Event Comment: CCraftsman, 9 June: We hear...that the Rebel Players are not yet reduced to their Obedience, but it is thought that They will soon be obliged to surrender at Discretion. In that mean Time, the Publick waits with Impatience to see the Manifesto of their doubty Chief, Mr Theophilus Cibber, which He hath promised in the News-Papers. It is expected that, in this Manifesto, the young Captain will endeavour to prove that the King's Patent, after a solemn Adjudgment in the Court of Chancery, is of no Validity; and that picking a Gentleman's Pocket of Six Thousand Pounds is perfectly consistent with the Principles of Liberty. In the Daily Post, 11 June, Benjamin Griffin, Comedian, published his Humble Appeal to the Publick.The gist of his statement is: (1) Griffin had been under the management of Rich at Lincoln's Inn Fields, without any intention of leaving him, when, at the beginning of the season of 1721, the managers at Drury Lane sent him messages by Thurmond Sr and Shaw, seeking Griffin to treat with them. Griffin at first refused, but Steede, then the prompter of Drury Lane, prevailed upon him. Wilks immediately offered the same conditions Griffin had under Rich: #4 weekly and a benefit before 15 April, at the certain incident charge of #40. Wilks also offered him articles for three years, with a promise of an advance in salary and better terms at that time. (2) No sooner had Griffin agreed than the masters of both companies entered into a private agreement not to receive any one of the other's company, though discharged, without a private agreement to that purpose. (3) At the end of three years, under date of 12 December 1724, R. Castleman, the treasurer of Drury Lane, sent Griffin a note to the effect that the managers were willing to continue him at 10s. nightly (#3 weekly); as Griffin could not return to Rich, he had to accept the reduction in pay as well as a delay of his benefit to May and a payment of #50 for the charges. (4) He remained so until 1729, losing in salary #147 besides the #10 extra benefits. At Norris' illness and death, the managers returned him to #4 weekly but kept the charges at #50. (5) Under date of 4 June 1733, by the signatures of Mary Wilks, Hester Booth, John Highmore, and John Ellys, Griffin received a discharge from Drury Lane and full Liberty to treat with Rich or any one else. He asserts that he had no previous notice and received no reason for his discharge

Event Comment: Benefit for Cooke. By Particular Desire. Tickets delivered for the Busy Body will be taken. [Account Book indicates Receipts: #26 1s. 6d. plus #53 14s. from tickets: (Box 61; Pit 165; Gallery 137). A staff of 22 servants, plus the women dressers and charwomen were paid #3 13s. 2d. for operating the theatre this night. The deficit carried into the summer after this night was #216 19s. 10d. This deficit plus summer expenses produced an encumbrance of #359 12s. 9d. to be met at the start of the 1761-62 season. Rich upon ten occasions withdrew under Account I from the treasury #2743. From this account he put back into the treasury upon three occasions (May 8, 31; June 23) #600. So over and above the #6 which the Rich family received daily in Account 76, Rich tucked away #2143 in Account I. In addition his carpentry bills to Mr Gom for work at Cowley were paid from theatrical funds. His cut from Account 76 at #5 per night was #810. So apparently Rich cleared #2953 this season despite the fact that it ran only 162 nights, and that George II's death occurred in a money-making part of the season.] Charges: #42 (Account Book)

Event Comment: JJohn Rich Esq, Master and Patentee of the TRCG, died Thursday 26 Nov. 1761, about six o'clock in the evening, at his house adjoining to the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, in the seventieth year of his age. Mrs Priscilla Rich sole executrix of the Will of John Rich Esq, deceas'd. Mr John Rich was buried in Hillingdon Churchyard. (See his Epitaph, Lysons's Middlesex Parishes, p. 162) Dec. 4, 1761. ibid p. 173 (Hopkins MS Notes). Income from Boxes #85 5s. Rec'd of John Condill on acct of Fruit #20. Expenses #46 3s. 8d. [The balance brought forward to this date for this season was #2007 9s. 1d. From this was subtracted the #1291 19s. 4d. necessary for starting the season (see 9 Sept.), which left Beard a favorable balance of #715 9s. 9d. with which to carry on. The Winston Theatrical Record ceases on this date.

