Event Comment: See Daily Advertiser, 4 Feb., for a letter from Colley Cibber to the Gentlemen of the Inns of Court. Daily Advertiser, 4 Feb.: Whereas it is agreed on between several Gentlemen, to erect a New Theatre for the exhibiting of Plays, Farces, Pantomime, &c. all such Persons as are willing to undertake the said Building, are desir'd to bring their Plans for the same by the 2d of May next ensuing, in order to be laid before the said Gentlemen, the Time and Place of which Meeting will be advertis'd in this Paper on the last of April. Proportions of the Ground: The North Side 120 Feet; the West, square with the North, 130 Feet; the South 110 Feet; and the East on a Bevil, joining the Parallel. Note, There must be a Passage left to go round the Building, and the Stages to be 30 Feet wide at the First Scene; the Distance between Wall and Wall 80 Feet; and the Scene-Rooms, Green and Dressing Rooms, to be on the outside of the last mention'd Measure. The Stage to be either North or South

Event Comment: Founded on Shakespear's Much Ado About Nothing. By the Author of the Man of Taste. Daily Advertiser, 8 March: As the late tumultuous and riotous Behaviour of the Footmen at [dl] is become a Topick of Publick Discourse, a true and exact Account of the Disturbances they have made will be publish'd in this Paper: In the mean time we have the Pleasure to inform the Town, all proper Care being taken, every thing was very quiet last Night, and 'tis believ'd will continue so. The Director of the aforesaid Theatre having receiv'd a threatening Letter last Saturday in the Afternoon from the Footmen, a true Copy of it will be published in Tomorrow's Paper, with a Reward to those who shall discover the Author or Authors, so that he or they may be brought to Justice

Event Comment: Benefit a Family in Distress. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 5 May: To be Sold: The Interest of the Theatre and Materials in Goodman's Fields. Inquire of Mr Giffard at his House in Grange-Court, in Cary-Street

Event Comment: Each theatre received #250 from the Prince of Wales as a subsidy. See Deutsch, Handel, p. 439

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. [See London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 10 Feb., for a Prologue Occasioned by the Encouragement several Ladies of Quality have lately given to the Revival of Shakespear's Plays at Covent Garden Theatre.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not Acted these Fifty Years. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Written by Shakespear. N.B. The above Play of King Henry IV is the Genuine Play of Shakespear, and not that alter'd by Mr Betterton, and so frequently acted at the other Theatre

Event Comment: Books of the Masque at the Theatre, 1s

Event Comment: Towards raising a Fund for Erecting a Monument to the Memory of Shakespear. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. The Pit and Boxes to be put together. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 5 June: The Season [at dl] being finish'd, and the Accounts of it settled, it is thought proper to acquaint the Publick, that the Master of that Theatre has receiv'd One Hundred and Seventy-odd Pounds, (besides some Accounts of Tickets, the Produce of which has not as yet been paid in, which is suppos'd will make near the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds,) towards erecting a Monument to Shakespear

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 21 Aug.: On Saturday Morning early died at his house the Buffalo's Head Tavern in Bloomsbury Square, Mr Fielding, formerly belonging to the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 16 Sept.: To be Sold. The Lease (having upwards of 50 Years to come) of the late Theatre in Goodman's-Fields. Enquire of Mr Edward Shepherd, at his House in Audley-street, Grosvenor-Square

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 10 Nov.: Two of the French Strollers having desir'd Leave of the Town to act three Nights at one of the Patent Theatres, the Master of that House is desir'd to consider, whether if he lends it to those Foreigners, he can ever hope to have it fill'd with an English Audience, who probably will chastise the Abuse of Power in an ungrateful Patentee, as they did the Want of it in a French Harlequin

Event Comment: N.B. Whereas it has been industriously reported that the French Comedians are to perform in One of the Theatres belonging to Mr Rich, this is to certify to the Publick, that nothing of that kind Was ever intended, or wou'd have been permitted by him, unless the same had been with the general Consent of the Town

Event Comment: As 27 Nov. 1738. Mainpiece: Alter'd from Shakespear. Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 48: In the Year 1738, having, as he [Colley Cibber] said, Health and Strength enough to be as useful as ever, he came to Terms with Mr Fleetwood for his performing Richard, Fondlewife, Sir John Brute, &c. All his Comedy Parts he was right in, but in Richard he found his Mistake; his usual Strength and Spirit failed him most unhappily. I went behind the Scenes in the third Act, and asking him how he fared? He whispered me in the Ear, "That he wou'd give fifty Guineas to be then sitting in his easy Chair by his own Fireside.

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Ben. Johnson. [Tickets at Cibber's House, at Mrs Holt's in Bow Street, cg. The play changed, by request, from The Relapse.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 26 March: Last Week died, in the 88th Year of his Age, Mr Boman, belonging to Drury-Lane Theatre, who had the Honour to perform several times before King Charles II. It is remarkable of him, that he was the oldest Player, the oldest Singer, and the oldest Ringer in England

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 19 Feb. Yesterday died of an Astmatick Disorder, at his Chambers in Clement's Inn, Mr Benjamin Griffin, a celebrated Comedian, belonging to Drury-Lane Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit Berry. Tickets at Berry's, Theatre Coffee House, Bridges Street

Event Comment: At the Late Theatre in Ayliffe Street....A Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Musick. Divided into Two Parts. Tickets at Four, Three, Two, and One Shilling. N.B. Between the two Divisions of the Concert will be presented Gratis...The Stratagem. 6 p.m. [This formula of a concert (with admission charges) and a play given gratis is employed by gf throughout the season.

Event Comment: Tickets at Three, Two, and One Shilling. Places for the Boxes to be taken at the Fleece near the Theatre

Event Comment: For the Relief of Mr Chetwood, late Prompter at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, and now a Prisoner in the King's Bench. Receipts: money #219; seals #15 (Account Book); #250 Rylands MS.). [William Shenstone saw Cibber act on 12, 13, or 14 Jan. See Letters of William Shenstone, pp. 14-15.

Event Comment: By Command of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Receipts: #142 8s. 6d. (Account Book); #110 (Rylands MS.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Daily Advertiser, 26 Jan.: On Friday died...Mr Riggs, a famous Performer on the Violin, and First Violin of Drury-Lane Theatre

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 26 Feb.: We are inform'd that last Night a new Entertainment, call'd Harlequin Student...was rehears'd at the late Theatre in Goodman's Fields, when several Persons who were present generally concurr'd in Opinion it had the Preference of any yet perform'd there, and more particularly that Part of it in which the Monument of Shakespear is introduc'd