| Citation |
WR.735.023
30 Jun 1735:11,12 (196)
From the Political State for April, 1735. [London] On the
15th of last month the famous Signor Farinelli, the singer
had his benefit night at the opera-house in the Haymarket,
when there was a most numerous audience; for the pit
galleries were full by four o'clock, and the stage being
done up without any scenes, as at a ridotto, and curiously [
] there were several hundreds of people in the seats
erected there; so that it is reckoned he had a most
extraordinary benefit; for besides the usual prices of
tickets, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales gave him 200
guineas, the Spanish Ambassador 100, the Emperor's
Ambassador 50, his Grace the Duke of Leeds 50, the Countess
of Portmore 50, the Lord Burlington 50, his Grace the Duke
of Richmond 50, the Hon. Col. Paget 30, the Lady Rich 20,
and most of the other Nobility 50, 30, or 20 each: In the
whole, it is computed he made by his benefit 2000 l. and as
he has besides a salary of 1500 l. for each season, and has
got several other presents upon extraordinary occasions, it
may be reckoned he has got at least 4 or 5000 l. for this
season in England, which will be a lasting monument of the
politeness and generosity of the persons of quality and
distinction of this age; and is a demonstration, that they
can easily spare, and would certainly chuse to pay four or
five shillings, or even ten shillings in the pound, out of
their yearly revenues, towards the publick expence, rather
than to have the poor labourers and manufacturers of the
nation charged with duties and excises on small-beer, salt,
or any thing else that is absolutely necessary for their
subsistence, or for working up the manufactures they deal
in, to which this nation chiefly owes its present riches,
grandeur and power.
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