Event Comment: Play a Tragedy by James Thomson. Brought to the stage by the efforts of Lord Lyttleton and Quin (Baker, Biographia Dramatica). [Genest, IV, 279, notes that Mrs Woffington had painted her beautiful face with wrinkles to suit the character of Venturia.

Event Comment: Fire Works for ye Peace (Cross). This evening the Fireworks will be exhibited in the Green Park. This morning three Regiments of Foot Guards are ordered to be on parade in St James's Park, at Six o'Clock, in order to mount guard in the Green Park. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor having receiv'd a certain number of tickets for seeing the fireworks, sent them yesterday, by his officers, to the Aldermen, Commoncouncilmen, and the Governors and Directors of the several Publick Companies

Event Comment: FFrench Company--open'd at ye Haymarket Little House--several strove to pelt 'em off--but some Lords and officers drawing their Swords in their Defence, they went on & many people were wounded--a small opposition on Wed and Fry: following but without effect (Cross). Paid Blandford (Tallow Chandler) #19 2s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #100 (Cross); #104 13s. 6d. (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: This Morning we were surpris'd with the unhappy News, that Frederick Prince of Wales Dy'd the Night before between ten & eleven-Mr Beard's Benefit was to be on Thursday & many of ye Bills were posted before we heard of this Accident the Bills were immediately torn down, & the House shut up before my Ld Chamberlain sent orders for so doing-on fryday the 5th of Ap: my Lord sent us leave to open on the 8th: being Easter Monday; it is said our having permission to open so soon, & before the prince was Bury'd was on account of the Actors Benefits depending (Cross)

Event Comment: This play was reviv'd instead of ye London Cuckolds by way of Compliment to the City--not lik'd at all--Mr Ross being ill Mr Mattocks did his part at 2 Day's Notice, wch at the end of the 4 Act Mr Woodward told the Audience, & tho Mr Mattocks was hiss'd before, when he next appear'd they gave him great Applause. Mattocks never play'd a principal part before in London (Cross). Mainpiece: Never Acted there. [Inspector No 206 reports a letter on the lack of wisdom of giving the London Cuckolds on Lord Mayor's Day, as the morals of the trading youth have been corrupted by it the writer rejoices to see the substitution of Eastward Hoe for it (Daily Advertiser and Literary Gazette).] Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: mong the Addresses of the Lords and Commons to the Sovereign which appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine (Nov. 1751, pp. 513-14) one recommended that provision be made for suppressing audacious crimes of robbery and violence. A contributor called Mr Urban's attention to a "method of reformation earnestly recommended more than 40 years ago by an eminent Divine" (Dean Swift). In this treatise occured the following paragraph: "The Reformation of the Stage is entirely in the power of the Court; and in the consequence it hath upon the minds of younger people, doth very well deserve the strictest care. Surely a pension would not be ill employed on some men of wit, learning and virtue, who might have power to strike out every offensive and unbecoming passage from plays already written, as well as those that may be offered to the stage for the future, by which, and other wise regulations, the theatre might become a very innocent and useful diversion instead of being a scandal and reproach to our religion and country."] Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Ross, belonging to Drury Lane, is recover'd from his late illness, and will appear this week in the character of Lord Townly in the Provok'd Husband. Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. We are assured that Mr Barry is so well recover'd from his late illness, that he will appear on Thursday next, in the character of Lord Townly in the Provok'd Husband; and that Mrs Cibber will perform the part of Lady Townly

Event Comment: Some Hissing, tho' play'd Well-Garrick Kiteley &c. (Cross). Mainpiece: Written by Ben Johnson, never acted there. Characters Dress'd in the Old English@Manner. Receipts: #200 (Cross). We hear that His Majesty intended to go to the theatre Royal in Drury Lane this evening, to see the Comedy of Every Man in his Humour, wrote by Ben Johnson in 1598, acted the same year by the Lord Chamberlain's Servants, and dedicated to the great Mr Camden; and was reviv'd since the Revolution with Great Applause, having a new Epilogue spoken by Ben Johnson's Ghost , written by the late Earl of Dorset (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: Suppos'd Garrick's Benefit (Cross). This day publish'd at 1s. Every Man in his Humour, a Comedy written by Ben Johnson [sic] with alterations and additions, as it was perform'd at Drury Lane (General Advertiser). [Inspector No 298 comments on a blemish in the performance of Richard III, where the character of the Lord Mayor has Buffoonry in the handling." Taswell frequently acts it thus, but perhaps is not to blame, the decision as to the manner of the part probably having been made by the Manager (Daily Advertiser and Literary Gazette, 13 Feb.)] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: At the Desire of Several Persons of Distinction. The Thirteenth Day. The Ladies are particularly desired to come early. Yesterday Orders were sent from the Lord Mayor to the Managers of the Entertainment last Night, exhibited at the Castle Tavern, Paternoster Row, to discontinue that part of it call'd The Old Woman's Oratory, the above being an unlicensed Place (Daily Advertiser, 19 Feb.)

