Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 19 Feb. Yesterday died of an Astmatick Disorder, at his Chambers in Clement's Inn, Mr Benjamin Griffin, a celebrated Comedian, belonging to Drury-Lane Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit DeFesch. Compos'd by Mr DeFesch. With Additions and Alterations. 6 p.m. 5s. [Tickets at DeFesch's on Pav'd Stones in St. Martin's-Lane, next Door to the Golden Peruke.

Event Comment: DDavid Garrick to Peter Garrick: We have greater Business than Either Drury Lane or Convent Garden; Mr. Giffard himself Gave Me yesterday twenty Guinease for a Ticket & next Week I design buyin #200 of my Stock out of my Profits of Playing.-Little, Pineapples, p. 27

Event Comment: Benefit LaLauze. By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Tickets to be had and places to be taken of Page at the Stage Door. None to be admitted without printed tickets, which will also be deliver'd at the Office, and at LaLauze's lodgings, at the Widow Gwinn's, a Silk Dyer in Drury Lane, near the Castle Tavern. Servants will be allowed to keep places on the stage, which (for the better accommodation of the ladies) will be enclos'd and formed into an amphitheatre. N.B. As I had the Misfortune to break the great tendon of my leg, when dancing on the stage at the above theatre in January last, I think it highly incumbent on me to acquaint the public in general and my good friends in particular, that I am in a fair (but not speedy) way of recovery; and as Mr Rich has kindly granted me a benefit sooner than usual, towards supporting me in my unlucky situation, I take this opportunity to interest the good-natured town to dispense with my personal application, and favour me with their company as usual, which will add to the many obligations I have already received, and shall be ever acknowledged with a sincere sense of gratitude, by their most humble and obedient servant, LaLauze

Event Comment: Benefit the Widow Milward and her 4 children. N.B. Mrs Milward greatly acknowledges the Favour of the Town to her on her former Benefit; and as a considerable number of persons, who had taken tickets for that night, could not find room, she has made application to Mr Rich who has generously given her at his theatre, a Day which he had reserved to himself; where tickets given out for her former benefit will be taken. The consideration of 4 fatherless children is the only apology she can plead for intreating this further indulgence from the public. Note If any persons are dispos'd to send for tickets on this occasion, they maY be had at Mrs Milward's, No. 15 in Craven Buildings, Drury Lane. Tickets to be had and places to be taken at the stage door in Bow st

Event Comment: On Friday Night last as Mr Lowe, belonging to Drury Lane Playhouse was going down Snow Hill, he was stopt by two fellows, one of whom, without speaking a word, gave him a most violent blow on the Temple, with a great stick, which stunned him so that he fell back against a shop Window, and remained insensible for some time; as soon as he recover'd he felt in his pockets and found they had robb'd him only of 11 shillings in silver, being (as he supposes) disturb'd by some people passing by, for they had not taken his watch, nor a Guinea and a half which he had also in his pockets

Event Comment: No Money will be taken behind the scenes, nor any money to be return'd after the Curtain is drawn up. The following Letter, signed A By-Stander was inserted in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser: As I am absolutely unconcerned in all the now subsiding Theatrical Disputes, I hope the following observations upon what happened last Tuesday Night at Drury Lane will not be thought unworthy the Publick attention. The Manager of a theatre is to regard the General sense of the Town, and not any Faction form'd thru pique or resentment; Such a Faction may be Noisy, it may be Insolent, but never can be Considerable enough to force either the Manager or the Publick into their terms. Their outrages are equally insults upon the Understanding of the Town, as they are injuries to the Property of the Manager. Therefore if the Manager shall at any time give way to such proceedings, Then and not till Then, the Publick has a right ot find fault with him. The stage Then becomes a property to the insolence of a few misled people; and all theatrical diversions, which in this and other countries used to be directed by Decency and Publick Approbation are sacrificed to a pitiful Personal Resentment. If the above propositions are undeniable, the following Queries are submitted to the Publick, and the answer to them will determine the Reasonableness of the Tuesday Night Riot: I. Whether the Rioters were not Inconsiderable in their numbers and Circumstances? II: Whether any Gentleman can answer to himself, for doing in a Body, a thing which no Gentleman can justify for doing by himself? III. Whether the Rioters can justify their breaking into the Boxes, and taking possession of the seats, which were taken by many persons of Quality and Distinction, at the same time refusing to pay anything; thereby robbing the Manager of all the money of the Boxes, and most part of the Pit? IV. Whether the Manager ought to suffer in his property for the private quarrel between any two actors, as was the case...? V: Whether if such insolences are not discountenanced in the most effectual manner by the Town, any publick diversion can continue longer than a noisy inconsiderable Cabal pleases? VI. Whether any other motive than a regard to Public Decency would have hindered the Manager and Mr. Garrick's friends (who were treble the number) from treating the rioters as they deserved? I should be glad to see the above questions fairly and impartially answered

