Event Comment: [The following letter appeared in the General Advertiser]: To Mr Ryan, Sir: As the Author whom you have judiciously, I think, call'd in to your Assistance on your Benefit Night is little known; his Name not having appeared upon the Stage in our Days; and from whence some may be apt to think it scarce worth while to produce him now;--it was thought advisable by many of your Friends, of which Number I profess myself, to draw up the following Account of him and his Dramatic Works, that such as are Strangers to him may have some further Inducement to favour you with their Company. Mr Thomas Randolph lived in the Reign of King Charles I, was Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; but died young. He was a Man of pregnant Wit, gay Humour and of excellent Learning; which gain'd him the Esteem of the Polite Part of the Town, and particularly recommended him to the Favour of Ben Johnson, who adopted him one of his Sons, and held him in equal Esteem with the ingenious Mr Cartwright, another of the Laureat's adopted Sons:--The Plays he wrote were: [he lists 5 plays, commenting from Cokayne and Rich of Christ's Church College, Oxon, and West on the ethical quality of the last one, The Muses' Looking Glass]. In short, Sir, I doubt not but his old nervous Wit will still please, and join'd with the New Masque you have added, excite Curiousity enough to answer your Design; since by your Steadiness it was absoluteley necessary you should hava Novelty, as well as Interest, to procure half so good a House, as we all wish you, and especially, Your Humble Servant, I. M. [See 14 March afterpiece.

Event Comment: Original Weekly Journal, 12-14 July: Mr Ryan the Player, who lately kill'd Mr Kelley at the Sun Ale-house in Long-Acre has drawn his own Recognizance, there being no appearance of a Prosecution against him

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. Afterpiece: A Ballad Opera (not perform'd these Six Years) reduc'd to two short acts. [Tickets at Ryan's at the Golden Cup, King-street, CG.] Receipts: money #38 1s.; tickets #102 11s

Event Comment: Benefit Rosco, A. Ryan, Mrs Bellamy. Mainpiece: Written by Dryden

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Afterpiece: A Piece of Musick, with several Additions by the Author. [By Henry Carey. First given on 1 Dec. 1739 as entr'acte piece. Tickets at Ryan's House, the 3d House in Great Queen Street from Drury Lane.

Event Comment: By particular Desire. Benefit Ryan. Receipts: money #59 0s. 6d.; seals #100 6s. (Account Book); #150 (Rylands MS.) [Ryan received a Free Benefit. See also an Exchange of letters in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 9 and 10 March, concerning the alleged indecency of Blunt's undressing before the audience.

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 Ryan. Quin did Falstaff for Ryan (Cross). The Nobility and Gentry at Bath gave Quin 100 guineas, and desir'd him to send them down so many tickets for this benefit (Gentleman's Magazine, 1753, p. 147). Pit and Boxes together at 5s. [with an Amphitheatre on stage]

Event Comment: Benefit for Ryan. Tickets to be had of Ryan in Crown Court, Charles St. and of Crudge at the Theatre. No building on stage

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. Afterpiece: A new Dramatick Entertainment of Grotesque Characters

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. Not Acted these Twenty Years. Written by Beaumont and Fletcher. Receipts: money #58 5s. 6d.; tickets #84 10s

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. N.B. Care is taken that, by omitting what is least pertinent to the Business of the Masque, to reduce it to the Length of one Interlude. Receipts: money #58 7s. 6d.; tickets #84 1s