Event Comment: Benefit for Berry. Tickets at Pope's Peruke Maker Russell St. Rec'd Cash #93 3s., plus #92 11s. from tickets. Total #185 14s.; Paid Salary List #203 7s.; Norton 5 chorus #1 5s. (Treasurer's Book). To the Public, Gentlemen and Ladies, I am very sorry that a long, sharp, and severe fit of Illness prevents me the satisfaction of making my personal application to my friends as usual, against my Benefit; but finding myself every day rather worse than better, I hope you will be so kind as to take this notice, that the Stratagem, will be performed on Saturday the 21st of April; the part of Archer by Mr Garrick, for the benefit of Mr and Mrs Mills; with a Farce and all other usual Entertainments. From your most oblig'd Servant, William Mills. Mr Mills hopes his friends who intend to honour him with their company, will be so kind as to send to him for Places, Tickets, &c., or call upon him at Mr Gardner's Printing Office in Russel St., Covent Garden; or at Hobson's at the stage door (General Advertiser). Receipts: #180 (Cross); charges, #60 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: MMrs Pritchard, belonging to Drury Lane is recovering from her late indisposition, and it is hoped will be able to act in a few days. Mrs Ward, last Sunday Morning, belonging to Drury Lane, was aafely deliver'd of a son, at her lodgings in little Wild St., and is in a fair way of recovery (General Advertiser). Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: In a Few Days will be publish'd at 1s. (as it is perform'd at Drury Lane) The Winter's Tale: A Dramatic Pastoral in three acts, from Shakespeare. With proper Music, Songs,Dances, and Decoration. Printed for J. and R. Tonson. This Day publish'd The Winter's Tale, a Play alter'd form Shakespeare, by C. Marsh: @Think'st thou, the Swan of Avon spreads her Wings,@Her brooding wings, for thee alone, to plume@And nestle there, O Garrick? Thou deserv'st@Indeed much cherishing; thy Melody@Charms every ear. But sure it ill beseems@One Cygnet thus to stretch its little pinions,@Ambitiously intent, to fill that nest,@Whose roomy limits well may shelter numbers.@ Printed for C. Marsh, at Cicero's Head, in Round Court in the Strand. Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. A new serious Opera. Pit and Boxes put together and no Persons to be admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered this Day, at the Office, at Half a Guinea each. Gallery 5s. By their Majesties Command no Persons whatsoever to be admitted behind the Scenes or in the Orchestra. Gallery, Pit and Boxes to be opened at Five. 6:30 p.m. [Repeated in the subsequent bills.] Messrs Crawford, Vincent, and Gordon most humbly request that the Nobility and Gentry, Subscribers to the Operas for the ensuing Season, will please send their Subssciptions to Andrew Drummond and Co., Bankers at Charing Cross; or to Crawford, at the theatre, where attendance will be given every day from Ten to Two, to receive Subscriptions, and the names of the Subscribers who are pleased to honor the Managers with their Protection to enable them to get the Tickets engraved before the Operas begin (Public Advertiser through October and November)

Event Comment: Benefit Bridges, Blakes and Cross, prompter. Afterpiece: By Desire. Mr Garrick's Indisposition continuing, we have, at the particular desire of several ladies, chang'd our play. Tickets deliver'd out for the Stratagem will be taken. [On this Day appeared the Daily Advertiser a full column presentment by the Court of Westminster to the Justices of the Peace against unlicensed players]: This court being inform'd that common Players of Interludes have for several years...assembled...in Mayfair to erect Booths and exhibit Drolls and Shews...whereby numbers of His Majesty's subjects have been encouraged to assemble and commit riots and other Misdemeanours in Breach of His Majesty's Peace, and to the disturbance of the Neighborhood, and that some of the players are and now contracting for ground in order to erect Sheds, Booths and other places...for shewing and acting plays...&c, &c, &c...for the more effectual suppressing of the evils aforesaid, it is hereby recommended unto his Majesty's Justices of the Peace to meet together at such time as they shall appoint in order to proceed according to the law against all such offenders as shall be brought before them by the peace officers, who are required to be aiding the Justice of the Peace. [The gist of the Presentment lies in the statement]: that they [the Justices] shall apprehend all and every other person and Persons who in any other place or places within the said City and Liberty shall act or represent for gain, any Tragedy, Comedy, Opera, Play, Interlude, Farce, or any other Entertainment for the stage

Event Comment: At Cross and Bridges' Booth. This present Monday, being the last Day of the Fair

