1st February 1743
Went to Drury Lane play House to See Cato & Entertainment. 2/6

Thomas has seen Cato before. The Entertainment was a generic name for the comedy which ended each evening at the theatre. If you left before it, you received a refund on your ticket.

14th February
Sent Brother a present of the Pope in Wax In Wax Work done by a fine hand at Rome. Bout of a Frend Cost 10/6

Once again, Thomas leaves me wondering. The Pope? In eighteenth century London? I have enough information to be pretty sure that the Tye family was soundly Church of England, but perhaps I am wrong? This post will, of course be edited if I discover anything more.

P.S. John Tye was Compounded as a Catholic some family papers tell me. Now I have to find out what that means (edit 2.3.2009)

And the portrait - was it bas relief or 3D? My money is on the former but there are surviving half length life-size wax portraits from the 18th century as well as smaller busts and bas reliefs such as this one of George Washington

The Pope in question ought to have been Benedict XIV who was elected in 1740

15 November 1741
Spent Hanover Sugar wth Mr Hall 8d

This one took tuppence but when I checked the day on the calendar, I found that it was Sunday. I think Thomas went to Hanover Square! Thomas's spelling is never great but this one makes me think he was dyslexic.


18 November
Went to see Cato with Mock Docter 2/6

Cato, a tragedy in five acts, by Joseph Addison, was first performed at Drury Lane Theatre in 1713. It was a very political play. "The Mock Doctor" is a comic play by Henry Fielding (1707- 1754). Fielding is most famous as the author of Tom Jones. The story is from a comedy by Molière Le Médecin malgré lui . An Evening at the theatre in the eighteenth century was a long affair, starting at 6 pm and consisting of 5 acts.

3 December
Went the See the Rehearsell with Harliquin Shipwreckt 2/6

The Rehearsal is a satirical play, aimed at Dryden. Harlequin Shipwreck'd or The Elopement is a comedy, the forerunner of the modern pantomime.

9 December
Spent with Mr Byfield and Paid him for packing my Picture up in a Case to send it down to Retford to my sisters & Cost 4/-

The portrait again! If it survives, it is no doubt labelled "18th Century Young Man att. Hogarth" or something equally vague. I would so love to know what Thomas looked like.