Event Comment: Whereas Great Disorders were committed on Tuesday Night at the Theatre, by Numbers of persons violently forcing their way into the House, particularly into the Boxes, knocking down the door-keepers, and obliging the servants who kept places to go out, to the great prejudice of the Manager, who lost all the Money for the said Places, as they not only refus'd to pay for the Boxes, but likewise forc'd into the Pit without paying, he thinks it incumbent on him to gide Public notice That an Office will for the Future be kept at the Boxes, to prevent persons from going in the same tumultuous manner, and hopes no Gentlemen will be displeas'd in being first desir'd to take a ticket at the said Office. Last night the Play of the Rehearsal was perform'd at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane; when, upon Mr Garrick's making a proper apology to the Town he was receiv'd with the greatest marks of Approbation; and the Play was acted with the utmost Decency and Order

Event Comment: Mainpiece Written by the late Mr Congreve. Benefit Mrs Mills. Tickets to be had of Mills at his house in Nassau St., Soho. To the Author of the General Advertiser: It is with great Pleasure I find by the Publick Papers that a tragedy founded on Voltaire's Mahomet is now in rehearsal at Drury Lane Theatre. The Original was by Authority forbid to be played in France on account of the free and noble sentiments with regard to Bigotry and Enthusiasm, which shine through it; and which that Nation found as applicable to itself, as to the bloody propagators of Mahomet's Religion. Indeed the Fable on which it is built demanded such sentiments; the design of it being to shew the dreadful effects of Bigotry and Enthusiasm, even upon minds naturally well inclined when work'd up to such a pitch, as a beautiful concurrence of amazing, yet probable Circumstances hath there carried them to: So that it was equally impossible for the poet, by cutting and mangling his play, to lop it to their standard of Orthodox poetry, as it were for their Inquisitors, by torturing and burning a poor Protestant, to convince him of their Christian love and charity....They foresaw that the most obvious Reflection, that every sensible Spectator could not but make, would be, that he every day saw the same effects produced from two the most different causes, Mahometanism and Christianity; and the consequence must be, either that they were both alike Imposters, or that a crafty, mercenary, and cruel Clergy had dared to add a spirit to Christianity, which Christianity never knew. It is not doubted but these every Sentiments, which in France, prevented the Representation of this piece, will, in England speak loudly in its favor (providdd our English poet is not unequal to his subject) especially since so audacious an attempt has been lately made by the Common Enemy of Europe to establish at once a Civil and Spiritual Tyranny over those injur'd Nations, by the old Mohametan and Roman Arguments of Fire and Sword. I am, &c

Event Comment: Author's Night. The Author labouring under a severe and dangerous illness, hopes his friends will excuse his personal Application, and send for tickets to Mr Watts, at the Printing Office in Wild Court; or to Hobson at the Stage door of the theatre at Drury Lane Mahomet translated from the French of Voltaire; but I have no great opinion of the subject, or the original author as a poet; and my diffidence is rather improved by the testimony of those who have seen it.-Letters of William Shenstone, p. 89

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Giffard. Mainpiece: At the Particular Desire of Several Persons of Quality. Servants will be admitted to keep places on the stage; and the ladies are desired to send their servants by 3 o'clock. Mr Giffard having receiv'd directions for places at his benefit takes this opportunity of acquainting his friends he shall desist from troubling them on that occasion this season. Tickets to be had of Mrs Giffard at No. 11, in Craven Buildings, Drury Lane; and of Hobson at the Stage door