Event Comment: Benefit for Author. Tickets at the Stage Door. This Day is Published at 1s. 6d. The Roman Father, a Tragedy, as it is now acting at Drury Lane. Written by Mr W. Whitehead. Printed for R. Dodsley in Pall Mall, and sold by M. Cooper in Paternoster Row (General Advertiser). Paid Cross a bill #1 8s. 7d. Norton 4 chorus #1. Paid for a brown coat with gold holes, a scarlet waistcoat with gold lace, scarlet shag breeches for Mr Sowdon #8 (Treasurer's Book). [Probably Sowdon's costume in the part of Tullius Hcstilius.] Receipts: #190 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. By Command of his Majesty. Duke and Amelia [present] (Cross). Pit and Boxes laid together, and servants will be allowed to keep places there and on the stage, which will be formed into front and side boxes. Ladies desired to send their servants by three o'clock. Tickets and places to be had of Barry, the corner of Bow St., Covent Garden; and of Hobson at the stage door. Receipts: #280 (Cross); #252 (Treasurer's Book). @Rec'd: Cash Front #84 14s. 6d.@Stage #45 16s. 6d.@Tickets Front #119 10s.@Stage-@ Paid salary List 4 days, #203 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Geminiani. A Grand Entertainment of Sacred Music called...To conclude with the Magnificat compsoed by Conti. Mr Geminiani will conduct the Orchestra and perform a Concerto and Solo of his own Composition. Pit and Boxes 10s. 6d. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. To begin at half after six. Mr Geminiani has altered his day from Friday 6 April Mr Handel having agreed to have no Oratorio on Wednesday 11 April. So Tickets for 6 Apr. will be taken (General Advertiser). [Cross incorrectly dates this on Tuesday 10 April.] Receipts: #230 (Cross); charges, #21 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This day is publish'd Much Ado About Nothing. Price 1s. Written by William Shakespear. Printed for J. and P. Knapton, &c. [14 printers]. Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By particular desire. Last time of performing this season (General Advertiser). Mr Garrick set out for Paris next Day (Cross). Receipts: #80 (Cross)

Event Comment: This day is publish'd Every Man in His Humour, a Comedy written by Ben Johnson, with Alterations and Additions (as it was performed at Drury Lane). Printed for J. and R. Tonson in the Strand. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Norton Amber, formerly a Patentee, & Banker, now Pit Doorkeeper (Cross), late of the Strand (Winston MS 7). Tickets to be had at Mr Pierce's at the Castle Tavern, Corner of Henrietta Street, in Bedford Street, Covent Garden; Mr Frye's a Hosier, the Corner of James Street, Long Acre; King Street Coffee House, near Guild Hall; Batson's Coffee House, Cornhill; and at the Theatre. Places will be taken at the Stage Door of the theatre. This Day publish'd, Young Scarron, at 2s. 6d. sew'd, 3s. bound. Dedicated to the managers of both theatres. "The Stage reproves the follies of the age. For once we'll laugh at Follies of the Stage." Anon. Printed for T. Tyre, near Gray's Inn Holborn and W. Reeve in Fleet St. (General Advertiser). A comical and satirical account of summer strolling players: "When the time draws near that the Theatres Royal disband their troops, or rather grant their furloses till the next Campaign, each private Man becomes an Officer; and they who for nine months before submitted to Monarchical Government, now form themselves into several republicks for the remaining three. Then each Hero takes the path of his own ambition...The various whimsical disputes that arise from this kind of Emulation, are, in part the subject of the following sheets" (173 pp. Written by Thomas Mozeen, Biographia Dramatica). Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. [Dancing by Mad Auretti had been forecast in the bill for 29 Jan., but is mentioned on the bill of the day.] Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: noise still (Cross). [See 6 Nov.] Mainpiece: It appears that Mr Garrick is solicitous to banish vice from the theatre, by his having first omitted to exhibit that scandalous piece the London Cuckolds on the evening of the Lord Mayor's Day [9 Nov.] contray to immemorial custom, and the practice of the other house. He has also made a vigorous attempt to exclude folly but the friends of folly appeared to be so numerous, that he could not effect his purpose (Gentleman's Magazine, Nov. 1752, p. 535). Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Last time of performing till the Holidays. This Day publish'd at 6d. Dr Bobadil's Monody: Occasioned by an unhappy Accident he met with at Ranelagh last summer, with a preface and notes Variorum by Quinbus Flestrin [Ch. Smart?]. What lane but knows@Our purgings, Pumpings, Blanketings and Blows?" Pope. Sold by W. Owen, at Temple Bar, and the pamphlet shops. [Another document in the Woodward-Hill feud.] Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: For a Publick Benefaction ye Day not put or 8th or Ninth (Cross). Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: By Command. Prince of Wales, Princess Dowager Prince Ed: & another Girl with. (Cross). A person last Tuesday in the playhouse at Drury Lane, that had some difference with another (whom he don't know) about a seat in the Pit, would be glad of a private conference, to be convinced who was in the fault; the publisher hereof may be seen 'Change at the usual hours every day this week to appoint a place for said conference (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: This Day a Paragraph appear'd in the papers that we always began by ye green room Clock which was kept by Mr Grignions regulator of equal time, & was now slower than ye Sun 16 Minutes (Cross). Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: Several Advertisements in ye Papers this day for meetings to redress Injuries done by the Boxes &c., &c. All quiet at ye Theatre (Cross). Last time of performing the afterpiece this season. Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: PPrince of Wales & 4 (Cross). By Command of Prince of Wales. This day is publish'd Belisarius: A Tragedy, written by Mr Philips, to which is prefixed some account of the life of Belasarius. Printed for J. Staples, opposite Stationer's Hall. Neatly printed. Price 1s. (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #200. (Cross)

Event Comment: For the Author (Cross). Box Tickets for the Benefit of the Author of Agis...are to be had of Mr Miller, in the Strand, Dodsley in Pall Mall, and Varney at the Stage Door. This Day at Noon will be publish'd, Price 1s. 6d. Agis, by the author of Douglas. Printed for A. Miller, where may be had the tragedy of Douglas as it was acted at Covent Garden. Price 1s. 6d. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Tomorrow will be reviv'd a Tragedy (not acted these 30 years) call'd The Ambitious Stepmother. Antony and Cleopatra is deferr'd a few days. Receipts: #200 (Cross); #197 13s. (Winston MS 8)