Event Comment: Never before acted [by William Havard, who inserted a long advertisement in the Daily Post with quotations from Roman history and the comment: thus much I think is necessary to be known by everybody who designs to see the play.] Last night the Tragedy of Regulus was perform'd...to a numerous and polite Audience, and met with great Applause.-London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 22 Feb

Event Comment: Benefit Leveridge. Tickets to be had at his lodgings in Hanover Street, the third door on the right hand from Long Acre, and of Page at the stage door of the theatre. The Man in the Moon, about nine at night Will wait you all home, with his fullness of light

Event Comment: A serious riot took place this evening occasioned by Fleetwood's continuing raised prices to old entertainments. Manager called for by audience. Not being an actor, he pleaded privilege of being exempted from appearing on stage and sent word by a performer he would confer in his room with any deputation. One was sent from pit, and house waited patiently its return.--Genest, IV, 137. To The Gentlemen of the Town: Gentlemen: From what pass'd last night at Drury Lane Playhouse, I think I may congratulate you on the long-wish'd for Conquest over the Hireling Encouragers of the Pantomime Entertainments. Give me leave, therefore, Gentlemen to hope, that you will not be wanting in your endeavours to quashing future attempts to introduce what is manifestly an encroachment on the Honour and Dignity of the stage, and a glaring Imposition on the town. I am yours, Philo Dramaticus.--Daily Advertiser

Event Comment: Prologue written by Macklin: (Cooke, Memoirs of Charles Macklin, pp. 150-51.) From scheming, pelting, famine, and despair, Behold to grace restored an exil'd Play'r: Your Sanction yet his fortune must compleat, And give him privilege to laugh and eat. No revolution plots are mine again; You see, thank Heaven, the quietest of men. I pray that all domestic feuds might cease; And beggar'd by the war, solicit peace; When urg'd by wrongs, and prompted to rebel; I sought for freedom, and for freedom fell; What could support me in the sevenfold dame? I was no Shadrak and no angel came. Once warn'd, I meddle not with state affairs; But play my part, retire and say my pray'rs. Let nobler spirits plan the vast design, Our green-room swarms with longer heads than mine; I take no part-no private jars foment, But hasten from disputes I can't prevent; Attack no rival brother's fame, or ease; And raise no struggle, but who most shall please. United in oursdlves, by you approv'd. Tis ours to make the slightest muse belov'd; So may the stage again its use impart, And ripen Virtue, as it warms the heart. May discord, with her horrid trump, retreat, Nor drive the frighted Beauty from her seat; May no contending parties strive for sway, But judgmemt govern, and the stage obey

Event Comment: With a new Farce of two Acts...Written by the Gentleman who plays the Part of Lothario. The Play and Entertainment being both so long we shall positively begin at exactly six o'clock. 3s., 2s., 1s. [Usual concert notice.

Event Comment: [G+General Advertiser presents long defense of Italian Opera in a Letter to the Author, signed Linus.

Event Comment: Benefit Leonardo Pescatore...a Serenata. Music entirely new and composed by himself, 7 p.m., 5s. Tickets at the Mews Coffee House, Charing Cross; at Pescatore's, No 2, Meard's Court, Dean St., Soho. [And a long letter by Pescatore offering to give lessons on the harsichord and wounded by public suspicion of his loyalty.

Event Comment: Not Acted these Eight Years [see 24 April 1741]. Benefit Cibber, Jr. Tickets and places of Hobson at the Stage door. Tickets ddliver'd out for All's Well at Covent Garden theatre will be taken to the above mentioned play this night. [Mrs Clive's Prologue recommended the cause of Liberty to the Ladies of Great Britain. Cibber had pleaded in his advance advertisement on 5 April in the General Advertiser.] As I have in justice to my creditors assigned over so much of my salary as reduces the remainder to a very small pittance, I very much depend on the encouragement and indulgence of the town at my Benefit. [On the day of the benefit he inserted in the General Advertiser a long, double column address to the Publick puffing his Benefit, and scotching a rumor industriously and invidiously spread that he came to Drury Lane only to impede Mrs Cibber in her performance there. In this he washes in public the linen of his domestic affairs at some length, professing his virtue, forbearance, and generosity, and Mrs Cibber's unfairness and ingratitude, citing her salary as about #700 per year, not a penny of which would she afford for his relief from creditors, or to bail him out of the Fleet prison where he languished six months. He alleges that she was instrumental in forming a cartel between the rival theatrical managers with precluded his employment by either house, and that she refused to act a benefit for him when he was in debtor's prison.

