"I Hannah Hyfield, of Newgate-market, hearing of the resoluteness of Elizabeth Wilkinson, will not fail, —— willing, to give her more blows than words, desiring home blows, and from her no favour."
Their habits on this occasion were close jackets, short petticoats, Holland drawers, white stockings, and pumps.
The Opera of 1723 was supported by the introduction of a lady from Italy, of great musical
celebrity, named Cuzzoni. She sung in private for the amusement of the Prince and Princess of Wales, to their great satisfaction, previous to her appearance in publick. Her engagement was at the enormous salary of 2000l. per season, presuming on her future success; nor were the managers disappointed, for they were enabled on the second evening of her performance to demand and receive four guineas each ticket. An excellent epigram was made upon this lady immediately after her first appearance:
"If Orpheus' notes could woods and rocks inspire,
And make dull rivers listen to his lyre;
Cutzona's voice can with far greater skill
Rouse death to life, and what is living kill."
She received an incredible number of rich presents, which would have been extremely well, if other sums equal to those employed in their purchase had flowed in a stream at all correspondent towards the meritorious performers of the English Stage, who languished in comparative penury; while the managers profited, and exhibited them in a way which occasioned the following just censure from a contemporary: "When we come to consider the decoration of the Stage at present, we shall sometimes find it magnificent and well ordered. In this I include the habits of the characters or persons of the drama, in which the propriety is not near so well observed as in the
scenery; for we shall often see a shabby King surrounded by a party of his guards, every man of which belongs to the ragged regiment. One would think that the managers of the Theatre were republicans in their principles, and they did this on purpose to bring monarchy into contempt; for it is certain that Duncan King of Scotland has not had a new habit for this last century; and the mighty Julius Cæsar first Emperor of Rome appears as ragged as a colt, and many other Monarchs I could name that are no better dressed than heathen philosophers. The reason is, that you will find those parts are not played by any of the three managers; and it is their awkward vanity to appear fine themselves though never so much out of character; so that when you go to see a play there in new habits, it is not the King, the Prince, or the General, but Cibber or B. you are to see well dressed."