Event Comment: On Thursday next Hamlet, the part of Hamlet by Barry. And on Saturday the Foundling. N.B.: All Places taken by Ladies and Gentlemen for the Foundling this night [Tuesday] will be continued for Saturday, unless notice is given to the contrary (General Advertiser). This play was for the benefit of Mr Garrick, clear of all charges; and therefore I shall at the end of the account subtract this sum from the total amount, it being return'd him again. And the reason of entering it among the rest of the sums was, because the principle [sic] treasurer should know nothing of the matter; and therefore as it stands in their books in the same manner as above, I think it proper to set it down here (Powel). Receipts: #200 (Cross); #193 16s. (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Pit and Boxes laid together, and Stage, for better accommodation of the Ladies, will be form'd into Front and Side Boxes. Tickets to be had of Barry at the corner of Bow St., and of Hobson at the Stage Door. [This month was printd The Town, a Satire by Wm. Kenrick, with especial attack upon Garrick and Garrick's plays. In Miss in her Teens, he boasts the strange pretense, To satire Coxcombs, while he murders sense." Kenrick is one of the few who criticizes Garrick (p. 21) for playing a low character Abel Drugger, rather than a king. He yields indirect praise to Janeton Auretti by blaming the town for cheering her dance, while neglecting the players: @Yet if Janeton shakes her slender feet@How loud the thunder clatters through the Pit.@ Prologue intended to have been spoken on the Revival of The Distress'd Mother, for the Benefit of Mr Barry, but omitted through some misunderstanding. Written by Mr Rolt, printed in Gentleman's Magazine, March 1748, p. 134.] Receipts: #270 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel); cash, #80 3s. 6d.; tickets, #118 5s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Faulkner. Mainpiece: At the Particular Desire of Several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: By Desire. Miss Faulkner playing Polly "for the 1st time." Tickets of Page at the stage door in Bow St., Covent Garden; and of Miss Faulkner at her house in Leicester Fields

Event Comment: Benefit for myself and Wife (Cross). As my business at the theatre requires a constant attendance I beg the favour of those Ladies and Gentlemen, who intend to honour me with their company at my Benefit, to send for tickets to my Lodgings, opposite the Rose Tavern in Russel St., Covent Garden; or to Mr Hobson at the Stage door, where places for the Boxes may be taken. Last time of performing the Mainpiece this season. Receipts: #107 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel); cash, #59 17s. 1d.; tickets, #47 1s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: At the Tiled Booth on Blackheath. By Desire of several Gentlemen and Ladies. To begin at 6 p.m

Event Comment: Play By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George, Prince Edward, and the Lady Augusta

Event Comment: At the New Wells near the London Spa Clerkenwell. By Desire. For one night only. Benefit for Yeates Jun. A Concert, etc. Prices: 2s., 1s. 6d., 1s. To begin exactly at 6 p.m. There will be fires in proper Places to keep the Wells warm. It will be moonlight. Mr Yeates entreats the favor of those Gentlemen and Ladies who intend to honour him...that they will please to come at the time prefix'd on account of the length of the Performances; and they may depend on the whole being conducted with the utmost Decorum (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George, Prince Edward, Prince William, the Lady Augusta and Princess Elizabeth

Event Comment: At the New Wells, London Spaw, Clerkenwell. Benefit for Mrs Yeates. By Desire of some Gentlemen and Ladies. Particular care is taken to have the House warm. To begin at half an hour after six

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. [A full column, front-page letter to the Author of the General Advertiser from one purporting to live many miles from London, but whose curiosity about the New Tragedy Irene brought him to see it, details his experience in the theatre the night of Tues. 14 Feb. Seems to be an illconcealed "puff." The writer listens to three critics in the pit decry the performance, then after seeing it himself concludes: "It was receiv'd with universal approbation...Upon the whole I dare affirm that the Judgment of Posterity will concur with me in distinguishing Irene as the best tragedy which this age has produced, for Sublimity of thought, Harmony of numbers, strength of expression, a scrupulous observation of Dramatic Rules, the sudden Turn of events, the tender and generous distress, the unexpected catastrophe, and the extensive and important moral." He inquires why the play has not been so favorably received as others, and concludes it is too finely and artistically conceived to please the masses. He closes by complimenting the Ladies of Great Britain for he "scarce ever saw so shining an assembly in the Boxes. Their early approbation of a Tragedy in which not only the words but the ideas are entirely chaste; a tragedy filled with noble sentiment and poetic beauty is at once a proof of their delicacy and penetration."] Receipts. #100 (Cross); #101 (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: [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: 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: Benefit for Pritchard. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire, and the last time of performing it. Tickets and places to be had of Pritchard at his House in Duke's, late Earl's Court, Bow Street, Covent Garden, and of Hobson at the stage Door. Ladies are Desired to send their Servants by three o'clock. Receipts: #200 (Cross); charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Hoper. The Second Night. Mrs Hoper's Prologue to the Town, By a Friend: @Tonight a Female author heads the stage@Warm'd by the grand productions of the age;@To shine among the modern Bards aspires,@As the Moon glisters midst the lesser fires:@Pants to be rank'd with Sapho, Phillips, Behn@And prove that women write as well as Men.@Bold in the drama's cause, attacks the fashion@Where Novelty appears the reigning passion,@With drooping spirits draws the Tragic Queen@Like your fine ladies troubled with the spleen:@Nor trusts her meaning to the strolling Elf@But represents the character herself.@ [Suggests her friends reproved her for turning player, but she thought it more honorable than going into debt.] @The Stage is innocent and brings no shame@Unless the players are themselves to blame@'Twas meant as Virtue's School;--Tis no disgrace@To act a virtuous part, in any Place.@ [Closes with appeal to audience to be charitable to "this firstling of her quill, to support her generously with applause. See Daily Advertiser.

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: Benefit for Barry. By Command of his Majesty. Duke and Amelia [present] (Cross). Pit and Boxes laid together, and servants will be allowed to keep places there and on the stage, which will be formed into front and side boxes. Ladies desired to send their servants by three o'clock. Tickets and places to be had of Barry, the corner of Bow St., Covent Garden; and of Hobson at the stage door. Receipts: #280 (Cross); #252 (Treasurer's Book). @Rec'd: Cash Front #84 14s. 6d.@Stage #45 16s. 6d.@Tickets Front #119 10s.@Stage-@ Paid salary List 4 days, #203 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

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: Benefit for Mrs Elmy. Ladies are desired to send Servants to keep Places at 3 o'clock. Tickets and places to be had of Mrs Elmy at the corner of Tavistock St., in Southampton St., and of Hobson at the stage door. Cash receipts #63 6s., plus #74 6s. from tickets. Total #137 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Mr Delane dy'd Sun: ye 1st of Ap. (Cross). The Masque of Comus, design'd to be perform'd at Drury Lane Wednesday next, the 4th of Apl, for the Benefit of Mrs Foster, Granddaughter of Milton, and his only surviving descendant, is, by particular desire of several persons of Quality, on account of Handel's Oratorio deferr'd till Thursday the 5th instant (General Advertiser). Receipts. #150 (Cross); charges #63 (Treasurer's Book)