Event Comment: The King's Company. This play appears on Herbert's List, following the entry for 26 Oct. 1661. (See William VanLennep, "Thomas Killigrew prepares his Plays for Production," J. Q. Adams Memorial Studies (Washington, D. C., 1948, p. 803.) Pepys, Diary: W. Pen and I to the Theatre, but it was so full that we could hardly get any room, so he went up to one of the boxes, and I into the 18d. places, and there saw Love at first sight, a play of Mr Killigrew's and the first time that it hath been acted since before the troubles, and great expectation there was, but I found the play to be a poor thing, and so I perceive every body else do. BM Add. Mss. 34217, fol. 31b, in Hotson Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 246: @First then to speake of his Majestys Theatre@Where one would imagine Playes should be better@Love att the first sight did lead the dance@But att second sight it had the mischance@To be so dash'd out of Countenance as@It never after durst shew itts face@All though its bashfullnesse as tis thought@Be far from being the Authors ffault.

Event Comment: Charles II to Madame, 10 Dec. 1663: I am just now going to see a new play (C. H. Hartmann, Charles II and Madame[1934], p. 89). The Duke's Company. W. J. Lawrence, in a review of Boswell, The Restoration Court Stage, in Modern Language Review, XXVIII (1933), 103, suggests that it was The Step-Mother which was given on this occasion. The edition of 1664 lists: The Prologue to the King at the Cockpit at White-Hall. The Epilogue to the King

Event Comment: Charles II to Madame, 14 July 1664: I am just now come from seeing a new ill play and it is almost midnight (C. H. Hartman, Charles II and Madame [1934], p. 108). W. J. Lawrence, in a review of Boswell, The Restoration Court Stage, in Modern Language Review, XXVIII (1933), 103, stated his belief that this play was acted at court this day

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 2. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 347. This performance may well be the premiere. In the Preface the author states that the play was asked for on Shrove Tuesday and he wrote it within a week; a premiere, then, before this date would allow very little time for rehearsal. This play is certainly a "Lenten" performance, for it was acted on a Wednesday in Lent and was referred to in the Prologue as a "Lenten Play." See the discussion under The Spanish Rogue (March 1673) and Gray, pp. 785-86. See also J. G. McManaway, The Copy for The Careless Lovers," MLN, XLVI (1931), 406-9. Preface to the edition of 1673: [This play] was written at the Desire of the Young Men of the Stage, and given them for a Lenten-Play, they ask't it not above a Week before Shrove-Tuesday

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@142, p. 81: At the Virtuoso. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 348. Nell Gwyn also attended this performance; see VanLennep, Nell Gwyn's Playgoing, p. 407. The Diary of Robert Hooke, 25 May 1676: Mr Abraham Hill gave J. Hoskins, Aubery and I an account of Vertuoso play. A song, How retched is the slave to love, the music by Francis Forcer, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Second Book, 1679. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 37): The Libertine and Virtuoso: Both Wrote by Mr Shadwell; they were both very well Acted, and got the company great Reputation

Event Comment: Cardell Goodman, the actor, was brought to court for complicity in a poisoning case. See Luttrell, A Brief Relation, I, 318, and J. C. Jeaffreson, A Young Squire of the Seventeenth Century (London, 1878), II, 143-44

Event Comment: Christopher Jeaffreson to Colonel Hill, 29 Oct. 1684: Sir James Hackett, lieutenant-colonell to the Lord Dunbarton's regiment, was wounded in the thigh by one Mr Potter in the Playhouse; of which woud he has since died. He is much lamented by his Majesty, and all that knew him (J. C. Jeaffreson, A Young Squire of the Seventeenth Century [London, 1878], II, 143-44)

Event Comment: Richard Lapthorne, 8 Aug. 1691: Bartholomew faire by order of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen is to bee kept but for 3 days this yeare because its a season of great debauchery and therefore they think a fortnight to bee too long a space and it seemes according to the originall Institution it was to continue no longer then three dayes (R. J. Kerr and I. C. Duncan, The Portledge Papers [London, 1928], p. 118.

