Event Comment: By Particular Desire. On Thursday 6 Dec. 1750 a Benefit for a Citizen's Widow with 8 Children, As You Like It, and Miss in her Teens. Tickets to be had at Moorgate Coffee House; Rainbow, Sam's and Janeway's Coffee Houses in Cornhill; Paul's Head, Carter Lane; Peele's and Nandoe's in Fleet Street; Mr Law's, Confectioner, at the Eagle and Child, Fleet St.; Charing Cross; Bethell's Hatter and Hosier, the corner of Pall Mall; Thatched House Tavern, St James St.; Mr Jones, Bookseller, the corner of Staples Inn, and Seagoe's Coffee House, Holborn; the Aldersgate Coffee House, Aldersgate Street; and Ship Tavern, Ratcliff cross. This day is publish'd The Rosciad: a Poem (at 1s.) in which the excellencies and imperfections of the three present principal ornaments of the British Stage are illustrated, and conspicuously represented; with observations on theatrical performances. Printed for J. Robinson. Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Oswald will be taken (General Advertiser). Mr Oswald ye Music had some Tickets (Cross). [Queen Mab played thirty-two times consecutively at full prices.] A. Betson, Miscellaneous Dissertations: Historical, Critical, and Moral, on the Origin and Antiquity of Masquerades, Plays, Poetry, and several other heathenish customs. Printed. (Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, Feb. 1751, p. 95). Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author, went off very well (Cross). Tickets to be had of the Author at Mr Francklin's in Russel St., Covent Garden; or Mr Dodsley in Pall Mall, and at the stage Door. Receipts: #143 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Last time of performing mainpiece this season. N.B. A New Tomb will be made use of, so modell'd as to prevent any obstruction to persons sitting on the stage, from seeing the performance. Pit and boxes will be laid together. Amphitheatre on stage. Servants admitted to keep places. Tickets at Mr Barry's in Bow St., Covent Garden and at Stage Door

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Norris. Tickets of Miss Norris at Mr Jackson's Habit warehouse Tavistock St., and of Hobson at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd out for 30 March will be taken. [Advance publicity for Havard's Benefit, Inspector No 29: I have said in a former paper, that those who have not seen Alfred, have yet to see Mr Garrick in a character in which he excells everything that has been attempted in one of the noblest Roads of Tragedy. I shall add to it on this occaison, that those who have not yet seen Alfred will have a pleasure from it greater than they can receive from the best dramatic performance they are already acquainted with' (London Advertiser and Literary Gazette).] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lee. Tickets to be had at Mr Prince's, Linnen Draper, the Golden Artichoke, in Great Queen St., near Lincoln's Inn Fields; of Mr Calcroft at the Ship in Ivy Lane, Newgate St., and at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd for the 22nd will be taken. No building on stage. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Costollo and Miss Minors. Tickets of Costollo at his lodgings at Mr Waiter's, Chymist, the Golden Cross, in Russel St., Covent Garden; of Miss Minors, at Mr Nichols's a Baker, in Catherine St., near Russel Court, and at the Stage Door. We are assured that Sg Giardini's Performance on the Violin, at Sga Cuzzoni's Benefit, at the New Theatre in Haymarket, on Saturday Night last, gave the highest pleasure to several of the best judges of that instrument. Receipts: #90 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 30 Nov. 1749. Inspector No 191 analyzes and discusses The Orphan (Daily Advertiser and Literary Gazette).] Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: mong the Addresses of the Lords and Commons to the Sovereign which appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine (Nov. 1751, pp. 513-14) one recommended that provision be made for suppressing audacious crimes of robbery and violence. A contributor called Mr Urban's attention to a "method of reformation earnestly recommended more than 40 years ago by an eminent Divine" (Dean Swift). In this treatise occured the following paragraph: "The Reformation of the Stage is entirely in the power of the Court; and in the consequence it hath upon the minds of younger people, doth very well deserve the strictest care. Surely a pension would not be ill employed on some men of wit, learning and virtue, who might have power to strike out every offensive and unbecoming passage from plays already written, as well as those that may be offered to the stage for the future, by which, and other wise regulations, the theatre might become a very innocent and useful diversion instead of being a scandal and reproach to our religion and country."] Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: A new Musical Masque. This Masque was written by ye Author of the Chaplet (Mr Mendez) & set by Dr Boyce. Great Applause. I had the copy (Cross). [On this and all subsequent bills this season for The Shepherd's Lottery announcement is made of the composition of the music by Dr Boyce.] Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Tradesman under Confinement. [This benefit had first been advertised on Monday 11 Nov. Tickets were to be had at seven Coffee Houses, at Mr Watkins' Optician, at Charing Cross, Mrs Crokett's, Harberdasher at the Seven Stars, Ludgate St., and at the stage door. On the day of the benefit one Philantropos contributed a letter in support of it which was printed in the first column of the General Advertiser. The Tradesman was a bookseller who was "the immediate instrument of ushering into the world some of the most valuable books that have been publish'd for these 30 years." But he had paid more attention to the advancement of letters than "to the lucrative views that attend the trade in general," so, in the eyes of Philantropos deserved the support of the town at this benefit.] The death of Mr Cooke mentioned in the Papers is a mistake, he being in a fair way of recovery (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: TThe Siege of Damascus is reviving at Covent Garden (in which Mrs Cibber is to perform the part of Eudocia , and Mr Barry that of Phocyas , it being the first time of his appearing in that character). As is also the Masque of Pyramus and Thisbe as set to Music by the late Mr Lamp; they will be performed some day this week

