Event Comment: This night [see Public Advertiser 13 Jan.] about the middle of the play at Covent Garden, a Gentleman who sat in one of the gallery boxes, ask'd another who sat next him if he could lend him a knife; on being told he could not, the former pull'd out a small pen-knife and stabb'd himself; which occasioned some commotion in that part of the house; he was immediately carried to the Shakespeare's Head, and Mr Baker the surgeon dress'd the wound, which the gentleman suffer'd with great constraint; He would not tell who he was, nor what was the cause of this rash action

Event Comment: Full Prices. Afterpiece with a New Scene of a Fountain introduc'd. [See Cross's note for dl 14 Dec. 1752.] [Harlequin Sorcerer] With the loves of Pluto and Proserpine. The scenes painted by Mr Lambert. As any obstruction in the movements of the Machinery will greatly prejudice the performance, it is hoped no persons will be displeased at their not being admitted behind the scenes (Public Advertiser). [Nonadmittance note repeated.

Event Comment: MMr Woodward's Night for Making ye Genii (Cross). There was such a Prodigious crowd to get into the Pit and Galleries at Drury Lane, being Mr Woodward's Night, that many of the females who came there with aprons, Handkerchiefs, caps and Capuchins, returned home without them; it was the most numerous and brilliant Audience that has been seen for some time(Public Advertiser, 16 Jan.). Receipts: #206 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author. The author's tickets to be had at Mr Dodsley's in Pall-Mall, and at the Stage Door. Receipts: #142 (Cross)

Event Comment: We hear that Mr Handel will play a Concerto on the organ in Alexander's Feast, Wednesday next at Covent Garden Theatre

Event Comment: Oratorio by Mr Handel. Benefit for Signora Frasi; To begin at 7 p.m. Prices: Pit and Boxes at half a guinea each; Gallery 5s

Event Comment: Benfit for Berry. Afterpiece: By Desire. Tickets at stage door, and of Berry at Mr Pope's, a Peruke Maker in Russel St., Covent Garden. Berry's figure was well adapted to Sciolto, Acasto and characters of that cast; No man had more feeling than he, and it generally had its proper effect, but by being too fond of aiming at tenderness, he grated upon the ear of an auditor (Genest, IV, p. 363, from State of the Stage). Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin. Miss Macklin did Monimia (Cross). Afterpiece: For last time this season. With a New Prologue. To prevent mistakes, those Gentlemen and Ladies who send for Places, are desired to send for Tickets; which may be had of Miss Macklin, in Bow St.; and of Mr Crudge at the stage door

Event Comment: [Benefit for Mr Mathews & $Jan: Auretti. Ye provok'd Husband? was play'd Palmer being ill (Cross). No Building on Stage. [The bills, all printed before the last minute change, list The Non Juror. Probably announcement was unnecessary, as audience came mainly to enjoy the dances this night.] Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: For the Benefit and Increase of a Fund established for the support of Decayed Musicians, or their Families. Boxes and Pit put together at Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. To begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets delivered to Subscribers to this Charity will admit one Person to any part of the House. Subscribers tickets may be had of Richard Dawson, near Henry the Seventh's Chapel, Westminster, who is empower'd by the Society to deliver them and receive Subscriptions. Tickets for the Performance are delivered by Mr Rash at the Prince of Orange Coffee-House, in the Haymarket. The tickets delivered for the 17th will be taken. (General Advertiser, 28 April, advance notice)

Event Comment: Newly compos'd by Mr Arne. Benefit for the Charitable Hospital for Lying-In Women, in Jermyn St., St James. Pit and Boxes a half guinea. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. To begin at 12 noon. Ladies are not expected to come dress'd

Event Comment: Benefit for a family in Distress (Cross). Tickets to be had at the Sword-Blade Coffee House, Birchin Lane, Lombard St.; Prince of Orange Coffee House in the Haymarket; Joe's Coffee House, Mitre Court, Fleet St.; Smyrna Coffee House, Pall Mall; the Swan Tavern, Grafton St.; Warwick-St. Coffee House near Golden Square; the Feather's Tavern, opposite St Clement's Church in the Strand; and of Mr Varney at the stage door. Receipts: #212 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMacklin has built two magnificent Rooms, ground floor [one] for Coffee, the other a [meeting] Room (Winston MS 8). [The Tuner pub. at 1s. by Dr Hiffernan. Fifty-three pages touching on theatre in general but particularly on Boadicia. There is no plot in the play...Boadicia is a monster well deserving what she suffers; therefore is neither an object of Terror or Compassion: but of Detestation. Sh deserts us in the third act...Tender-hearted Venusia is introduc'd to be whined to death...There is scarce any sentiment throughout; no moral to be deduced...the Diction...favors more of the level, languid, and underepic, than of the vigorous marrowy, tragic style...Never was Author more oblig'd to Performers, they acted to the full amount of his meaning; the Matter often fail'd Mr Garrick's continued and vigorous exertion."] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMiss Macklin's benefit will be on Tuesday the 5th of February; the Play will be the Recruiting Officer, in which she will act the part of Sylvia , and Mr Foote the part of Brazen , being the first time of their appearing in those characters. To which will added a piece by Foote call'd the Knights. Receipts: #110 (Cross)

Event Comment: On Tuesday next a New Tragedy called Philoclea. On Monday 28 January will be a Benefit for Sga Nicolina Giordani, A comic Opera with dances. Tickets and places for the Boxes may be had at Sg Giordani's Lodging, at Mr Milbourn's Grocer, in James St. Covent Garden. To the Young Gentlewoman who has performed Hermione [see 19 Jan.]: @Great was th' Applause you met, great your desert,@You charm'd the Eye, the Ear, the Head, the Heart.@Amaz'd we saw you at the first appear,@Ev'n in the hardest part, a perfect play'r.@Your person, your deportment set to view,@The youthful princess that the poet drew.@All was propriety, and all was grace,@We read the author's meaning in your face.@Your elocution was both just and strong,@Mix'd with due ease, and not an accent wrong,@Such varied Musick in your voice we heard,@That in the Tones both Taste and Sense appear'd.@Love, Jealousy, and Rage so well expres't@Engag'd our souls, nor knew we which was best,@'Twas Nature all-she form'd you for the stage,@Follow her steps, and glad th' Admiring Age.-Public Advertiser@

Event Comment: By Command of the King (Cross). This day a new tragedy, entitiled Constantine the Great was read here to the actors for the first time. This piece is written by the reverend Mr Francis, from whose valuable translation of Horace it may be inferred that he is such a judge of all the graces of Language and every beautiful turn in writing, that it is not to be doubted but he will give the public a production abounding in elegancies. [See 23 Feb.

Event Comment: For the the Author Tho' but the 5th Night, Mr Rich's Indulgence (Cross). Philoclea published at 1s. 6d. Tickets to be had at Dodsley's, Tulley's Head in Pall Mall; the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; the Grecian Coffee House, in Devereaux Court; and at Baker's Coffee House in Change Alley

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Particular Desire and for the last time this season (Public Advertiser). For Miss Macklin's benefit. Ye farce of ye two Knights was to have done, but Mr Yates not being perfect it was chang'd (Cross). Receipts: #210 (Cross)