Event Comment: [This day Horace Walpole wrote as follows to George Montagu, forshadowing an event to take place on 27 July: "If you will stay with me a fortnight or three weeks, perhaps I may be able to carry you to a play of Mr Bentley's--you stare--but I am in earnest--nay, and de par le roy. In short, here is the history of it. You know the passion he always had for the Italian comedy. About two years ago he writ one, intending to get it offered to Rich--but without his name--he would have died to be supposed an author, and writing [I, 372] for gain. I kept this a most inviolable secret. Judge then of my surprise when about a fortnight or three weeks ago I found my Lord Melcomb reading this very Bentleiad in a circle at my Lady Hervey's. Cumberland had carried it to him, with a recommendatory copy of verses, containing more incense to the King and my Lord Bute, than the Magi brought in their portmanteaus to Jerusalem. The idols were propitious, and to do them justice, there is a great deal of wit in the piece, which is called The Wishes or Harlequin's Mouth Opened. A bank note of #200 was sent from the Treasury to the author, and the play ordered to be performed by the summer company. Foote was summoned to Lord Melcomb's, where Parnassus was composed of the peer himself, who, like Apollo as I am going to tell you, was dozing, the two Chief Justices and Lord Bute. Bubo read the play himself, with handkerchief and orange by his side. But the curious part is a prologue which I never saw. It represents the god of verse fast asleep by the side of Helicon. The race of modern bards try to wake him, but the more they repeat of their works, the louder he snores. At last "Ruin seize thee ruthless King" is heard, and the god starts from his trance. This is a good thought, but will offend the bards so much, that I think Dr Bentley's son will be abused at least as much as his father was. The prologue concludes with young Augustus, and how much he excels the ancient one, by the choice of his friend. Foote refused to act this prologue, and said it was too strong. 'Indeed,' said Augustus's friend, 'I think it is.' They have softened it a little, and I suppose it will be performed. You may depend upon the truth of all this; but what is much more credible, is that the comely young author appears every night in the Mall in a milkwhite coat with a blue cape, disclaims any benefit, and says he has done with the play now it is out of his own hands, and that Mrs Hannah Clio alias Bentley writ the best scenes in it. He is going to write a tragedy, and she, I suppose, is going--to court."--Horace Walpole's Correspondence with George Montagu. Ed. W. S. Lewis and Ralph S. Brown Jr (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1941), I, 372-73. [IX, 372-373.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [See 24 Jan. 1758.] Prologue written by Paul Whitehead. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage-Door. No persons can be admitted behind scenes, nor any Money returned after curtain is drawn up. To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. [Customary note in succeeding bills.] Receipps: #190 14s. (Account Book). @The New Occasional Prologue@As when the merchant to increase his store@For Dubious seas, advent'rous quits the shore;@Still anxious for his freight, he trembling sees@Rocks in each buoy, and tempest in each breeze@The curling wave to mountain billow swells,@And every cloud a fancied storm fortells:@Thus rashly launch'd on this Theatric main,@Our All on board, each phantom gives Us pain;@The Aatcall's note seems thunder in our ears,@And every Hiss a hurricane appears;@In Journal Squibs we lightning's blast espy,@And meteors blaze in every Critic's eye.@Spite of these terrors, still come hopes we view,@Hopes, ne'er can fail us--since they're plac'd--in you.@Your breath the gale, our voyage is secure,@And safe the venture which your smiles insure;@Though weak his skill, th' adventurer must succeed,@Where Candour takes th' endeavor for the deed.@For Brentford's state, two kings could once suffice;@In ours, behold! four kings of Brentford rise;@All smelling to one nosegay's od'rous savor@The balmy nosegay of--the Public favor.@From hence alone, our royal funds we draw,@Your pleasure our support, your will our law.@While such our government, we hope you'll own us;@But should we ever Tyrant prove--dethrone us.@Like Brother Monarchs, who, to coax the nation@Began their reign, with some fair proclamation,@We too should talk at least--of reformation;@Declare that during our imperial sway,@No bard shall mourn his long-neglected Play;@But then the play must have some wit, some spirit,@And We allow'd sole umpires of its merit.@For those deep sages of the judging Pit,@Whose taste is too refin'd for modern wit,@From Rome's great Theatre we'll cull the piece,@And plant on Britain's stage the flow'rs of Greece.@If some there are, our British Bards can please,@Who taste the ancient wit of ancient days,@Be our's to save, from Time's devouring womb,@Their works, and snatch their laurels from the tomb.@For you, ye Fair, who sprightlier scenes may chuse,@Where Music decks in all her airs the Muse,@Gay Opera shall all its charms dispense,@Yet boast no tuneful triumph over sense;@The nobler Bard shall still assert his right,@Nor Handel rob a Shakespear of his night,@To greet the mortal brethren of our skies [upper galleries]@Here all the Gods of Pantomime shall rise:@Yet midst the pomp and magic of machines,@Some plot may mark the meaning of our scenes;@Scenes which were held, in good King Rich's days,@By sages, no bad epilogues to plays.@If terms like these your suffrage can engage,@To fix our mimic empire of the stage;@Confirm our title in your fair opinions,@And crowd each night to people our dominions.@--(Poems and Miscelaneous Compositions, Ed. Capt. Edward Thompson, 1777) Covent Garden opened with the Rehearsal with alterations. I was in the Pit. Powell, from Drury Lane, one of the new managers who have bought the patent from Rich's heirs, spoke an occasional Prologue. Shuter did Bayes pretty much to my liking, adding many crochets of his own.... Entertainment The Mock Doctor,...Young Jasper pretty well by one Massey, being his first appearance on that stage (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Paid Tallow chandler's 4th Bill #47 15s. 1d.; Mr J. Palmer's draft on the managers #50; Lent Mr Lauchery as per order #3 17s.; Duke of Bedford's rent half year to Mich last #164 2s. 10d.; Tabor & Pipe 5 nights (this incl.) #2 12s. 6d. Receipts: #126 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the Prologue to Bonduca refers to She Ventures and He Wins. As Bonduca was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3126, 24-28 Oct. 1695, the play was certainly not acted later than early October 1695, probably not later than September 1695. The Edition of 1696 includes on the titlepage: With A New Entertainment of Musick, Vocal and Instrumental. [The music was composed by Henry Purcell. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XVI, vii-xiii.] Those songs for which a performer is named are as follows: O lead me to some peaceful gloom, sung by Miss Cross, and Sing ye Druids, all your voices raise, sung by Mrs Ayliff, both in Songs in the Tragedy of Bonduca, ca. 1696. To arms, sung by Freeman and Edwards, is in Thesaurus Musicus, The Fifth Book, 1696