Event Comment: Benefit Arne. Tickets to be had of Arne next door to the Crown in Great Queen St., by Lincoln's Inn Fields; at St. James's Coffee House; at Nando's Coffee House, Temple Bar; and at Mr Simpson's Music Shop in Sweeting's Alley near the Royal Exchange, and places taken of Hobson at the Stage Door where tickets may also be had. -General Advertiser. Last night, at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane was perform'd King Pepin's Campaign, with great applause. The Music is said to be inimitable in its way. -Daily Advertiser, 17 April

Event Comment: Benefit Cashell. At the desire of several Persons of Quality. Ladies send their servants by four o'clock. Tickets of Cashell at Mr Elwood's, Staymaker, in Hunt's Court, St. Martin's Lane

Event Comment: Benefit Leviez, Desse, and Powell (Deputy Treasurer). [The latter was probably John Powell, who later ingratiated himself with Lord Holland, became an accountant in the office of Paymaster General of His Majesties Forces and in 1783 was accused with Mr Bembridge of concealing a large sum in Accounts chargeable to Lord Holland, 1757-65. He committed suicide 26 May 1783, under the stress of the investigation, and the verdict of death as a result of Lunacy was issued. See account in Gentlemen's Magazine (1783) pp. 454, 539, 613. He is there described as having been a Teller in Drury Lane Theatre, a person who acts as a check upon the door keepers of the playhouse, by counting the number of people in the house, which he does from a small box, conveniently situated for that purpose.

Event Comment: GGeneral Advertiser, 28 Sept.: We hear that Mr Lacy, Master of his Majesty's company of Comedians at D.L. has applied for leave to raise 200 men in defence of his Majesty's person and government, in which the whole company of players are willing to engage. [See 7 Oct.] On Saturday Night the Audience at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane were agreeably surpris'd by the Gentlemen belonging to that House performing the Anthem of God Save our Noble King. The Universal Applause it met with being encored with repeated Huzzas suffciently denoted in how just an abhorrence they hold the arbitrary schemes of our invidious enemies and detest the despotic attempts of Papal Power. [See also Daily Advertiser, 30 Sept. The newspapers at this time run a three phrase slogan in bold face type vertically in the margins: No Pretender. No Popery. No Slavery, accompanied by two more phrases staring boldly from the bottom margin: No Wooden Shoes! No Arbitrary Power!]

Event Comment: Profits subscribed to the Veteran Scheme at Guildhall. Mrs Cibber to Garrick, 11 Dec.: Though Mr Rich had no performance at his house...Drury Lane Playhouse was not above half full till the latter account. Then it was a good house but not near so great as we had all last winter to the Orphan. He had built up the stage, but as nobody came there he shut in a flat scene to hide it, and the next day he played the Tender Husband to fifteen pounds.-Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 46

Event Comment: Died, after a lingering illness, Mr Robert Turbutt, belonging to the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, and Master of the Swan Tavern in Smithfield, a facetious and agreeable companion, greatly and justly esteem'd by all that knew him for his Sincerity where he profess'd a friendship.--General Advertiser, 27 Feb

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Benefit Mrs Giffard. Tragedy not acted for 7 years. The Ballad Opera, by Mendez, never performed before. Servants admitted to keep places. Tickets at Mr Giffard's (No 11) in Craven Buildings, Drury Lane; and places for the boxes of Hobson, at the stage door

