Event Comment: MMr Barry flew from his articles & engag'd with Rich; Mrs Cibber (who did not play last season) is also engag'd there--Y: King went to Ireland--Macklin and Wife came from thence to Mr Rich (Cross). Passage open'd from Russel St. into the boxes where Ladies and Gentlemen may be set down from their coaches, and there is likewise a better accommodation made for Chairs to come up to the House, and be kept in waiting, at the end of the Passage from Bridges St. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Hobson at the stage door of the Theatre. [The notice about the Passage was continued through 20 Sept. The notice about prices was customary throughout the season. Neither will be repeated further here.] Receipts: #110 (Cross)

Event Comment: Both ye Houses play'd on ye same day, Romeo & Juliet, Mr Barry & Mrs Cibber at Covent Garden against Mr Garrick & Miss Bellamy at Drury Lane--Miss Bellamy never appear'd upon this stage before, & was greatly receiv'd--both houses too added a Scene of Juliet's funeral (Cross). Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: Know all men by these presents, that Colley Cibber, Esq; of the Parish of St/James's in the County of Middlesex, for and in consideration of the sum of Eighty Pounds of lawful Mony of Great Britain to him in hand paid by John Watts of London, Stationer, he the said Colley Cibber, Esq; hath bargained, sold and assigned, and set over, and by these presents doth bargain, sell, assign and set over all that the full and sole right and title, of, in and to the copy of a Tragedy, intitled, Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John, written by the said Colley Cibber, Esq; to have and to hold the said copy of the said tragedy unto the said John Watts, his heirs and assigns for ever, notwithstanding any act or law to the contrary: In witness whereof the said Colley Cibber, Esq; hath hereunto sett his hand and seal this twentieth day of February, 1744/5. [Signed] C. Cibber. [Witnesses] James Webster, John Mark Bimson. [Original Document in Folger Shakespeare Library, validated by three Sixpence stamps, and Cibber's seal. Case No. 993 among Cibber documents.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Taken from the French of Mons Voltaire [By Aaron Hill]. The Characters New Dress'd

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@151, p. 369: Ye Q: a Box & a Box for ye Maids Honor Amphitrion. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 352. The date of the first performance is not known, and it is doubtful that this one is the first; the premiere may have occurred early in October. The Songs and Music were published in 1690 and again in 1691, and have been edited by the Purcell Society, XVI (1906), iii-vi. Dedication, Edition of 1690: But what has been wanting on my part, has been abundantly supplied by the Excellent Composition of Mr Purcell; in whose person we have at length found an English Man equal with the best abroad. At least, my Opinion of him has been such, since his happy and judicious performances in the late opera [The Prophetess], and the experience I have had of him, in the setting my three Songs for this Amphitryon": To all which, and particularly to the composition of the Pastoral Dialogue, the numerous Quire of Fair Ladies gave so just an Applause on the Third Day. Cibber, Apology, I, 113: As we have sometimes great Composers of Musick who cannot sing, we have as frequently great Writers that cannot read; and though without the nicest Ear no Man can be Master of Poetical Numbers, yet the best Ear in the World will not always enable him to pronounce them. Of this Truth Dryden, our first great Master of Verse and Harmony, was a strong Instance: When he brought his Play of Amphytrion to the Stage, I heard him give it his first Reading to the Actors, in which, though it is true he deliver'd the plain Sense of every Period, yet the whole was in so cold, so flat, and unaffecting a manner, that I am afraid of not being believ'd when I affirm it

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the premiere is not certain, but the fact that a song in the play, composed by Henry Purcell and sung by Mrs Hudson, is in the Gentleman's Journal, January@February 1693@4 (advertised in the London Gazette, No 2955, 5-8 Marcn 1693@4) suggests that the play had its premiere in February. The play was advertised in the London Gazette, No 2959, 19-22 March 1693@4. The music for additional songs was composed by Henry Purcell: The danger is over, sung by Mrs Hudson, is in Joyful Cuckoldom, ca. 1695; I sighed and owned my love, sung by Mrs Ayliff, is in Thesaurus Musicus, Book III, 1695. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), i-iii. Two songs were composed by John Eccles: Still, I'm grieving, sung by Mrs Bracegirdle; and Give then royal maid your sorrows o're, sung by Mrs Cibber, are in Thesaurus Musicus, 1695. Gentleman's Journal, March 1694 (advertised in London Gazette, No 2964,5-9 April 1694): Mr Southern's new Play call'd The Fatal Marriage; or, The Innocent Adultery, has been so kindly receiv'd, that you are by this time no stranger to its merit. As the world has done it justice, and it is above my praise, I need not expatiate on that subject. [See also 22 March 1693@4.

