Event Comment: [Pages covering this date missing from Treasurer's Book.] Tomorrow at 12 o'clock will be publish'd Don Saverio: A Musical Drama, as it is performed at Drury Lane. The Music composed by Mr Arne. Printed for John Watts, and sold by him at the Printing Office in Wild Court, near Lincoln's Inn Fields (General Advertiser). Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Lent (Cross). We hear the managers of Drury Lane intend to give a Benefit to a granddaughter of Milton; the Masque of Comus will be perform'd that night, with an Occasional Prologue by Mr Garrick (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Jones. A Serenata. Books of which may be had at the theatre. To begin at twelve o'clock promptly (General Advertiser). To the Publick: Walking in St James's Park the other day, I followed two young Gentlemen along the Mall, and overheard one of them say to the other, "shall we go and offer sacrifice to the Manes of Milton?" To which the other reply'd "with all my heart." I must own I had some curiosity to know in what this ceremony would consist, and determined to observe them. I accordingly followed them at some distance, into Dodsley the Bookseler's in Pall Mall; where to my great satisfaction I found that this most acceptable sacrifice was only an offering of Charity to the Granddaughter of Milton; who on account of her age, her poverty, and her relation to that great Man, is to have a Benefit at Drury Lane Theatre on Wednesday next. I willingly joined in their devotions, and rejoice with the Publick on their having an opportunity of shewing their gratitude and Veneration to a man whose Genius reflects a lustre on the British Literature, and whose sentiments have added strength to the British liberties; to an author whose works have been the delight of our Fathers, and will be the Admiration of our sons: latest posterity; to an Englishman who is not only the Glory of our Country, but the Honour to Human Nature. This fair Opportunity of paying a respect to his Memory (the last of the kind that can be offered to us, as Mrs Foster is the only surviving branch of his family) must certainly be embraced with Eagerness and pleasure; all who have any pretence to an Elegant Taste, all lovers of Liberty, and every friend of the Muses, will surely crowd to the house on this distinguish'd night, and give at once an instance of the politeness of their manners, and the goodness of their hearts, I am, &c. A Lover of Milton (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: nother long letter to the author of the General Advertiser pleading attendance at the benefit performance of Comus]: Whoever then would be thought capable of Pleasure in reading the works of our Incomparable Milton, and not so destitute of Gratitude as to refuse to lay out a Trifle in a rational and elegant entertainment for the Benefit of his living remains, for the exercise of their own Virtue, the Increase of their Reputation, and the pleasing consciousness of doing good, should appear at Drury Lane theatre tomorrow April 5, when Comus will be performed for the Benefit of Mrs Elizabeth Foster, Granddaughter to the Author, and the only surviving branch of the family. N.B. There will be a new Prologue on the Occasion written by the Author of Irene, and spoken by Mr Garrick; and by particular Desire there will be added to the Masque, a dramatic Satyr call'd Lethe in which Mr Garrick will perform. Tickets to be had of Dodsley, Bookseller, Pall Mall; Messrs Payne and Boquet, Booksellers, Paternoster Row; Batson's Coffee House, near the Royal Exchange, and of Hobson at the Stage Door

Event Comment: Benefit Dunbar, Jones, Atkinson, Pritchard, Bride (General Advertiser). Benefit for Dunbarr & Boxkeepers (Cross). Tickets deliver'd for Love's Last Shift will be taken. On Friday next the Roman Father will be acted at Drury Lane, being the last time of the company's performing this season

