Event Comment: The Fourth Day. We hear, there will be an Execution this Day at the Puppet Show in Panton Street near the Haymarket [Mlle delaNash]; and as Mr Foote hath thought proper , instead of Tea to give Punch, Mr Punch will give Foote (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: [See Occasional Prologue spoken at cg by Mr Barry (28 Sept. 1750): @When vice and folly overruns the state,@Weak politicians lay the blame on fate...@If Shakespeare's Passion, or if Johnson's art@Can fire your fancy, or can warm your heart,@That task be ours;--but if you damn, their scenes@And heroes must give way to Harlequins.@We too can have recourse to Mime and Dance@Nay there I think we have the better chance;@And should the town grow weary of the Mute@Why--we'll produce--a Child upon the flute@ This infant piper referred to again satirically in a Guide to the Stage, 2nd ed., 1751, p. 7.] Rec'd of Mr Warner for arrears at his Benefit 16 May last, #5 14s. As this belong'd to last season's Account, I shall make an allowance, and accordingly subtract it from the sum total (Powel). Receipts: #70 (Cross); #92 12s. (Powel)

Event Comment: This farce of Lethe was wrote some years ago and play'd with Success, & was reviv'd this Night with great Alterations, & was but indifferently receiv'd by the Audience (Cross). The Poet, Frenchman, & Sot Mr Garrick perform'd most inimitably (Charles Adams to John Gilbert-Cooper, Theatre Notebook, XI (1957) p. 138). No After Money will be taken, and no Persons will be Admitted behind the Scenes (General Advertiser). Receipts: #180 (Cross); #186 7s. (Powel). N.B.: Mr G-k is the author of Lethe and did receive #36 8s. 6d. for this night which is the overplus after the charge of #63 for the House is paid, and which I must subtract from the rest (Powel). [A letter appeared in the General Advertiser this day giving advance notice and approval of a performance of Cato to be put on at Leicester House 7 Jan. by members of the Royal Family. The author noted that "proper Habits are absolutely in the making," and that the Princes would learn the principles of liberty from the lines of the play.

Event Comment: To be seen a Person who performs the most surprizing Things...he presents you with a common Wine bottle, which any of the Spectators may first examine; this Bottle is plac'd on a Table in the Middle of the Stage, and he (without any Equivocation) goes into it in Sight of all the Spectators, and sings in it; during his Stay in the Bottle, any Person may handle it, and see plainly that it does not exceed a common Tavern Bottle. The Performance continues about Two Hours and a Half. These Performances have been seen by most of the Crowned Heads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and never appear'd anywhere Public but once. Stage 7s. 6d. where Masks may be worn. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. [The famous Bottle Conjurer hoax.] Theatre was crowded...by five o'clock; at seven the house was lighted up [but not music]...a Person came before the Curtain, and, bowing, promis'd if Mr Conjurer did not arrive in half an Hour, their Money should be return'd...after near an Hour...a Gentleman in the Box snatch'd a Candle lighted, and in Violence threw it on the Stage; this was the Signal for the Onset of Battle...the Boxes, Seats, Glasses, Scenes, Chairs, Machinery, and all the Furniture of the Play House, were in less than ten Minutes carried into the Street...an excellent Bonfire was made of Mr Foote's Auction Room...it may put a [pe]riod to the Auction, till the Theatre can be refitted.--Charles Adams to John Gilbert-Cooper, Theatre Notebook, XI (1957) p. 139. [Potter was still owner of this theatre.] Those opposed to a recent late book would have been gratified had the Conjurer jumped into the bottle and proved that miracles had not yet ceased."--Daily Advertiser, 17 Jan. Last Night a numerous Audience, among whom were several Persons of Quality, was at the New Theatre in the Haymarket, in wonderful Expectation of seeing the Miraculous Man creep into a Bottle, and do several other Miracles; but the only one he perform'd was, that he render'd himself invisible (without any Equivocation) to the no small Disappointment of the gaping Multitude; who, being told from behind the Curtain that the Performer had not yet appear'd, but that if they would stay until the next Night, instead of a Quart Bottle he should creep into a Pint, immediately grew outrageous, and in a Quarter of an Hour's Time broke to Pieces all the Boxes, Benches, Scenes, and everything that was in their power to destroy, leaving only the Shell of the House remaining. Surely this will deter anyone from venturing to impose on the public in the like manner for the future.--General Advertiser, 17 Jan. [See also dl Comment 18, 19, 20, 27 Jan.