Event Comment: [Full column in Daily Advertiser describing Barry's and Mrs Macklin's acting techniques.] Barry from the Theatre in Dublin, perform'd the part of Othello, at Drury Lane, before a numerous and polite audience; and met with as great Applause as could be express'd.--General Advertiser, 6 Oct. Thomas Gray to Horace Walpole: You have probably been there since I left you, and consequently have seen the Mr Barry you desired some account of; yet as I am not certain of this and should be glad to know whether we agree about him, I will nevertheless tell you what he is, and the impression he made upon me. He is upwards of six feet in height; wdll and prortionably made, treads well and knows what to do with his limbs; in short a noble graceful figure. I can say nothing of his face but that it was all black, with a wide mough and good eyes. His voice is of a clear and pleasing tone, something like Delane's, but not so deep-mouthed, not so like a passing bell. When high strain'd it is apt to crack a little and be hoarse, but in its common pitch, and when it sinks into any softer passion, particularly expressive and touching. In the first scene, especially when he recounts to the Senate the progress of his love and the means he used to win Desdemona, he was quite mistaken, and I took a pique against him; instead of a cool narration he flew into a rant of voice and action, as though he were relating the circumstance of a battle that was fought yesterday. I expected nothing more from him, but was deceiv'd: in the scenes of rage and jealousy he was seldom inferior to Quin in the parts of tenderness and sorrow far above him. These latter seem to be his peculiarly; his action is not very various, but rarely improper, or without dignity, and some of his attitudes are really fine. He is not perfect to be sure, but I think may make a better player than any now on the stage in a little while. However, to see a man in one character, and but once, is not sufficient, so I rather ask your opinion by this, than give you mine.--Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Thomas Gray, II, 6-7

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Being the most tragical tragedy that ever was tragedized by a company of tragedians. At the Particular Desire of Several Persons of Quality (General Advertiser). [The following unsigned statement of the financial condition of the theatre on 11 April is in the Harvard Collection of Documents dealing with affairs of Drury Lane, folio MS Thr. 12. This itemizes the outstanding liabilities to the amount of #8,808 14s. including #1,275 of arrears in actors' salaries]: I told Mr- the intended purchaser that the whole would not amount to #12,000. He said if it was more it should rest on me, for that was the utmost shilling he would give. But upon strict enquiry I find it will amount to #12,808 14s. This difference is not altogether owing to an error in calculation, but has been likewise heightened by a falling off of business, nor is it possible to ascertain the debt of a theatre for a day, it is of so fluctuating a nature. Q: whether this loss ought to light upon me, who have endeavored to get a purchaser & increased the value of the Estate to the utmost of my power? Errors excepted. [James Lacy or John Powel are the most likely authors of this statement. Whatever the authority, it is clear that settlement had not yet been made for transfer of ownership. For Powel, see G. W. Stone, Jr., The Authorship of Tit for Tat," Theatre Notebook, X (1955), 22-28.

Event Comment: AA Letter to Mr Garrick on his having purchased a Patent for Drury Lane Play-House published. [Written by one who subscribed himself the Plain Dealer, it pointed out the troubles in store for the young manager from grievances from subordinates, arrogance from other actors (all individualists, no unity) failure from joint managership, grievances from public, and extraordinary expense from costume. He suggests the reasons for Garrick's jumping from actor to manager are vanity and avarice. He indicates Garrick's challenge and sums up the late troubled years of management under Fleetwood and Highmore.

Event Comment: MMrs Cibber Play'd (Cross). The Letter sign'd E. L. written in the Name of several Persons of Distinction, is receiv'd; and the Play of King Lear will be acted there, as soon as Mr Garrick is able to perform so long a Character (note "From the Theatre Royal Drury Lane" inserted in the General Advertiser). Receipts: #160 (Cross); #156 17s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: PPrince &c. (Cross). Lost on Wednesday Night the 21st Instant at Drury Lane Playhouse. A Steel and Gold Sword, with a Silver Gripe, the maker's name Fleaureau. Whoever has taken it up, and will bring it to Mr Fleaureau, Swordcutler in the Haymarket, shall have a Guinea and a half reward, and no Questions asked. N. B.: No greater reward will be offered (General Advertiser). Receipts: #190 (Cross); #176 5s. (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Dunstall, Mrs Lampe and Miss Young. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [see 4 Feb. 1746]. Tickets to be had at Lampe's, the Sign of the Holy Lamb, Drury Lane, near Long Acre; at Dunstall's in Hunt's Court, Castle St., Leicester Fields; and at the Stage Door. Afterpiece: Words by Shakespeare, Music by Lampe

Event Comment: Benefit for Lee and Matthews. Tickets and places to be had of Lee at Mr Oliphant's Exeter St., and of Matthews, at the Golden Ball in Duke's, late Earl's Court, Drury Lane. Receipts: #150 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel); cash, #77 2s.; tickets, #82 7s. (Clay MS)