Event Comment: Benefit Wright, Hallam, Miss Tynte

Event Comment: In a letter to the Daily Post. 4 June, the Patentees of Drury Lane-Mary Wilks, John Ellys, Hester Booth, and John Highmore-stated the cast of the Patentees. The gist of their statement is: (1) They operate under a Patent commencing 1 Sept. 1732 which, by Deaths and Legal Assignments, is the property of the four, with Highmore possessing one half, at an expence of #6,000 and upwards. (2) Several of the Players have threatened to desert the service of the Patentees and have contracted with some of the Trustees (the Sharers) to secure possession of the Theatre. (3) Drury Lane is let upon lease from the Duke of Bedford, granted to Thomas Kynaston and Francis Stanhope, Trustees for the Sharers (commonly called Renters) of Drury Lane at the rent of #50 annually upon a Fine of 1,000 guineas paid for the renewal of the lease. (4) The Players, under the Patentees, have acted at Drury Lane for twenty-one years without any interruption form the Trustees upon the sole contract that the Patentees pay the Trustees #3 12s. each acting night, besides the Liberty of seeing Plays. (5) At the beginning of this Season the manager's office received a letter from a few of the Renters demanding an Advance of Rent. Highmore, being new, was concerned, and asked the managers to take care of the matter; and thereafter the signers (the Patentees) had heard of no further discontent among the Renters. (6) To defend themselves against stories of hardship or complaint by the actors, the Patentees point out that the following weekly salaries had been paid: Colley Cibber #12 12s.; Theophilus Cibber #5; Mills Sr, #1 daily for 200 days certain, and a benefit, clear of all charges; Mills Jr #3; Johnson #5; Miller #5; Harper #4; Griffin #4; Shepard #3; Hallam, for himself and his father, the latter of little or no service, #3; Mrs Heron #5; Mrs Butler #3. For these charges and others, the Patentees stand a daily expence of #49 when the theatre is open. (7) Further, the Patentees paid Cibber Jr his wife's whole salary without her being able to act the greater part of the winter, #9 weekly for the two; Mills Jr, in the same circumstances with his wife, #5 10s. weekly for the two; Miller a salary (amounting to #40) for eight weeks before he acted, and a gratuity of ten guineas; Griffin a present of ten guineas; Harper a present, amount not specified; Mrs Heron an increase form 40s. to #5 weekly, although she refused afterward to play several parts assigned her and acted but seldom

Event Comment: Benefit A. Hallam and Ridout. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Tickets for Mithridates taken at this Play. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Benefit Hallam. By Desire of several of the Brethren of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons

Event Comment: At Hallam-Chapman Booth. [From 23 Aug. to 26 Aug. 1 P.M. to 11 P.M.]

Event Comment: At Hallam's Booth. 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. [Advertized for 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 Aug.

Event Comment: LLee-Hallam Booth on the Bowling Green at the Bottom of Ax@and@Battle@Yard, behind the Marshalsea. By the celebrated Company from Bartholomew Fair; 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Presumably performed from Wednesday 7 through Thursday 15

Event Comment: At Fielding-Hallam Great Booth, Near the Trunpike in Tottenham-Court [during the Fair]. 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. [Advertised also on 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Aug.

Event Comment: At Hallam's Booth, at the Bottom of Mermaid-Court. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m

Event Comment: At Hallam's Booth. 23 Aug.-27 Aug

Event Comment: At Hallam's Booth. At Noon

Event Comment: Benefit for Hobson. Tickets and places of Hobson at the stage door of the Theatre. Presentment of the Grand Juryv for the County of Middlesex: We the Grand Jury sworn to enquire for our Sovereign Lord The King, and the body of this county, have observed from most of the presentments delivered to us by the Constables of this County, that they have been, as we apprehend and fear, very remiss in their duty, by returning their several districts to be quiet and in good order. Whereas the contrary does most manifestly appear, in many instances as well from the accounts or advertisements we read in the daily Papers, printed and dispersed within the County (inviting and seducing, not only the inhabitants, but also all other persons, to several places kept apart for the encouragement of Luxury, Extravagance, and Idleness, and we fear other wicked, illegal purposes, which by such means go on with impunity, to the destruction of many families) as otherwise to the great Dishonour of the Kingdom...especially at a time when we are engaged in expensive Wars, and so much overburdened with Taxes of all sorts, both Parliamentary and Parochial, that it is much as a prudent man can do, without a taste to extravagant and illegal pleasure to support himself and family according to his degree and station in life under the most regular economy. [If unchecked this bad example will lead to National destruction]. We do accordingly hereby present as places riotous, of great extravagance, luxury, idleness, and ill fame, the several house &c following: [lists two gambling houses, then the Proprietors of the avenues leading to the several playhouses for not preventing wicked loose and disorderly persons from loitering at the front of their several houses on nights of the play to the prejudice of playgoers.] 4. Saddlers Wells, near Islington; 5. New Wells, Goodman's Fields; 6. New Wells, Clerkenwell; 7. The Proprietors of a Place call'd Hallam's New Theatre at Mayfair. Prays that the court will close all listed. N.B. Many people believed that after this presentment, the places mentioned would be shut up or reformed, but they advertise and continue the same diversions as before.-Gentlemen's Magazine (May, 1744), pp. 278-79

Event Comment: Benefit L. Hallam. Boxes 2. 6d., Pit and Gallery 1s. 6d., Upper Gallery 1s

Event Comment: Benefit Hallam Sen and Mrs Bainbridge. Positively the Last night of playing this season. [On Easter Monday this house will revert to tumbling and pantomime and rope dancing.] Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. First Gallery 1s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. Tickets delivered out by Bourn, Laws, and Toole will be taken this Night

Event Comment: Benefit Hallam Sen. Tickets for 10 March will be taken

Event Comment: At the New Wells, Lemon St., A Concert, etc. Benefit for Hallam. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit and First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s

Event Comment: By particular Desire. A Concert, &c., Benefit for Hallam at the New Wells, Lemon St., now open only upon this occasion. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit and First gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [Prices repeated.

Event Comment: By particular Desire, at the New Wells, Lemon St., Benefit for Hallam. A concert, etc. To begin at 6 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit for Hallam at the *Nå‹nwls ew Wells=, Lemon St. Last night but one of performing. A concert, etc