Event Comment: This farce of Lethe was wrote some years ago and play'd with Success, & was reviv'd this Night with great Alterations, & was but indifferently receiv'd by the Audience (Cross). The Poet, Frenchman, & Sot Mr Garrick perform'd most inimitably (Charles Adams to John Gilbert-Cooper, Theatre Notebook, XI (1957) p. 138). No After Money will be taken, and no Persons will be Admitted behind the Scenes (General Advertiser). Receipts: #180 (Cross); #186 7s. (Powel). N.B.: Mr G-k is the author of Lethe and did receive #36 8s. 6d. for this night which is the overplus after the charge of #63 for the House is paid, and which I must subtract from the rest (Powel). [A letter appeared in the General Advertiser this day giving advance notice and approval of a performance of Cato to be put on at Leicester House 7 Jan. by members of the Royal Family. The author noted that "proper Habits are absolutely in the making," and that the Princes would learn the principles of liberty from the lines of the play.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Performers. Fiftieth Day

Event Comment: We hear that the Tragedy of Coriolanus, wrote by the late Mr Thompson, has been rehearsed at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden, and will be perform'd there on Friday next

Event Comment: Note in General Advertiser: For the Benefit of the Author's Sisters, Box and Pit Tickets for Coriolanus, a Tragedy written by the late Mr Thomson, and now acting at Covent Garden Theatre, are to be had of A. Millar, opposite to Catherine Street in the Strand; J. Davidson in the Poultry; and R. Dodsley in Pall Mall

Event Comment: A Concert, etc. Benefit for a Family under great Necessity. Prices: 4s., 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d. [Announced for 21 and 24 Jan., but postponed because of damage to the theatre until a nobleman paid for some repairs. See Daily Advertiser.

Event Comment: Benefit for ye Author (Cross). Places for Boxes to be taken of Hobson at the stage door. Tickets to be had of Mr Miller, in the strand; Mr Dodsley in Pall Mall; at the Half-Moon Tavern, near Holborn Bars, and of Mr Hobson. Just Publish'd Mahomet and Palmira. A Tragedy as it is acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, by a Gentleman of Wadham College. [This would seem to be James Miller's Mahomet, with the printer capitalizing on Johnson's production at dl.] Receipts: #175 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: At the Old Theatre, Bowling Green, Southwark. A concert, etc. Benefit for Adams and Daniel. Prices: 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s., 6d

Event Comment: Tomorrow will be publish'd, at 1s. 6d. Irene. A Tragedy, acted at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, by Mr Samuel Johnson, Printed for R. Dodsley in Pall Mall, and sold by M. Cooper in Paternoster Row. [In 1749 was published an Essay on Tragedy, with a Critical Examen of Mahomet and Irene (T. P. Barton@Collection, Boston Public Library).

Event Comment: This month, as recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books, was published A General History of the Stage, from its origin in Greece down to the present time. With the Memoirs of most of the principal performers that have appeared on the English and Irish Stage. With notes antient and modern, foreign, domestic, serious, comic, moral, merry, historical, and geographical. Containing many theatrical anecdotes; also several pieces of poetry never before published. Collected and digested by W. R. Chetwood, twenty years prompter to His Majesty's Company of Comedians at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Printed for W. Owen

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry. Tickets to be had of Berry at Mr Pope's, Peruke Maker in Russel St., Covent Garden and of Hobson at the Stage Door. [From the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books for this month: An Account of the Life of that Celebrated Tragedian, Mr Thomas Betterton, containing a distinct relation of his excellencies in his profession and character in private life, and interspersed with an account of the English theatre during his time. Printed for J. Robinson.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Falkner. We hear that the two young Africans will be at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden this night, to see the Spanish Fryar, for the Benefit of Miss Falkner. [Page missing from the General Advertiser with the Bill this day.

Event Comment: At Cushing's Booth, facing the King's Head, Smithfield. The tragedy contains the barbarous contrivances of King John against his nephew Prince Arthur; his method of persuading Hubert to undertake the cruel murder of that youth; the sufferings of Arthur in his confinement, where Hubert attempts to put out eyes with a red-hot iron, til moved to compassion by the tender entreating of the young prince, he quits his horrid purpose. The manner of Arthur's leaping from the battlements of the tower where he was imprisoned, when by attempting to escape his severe treatment he loses his life. The terrors that attended the villainous Uncle King John, and at length his dreadful death, who is poisoned in the midst of all his glory, and in terrible anguish and distraction, pays his nephew's blood with the price of his own. The comic contains the exquisite drolleries of Sir Lubberly and his man, their whimsical journey from Cumberland, and no less whimsical exploits in London; the odd reception they met with from their three faithful friends, Tom Rash the Porter, Jeffrey Holdfast the Constable, and Moll Tatter the Beggar Woman, the one getting a wife, the other a bastard

Event Comment: [M$Mrs Barrington, formerly Mrs Hale.] To the Author of the General Advertiser, &c. Sir: I am far from being of the opinion of too many of my countrymen, who exclaim against the performances of foreigners be they ever so extraordinary: on the contrary whenever I hear of a person who merits Encouragement from the Publick, I use all my interest in his favour; and will always continue so to do, though he should come from the extremity of the globe--Nor am I of the opinion of another class, who imagine no man can by a great performer unless he comes from a strange land. I am convinced we have an artist at present among us, as excellent in his way as ever was seen in Britain. He is an Englishman, and citizen of London; and without any instruction (as I am inform'd) performs all the surprizing Equilibres on the Slack Rope that were exhibited by the famous Turk. I have seem his performances once already and they gave me infinite pleasure. Tomorrow evening I intend to see them again, at the Theatre in the Haymarket, and heartily wish him the success he deserves, Yours, &c A. B. [See 23 Dec. 1749 note about Rich's engaging Caratha@the@Turk, and note, 28 Oct. 1749.] Receipts: #67 9s