Event Comment: GGeneral Advertiser: This day is publish'd at 6d. An Apology to the Town, for Himself and the Bottle. By J. Nick-all. N.B. Mr P- was mistaken in the name. To which is prefix'd an exact representation of the scene of Harlequin's Escape into the Bottlev , introduc'd into the Pantomime of Apollo and Daphne, or the Burgomaster Trick'd, the Character of Harlequin by Mr Phillips. Printed for B. Dickenson, the corner of Bell Savage Inn, Ludgate Hill

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Pit and boxes laid together, and Front and Side Boxes built on Stage [see 7 March]. Tickets to be had at Mr Barry's, the corner of Bow St., Covent Garden. Mr Garrick first play'd Iago (Cross). [He had played it in Dublin 28 Feb. 1746.] Receipts: #289 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry. Tickets to be had of Berry at Mr Pope's, Peruke Maker in Russel St., Covent Garden and of Hobson at the Stage Door. [From the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books for this month: An Account of the Life of that Celebrated Tragedian, Mr Thomas Betterton, containing a distinct relation of his excellencies in his profession and character in private life, and interspersed with an account of the English theatre during his time. Printed for J. Robinson.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sowdon. Tickets to be had of Sowdon at Mr Haymer's in James St., Covent Garden, of Hobson at the Stage Door; at Will's Coffee House, Cornhill, and of Mr Thomas Sowdon, in Blackman St., Southwark. Receipts: #160 (Cross); no house charges. N.B.: A present was made to him of the charge of the House, because he had acted this season and receiv'd no salary (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit of Sga Frasi. The breakfasting in the Haymarket is deferred till Saturday morning on account of the [benefit for] Sga Frasi; and Mr Foote has promised to give his first entertainment tomorrow at Covent Garden for the Benefit of Mr Bencraft and Mrs Hale

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Frederick. Pit and Boxes together for half a guinea. Gallery 5s. To begin at seven o'clock

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Oldmixon. Composed by Mr Handel. At Hickford's Room in Brewer St. Tickets 5s., to be had of Mr Hickford. To begin at 7:30 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit for Will Hill. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire of his friends. N.B. The Gentlemen are desired to meet Mr Hill after the Play at the Rose Tavern, Temple Bar. [He had advertised since 15 April that "Gentlemen and Ladies who intend to honour him with their presence," should take tickets at: the Thatched House, St. James's St; Jack Bridell's, the One Tun in the Strand; Half moon in Holborn; Rose, Temple Bar; King's Head, in the Poultry; Castle, Lombard St; Bell, East cheap; King's Head, Tower Hill, Rummer, Bishopsgate St; West India and Jerusalem Coffee Houses near the Royal Exchange; Chapman's, Swordcutler, in Exchange Alley; and at Will Hill's Lodgings, Mr Geves's in Abchurch Lane.

Event Comment: [Note by Croza says in view of the actions against him he was not the "Undertaker of the Operas" but came under Articles with an English Gentleman, who employed Mr V-i as Director and Mr C-d as Treasurer, that V-i received 3 per cent of the gross every night (General Advertiser). The persons referred to are Vaneschi and Crawford.

Event Comment: SSignor Campioni first danc'd here--well (Cross). Afterpiece: With Scenes, Music, Cloths and Decorations entirely new. Paid Rigg (a Smith) #2 10s.; Mr Oram (Scene Painter) on acct #30 by order Mr Lacy (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. Paid Mr Pope for a wig for Lear, ditto for Grandchamps #1 19s. (Treasurer's Book). [This wigmaker was Miss Pope's father, according to a MS note in the Treasurer's Book make presumably by W. H. Oxberry, 1848. Pope, the wig-maker, also rented space from dl annually, for his shop.] Receipts: #120 (Cross); #112 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Plummer. Mainpiece: By particular desire of Several Ladies and Gentlemen. A cheesemonger announced that his distresses arose from [an] unperformed engagement with the late manager of Drury Lane (Winston MS 7). Mr Plummer being reduced to great distress, by some unfortunate engagements for a late manager of Drury Lane Theatre, has obtained the Indulgence of a Benefit Night, and humbly hopes the Favour of the Publick on so charitable an occasion will effectually make it such, especially as it is the last time he intends to give them the like trouble (General Advertiser). Receipts: #40 5s. 6d

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment in Two Interludes. The words to be sold at the theatre (General Advertiser). Some Gentlemen crowding behind ye Scenes, ye Audience resented it & ye farce was stop'd for half an hour--I drew lines with chalk, but Miss Norris applying publickly to Capt. Johnson, desiring he wou'd retire, He did & ye farce went on with great Applause. The words of this piece were by Mr Mendez, & set by Dr Boyce (Cross). Added to salary list, Mr Campioni. Paid him for cloaths #21, and for 51 days work, #42 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #140 (Cross); #142 13s. (Treasurer's Book)