Event Comment: The Portledge Papers, 19 June 1697: On Thursday last in the neighbourhood of Somerset house in the evening was a great entertaynment of Musick and singing in so much as that part of the Strand was so crouded with coaches and sedans that I having occasion to goe that way could hardly Pass and I heard it reported that it was designed for the Prince of Wales birthday but the Lord Feversham hearing of it put it off till Thursday (ed. S. J. Kerr and I. C. Duncan, London, 1928, p. 261)

Event Comment: By Desire. Mainpiece: Written by the late J. Hughes, Esq. London Evening Post, 28 Jan.: It's remarkable that the new Comedy call'd The Nest of Plays...and the new Farce call'd The Coffee House...and which are the two first that have been perform'd since the Act of Parliament took Place, obliging all Plays, Farces, &c. to be licens'd before play'd, were both damn'd by the Town

Event Comment: Benefit Widow and Child of James Miller, the author. As the Play of to-night is entirely for mine and my children's Benefit, and was allotted (by the Manager) for that purpose a considerable time ago, has since been advertis'd in the Publick papers upwards of ten days, and the Boxes chiefly been taken by Ladies of Quality and Distinction, I humbly hope, as Charity and Humanity are my advocates, the Performance will be permitted without interruption. D. Miller.--General Advertiser. To Those who remained in the Pit in Drury Lane Playhouse on Thursday Evening, and were refus'd their money: GENTLEMEN: If you are sensible of the Insults that we receiv'd from the servants of the Manager (after we had remain'd orderly in the House expecting our money for the best part of an hour) being expos'd to the danger of our lives from several sticks, &c being thrown at us from the stage, and from the attack of Soldiers jumping into the Pit with their bayonets fix'd, you'll meet tomorrow several Gentlemen equally injur'd, at the Fountain Tavern in Catherine Street in the Strand, at two o'clock, as well as, Your most humble Servant, J. Johnston.--Daily Advertiser. [Daily Gazetteer contained a letter by Anti-Mimus on the manager's publication of reasons for his late extraordinary measures.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By desire. To Mr G-, Sir: You will very much oblige many of your friends by reviving the play of Ulisses wrote by the celebrated Mr Rowe; We apprehdnd there are four characters in which yourself, Mr Barry, Mrs Cibber and Mrs Pritchard would shine inimitably. If you think this hint worthy your notice, we make no doubt it will in every Respect answer your expectations, as well as gratify the town in general. S. W., S. T., &c. (General Advertiser). This day is publish'd, at 1s. Lethe Rehears'd or a critical discussion of the beauties and blemishes of that performance; interspers'd with occasional remarks upon dramatick satires in general, as well as on some that have been best receiv'd in particular. The whole in a free conversation amongst several persons of distinction. Printed for J. Roberts (General Advertiser). [This is a fifty@two@page puff for Lethe, and for the usefulness of the stage for propagating morals. The characters who lead the discussion are: Sir Francis Friendly , a sensible learned Gentleman; Dr Heartfree , a candid, judicious person; who has a great opinion of Mr Garrick; Mr Snip@Snap , a vociferous modern Critic; and Two Women .] Receipts: #120 (Cross); #118 12s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: The words of the Entertainment will be sold at the theatre for 6d. a book. Paid Cross for Licenser #2 2s.; for 5 Chorus singers #1 5s. (Treasurer's Book). On Wednesday next will be Publish'd (at 2s. 8d. sew'd, 3s. bound) the 2nd Edition corrected, with an additional chapter by Mr Allworthy, &c. relating to Plays in general, and the French playhouse in particular, The History of Tom Jones the Foundling, in his Married State. Printed for J. Robinson. N.B. The additional chapter is given gratis to the purchasers of the former edition (General Advertiser). Receipts: #120 (Cross); #95 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This day is publish'd Much Ado About Nothing. Price 1s. Written by William Shakespear. Printed for J. and P. Knapton, &c. [14 printers]. Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: [MS note in hand of Colley Cibber (in R. J. Smith, History of the Stage, Vol. IV. BM 11826r)]: December 25, 1750 Sr. Tho' Death has been cooling his his [sic] heels at my door these three weeks, I have not had time to see him. The Dayly conversation of my friends have kept me so agreeably alive, that I have not passed my time better a great while. If you have a mind to make [?] us, I will order Death to come another day--to be serious I long to see you, and hope you will take the first opportunity. And so wish as merry a Christmas, as many New Years as your heart can hope for, I am Your real friend and Serv't C. Cibber Xmas Day