Event Comment: Les Comediens Francais representeront aujourdhui...par Suscription. [To begin at six o'clock.Prices: 5s., 3s., 2s. Mainpiece]: Comedie du Nouveau Theatre Italien. [Afterpiece]: Opera comique. On Tuesday night there was a great Disturbance...at the French Play, it being the Night of Opening; the first Act was very much disturbed and some Persons were wounded (Daily Advertiser, 16 Nov.). [Same paper carries advertisement offering reward for identification of five or six men who had assaulted a person in the gallery; "they seemed to come from the upper Side-Boxes on the right Hand of the Stage; they were of the first Party that came into the Gallery with Swords."] Whereas it has been maliciously reported...that I [Lord Trentham] was active in the Disturbance...last Tuesday Night: I do declare...that I was neither in the Pit nor Gallery where the Disturbance happened during the Time of Performance...nor was I present at the first and chief Disturbance (Daily Advertiser, 20 Nov.). [Lord Trentham was at the time running against Sir George Vandeput for parliament. The latter led by 100-150 votes until the very last moment when Trentham won by 175. A recount was called for.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Comedie du Nouveau Theatre Italien. Received from Four Representations acted...#188 18s. 4d.; 56 Subscriptions at Five Guineas each #294; From a Subscription by Mr Arthur, Master of White's Coffee House #367 10s. (British Magazine, V (August, 1750), p. 322)

Event Comment: Libretto-Goldoni; Music-Ciampi; first performance in England. An Opera...Pit & Boxes 8s. Gallery 4s. To begin exactly at six. This Opera was advertised for the King's Theatre on Saturday last, by Mistake (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: [The French Company advertised that it would not perform this day in honor of the birth of the Princesse de Galles, but would present on 24 Nov. Moliere's Tartuffe and Arlequin Nulla. The General Advertiser also carried the following long note from Lord Trentham on the following day]: To the worthy inhabitants of the City and Liberty of Westminster, Gentlemen: His Majesty having been graciously pleased to appoint me one of the Commissioners for executing the Office Lord High Admiral, by which my seat in Parliament is vacated; and the shortness of time not permitting me to apply personally to you, I take this method of entreating your votes and interest to be re-elected your representative in Parliament, which will ever be acknowledged by Gentlemen, your oblig'd and humble servant, Trentham. N.B. the Election comes on Tomorrow the 24th instant at Covent Garden at nine o'clock in the Morning. N.B.B. Whereas it has been maliciously reported, in order to impose on the worthy inhabitants of the City and Liberty of Westminster, and to prejudice me in their opinion at this time, that I was active in the disturbance at the French Playhouse last Tuesday night; I do declare upon my honour, that I was neither in the Pit nor Gallery where the Disturbance happened during the time of the performance, nor drew my sword, nor made use of any weapon, either to strike or terrify any of the spectators; nor was I even present at the first and chief disturbance at that playhouse; nor have I been at any Representation at that playhouse since the first Night of the Performance, as has been falsely suggested. Trentham" In a few days will be publish'd A Particular Account of the Disturbance in the Haymarket Theatre, on Tuesday and Wednesday the 14th and 15th Instant; in which the behaviour of a noble Lord will be fully vindicated. By one of the French Comedians

Event Comment: Le Public est averti que les Comediens Francois donnerent relache au Theatre Jusque ce que l'Election du Membre du Parliament pour Westminster sont finie; leur principal etant entierment occupe et interesse dans cette affaire (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Plummer. Mainpiece: By particular desire of Several Ladies and Gentlemen. A cheesemonger announced that his distresses arose from [an] unperformed engagement with the late manager of Drury Lane (Winston MS 7). Mr Plummer being reduced to great distress, by some unfortunate engagements for a late manager of Drury Lane Theatre, has obtained the Indulgence of a Benefit Night, and humbly hopes the Favour of the Publick on so charitable an occasion will effectually make it such, especially as it is the last time he intends to give them the like trouble (General Advertiser). Receipts: #40 5s. 6d

Event Comment: The words of the Entertainment will be sold at the theatre for 6d. a book. Paid Cross for Licenser #2 2s.; for 5 Chorus singers #1 5s. (Treasurer's Book). On Wednesday next will be Publish'd (at 2s. 8d. sew'd, 3s. bound) the 2nd Edition corrected, with an additional chapter by Mr Allworthy, &c. relating to Plays in general, and the French playhouse in particular, The History of Tom Jones the Foundling, in his Married State. Printed for J. Robinson. N.B. The additional chapter is given gratis to the purchasers of the former edition (General Advertiser). Receipts: #120 (Cross); #95 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Carpue (Silk Dyer) #2; Xmas Box to King's Marshal's man 10s. 6d.; Mr Woodward a bill #25; Clutterbuck #57 6s.; Mr Miller (Shoemaker) #5 6d.; Scott (Copper laceman) #19 3s.; Cross for licenser #2 2s. (Treasurer's Book). This day is publish'd, The Chaplet, a Musical Entertainment at 6d. as it is now performing with great applause, at Drury Lane Theatre. Sold by Cooper in Paternoster Row. Receipts: #180 (Cross); #165 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Yesterday the celebrated Mr Punch [Edward Pinchbeck] and all his Family quitted his Theatre at the Tennis Court, in James St, near the Haymarket. The same to be sold with or without the Scenes and Properties belonging to it; it is sixty feet long and near forty feet wide (Daily Advertiser)