Event Comment: [By Mary de la Riviere Manley.] Never Acted before. And by Reason of the Extraordinary Charge for Habits, Boxes 5s., Pit 3s., First Gallery 2s., Upper Gallery 1s. Preface: Almyna was admirably Acted, and advantagiously dress'd: The first was owing to Mr Betterton's unwearied care...the second to Mr Swiny...for venturing...to make so great an Expence...both justly condemn'd for playing it at so ill-fated a Time, viz. The immediate Week before Christmas between Devotion and Camilla

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Robinson. Admission as 8 Dec. 1716

Event Comment: Written by the late Mr Otway. Receipts: #26 3s. 6d. Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 13 Jan.: Mr C. Bullock having a considerable Part in the Play; and being sick in his Bed, chose to rise and perform his Part; rather than disappoint the Audience, but was not able to finish it; therefore his Part in the last Act was read by another

Event Comment: For the Entertainment of their Excellencies Jousef Coja and Sidi Mohammed, Envoys from Tunis. Mainpiece: Written by Mr Farquhar. Afterpiece: Set to Musick by Mr T. Arne Jr

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Eminent Merchants and Citizens. Afterpiece: Written by Mr Carey. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 9 Oct.: Yesterday, between One and Two o'Clock, died of a Haemorrage . . . Mr Charles Hulett, belonging to [GF], whose natural Qualifications to the Stage, had he the Application of many of less Merit, would have render'd him one of the most considerable Performers now alive

Event Comment: Benefit Haughton. Tickets at Haughton's, at the Wheatsheaf in Little Russel Street, cg. Daily Advertiser, 24 March: An Order having been sent to Mr Giffard, forbidding all Performances on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent, Mr Haughton was oblig'd to defer his Benefit to this Day

Event Comment: Benefit the Author. Tickets as before. Regulus publish'd. As it is acted by his Majesties Servants at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, by Mr Havard, Author of King Charles the First. Inter omnes suos laudabiles & Virtutum insignibus illustres Viros, non preferunt Romani meliorem; quem neque Felicitas corruperit, nam in tanta Victoria, mansit pauperrimus; Nec Infelicitas fregerit, nam ad tanta Exitia revertit intrepidus. (St. Aust. de Regulo. Lib I. de Civitat. Dei.) Printed for H. Woodfall, Jr. in Little Britain, by Paul Vaillant facing Southampton Street in the Strand. J. Watts and B. Dodd also advertised King Charles the First, an Historical Tragedy, written in imitation of Shakespear, and Scanderbeg, a Tragedy. Both written by Mr Havard, author of Regulus

Event Comment: Benefit A Gentleman who has wrote for the stage, Mr Searle, Mr Walker (Numberer), and several others. Tickets deliver'd for the Gamester will be taken this night. The Daily Advertiser listed The Gamester: Benefit of the Author of a New Comedy intended for the stage, and wrote to expose some of the greatest Grievances the Nation Labours under in Time of Peace. [Includes a note begging encouragement.

