Event Comment: [L+Letter from Henry Woodward, Comedian, The Meanest of all Characters To Dr John Hill, Inspector-General of Great Britain, the greatest of all characters completely damns Hill as unsuccessful player, apothecary, doctor, scholar, writer, and gentleman. It ran to three editions in the year.] We hear great interest is being made to succeed Mr Serjeant Shore, deceased, as Serjeant Trumpet to his Majesty, which is in the gift of his Grace the Duke of Grafton as Lord Chamberlain; and that the contest lies chiefly between that excellent performer, Mr. Valentine Snow, Trumpet to the First Troop of Horseguards; Mr. Debourg, the violin; and Mr Beard, of the theatre Royal in Drury Lane (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mon: 29 Sept. Mr Rich open'd wth ye Nonjuror. Mr Smith not coming to town, Mr Palmer, from Drury Lane, play'd Frankly wth great Applause (Cross). Jno. Rich paid to Charlotte Lane for the Theatre for Mr Sparks in Dr Wolfe for a superfine full trim'd black cloth coat and breeches, 14s. Sewing silk & twist 4s. 6d. Buckram stays 2s. 6d. Frilly sleeve lining, pockets, & interlining Cuffs 2s. 6d. Hair Cloth, wadding & Poll Davy 5s. Dimety lining, leather pockets, & silk garters 6s. 6d. 4 doz 2 Coat Death's Head Buttons at 14d.-4s. 11d. 12 breast ditto at 7d.-7s. 7d. 5 yds fine black shaloon at 2s. 2d.-10s. 10d. Making a Camblet Surtout Coat, 7s. 6d. Sewing silk, twist, buckram & stays, 4s. Velvet to line the collar, 1s. 17 Coat, 1 breast black basket buttons, 1s. 8d. (MS list Folger Library, Davies, Life of Garrick, Extra Illustrated, II, 322)

Event Comment: This piece was greatly Cut & Alter'd. the 5th Act Entirely left out & many Airs interspers'd all through; got up with a vast deal of trouble to everbody concern'd in it but particularly to Mr Coleman, who attended every Rehearsal & had alterations innumberable to make. Upon the Whole, never was anything so murder'd in the Speaking. Mr W. Palmer & Mrs Vincent were beyond Description bad; & had it not been for the Children's Excellent performance, (& particularly Miss Wright who Sung delightfully) the Audience would not have Suffer'd'em to have gone half thro' it. The Sleeping Scene particularly displeas'd. Next day it was reported, The Performers first Sung the Audience to S leep, & then went to Sleep themselves (Hopkins). Fairies pleas'd--Serious parts displeas'd--Comic between both (Cross Diary). This piece of Shakespear's was greatly cut and altered,--the fifth act entirely left out,--and many airs introduced--got up with a vast deal of trouble to all concerned, but particularly to Mr Colman, who attended every rehearsal, and had alterations innumerable to make. Upon the whole, I believe, never was piece so murdered as this was by the singing speakers, in which Mrs Vincent and Mr W. Palmer were beyond description bad; and had it not been for the children's excellent performance (particularly Miss Wright, who ran away with all the applause and very deservedly) the audience would not have suffered them to have gone half thro' it.--The sleeping particularly displeased. The next day it was reported, the performers sung the audience to sleep, and then went to sleep themselves (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Overture and airs composed by the most eminent English masters. Book of the play sold at the theatre, 1s. [See "A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Hands of Garrick and Colman," PMLA, June 1939.] Receipts: #98 7s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: KKing & P. (Cross). By His Majesty's Command. ["Mr Garrick's Conduct as Manager &c." publish'd at 6d. (query: 2nd edition?).] Receipts: #193 (Cross); #165 16s. 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: By Desire. It was talk'd about Town Mr Garrick wou'd be call'd upon this Night, to answer to some things concerning Monday last, but no such thing happen'd (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross); #164 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. For Mr Garrick's Benefit (Tho not in the Bills) (Cross). Paid Potter (Hatter) #7 3s.; Powney (Stationer) #3 8s.; Cross for Licenser #2 2s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #220 (Cross); #199 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit [Wright, Barrisford, Tomlinson, Foley, Costin] for Boxkeepers (Cross). The Play is oblig'd to be changed on account of Mr Havard's Indisposition, and tickets deliver'd out for Comus will be taken to the Beggar's Opera. Tickets sold at the door will not be admitted. Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for ye widow of Capt. James Spencer, an Officer &c., and her small Children (Cross). An Old Officer who had been in His Majesty's Service 46 years, but dying when upon half-pay has left the Widow without pension and with several small children in greatest distress. N.B. Part of the Pit will be rail'd into the boxes and servants will be allowed to keep places on the Stage. Tickets to be had of Mrs Spencer, the uppermost house in Prince's Court, by Storey's Gate; the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; the Tiltyard Coffee House; St James Coffee House; Sweet's Coffee House, Bukingham Court; Bridge Street Coffee House; The Rainbow Coffee House, Ludgate Hill; the Temple Exchange, Fleet St.; the Rainbow, Cornhill; and at the Stage Door of the theatre where places may be taken. Mr Norton Amber, humbly hopes this general acknowledgment of the favour which his friends were pleas'd to confer on him by their generous appearance last Night at Drury Lane, will be accepted, instead of a more particular application, which his constant employment prevents; and begs leave to assure them, that he shall ever retain a most grateful sense of their indulgent assistance. Receipts: #252 (Cross)