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. Note, That Mr Dogget is to Play but Six Times

Event Comment: MMist's, 19 Feb.: Yesterday, as young Mr Cibber was performing the Part of Harlequin in Apollo and Daphne, his Foot slipp'd, and he fell down the Stage and broke his Nose

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 15 Sept.: [cg] is new painted and decorated, and will be open'd on Friday next...the Report of Mr Cibber and Mrs Horton being engag'd to another Theatre, is entirely without Foundation: That Company would have begun acting sooner, but for the finishing of a large additional Building, which is now cover'd in, whereby they will, on some Occasions, be enabled to add near 70 Feet to the Length of the Stage, which was before the longest in England, but will now exceed in Depth, any Theatre in Europe

Event Comment: A new Musical Drama, compos'd by Mr Handel. Libretto by Thomas Broughton. [Mrs Cibber was scheduled to sing the part of Lichas, but was indisposed.

Event Comment: Yesterday Mr Rich paid into the Chamberlain's Office at Guildhall, the sum of #602 7s. to the Veteran's scheme, being the three night's receipts arising from the Beggar's Opera, performed at cg: And he thinks it incumbent on him in justice to the several persons interested in the Said theatre, to declare, that when the above scheme was by him proposed, they all most generously subscrib'd their demands for these three nights in order to enlarge the sums to be rais'd for the above purpose.-General Advertiser. [The Gentlemen's Magazine, Dec. 1745, states the idea of this gift was proposed by Mrs Cibber, and that the tallow chandlers also gave the candles.

Event Comment: [No after money. Mrs Cibber's advance notice for her Benefit the following Saturday states she]: having been oblig'd by her illness to put off her Benefit, which was advertised for the 19th of March, and not being able to get any other day than a Saturday, is afraid it should be inconvenient to some of the Gentlemen and Ladies who have done her the honour to take tickets, therefore begs leave to acquaint them that if they please to send their tickets before Thursday next to Mr Page at the stage door of the theatre in Covent Garden, the Money will be returned. Receipts: #136 5s

Event Comment: Last Tuesday Signior Pasquali, Master of the Band of Music at the Theatre Royal, Mr Cibber and some other prominent players arriv'd from England to act the ensuing season [in Dublin]. Mrs Bland arriv'd [in Dublin] last Sunday from England and will appear tomorrow night in the character of Miranda in the Busy Body. Receipts: #180

Event Comment: No play at Covent Garden (Cross). Because Mr Barry & Mrs Cibber would not play (Winston MS 7)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. Mr Ross Castalio --well. Barry & Mrs Cibber, play'd Romeo & Juliet this Night a C. Garden (Cross). [Inspector No 187 appeared with comments on Ross and further ones on Mossop as actors (Daily Advertiser and Literary Gazette).] Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. We are assured that Mr Barry is so well recover'd from his late illness, that he will appear on Thursday next, in the character of Lord Townly in the Provok'd Husband; and that Mrs Cibber will perform the part of Lady Townly

Event Comment: This day is publish'd Judas Macchabaeus: a Sacred Drama as it is performed at Covent Garden. Set by Mr Handel. Printed for J. Watts. This day Publish'd The Oracle, a Comedy of one act as it is perform'd at Covent Garden, at 1s. By Mrs Cibber printed for R. Dosdley in Pall Mall, &c

Event Comment: Two days ago a Letter [price 1s.] came out to Miss Nossiter in which Mrs Cibber is abu'd & tother greatly extoll'd. The Author has also fell foul upon Mr Murphy author of Gray's Inn Journal. It is wrote by one Morgan an Irish Gent: High words has pass'd at ye Bedford Coff. H. between him and Murphy & 'tis thought a Duel will be ye Consequence (Cross). [See The Authorship of a Letter to Miss Nossiter, Shakespeare Quarterly, January 1952, p. 69.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, acted but once these 15 years. Afterpiece: At the particular Desire of several persons of Quality. Benefit for my Self & Wife (Cross). [See The Spouter; or, The Triple Revenge, farce in two acts attributed to Mr Murphy, satirizing John Hill, Theophilus Cibber, Samuel Foote. Discussed by Genest, IV, 459-61.] Receipts: #214 (Cross)

Event Comment: Seventh Day. An Auction of many choice Curiosities. The Lots to be viewed this Night at the Place of Sale. Mr Cibber Auticoneer

Event Comment: Benefit for Fleetwood. Mrs Cibber's sudden illness has oblig'd Mr Fleetwood to change his play from The Orphan to The Wonder. Tickets deliver'd for The Orphan will be taken. Last time of performing the afterpiece this season

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Davies. Mainpiece: Not acted for three years. First appearance in Calista for Mrs Yates because Mrs Cibber, ill, could not play the part. Davies advertised before this he had opened a Bookseller's shop opposite Tom's Coffee House, Russel Street, Covent Garden