Event Comment: We hear that Mr Monette, who brought over the French Comedians having been four months under confinement in the King's Bench, on account of the Debts he had contracted in that Undertaking, has applied to the Managers of Drury Lane, for a Benefit Play, in hope that the Goodness and Generosity of the Public will contribute to his enlargement, and enable him to return to his own country (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: To Relief Mr Monett, from his distresses and enable him to return to his own country, By his Majesties Comedians at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, Tuesday May 22 will be presented a Comedy, call'd The Suspicious Husband...Tickets and places to be had of Hobson at the stage door of the Theatre (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: OOccasional Prologue call'd for. Mr Griffith (Son of Griffith an Actor in Ireland) play'd Barnwell: Toll: [erable] (Cross). This day at Noon will be publish'd and sold by the proprietor and the print shops, two portraits of those celebrated Comedians, Mr Woodward and Mrs Clive, in the characters of the Fine Gentleman and Lady in Lethe (as they are to perform them tonight, at Drury Lane) curiously engraved (in Miniature) from Original drawings of the same size. By J. Brooks, Engraver of Silver and Copper plate. N.B. The above prints may be had together or separate (General Advertiser).Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: [C$Cross suggests The Intriguing Chambermaid as afterpiece, but it is unsupported by the newspapers.] We hear that the Comedy call'd the Pilgrim is now in rehearsal, and will be acted soon, at the theatre Royal in Drury Lane; and that the Secular Masque written by Dryden and set to music by Dr Boyce will be performed with it. The Epilogue which was inserted in our Yesterday's paper, and copied from the Midwife's Magazine, we fine to be imperfect and not genuine, therefore think ourselves under a necessity of asking the Author's pardon. [Hope in a day or two to give it correctly (General Advertiser). Midwife No II, from which it was copied, adds the note: "This Epilogue was taken in shorthand the night I went to see Miss Jenny Cibber play the part of Alicia...Some few mistakes may therefore have happened which the candid reader will excuse and correct."] Receipts: #50 (Cross)

Event Comment: [Performances] went off better. N.B. Mrs Clive spoke the Epilogue (tho' left out ye bills after ye 6th Night) every Night since ye first except those mark'd X [i.e., Oct. 24, 26, 30] it being call'd for by ye Audience (Cross). We hear M Devisse (the first dancer from the Opera at Paris) will in a few days perform at Drury Lane wiht Mlle Auretti, in a new Comic Dance, and the celebrated Dance of Pigmalion. Receipts: #70 (Cross)

Event Comment: Kite by Mr Layfield from Dublin (Cross). Last night Mons Devisse perform'd (for the 1st time) at Drury Lane, and was receiv'd with general applause (General Advertiser). Receipts: #80 (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: MMr Beard ill (Cross). Robin Hood Defer'd. Love's Last Shift deferr'd till Wednesday next. The Comedy of All's Well that Ends Well (written by Shakespear); and the Comedy of Every Man in his Humour (written by Ben Johnson) are now reviving at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane (General Advertiser). Receipts: #60 (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 Comedy call'd Gil Blas is now in rehearsal at Drury Lane, and will speedily be performed there. Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMrs Odell had some Tickets (Cross). The New Masque, entitled Alfred, will be acted for the first time on Saturday next at Drury Lane. The Publisher has earnestly been desired to print the songs by themselves immediately, that the Audience may have them the first night of the representation. They will be published accordingly on Saturday at noon, price 6d. at A. Miller's, over against Catherine Street in the Strand. Receipts: #110 (Cross)

Event Comment: A little Noise at ye Singing & Dancing (Cross). Nn Saturday night was played for the first time a new Masque called Alfred, at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, before a very numerous and splendid audience. The Piece itself, as it justly deserved met with great and universal applause: However, the spectators rightly found fault with some improprieties in the performance of the inferior dancers and actors, which we hear will be all corrected in this night's representation (General Advertiser). Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: To the author of the General Advertiser, from White's Coffee House, St James's, 1 Feb., SIR: On the 6th of December last I was seiz'd with a fever, which in 24 hours was so violent that I became extremely delerious, insomuch that I obstinately refused all manner of medicines. This continued till about December the 16th, when all my friends thought me near expiring, and the more because I was then in the 80th year of my age. At this time my relations gave me a dose of Dr James's Fever Powder in some Tamarinds, unknown to me, which, as it had no taste, I did not discover. This gave me one stool, and the next morning I was much better. From that Time my Relations gave me the same medicine, without my knowledge, in small beer, Tea, and every thing I took. This was attended with so good an Effect, that in three days the Fever, with all its symptoms, entirely left me, insomuch that I am now perfectly recover'd. This I esteem my duty to the Publick to communicate for the general advantage of Mankind, I am, Sir, your humble servant, Colley Cibber. This day is publish'd, By Authority, the Comic Tunes in the Entertainment of Queen Mab, as they are performed at Drury Lane, for the Violin, German Flute, or Harpsichord, Price 1s. 6d. Printed for J. Oswald at his music shop in St Martin's Churchyard, in the Strand

