Flyings, and other Decorations. It is hoped it will not be taken ill, that none can be admitted behind the Scenes. N.B. This Performance being exhibited at a much greater Expense than any Theatrical Entertainment in this Kingdom, we are obliged to lay the Pit and Boxes together at 5s. 5d. Lattaces, 5s. 5d. Gallery, 2s. 8d. halfp.” The foregoing advertisement is brim full of interesting matter; we see that Mr. Arne was a tower of strength; that Mr. Neal was the solo flautist at the first performance of “Comus,” in Drury Lane Theatre; the choruses, performed in parts, were taken from Handel, as in London; also that Mr. Arne conducted and accompanied, according to the fashion of the day, at the harpsichord. The artistic venture of Mr. Swan met with due reward; “Comus” was successfully repeated on the 13th, 20th, and 24th of January, and again on the 8th of February for the benefit of Mr. Swan; finally, on the 21st of April, Mr. Neal took a benefit at the Smock Alley Theatre on the 1st of February, when he exhibited his versatility; the Journal announced “Between the Acts, Mr. Neale will perform a Solo and Concerte on the Hautboy, with a Piece on the German Flute. Mr. Charles and his Second will perform a Concerto on the French Horn, and Mr. Storer will sing a favourite Song. Master Neale, a child of ten Years old, will perform a Concerto on the Violin, and Elin a Roon, with all its Variations.” This advertisement is of importance, showing that Arne had excellent orchestral players. Mr. Charles[9] was a very skilful performer; possibly he had been one of the Drury Lane orchestra. On the following 10th of February, Mrs. Arne had a benefit at the Theatre Royal, Aungier Street, when the programme consisted of “A Grand Serenata, call’d Love and Glory; composed by Mr. Arne, in Honour of the Nuptials of His Royal Highness Frederick Prince of Wales, with the Princess Augusta. After the Serenata, a new Farce call’d Miss Lucy in Town,[10] with all the songs composed by Mr. Arne, and performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane.”

A concert was given at the Music Hall in Fishamble Street, on the 4th of May, for the benefit of the Charitable Infirmary, when Handel’s “Alexander’s Feast” was performed. Mr. Arne conducted and Mrs. Arne sang; “the Gentlemen of the Choirs of both Cathedrals and several other voices” assisted. On Saturday, the 7th, three days afterwards, Mr. Arne had a benefit at the Theatre Royal in Aungier Street, when the bill consisted of “an Opera called Rosamond, Written by the celebrated Mr. Addison, and set to Musick by Mr. Arne: King Henry, Mr. Baildon; Sir Trusty, Mr. Layfield; Page, Master Pilkington; being the first Time of his Appearance on any Stage; Rosamond, Mrs. Sybilla; Grideline, Miss Davis; and the part of Queen Eleanor to be performed by Mrs. Arne, After which will be performed the original comic burlesque Opera called Tom Thumb. The Part of Tom Thumb by Master Pilkington; King, Mr. Baildon; Lord Grizzel, Mr. Layfield; Queen Dollallolla, Miss Davis; Princess, Huncamunca, Mrs. Sybilla; all the other characters, as Noodle, Doodle, Foodle, Giantess, Conjurer, etc., by a select Company of burlesque Opera Singers. To prevent Mistakes, Ladies are desired to take their Places in Time, and on the Day of Performance to send their Servants to keep Places before five o’clock.”

The above programme was announced for repetition on the 27th of May, for the benefit of Mr. Baildon and Mrs. Sybilla, but Mrs. Arne was attacked by one of her frequent illnesses, which on this occasion proved so serious, that her physician forbade her attempting to perform “at the Hazard of her Life.” In June she had so far recovered that the deferred benefit was announced for the 11th of June, “being positively the last time of Mr. Arne’s exhibiting any Performance this Season.”

Faulkner’s Journal, Oct. 22-25, announced that “Mr. Dubourg[11] and Mr. Arne are to have six Oratorios of Mr. Handel’s performed this Season by Subscription, in which Mr. Lowe, Mrs. Arne, Mr. Colgan, and Mrs. Storer will perform the vocal Parts”; on the following Nov. 29-Dec. 3, an elaborate advertisement detailed Mr. Arne’s plans:—“Mr. Arne proposes to exhibit, at the Theatre-royal in Aungier-street, Four Performances in the manner of the Oratorios in London, viz.: Two Performances of the Distresses and Conquest of King Alfred, composed by Command of His Royal Highness Frederick Prince of Wales, and performed at his Palace at Cliefden, but never yet exhibited in Publick, and two Performances of a New Oratorio called The Death of Abel: Both composed by Mr. Arne. Subscription Three Guineas, Every Subscriber to have three Tickets on each Night of Performance. No Person (not subscribing) will be admitted into Pit, Boxes, or Lattices, under half-a-Guinea a single Ticket. The first Performance to begin as soon as one hundred Subscribers shall be obtained, of which fifty have already subscribed. Subscriptions are taken in by Mr. Arne, at his House in Aungier-street, near the Theatre. Mr. Arne has a few Books of the Works he has published, which he will dispose of at the following Prices, viz.: The complete Score of the Overture, Songs and Duettos in the Masque of Comus, 7s. The Songs in As you like it, and Twelfth Night, with the favourite Duetto in the Rival Queens, and other select Airs, 4s. 4d. And the Songs in the Beggar of Bethnel Green, with several new favourite Ballads annexed, 6s. 6d. Likewise, a curious Harpsichord from London, made by Kirkman, Tabell’s Foreman, which he will sell very reasonably.” A writer in the Dublin Journal at this time (November, 1743), said, “Mr. and Mrs. Arne are beyond comparison, in their way the most extraordinary Persons this Kingdom has seen. The Aungier Street Stage has now the very best Company of Players that ever was in this Kingdom, they are now better than any Company in London, and the Prices (except on very extraordinary Occasions) are at the lowest Rate.”

The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire commanded a performance of “The Beggar’s Opera” on December the 8th, at the Theatre Royal in Aungier Street, when Arne presided at the harpsichord, and also at seven representations which followed. At a benefit given for Mr. Lowe on the 17th, “Comus” was performed, with Mrs. Arne in the parts of the Pastoral Nymph and Sabrina, singing also, as usual, the Lady’s song, “Sweet Echo.” She again appeared with Mr. Arne at a benefit concert given for Signor Barbatielli, who had broken his leg. The advertisement announced, “Mr. Dubourg, is so kind as to perform, and will conduct the whole, assisted by Mr. Arne and Mr. Pasqualino, the Vocal Parts by Mrs. Arne, Mrs. Storer, Mr. Lowe, and Mr. Colgan. Tickets to be had at Mr. Barbatielli’s Lodgings in George’s Lane, opposite to Fade-street, and at the Musick hall, at 5s. 5d.—N.B. It is hoped that the Gentlemen and Ladies will be so good as to excuse Mr. Barbatielli’s personal Attendance, he lying under the Misfortune of a broken Leg. Ladies are requested to order their Coaches down Fishamble-street, for the more easy going in, as at Mr. Handell’s.”

Arne’s “Comus” was again performed on the 22nd of December. In 1744, on the 2nd of January, at the Theatre Royal after