1737 in literature

This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1737. Events March 2 – Samuel Johnson and his former pupil David Garrick leave Lichfield to seek their fortunes in London. June 21 – The Theatrical Licensing Act is passed, introducing censorship to the London stage. Plays now require approval before production. Edward Capell is appointed deputy-inspector of plays. "Legitimate drama" is limited to the theaters at Drury Lane, Covent Garden, and the Haymarket. The anonymous satire The Golden Rump (which may never have existed in full) is used as ammunition by the Act's proponents. September 1 – The News Letter is first published in Belfast by Francis Joy, making it the world's oldest existing English newspaper. October – The first professional stage production in the Swedish language by native-born actors is given in Sweden, of the comedy Den Svenska Sprätthöken at the Bollhuset in Stockholm. November 20 – Caroline of Ansbach, Queen Consort of Great Britain and a significant patron of the arts, dies. unknown date – The poet Richard Jago becomes curate of Snitterfield. New books Prose Guillaume-Hyacinthe Bougeant – Amusement philosophique sur le language des bêtes (Philosophical Amusements on the Language of the Animals) Alexander Cruden – A Complete Concordance to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament Philip Doddridge – Submission to Divine Providence in the Death of Children Stephen Duck – The Vision Jonathan Edwards – A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Works of God Étienne Fourmont – Meditationes Sinicae William Law – A Demonstration of the Gross and Fundamental Errors of a Late Book (an answer to Benjamin Hoadly from 1735) Marguerite de Lubert – Tecserion William Oldys – The British Librarian Elizabeth Singer Rowe – Devout Exercises of the Heart Sarah Stone – A Complete Practice of Midwifery Jan Swammerdam – Biblia Naturae Jonathan Swift – A Proposal for Giving Badges to the Beggars in all the Parishes of Dublin Diego de Torres Villarroel – Médico para el bolsillo