Event Comment: Benefit Picq, Bibby and Mrs Mann, Brownlow St., Long Ave

Event Comment: Free Benefit for Ryan.] Receipts: #134 0s. 6d., plus #122 10s. in tickets. Total profits to Ryan #256 10s. 6d. (Account Books, Egerton 2268). [Note of 23 March about amphitheatre repeated. Garrick's first performance after his long illness, from 26 Feb. to 30 March.] Tickets for Venice Preserv'd will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Neale and Winstone. By Particular Desire. Tickets at the Kings Arms Tavern in Bond St., and of Hobson at the Stage Door where Places may be taken for the Boxes. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire, as well as Afterpiece. Dawson &-fought in long Field ye first kill'd on ye spot (Cross). Receipts: #160 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel); cash, #48 6s.; tickets, #109 5s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. [A long critical analysis of The Orphan appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine this month, admitting that it evoked compassion, but finding it deficient in "exhibiting some useful instruction."] Receipts: #130 (Cross); #109 4s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: To the Printer of the General Advertiser, &c Sir: Imagine a heart satisfy'd beyond its wishes, and overflowing with gratitude; conceive this to be your situation, and then help me to words to empress my feeling. [Tom Harbin inserted a long letter of thanks to the numerous audience wnich appeared at his benefit the night before.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Horton. Tickets to be had at the Golden Head in Long-acre. (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: [The French Company advertised that it would not perform this day in honor of the birth of the Princesse de Galles, but would present on 24 Nov. Moliere's Tartuffe and Arlequin Nulla. The General Advertiser also carried the following long note from Lord Trentham on the following day]: To the worthy inhabitants of the City and Liberty of Westminster, Gentlemen: His Majesty having been graciously pleased to appoint me one of the Commissioners for executing the Office Lord High Admiral, by which my seat in Parliament is vacated; and the shortness of time not permitting me to apply personally to you, I take this method of entreating your votes and interest to be re-elected your representative in Parliament, which will ever be acknowledged by Gentlemen, your oblig'd and humble servant, Trentham. N.B. the Election comes on Tomorrow the 24th instant at Covent Garden at nine o'clock in the Morning. N.B.B. Whereas it has been maliciously reported, in order to impose on the worthy inhabitants of the City and Liberty of Westminster, and to prejudice me in their opinion at this time, that I was active in the disturbance at the French Playhouse last Tuesday night; I do declare upon my honour, that I was neither in the Pit nor Gallery where the Disturbance happened during the time of the performance, nor drew my sword, nor made use of any weapon, either to strike or terrify any of the spectators; nor was I even present at the first and chief disturbance at that playhouse; nor have I been at any Representation at that playhouse since the first Night of the Performance, as has been falsely suggested. Trentham" In a few days will be publish'd A Particular Account of the Disturbance in the Haymarket Theatre, on Tuesday and Wednesday the 14th and 15th Instant; in which the behaviour of a noble Lord will be fully vindicated. By one of the French Comedians

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser [see Woodward's mimicry of Foote, 22 Jan.]: We hear from Drury Lane that on Monday night Harry the Smuggler, who was tried and convicted last summer in the Haymarket, was found hanging in one of the cells of that prison: It seems he has long had a Design to make way with himself and at several times procured poison from Foppington, Harry Wildair, Tom Thimble, &c. but the Quantity, though it made him exceeding sick, not being sufficient to dispatch him, he at last tuck'd himself up in his own Tit for Tat. When he was cut down he look'd very ghastly, and great groanings were heard in the prison before, at, and after his committing the Fact....It is very remarkable that he had on the very coat, which, in Conjunction with one Abel Drugger, not yet taken, he stole from Sammy the Auctioneer; but from the diligent search made after Drugger, it is believed he will soon be brought to Justice. Receipts: #60 (Cross); #67 8s. (Treasurer's Book)