The hour at which this entertainment took place was prohibitive to the city clerk or tradesman, but to the beaux from the neighbouring coffee-houses, and the _belles dames_ fresh from their lengthy _toilette_, Mrs Midnight’s entertainment proved vastly amusing. Thus little Hallet was again amongst the _élite_ of the land. _The Midwife, or Old Woman’s Magazine_ for 1752, which claims to contain “all the wit and Humor, and all the Learning, and all the Judgement that there was ever, or ever will be inserted in all other Magazines or any other book what-so-ever. So that those who try this book will read no other. Published pursuant to several Acts of Parliament, and by the permission of their most Christian and most Catholic Majesties: The Great Mogul and the States General.... Printed by Mary Midnight and sold by T. Carman in St Paul’s Church Yard, Price three Pence,” gives several of the poems and pieces said to have been spoken at the “Old Woman’s Oratory.” Among these we came across the following lines, which were assigned to Benjamin Hallet in the character of Cupid:-- EPILOGUE “From fair Venus on Wing, A joyous Embassy I bring, Her Majesty this Mandate sends, ‘That Virtue now and Love be Friends, That Beaux and Belles should cease to roam, And every heart should find a Home; That their joint labours they bestow To make more business for my bow. That Men mayn’t fail by lewd Transgression But grow immortal by Succession.’ Now while to the ethereal Sky, By Mammy’s Order, swift I fly, Let Mary Midnight o’er the Nation Reign Queen of Love by Deputation.” A footnote at the end of these lines states Hallet to be “a child not nine years old, who plays upon the violoncello, and in every other respect has a capacity greatly beyond his Years. N.B. He is shortly to have a benefit, at which ’tis hoped all Mrs Midnight’s Friends will do him the Honour of their Presence.” Benefits were far more common in Hallet’s time than they are now. From the great Garrick down to the scene-shifter, all the _personnelle_ of the Theatres had their “Benefit” in the Autumn. Concerts were not so numerous, but concert artists also not infrequently adopted the practice. Contemporary with Hallet Dr Arne’s little son, who was possessed of a wonderful singing voice, gave benefit concerts at which he both sang and played the organ. Then again, there was a sweet singer, Master Mattocks; and a Miss Davies, “a child nine years old,” who gave a concert in the Great Room in Dean Street, Soho, and distinguished herself by playing a “concerto of Mr Handel’s on the Harpsichord”; and a youthful dancer called “The little Swiss,” all of whom had their benefits. Hallet was not “alone in his glory,” there were several child prodigies for him to compete with, and one cannot help admiring him all the more, for a talent that can cope with rivalry and hold its own, must be of no mean order.