Event Comment: Benefit Mause, Madge. On Tuesday Evening several Performers by an order from the Lord Chamberlain were taken up for acting Plays, or Drolls, at Shepherd's Market, May Fair, and carried before a Magistrate who committed them to Prison on the Vagrant Act (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: noise still (Cross). [See 6 Nov.] Mainpiece: It appears that Mr Garrick is solicitous to banish vice from the theatre, by his having first omitted to exhibit that scandalous piece the London Cuckolds on the evening of the Lord Mayor's Day [9 Nov.] contray to immemorial custom, and the practice of the other house. He has also made a vigorous attempt to exclude folly but the friends of folly appeared to be so numerous, that he could not effect his purpose (Gentleman's Magazine, Nov. 1752, p. 535). Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: The Lord Chamberlain to the Manager of the Theatre in Covent Garden...These are strictly to charge and command you not to act any Plays, Oratorios, or any other Theatrical Performance in Passion Week for the Future on any Pretence whatsoever (Deutsch, Handel, p. 740, from Public Record Office: L.C. 5@162, pp. 2 ff.). [Deutsch cites similar ones for dl, king's and hay.

Event Comment: [N+New Wells, Lemon St. Goodman's Fields.] As Church wardens and Overseers of the Parish of Whitechapel did lately receive Information, that several young Persons have exhibited Plays at Goodman's Fields Wells...that the said young Persons have actually met and rehearsed Plays on the Lord's Day, in Defiance of all Laws, Divine and Human; the said Churchwardens and Overseers, assisted by proper Authorities, went last Night to Goodman's Fields Wells, which they found vastly crowded, and having severly reprimanded the Performers, dismissed the Audience (Daily Advertiser, 2 March)

Event Comment: A new Musical Entertainment. Written by Mr Rolt, and set to Musick by Mr Arne. To begin at 6:30 p.m. Pit and Boxes 5s. Gallery 3s. Originally announced for 4 Feb.; postponed to 11 Feb. because of the illness of Mrs Arne, and again. Mr Arne is obliged to inform the Publick...his new English Opera is called Eliza and the performance stopped by a Prohibition from the Lord Chamberlain (Daily Advertiser, 21 March)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author. This Day Publish'd Athelstan, a Tragedy, as it is acted at Drury Lane, by the author of Barbarossa, Printed for Lockyer Davis, and Charles Reymers, against Grays Inn Gate, Holborn, and at Lord Bacon's Head in Fleet St. (Public Advertiser). This month was published Critical Remarks on the Tragedy of Athelstan, 6d. Cooper (Gentleman's Magazine). Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A new farce by Doctor Heffinal [sic] for his benefit. O Sad! (Cross). Tickets at Forrest Coffee House, The Bedford, and Randall's, and author's lodgings at Mew's Coffee House. To the Printer of the Public Advertiser, 24 April: Sir, Let this suffice for a general answer to all unfriendly whispers or paragraphs against the new farce to be performed tonight at Drury Lane -its author never previously Caballed, never published his sentiments of any stage performance till after the run -then neither the writer nor manager could be injured -its principal characters are Lady Protea, a coquet alarmed at the apprehension of dying amid; Lord Epigram Strainwit, a pert coxcomical witling; Dr Matho, a Virtuoso, Antiquarian, and in love; Dreadnought Broadside, a sea-officer and strenuous Antigallican. I am &c. Receipts: #90 (Cross)

Event Comment: A New Opera. The Musick by Sig Baldassare Galuppi. [Mingotti had been advertising for subscriptions for next season but now Vanneschi announces that he was secured the licence for next year from the Lord Chamberlain and he is the new Director of the operas (Daily Advertiser).