The London Journal says, that the Managers received 260l. entrance-money the first night, from which we may judge of the size of the Theatre when greatly crowded.
The Universal Journal of December 18, 1723, has the following article: "On Thursday last a new play-house was opened in the Haymarket. The company, we are informed, consists of persons who never appeared in public before. The first play they entertained the town with was a
comedy, intituled, 'The Female Fop, or the False one Fitted,' whose author has not yet reached his sixteenth year."
An author mentioned the rehearsal of Dr. Young's tragedy of the Brothers in 1724, and prognosticated its failure in these words: "I am credibly informed the manager of the new house has formed a resolution that it shall be acted to an empty pit and boxes, there being a new entertainment in grotesque characters preparing there, intituled, 'The Cruel Uncle, or the Children in the Wood,' so very artfully contrived, that at the instant Perseus and Demetrius are entering upon that scene, the ruffians (represented by Harlequin and Scaramouch) will be making their appearance at the other house. The consequence of this is easily foreseen: Booth and Cibber will preach to bare walls, whilst Lanyon and Dupre dance before a full audience; and lest Mrs. Oldfield's name should sway some few unfashionable wretches, they have contrived a very musical Robin red-breast, which is to have more melody in its song than there can possibly be in all the mournful accents of the unhappy Erixene."
The Police were at length convinced how very improper the exhibitions of bear-baiting and prize-fighting were in the City of London; and sent the proper officers to Spital-fields, in June 1724, where a stage had been erected for the first time for those purposes, which was immediately pulled
down by their orders, and in August they were vainly employed in concerting measures for the total suppression of the long established place of resort at Hockley in the Hole.
An expensive tragedy, intituled, "Julius Cæsar in Egypt," was produced and condemned in 1724, when the following excellent Epigram appeared:
"The sixth night.
When the pack'd audience from their posts retir'd,
And Julius in a general hiss expir'd,