Event Comment: This day is publish'd Judas Macchabaeus: a Sacred Drama as it is performed at Covent Garden. Set by Mr Handel. Printed for J. Watts. This day Publish'd The Oracle, a Comedy of one act as it is perform'd at Covent Garden, at 1s. By Mrs Cibber printed for R. Dosdley in Pall Mall, &c

Event Comment: This night the Riot was very Great, the Gentlemen came with Sticks, & tho' the play went on quiet 'till the last Act, we had there a great Stop, notwithstanding we ended it, & then the rout went on, ye Boxes drove many out of the Pit, & broken heads were plenty on both Sides; the dance began,--was Stop'd--& so again & again--while this was doing numbers were assembl'd in the Passages of the pit, broke down & were getting into the Cellar, but were repuls'd by our Scene men &c.--heavy blows on both sides--Justice Fielding--& Welch came with Constables & a Guard; but without effect, tho' the Justices stood upon ye Stage--I thought ye proclamation must have been read--after ye battle in the Passages numbers went & broke Garrick's Windows in Southhampton Street, --part of ye Guard went to protect it-Garrick was oblig'd to give up the Dancers-& ye Audience disperc'd (Cross). This day publish'd at 1s. The Country Coquet; or, Miss in her Breeches, a Ballad Opera, as it may be acted at Drury Lane. @Men, some to business, some to pleasure take@But every woman is at heart a Rake.@ Pope By a Young Lady. Printed for and sold for J. Major, in Three-Tun Court, leading from the Ship in Ivy Lane into Newgate Market. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; DR. POEM 5, by William Mason, 1st acted at Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, 30 Mar. 1764]: Written on the Model of the ancient Greek Tragedy. The Overture and all the Music composed New by Dr Arne. With a New Scene designed and executed by Dahl [recte Dall]. The Dresses, Decorations, &c. all entirely New. Books of the Lyrical Part of the Drama to be had at the Theatre. 'But I had rather talk of Caractacus; I agree that he will not suffer by not being sputtered by Barry, who has lost all his teeth. Covent Garden is rather above Drury Lane in actors, but both sets are exceedingly bad, so bad-that I almost wish Caractacus was not to appear. Very seldom do I go to the play, for there is no bearing such strollers" (Walpole [to the author, 8 Oct. 1776], IX, 419-20). "I attended Caractacus last winter, and was greatly interested, both from my friendship for Mr Mason and from the excellence of the poetry. I was out of all patience; for though a young Lewis played a subordinate part very well, and Mrs Hartley looked her part charmingly, the Druids were so massacred, and Caractacus so much worse, that I never saw a more barbarous exhibition" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 81-82). Public Advertiser, 7 Dec. 1776: This Day is published the Lyrical Part of Caractacus (6d.). [The publisher, J. Wilkie, states that he also has the "whole Drama, as altered by the Author, 18d." Ibid., 9 Dec., contains an advertisement from Mason stating that this version is unauthorized.] Ibid., 12 Dec.: This Day is published [by A. Ward of York] a new Edition of Caractacus, now altered for Representation at the Theatre-Royal in Covent Garden (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #163 10s. (163.6; 0.4)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 1, by John O'Keeffe and George Colman, the elder. Synopsis of action in Public Advertiser, 20 Aug.]: The Music by Dr Arnold. The Scenes by Rooker. Books of the Songs [T. Cadell] to be had at the Theatre