Event Comment: Benefit for Bensley. Morning Chronicle, 16 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bensley, No. 21, Charlotte-street, Bloomsbury. Receipts: #490 16s. (217.9.0; 92.4.6; 6.4.6; tickets: 174.18.0) (charge: #231 6s. 2d.). Account-Book breaks down Bensley's charge as follows: house #200, Mrs Siddons #20, Mrs Jordan #10 10s. Properties 5s. 8d., supernumeraries 10s. 6d., for a total of #231 6s. 2d . At the doors of the theatre #315 18s. was received. The charge subtracted from this amount leaves #84 11s. 10d., which was paid to Bensley. The Proprietors made him a gift of the #20 he paid Mrs Siddons. His own profit was therefore #104 11s. 10d., which, in addition to his tickets, gave him a grand total of #279 9s. 10d

Event Comment: Edition of 1661: By the Worshipful Company of Grocers. Evelyn, Diary: I saw the Lord Major passe in his Water Triumph to Westminster being the first solemnity of this nature after 20 years. Pepys, Diary: I was (after office was done) ready to go to my Lord Mayor's feast, as we are all invited; but the Sir Williams were both loth to go, because of the crowd, and so none of us went....This Lord Mayor, it seems, brings up again the custom of Lord Mayors going the day of their instalment to Paul's, and walking round about the Cross, and offering something at the altar

Event Comment: A playbill [PRO, State Papers 29, Vol. 317, No. 187): At the Booth at Charing-Cross, every day in the Week will be presented variety of Farces Drolls, and Comical Entertainments by Mr Anthony Devo, His Majesties Servant. And this present Monday being the Eleventh of November, will be presented the Dutch cruelties at Amboyna, with the humours of the Valiant Welch-Man. Acted by Men and Women. Beginning exactly at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, and at Four. Vivat Rex. [This playbill is reproduced in Theatre Notebook, VI (1952), opposite page 36.] L. C. 5@140, p. 129 (Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 250): That Antonio diVoto Doe sett forth Exercise & Play all Drolls and Interludes, He not receiuing into his Company any person belonging to his Mates or Royal Highnesse Theatres Nor Act any Play usually acted at any of ye said Theatres Nor takes peeces or Sceenes out of ye Playes Acted at ye said Theatres

Event Comment: Post Man, No 515, 15-17 Sept. 1698: At Mr Barnes's and Mr Appleby's Booth in the Coachyard near St Georges Church, Southwark, during the space of 14 days, is to be seen the most famous Rope Dancers of Europe, viz. the English, High German, Dutch, and Morocco Companies, who perform strange and wonderful things on the Rope, the German Maiden outdoing all Men and Women, that ever danc'd before her, both for high leaping and fine Dancing, and whatever has been done by any person on the Ground, as side, upright, cross or back Capers, is performed by her on the Dancing Rope, and rises to that prodigious height, as will startle all that see her

Event Comment: This day is publish'd written by Henry Fielding, Esq. the 4th edn. of An Old Man taught Wisdom; or the Virgin Unmask'd, a Farce, as it is now acting at Drury Lane. With the Music prefix'd to each song. Printed for I. Watts. Receipts: #170 (Cross); #171 12s. (Powel)

Event Comment: No money returned after the curtain is up. No admittance behind scenes. This day is published The Story on which the New Tragedy call'd The Roman Father is founded, with some account of the Author and his writings. Sold by W. Reeves, in Fleet St.; and A. Dodd opposite St Clement's Church in the Strand (General Advertiser). Paid Norton 6 chorus #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #170 (Cross); #164 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Norton 6 Chorus #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). This Day is Publish'd at 6d. Remarks on the New Tragedy call'd The Roman Father, with a word to the Author. "When authors write such lively strains so sad,@They needs must make the honest Critic mad." By a Spectator. Sold by W. Reeve at Shakespeare's Head in Fleet St.; and A. Dodd at the Peacock opposite St. Clement's Church in the Strand. Receipts: #180 (Cross); #159 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This day is publish'd a Guide to the Stage; or Select Instructions and Precedents from the best Authorities towards forming a polite Audience; with some account of the Players, &c. Printed and sold by D. Job, at the Spread Eagle in King St. [An ironical post-Addisonian quip at theatrical behavior]: I boldly enter the lists as the first champion for theatric decorum. The next thing to be consider'd is disapprobation, which I think may be sufficiently shewn, by an attention to something else, by loud discourse, profuse laughter, and the like. I cannot help thinking it a little out of character, for a polite audience to distort their features by a hiss: however for the sake of some ambitious youths, who thus love to signalize themselves, I shall leave a new play to their mercy. They then are at liberty to exercise their several talents whether they hiss or groan most successfully, or have a greater genius for the cat-call. If you desire to know when you are to shew your dislike, my answer is, when anything displeases you, or in fine when you will provided you have a strong party to second you; for the best hiss or groan in the universe may be drown'd in a general applause. [Never laugh at what passes on stage save it be an error, blunder, or accident. In tragic scenes avoid being visibly moved by humming a tune, regarding the audience, engaging in conservation, or turning your back to the stage. When a female social rival calls attention to herself and away from the stage, let fall your handkerchief into the pit, or call out to an acquaintance in the opposite box, or burst into loud and unexpected laughter. You'll know when to applaud, for the actors will tell you.] On these occasions Cato looks more than unusually big, Hamlet stares with great emphasis, Othello has a most languishing aspect, Monimia is all sighs and softness, Beatrice will bridle, and pretty Peggy Wildair leers you into a clap. Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Publish'd this day A Guide to the Stage, (2nd Edition, with additions) at 6d. [See 10 Dec.] Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMrs Pritchard and Mr Havard continuing ill the plays which were lately bespoke and designed to be acted at Drury Lane are oblig'd to be deferr'd for some days. Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: A New Musical Entertainment, call'd the Shepherd's Lottery is now in rehearsal, at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, and will be perform'd there in a few days. The music is composed by Dr Boyce. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: It is hoped that Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken places for this play for Monday and Tuesday will not take it ill that it is deferred for a few days, it being impossible to continue acting the principal characters without some respit (playbill). Receipts: #170 (Cross)