryan, Delane, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Ward, Miss Bellamy, Mr Garrick, Barry, Mrs Cibber, Mrs Clive, Mrs Pritchard and others. Likewise Original Letters that passed between the late Sir Thomas deVeil and Mr Theophilus Cibber relating to the Stage Act. "Each Puny Critic can Objections raise@The Greatest still is Knowing when to praise,"-Buckingham. Concluding with a Copy of Verses called The Contrite Comedian's Confession. Printed for C. Corbett &c. (General Advertiser). [This pamphlet details Cibber's troubles with Fleetwood during the years 1743-46.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); #151 11s. (Powel)

Event Comment: This farce of Lethe was wrote some years ago and play'd with Success, & was reviv'd this Night with great Alterations, & was but indifferently receiv'd by the Audience (Cross). The Poet, Frenchman, & Sot Mr Garrick perform'd most inimitably (Charles Adams to John Gilbert-Cooper, Theatre Notebook, XI (1957) p. 138). No After Money will be taken, and no Persons will be Admitted behind the Scenes (General Advertiser). Receipts: #180 (Cross); #186 7s. (Powel). N.B.: Mr G-k is the author of Lethe and did receive #36 8s. 6d. for this night which is the overplus after the charge of #63 for the House is paid, and which I must subtract from the rest (Powel). [A letter appeared in the General Advertiser this day giving advance notice and approval of a performance of Cato to be put on at Leicester House 7 Jan. by members of the Royal Family. The author noted that "proper Habits are absolutely in the making," and that the Princes would learn the principles of liberty from the lines of the play.

Event Comment: [G$Genest, IV, 288, reports this performance "in or before January 1749," finding the account in the London Magazine. In the Prologue George said of himself, "In England born, in England bred." Quin possibly superintended the royal rehearsals. See note, dl 2 Jan.

Event Comment: Peace Proclaim'd (Cross). Yesterday most of the Foreign Ministers had a very grand entertainment at Pontack's, on Account of the Peace being proclaimed yesterday at Paris. This morning the Peace is to be proclaim'd, pursuant to his majesty's royal warrant, signed for that purpose, the ceremony of which is to be in the following manner (General Advertiser). [Follows an account of the five places and times of reading the proclamation throughout the city.] Receipts: #120 (Cross); #116 15s. (Powel)

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: Tomorrow will be publish'd, at 1s. 6d. Irene. A Tragedy, acted at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, by Mr Samuel Johnson, Printed for R. Dodsley in Pall Mall, and sold by M. Cooper in Paternoster Row. [In 1749 was published an Essay on Tragedy, with a Critical Examen of Mahomet and Irene (T. P. Barton@Collection, Boston Public Library).

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: Benefit for Miss Falkner. We hear that the two young Africans will be at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden this night, to see the Spanish Fryar, for the Benefit of Miss Falkner. [Page missing from the General Advertiser with the Bill this day.

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 Will Hill. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire of his friends. N.B. The Gentlemen are desired to meet Mr Hill after the Play at the Rose Tavern, Temple Bar. [He had advertised since 15 April that "Gentlemen and Ladies who intend to honour him with their presence," should take tickets at: the Thatched House, St. James's St; Jack Bridell's, the One Tun in the Strand; Half moon in Holborn; Rose, Temple Bar; King's Head, in the Poultry; Castle, Lombard St; Bell, East cheap; King's Head, Tower Hill, Rummer, Bishopsgate St; West India and Jerusalem Coffee Houses near the Royal Exchange; Chapman's, Swordcutler, in Exchange Alley; and at Will Hill's Lodgings, Mr Geves's in Abchurch Lane.

Event Comment: At Cushing's Booth, facing the King's Head, Smithfield. The tragedy contains the barbarous contrivances of King John against his nephew Prince Arthur; his method of persuading Hubert to undertake the cruel murder of that youth; the sufferings of Arthur in his confinement, where Hubert attempts to put out eyes with a red-hot iron, til moved to compassion by the tender entreating of the young prince, he quits his horrid purpose. The manner of Arthur's leaping from the battlements of the tower where he was imprisoned, when by attempting to escape his severe treatment he loses his life. The terrors that attended the villainous Uncle King John, and at length his dreadful death, who is poisoned in the midst of all his glory, and in terrible anguish and distraction, pays his nephew's blood with the price of his own. The comic contains the exquisite drolleries of Sir Lubberly and his man, their whimsical journey from Cumberland, and no less whimsical exploits in London; the odd reception they met with from their three faithful friends, Tom Rash the Porter, Jeffrey Holdfast the Constable, and Moll Tatter the Beggar Woman, the one getting a wife, the other a bastard

Event Comment: At Yates's Booth in the George Inn, Smithfield. A new, pleasant and Diverting Droll...interspers'd with several Scenes both Satyrical and Comical, particularly the surprizing Metamorphosis of Jupiter and Mercury; the very remarkable Tryal before Judge Puzzlecause, with many learned arguments on both sides to prove that One can't be Two. Likewise the Humourous Adventures and whimsical Perplexities of Gormandize Simple, the Hungarian Footman; with the wonderful Conversations he had with and the dreadful Drubbings he received from his own Apparition; together with the Intrigues of Dorothy Squeezepurse, the wanton Chambermaid. Concluding with the Distresses of the Jealous Husband or the Innocent Adultress. Yates from Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Clothes, scenes, machines, flyings, Transparencies and all other Decorations entirely new