In 1740 the Prince of Wales resolved to celebrate in a special manner two important events--the Accession of the House of Hanover to the throne of England, and the anniversary of the birth of his little daughter, the Princess Augusta, born on the 31st of July, 1737. For the occasion the services of Mallet and Thomson were called into requisition. John Rich, the successful actor-manager, was also commissioned to prepare various stage performances. Rich had become popular from his connection with Gay's "Beggar's Opera," which he had the good fortune to produce at the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1728, and thereby netted four thousand pounds. The author received six hundred and ninety-three pounds three shillings and sixpence. This remarkable success called forth the witty saying that "the 'Beggar's Opera' made Gay rich, and Rich gay." Rich was the founder of Covent Garden Theatre, in 1731, and was doubtless on excellent terms with the aristocratic patrons of the stage, including the Prince of Wales. On the 5th of September, 1740, he piloted the Prince through the mazes of Bartholomew Fair, Smithfield. A witness of the scene has described it thus: "The multitude behind was impelled violently forwards, a broad blaze of red light, issuing from a score of flambeaux, streamed into the air; several voices were loudly shouting 'Room there for Prince George! make way for the Prince!' Presently the pressure became much greater, the voices louder, the light stronger, and as the train came onward it might be seen that it consisted of a party of yeomen of the guard clearing the way; then several more of them bearing flambeaux and flanking the procession, while in the midst of all appeared a tall, fair and handsome young man, having something of a plump, foreign visage, seemingly about four-and-thirty years of age, dressed in a ruby-coloured frock coat, very richly guarded with gold lace, and having his long flowing hair curiously curled over his forehead and at the sides, and finished with a very large bag and courtly queue behind. The air of dignity with which he walked, the blue ribbon and star and garter with which he was decorated, the small three-cornered silk hat which he wore, whilst all around him were uncovered, the numerous suite, as well of gentlemen as of guards, which marshalled him along, the obsequious attention of a short, stout person, who by his flourishing manner seemed to be a player,--all these particulars indicated that the amiable Frederick Prince of Wales was visiting Bartholomew Fair by torchlight, and that Manager Rich was introducing his royal guest to all the entertainments of the place."