Event Comment: Tomorrow will be publish'd at 1s 6d. Alfred, a Masque as it is now acting with great applause at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Printed for A. Miller, opposite Catherine St., in the Strand. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Ward. Tickets to be had of Mrs Ward, next door to the Chapel, in Little Wild St., and of Hobson at the stage door. Tickets deliver'd out for Jane Shore will be taken. A Pamphlet having lately appeared in Ridicule of the late performance of Othello at Drury Lane, to which was subjoined an Advertisement in my name,from whence Occasion has been taken to assert, that I was the publisher, the Publick may be assured that advertisement was inserted without my knowledge or consent, that I am entirely ignorant of the Author, nor am the least concerned in that mean invidious affair. F. Stamper (General Advertiser). [Stamper possibly refers to A satirical Dialogue Humbly address'd to the Gentlemen who deformed the play of Othello; with a Prologue and Epilogue, much more suitable to the occasion than their own. London: River, 1751, listed in the Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, March 1751, p. 142. Stamper may also be alluding in some way to a Modern Character introduced in the Scenes of Vanbrugh's Aesop as it was acted at a late private representation of King Henry IV, performed gratis at the Little Opera House in the Haymarket, 3rd edn. 1751, written by F. Stamper. It was published because the farce was hissed off the stage. The Character is a Spouter who tries to instruct Aesop in heroics.] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lee. Tickets to be had at Mr Prince's, Linnen Draper, the Golden Artichoke, in Great Queen St., near Lincoln's Inn Fields; of Mr Calcroft at the Ship in Ivy Lane, Newgate St., and at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd for the 22nd will be taken. No building on stage. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Ray, W. Vaughan, G. Burton & ye Sub-Treasurer (Cross). Tickets of Ray, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, St Clement's Church; at the Black Swan Tavern, in Bartholomew Lane; the Old King's Head Tavern, Facing Somerset House; For Vaughan, at the One Ton Coffee House, St. James' Market; for Burton, at Pope's next the Stage Door, Russel St.; and of Hobson at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd for the Lady's Last Stake, or the Wife's Resentment will be taken. Receipts: #214 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for one Barry a Jeweller (Cross). A Charity Play, recommended by the City of London for Barry, Jeweller in Salisbury Court (being in great distress). Tickets at Grigsby's, Shadwell's, Janeway's and Sam's Coffee Houses by the Royal Exchange; Peele's, Nando's Anderton's and Temple Exchange in Fleet St., Marsh's Coffee House in Silver St., and at the stage door. Stage will be form'd into an Amphitheatre (General Advertiser). Mr Reinhold dy'd (Cross). A man no less admired for his private character than his publick performance. He has left behind him a Wife and Four small children in great distress; for the relief of whom the Managers of Drury Lane, and the actors have agreed to perform a play Gratis, some time next week; when it is hop'd the good nature of the publick will favour the intention of the performers. Tickets to be had of Mr Beard, at his house in North St., Red Lion Square, and at the theatre (General Advertiser, 16 May). Receipts: #60 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted in 5 years. [See 11 Dec. 1744. For further comment on Dexter, see Genest, IV, p. 341.] One Mr Dexter did Oroonoko , a Gent of Ireland--who never appear'd upon a Stage before--he had ye Greatest applause ever heard & indeed deservedly a Sweet Voice, great feeling--his name was not in ye Bills--only by a Gent (Cross). We hear that a Comedy call'd Eastward Hoe; or, The Prentices, written by Ben Johnson, Chapman, and Marston, is now reviving at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, and will be acted the 29th. [A four page double column account of the text of Oroonoko appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine, 1752, pp. 163-67.] Receipts: #130 (Cross)