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: 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: MMasque with a Prologue, for ye Benefit of Mrs Foster, Grand Daughter to Milton & his only surviving Descendant (Cross). [For Prologue, see Gentleman's Magazine April 1750.] Rec'd cash #76 6s., plus #71 4s. from tickets. Total #147 4s. 6d. Paid for 1!2 year New River Water #1; Paid 1!2 year's scavanger's tax to Lady Day #3 14s. 6d.; Norton 4 Chorus #1 (Treasurer's Book). Tickets deliver'd for the 4th will be taken. Receipts: #150 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [Cast taken from 1st edn. The bill merely lists actors and notes "With proper Music, Scenes, and Decorations. Never acted before." It mentions no Prologue or Epilogue.] This Masque was wrote about eleven years ago, by Mr Malet & Mr Thomson, & play'd in the Garden at Clifden before the P. of Wales &c.--Mr Malet has now alter'd it, & it was play'd with great Applause, only some of the Dances, being too long were dislik'd, & some of the Songs had ye same reception (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Part of Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes. Servants allow'd to keep places. Send servants by 3 o'clock. Tickets and places to be had of Mrs Clive at the Naked Boy in Henrietta St., Covent Garden. Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [see 18 Nov. 1754]. Afterpiece: With alterations and an additional scene. Mr Havard's benefit play, which should have been acted some day this month, is deferr'd on account of his Indisposition, to the 12th of April, when the new Masque of Alfred will be perform'd, with its proper Scenes, Dances, Music, and Machinery. Receipts: #230 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Afterpiece: A New farce written by Mr Woodward-for his Benefit, The farce was a kind of dispute among ye Actors, & went off, as it was a Benefit, without Interruption, but I believe will not be play'd agen, ye Epil: was a parody upon Shakespear's Stage of Life, & was Lik'd (Cross). No Part of Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes. Ladies send servants by three. Tickets to be had of Woodward at Clarendon's Warehouse, and of Hobson at the stage door. Last time of performing the mainpiece this season. [Larpent MS 92, indicates the afterpiece as a criticism from the actors' view of the way they are handled by audiences, and of their own damnation of a play presented to them. All works up to the Epilogue: @'All the town's a farce-he says and swears,@And all the men and women merely players...'@ which is severe upon politicians, doctors, statesmen and connoisseurs. The characters appear under their own names, Cross, Clive, etc.] Receipts: #300 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Roberts, Holtham, Page (Housekeeper) and Miss Morrison. Tickets deliver'd by Rawlins, Miss Allen, Miss Davis and Mrs Griffiths will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Pritchard (treasurer). Farce went well Jane Shore was to have been Play, but chang'd on Sunday--Bellamy ill (Cross). Tickets of Pritchard, in Great Queen St. Lincoln's Inn-Fields, and at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd for Jane Shore will be taken. Afterpiece: Alter'd from Otway, with several additions never perform'd before. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: A New Tragedy by Dr Philip? Francis, author of Eugenia, --went off very indifferently (Cross). [This tragedy is mercilessly attacked in The Tuner No 2 by Paul Hiffernan, who compares its phrasing in a dozen instances with similar, but more perfect phrasing in Shakespeare.

Event Comment: Benefit for Raftor, Mozeen and Wilder. That this Entertainment may be perform'd with the proper scenes and Decorations, there will be no building on the Stage. Receipts. #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Farce never performed before, taken from second part of ye Busy Body (Cross). For the benefit of Woodward. Garrick had Woodward act Polonius seriously (Genest, IV, 408). Receipts: #300 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross). Ladies to send for tickets for the places they taken at Miss Macklin's, Russel St. next door to Tom's Coffee House. Part of Pit laid into Boxes and Amphitheatre on stage. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Last time of Performing till the Holidays. On seeing Miss Macklin in the character of the Mourning Bride: @Should Death (for Oh! what power can save Our tragic heroine from the grave)@At Cibber aim his dart:@Tears should forever speak my moan,@For oh! 'tis she, and she alone@Can melt the feeling heart.@Britannia spake, when Lo! a Voice@Britain be happy, and rejoice,@That, when your Cibber dies@The Gods have yet in store for thee,@A Macklin; and in her you'll see@Another Cibber rise.--Public Adveriser@

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Addison. At the Particular Desire of Several Persons of Quality. Afterpiece: By Desire. Receipts: #100 (Cross)