Event Comment: No alterations were made in the farce, but cutting out a little, & it was play'd with great Applause, & given out again with great Clapping. Benefit for Mr Worsdale (Cross). Tickets to be had at the Bedford Coffee House. Part of Pit laid into boxes. We hear that Miss Bellamy, belonging to Drury Lane Theatre, was taken ill on Sunday last, and continues very much indispos'd. Receipts: #230 (Cross)

Event Comment: A little hissing during the farce, & at the End ye Audience call'd, no more &c.--& insisted upon another farce being given out wch Mr Blakes did--farewell Taste (Cross). The Book of the Entertainment will be sold in the theatre, and at R. Francklin's in Russel Street, Covent Garden (playbill). [The publication of Taste was dedicated to Francis Delaval, and includes in prefatory remarks Foote's distinction between Comedy and Farce: As the follies and absurdities of men are the sole objects of Comedy, so the powers of Imagination (Plot and Incident expected) are in this kind of writing greatly restrainded. No unnatural assemblages, no creatures of the fancy can procure the protection of the Comic Muse; men and things must appear as they are. To Farce greater liberties are permitted. I look upon Farce to hold the same rank in drama that Burlesque does in other poetry. It is employed either in debasing lofty subjects, or in raising humble ones.'] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Both pieces by Command of The Prince of Wales. A new Scene was introduc'd of Beasts in Mr Rich's Entertainment as an Ostrich a Lyon, Dog, Monkey, 2 small Ostrichs & A Figure like Maddox upon ye Wire & writ up ye new Company of Comedians Hiss'd a good Deal (Cross). [See cg 2 Nov.] Receipts: #190 (Cross)

Event Comment: [Noise, & some fighting in ye pit Mr Woodward when ye Entertainment was over each Night gave it out again, which the opposite Party look'd upon as Impudent--ye Inspector wrote against it--the fool, against the Silent Woman, as Indecent, & this Night whatever passages he had mark'd out were hiss'd by two or 3 people (Cross). [The Inspector edited by Dr John Hill.] Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Woodward's Night for Making ye Genii (Cross). There was such a Prodigious crowd to get into the Pit and Galleries at Drury Lane, being Mr Woodward's Night, that many of the females who came there with aprons, Handkerchiefs, caps and Capuchins, returned home without them; it was the most numerous and brilliant Audience that has been seen for some time(Public Advertiser, 16 Jan.). Receipts: #206 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Benefit for Mr Dexter (Cross). No building on Stage. Tickets to be had of Dexter at his lodgings in James St., Covent Garden, at the Grecian Coffee House, and at the stage dobr. Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for a family in Distress (Cross). Tickets to be had at the Sword-Blade Coffee House, Birchin Lane, Lombard St.; Prince of Orange Coffee House in the Haymarket; Joe's Coffee House, Mitre Court, Fleet St.; Smyrna Coffee House, Pall Mall; the Swan Tavern, Grafton St.; Warwick-St. Coffee House near Golden Square; the Feather's Tavern, opposite St Clement's Church in the Strand; and of Mr Varney at the stage door. Receipts: #212 (Cross)

Event Comment: Went off well (Cross). The Non-Juror oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Mrs Pritchard's Indisposition. This day publish'd the Second edition of Boadicia, a Tragedy, as it is now acted at Drury Lane. By Mr Glover (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #80 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Leviez (Cross). Tickets of Leviez at the last House on the right hand in Beaufort Buildings. No Building on Stage. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Addison not acted 10 years. [See 25 Nov. 1745.] Hiss'd much--Mr Pegna a linnen Draper at Charing Cross begun it (Cross). Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for ye Composer (Cross). On Saturday will be reviv'd a play (not acted these five years) call'd Measure for Measure. Mr Boucher subtreasurer died 19 Feb. (Cross). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for ye Sabatini's (Cross). Mainpiece: At the particular desire of several persons of quality. Tickets to be had of Sg Sabatini at Mr Leviez's in Beaufort Building in the Strand and at the Stage Door. Tickets delivered out for 18th of March will be taken. Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: A great deal of Hissing-but the Boxes being on our Side some swords were drawn, & several turn'd out of the Pit & Galleries. The Officers of the Army are very busy in this Affair, on Account of their hissing when ye King was there-saying it was an Affront-the King did turn his back to the Audience (Cross). [See note 14 Nov. on the Dancers Damn'd.] Mr Barry Play'd HamletR at Covent Garden (Cross). Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Soon as Mr Garrick appear'd, a great Clap, with some hissing upon wch he said-Gentlemen it is impossible to go on with these hisses, I don't know what offence I am guilty of-they clap'd greatly-& he proceeded-Let one Gentleman speak for the rest & I'll give an Answer-there was a moments pause, & then a general cry of-Go on with the Play &c., all ceased-& all continu'd quiet (Cross). Receipts: #190 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Foote for ye farce (Cross). Mainpiece:Not acted these 12 years. [See 20 Nov. 1745.] Austin did Bertran r(first time) (Indiff) (Cross). Tickets to be had of Foote at the Whalebone Warehouse in James St., Covent Garden, and of Varney at the stage door. Part of pit laid into boxes. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: This was Mr Garrick's Benefit as Author (Cross). Receipts: #190 (Cross)