Event Comment: This play was wrote by Mr Shirly & was at Lisbon when Acted--it was receiv'd with great Applause--only a little groaning at some of the Love Scenes; the prologue greatly lik'd--he says the play attempted after ye Manner of Shakespear (Cross). Paid salary list at #51 7s. 7d. per diem, #308 5s. 6d.; Blakes per order #1 1s.; Maltair added to salary list at 10s. per day. Paid Lacy as per draft #105; Xmas box to Prince and Princess's footmen #2 2s.; Mr Maltair for 11 days #5 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [Maltair is presumably the dancer Maltare who had appeared at dl in 1740.] Receipts: #180 (Cross); #185 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

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: By Particular Desire. On Thursday 6 Dec. 1750 a Benefit for a Citizen's Widow with 8 Children, As You Like It, and Miss in her Teens. Tickets to be had at Moorgate Coffee House; Rainbow, Sam's and Janeway's Coffee Houses in Cornhill; Paul's Head, Carter Lane; Peele's and Nandoe's in Fleet Street; Mr Law's, Confectioner, at the Eagle and Child, Fleet St.; Charing Cross; Bethell's Hatter and Hosier, the corner of Pall Mall; Thatched House Tavern, St James St.; Mr Jones, Bookseller, the corner of Staples Inn, and Seagoe's Coffee House, Holborn; the Aldersgate Coffee House, Aldersgate Street; and Ship Tavern, Ratcliff cross. This day is publish'd The Rosciad: a Poem (at 1s.) in which the excellencies and imperfections of the three present principal ornaments of the British Stage are illustrated, and conspicuously represented; with observations on theatrical performances. Printed for J. Robinson. Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Oswald will be taken (General Advertiser). Mr Oswald ye Music had some Tickets (Cross). [Queen Mab played thirty-two times consecutively at full prices.] A. Betson, Miscellaneous Dissertations: Historical, Critical, and Moral, on the Origin and Antiquity of Masquerades, Plays, Poetry, and several other heathenish customs. Printed. (Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, Feb. 1751, p. 95). Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Norris. Tickets of Miss Norris at Mr Jackson's Habit warehouse Tavistock St., and of Hobson at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd out for 30 March will be taken. [Advance publicity for Havard's Benefit, Inspector No 29: I have said in a former paper, that those who have not seen Alfred, have yet to see Mr Garrick in a character in which he excells everything that has been attempted in one of the noblest Roads of Tragedy. I shall add to it on this occaison, that those who have not yet seen Alfred will have a pleasure from it greater than they can receive from the best dramatic performance they are already acquainted with' (London Advertiser and Literary Gazette).] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Tradesman under Confinement. [This benefit had first been advertised on Monday 11 Nov. Tickets were to be had at seven Coffee Houses, at Mr Watkins' Optician, at Charing Cross, Mrs Crokett's, Harberdasher at the Seven Stars, Ludgate St., and at the stage door. On the day of the benefit one Philantropos contributed a letter in support of it which was printed in the first column of the General Advertiser. The Tradesman was a bookseller who was "the immediate instrument of ushering into the world some of the most valuable books that have been publish'd for these 30 years." But he had paid more attention to the advancement of letters than "to the lucrative views that attend the trade in general," so, in the eyes of Philantropos deserved the support of the town at this benefit.] The death of Mr Cooke mentioned in the Papers is a mistake, he being in a fair way of recovery (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Towards a fund for ye Support of a publick Charity-(ye Lock Hospl.). King Lear & Duke & no Duke given out for Wed., 23 & bills put up, but not play'd on account of Mr Havard's illness, at 12 at noon, bills were dispers'd saying--the Play of King Lear, design'd for to Night is oblig'd to be defer'd on Account of Mr Havard's sudden illness. N.B--It was a very hot day (Cross). Tickets to be had at the following Coffee Houses: The St James, in St James's St.; The Mount, in Grosvenor St.; George's the upper end of the Haymarket; the Bedford and Tom's in Covent Garden; Garraway's in Cornhill; and at the Stage Door of the Theatre. Tickets deliver'd out for 16 April will be taken. [Cross lists no Receipts.