Event Comment: Both pieces By His Majesty's Command

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. As Mr Edward Berry, one of the comedians of Drury Lane, was returning home from Temple Bar, he was stopt at the end of Arundel St. by three Fellows, one with a Horse-Pistol, another with a short pistol, and the other with a hanger, who robb'd him of his watch, some silver, and his Neck-cloth, and then walk'd off with their booty (General Advertiser, 20 Jan.). During the Performance on Saturday Night [11 Jan.] at Drury Lane, a dispute was carried on at great length between Mr V-n and a Gentleman unknown but on the Gentleman's being made sensible of his error, and making publick submission and Gentleman-like reparation, it was amicably terminated (General Advertiser). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: TTancred and Sigismunda is oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of the Indisposition of a principal performer. Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: By order of the Town. None to be admitted without tickets at 2s. 6d. each. The Roarings of the Lion disturbing some of the inhabitants of Covent Garden, his Leonic Majesty has adjudged it necessary to remove from that end of town to the place of performance. To begin at 7 p.m. [See Cross, History of Henry Fielding, II, 409, for an account of this piece and the way it was stopped by officers while the performance was in progress.

Event Comment: This day publish'd at 1s. the first number of the Dramatic Censor, being remarks on the tragedy of Venice Preserv'd, with observations on the principal performers, by Mr Derrick. This pamphlet is a specimen of criticism intended to be made on our most celebrated dramatic pieces. By several hands. Wherein, should the publick approve by encouraging this first essay, not the beauties and Inaccuracies of the poet, but of the several performers will be considered...To this number is added Proposals for printing by Subscription a New Tragedy call'd Osman by Mr Gentleman

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Eight rows of the Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes, where servants will be allow'd to keep places. Ladies send sevants by 3 p.m. And for their better accommodation the Stage will be form'd into an Amphitheatre, where servants will likewise be allow'd to keep Places

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Mossop. Tickets to be had of Mr Mossop, at his Lodgings in Southampton Street, Covent Garden; and at the stage door of the theatre. Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Dexter. Last time of performing the Mainpiece this season. Tickets to be had of Dexter at his lodgings at Mr Gibson's in James Street, Covent Garden; at the Grecian Coffee House, in Deveraux Court; and at the Stage Door of the Theatre where Places may be taken. Receipts. #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Signor Bombasto and Signor Piantofugo. [Eighteenth night.] Henley's advertisements say he came to London in 1720, is not in debt and One Time with another, my Oratory is as full as ever, when I please, and my Service to Mr Smart, Mrs Warner, Mr Newberry, etc. J. Henley" (Daily Advertiser, 21 March).