Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Tickets and places to be taken of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door of the Theatre at Half a Guinea. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. 6d. Second Gallery 2s. Doors to be opened at Five o'clock. To begin at Half past Six. Theatrical Review (London, 1772), appendix, pp. 207-8: The Oratorios performed at this House were conducted by Messrs. Stanley and Smith, for their own emolument; the Managers of the theatre having had no Share of the profit arising from these performances, nor any advantage, except a premium for the use of the house. Mr Stanley's musical abilities are well known. Mr Smith, was, if we are not mistaken, a pupil of the celebrated Mr Handel's; and, we believe, that Gentleman left Mr Smith the greatest part of his music, if not his whole library; so that Mr Smith may with great propriety claim the right of succeeding Mr Handel in the exhibition and conduct of his Oratorios, which he has undertaken (in conjunction with Mr Stanley) every since Mr Handel's death. Their band was composed of some of the most capital performers in this kingdom, and was led by Mr Ximenes. The vocal performers (exclusive of Chorus singers) were Mr Norris, well known to all lovers of Music, for his taste and delicacy of execution. Mr Parry (a Bass voice) from the Cathedral Church of Salisbury. This gentleman, though very young, has an extensive compass, and a great power of voice, and acquits himself with considerable reputation. Mrs Weichsel and Mrs Scott, of whom it would be superfluous and unnecessary to say anything, since their abilities are generally known. And lastly Signora Grassi, a performer of great merit. Theatrical Review, 6 March: This is Mr Dryden's celebrated Ode on St Cecelia's Day, and not an Oratorio, but performed as such...It contains many beauties and such as are worthy of Mr Handel's genius...Being much shorter than the usual length of oratorios, Mr Handel's celebrated Coronation Anthems were added in order to make the evening's entertainment of a proper length. Also a Solo on the Violincello by Mr Janson...lately arrived from Paris, said to have been a pupil of Mr Duport's but, though his taste and excution is very astonishing, we cannot give him the preference of his master. [See 13 April 1773.Charge seems to have been #28 per night plus expenses for oil, candles &c.

Event Comment: Paid John Doe and John Claridge 12s. 6d. each for performing 5 nights in the Ass [in Mother Shipton] to the 2nd inst. Paid John Smith 12s. 6d. for performing in the Hog in the same. Paid Younger for writing parts as per bill #7 4s. 10d. (Account Book). [N.B. The three Johns receiv'd 2s. 6d. each for making up in the ass and hog each night Mother Shipton was played for the rest of the season. No further notation will be transcribed of this payment.] Receipts: #152 8s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid Younger for Licenses for Prelude, Elfrida, Cross Purposes, and Golden Pippin #8 8s. Gave Hamilton #21 (Account Book). Receipts: #206 6s

Event Comment: [Maria Macklin in a MS letter to her father this date (See dl 1 Feb. 73) complains that Elfrida alone drew houses at cg this season, and that even that play failed to fill the galleries; that Colman was difficult to see; that Younger carried on all the business of the theatre, everyone kowtowing to him: "Savigny has been discharged from the theatre; Ross has been laid up all the winter with the Gout, and has lately played Lear to a thin house. The Town is big with expectation of Foote's Puppet Show."] Receipts: #166 6s

Event Comment: Paid Younger a Bill for Writing Parts #5 16s. 9d.; Paid Buxton and Enderby (oyl merchants) #101 3s., and Pattinson (tallow chandler) #28 7s. (Account Book). Receipts: #172 2s. 6d

Event Comment: Oratorio composed by Handel. Tickets to be had and places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door of the Theatre, at Half a Guinea each. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. 6d. Second Gallery 2s. The Doors to be opened at Five o'Clock. To Begin at Half past Six. N.B. Those ladies who had Side Boxes last year, are humbly requested if they intend to continue them the ensuing season, to give immediate notice to Mr Johnston to have them secured. [The Westminster Magazine (March) commented: "One of those whims by which the public are continually influenced, has made it the ton to resort to this theatre to hear and see Miss Linley, the syren of Bath. This young lady who is greatly indebted to nature for the eclat with which she is followed, and not a little to the fortuitous concurrence of remarkable incidents in her life has drawn crowded houses incessantly; and this success has been insured by the constant attendance of his Majesty and the Royal family at this theatre."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Woodman, lately left a widow with a large family of young children and near lying in again

Event Comment: Paid Younger for writing parts a bill of #5 4s. 3d. Paid Whitefield for making cloaths #91 1s. 3d.; Paid Pattinson (tallow chandler) #31 15s. and Sarjant for incidentals #24 10s. Receipts: #189 1s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these years. [See 17 March 1772. Gentlewoman identified by Hopkins Manuscript Notes and by Winston MS 10. The Westminster Magazine for March (p. 111) gives out that "she was very lately a boarder with the celebrated Charlotte Hayes; a circumstance which will inform our readers that her figure is pleasing and also that she is young and hadsome. It is but justice, however, to add that she possesses the internal as well as external requisites of a good actress; for she discovers great feeling and sensibility; and indeed promises to be an ornament to the theatre."] Receipts: #192 6s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Aickin. The Tragedy of All for Love, which was to have been performed this evening, is oblig'd to be changed, on account of the indisposition of Mrs Barry and Miss Younge; therefore Mr Aickin humbly hopes that his friends will accept of the Tempest in its stead. Tickets deliver'd for All for Love will be taken. Paid extra flute and hautboy 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Aickin did not act (Winston MS 10). [This month published The Sentimental Spouter; or, Young Actor's Companion. The whole comprising the essence of theatrical delivery, and the beauties of dramatic poetry. Price 1s. 6d. Printed for Wheble (Gentleman's Magazine Register).] Receipts: #123 14s. 6d. Charges: #74 14s. Profit to F. Aickin: #49 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Permission. For this Night only. Benefit for Jacobs and Owenson. To begin at 7:00 p.m. [The Public Advertiser, 20 Sept., omits Hamilton] and Walker but adds Jacobs, Everard, and a Young Gentleman 1st time on that Stage.

Event Comment: [Advertised as performed but once, but see 18 Jan. Sheridan in Preface to Edition of 1775 (2nd) refers to withdrawing the piece to remove those imperfections in the first representation which were too obvious to escape reprehension, and too numerous to admit of hasty correction." He blames his inexperience and want of judgment in theatrical effects, the extreme length of the play act by act, and haste in writing. From the Westminster Magazine Feb., which outlined the plot in five columns: The present state of the Rivals is widely different from that in which we found it on the first night's representation. Sir Lucius O'Trigger being re-touched, has now the appearance of a character; and his assigning Beverley's reflection on his country as the grounds for his desire to quarrel with him, is a reasonable pretence, and wipes off the former stigma undeservedly thrown on the sister Kingdom. An alteration of a principal incident gave a very favorable turn to the fable and the whole piece: that where young Acres now delivers his challenge to his friend Absolute, begging him to carry it to his Rival Beverly, not knowing the two characters composed but one man; its being at first given to Sir Lucius, the person who indited it, was highly inconsistent...we should be induced from many evident traits of literary genius to pronounce the Rivals a good comedy."

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. [From the Westminster Magazine for March: "On Friday the third instant the Entertainments peculiar to this season commenced. Messrs Bach and Abel were first, and have been at each successive Oratorio since (one night excepted when the King and Queen favored Mr Stanley, with bringing the only good House he has hitherto had), honoured with the presence of their Majesties, who have been accused, we think justly, of partiality to these foreigners, in overlooking Mr Stanley's past services and great personal merits. Justice, however, requires us to observe, that both in point of vocal and instrumental performers, the former have displayed a striking superiority over the latter. The singers at Messrs Bach and Abel's are, Parry, Corse, Mrs Weichsel, Miss Brown and Sga Corri. At Drury Lane, Norris, Reinhold, Mrs Mattocks, Mrs Barthelemon, and a young Lady from the Founding Hospital."

Event Comment: [The Westminster Magazine for October gave a paragraph to a general discussion of the new performers whom Garrick introduced this month. Firske (actually Grist) the young man who played Othello on the seventeenth, Mrs King, Bensley, Yates, and the dancer Sga Paccini.

Event Comment: Mrs Oakly first time Miss Young-So, so (Hopkins Diary). Paid salary list #624 6s. 6d. Receipts: #115 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Younge. Miss Young Kitty first time very la! la! (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #141 10s. Charges: #69 6s. 6d. Profits to Miss Younge: #72 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)