“Amphitryon,” with singing and dancing between the acts, the farce “Miss Lucy in Town” with Arne’s music was performed. Special attention was directed to Mr. Lowe’s singing of “the Part of Cantileno” [a Burlesque upon the Italian Singers]. On the 12th of January Mrs. Arne made her first appearance in Lampe’s burlesque Opera “The Dragon of Wantley.” The advertisement runs, “The Part of Moor-Hall to be performed by Mr. Lowe. The Part of Margery to be performed by Mrs. Arne, being her first Appearance in any comic Character; and the Part of Mauxalinda to be performed by Madam Chateauneuf; Gubbins by Mr. Worsdale; the Dragon by Mr. Layfield.” Mr. Arne presided at the harpsichord.

We have become familiar with Arne’s skill as composer, violinist, conductor, and harpsichord player; we now find an interesting notice of his first essay, and probably his last, as an actor. The Journal of Jan. 24-28 announced, “By the real and absolute Command of their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, for the benefit of Mrs. Arne, at the Theatre-royal in Aungier-street, on Saturday, the 28th Instant, will be performed the Second Part of Henry IV. With the Humours of Sir John Falstaff. The Part of Henry Prince of Wales by Mr. Arne, being his First attempt of that Kind.” The Shakespeare play was followed by some vocal music by Mrs. Arne and Mr. Lowe, and the whole concluded with Lampe’s “Dragon of Wantley.”

We now come to an important event, the performance of the Oratorio, “The Death of Abel,” which was first produced in Dublin, and not in London, as is generally stated. The following curious advertisement appeared in the Journal, Feb. 11-14, 1744: “By subscription. At the Theatre-royal in Smock Alley, on Saturday next, being the 18th of this Inst. Feb. will be performed A new Oratorio, called The Death of Abel. Set to music by Mr. Arne. The Principal Characters to be performed by Mr. Lowe, Mrs. Arne, and Mademoiselle Chateauneuf. The stage will be disposed in the same manner as at Mr. Handel’s Oratorios in London. As but 12 more subscribers can be admitted, such gentlemen and ladies as intend to honour Mr. Arne by subscribing, are greatly desired immediately to send their names to his house in Aungier-street. where tickets are ready to deliver to the subscribers. N.B. Attendance will be given at the Theatre on each Day of Performance, when Subscribers, on sending their Subscription Tickets, will have three delivered on each of the four Nights of Performance. Pit, Boxes, and Lattices, Half a Guinea. First Gallery, 2s. 8d. halfp. Upper Gallery, 2s. 2d. Ladies are requested to sit in the Pit, as well as Boxes, as is the Custom at the Operas and Oratorios in London, for which purpose the Pit seats will be made thoroughly clean. To begin exactly half an Hour after Six. The Printer made a mistake in the last bills; but the Subscribers may depend that (according to Mr. Arne’s proposal) no Person (except Subscribers) will be admitted into Pit, Boxes, or Lattices under Half a Guinea. Mr. Arne begs Leave to acquaint the Public, that he has been credibly inform’d by several worthy Families that the Gentlewomen who keep the Saturday Nights Assembly, or some one concern’d with, or commission’d by them, have made it their business to complain of his performing the Subscription Oratorios on that Night, alledging that it was done on purpose to prejudice them. Now, so far was that from being thought of, much less intended, that the Gentlemen Proprietors of the Theatre, as well as Mr. Arne, endeavoured their utmost to fix another Night, but could not, for the following Reasons; The Mondays and Thursdays are taken up with Benefits for six Weeks. On Tuesdays are Vicars-street Consort, and the Bear on College green, which take up all the best Hands. On Wednesday are the Phil Harmonic Society, and Crow-street, where they are likewise engaged. And on Friday is Fishamble Consort, where they are obliged to perform.” “The Death of Abel” was repeated on the 25th of February. This early oratorio of Arne’s was never published, and no manuscript copy of it is known to exist. One song, however, became very popular, and was in great request—“The Hymn of Eve”: