Event Comment: The Twenty-Third Day. Daily Advertiser, 18 Aug.: Last Saturday John Sterne was committed to Newgate by Justice Welch, for the Murder of Mr Matthews, an eminent Surgeon in Brook St., Holborn. [Sterne had been an usher in Mathews' Academy, was discharged, but Matthews let Sterne live in Matthews' house for a long time, then expelled him and put his belongings on the stairs. On Friday 15 Aug. Sterne got two pistols and came back to Owen's Coffee House. Here] he waited three Hours for Mr Matthews, who was gone with a Friend to the little Theatre in the Haymarket and afterwards into Company at the Pewter Platter, a publick house in Cross St. [There Sterne shot Matthews.

Event Comment: By Command of His Majesty. At fifteen Minutes past six, His Majesty went D-L-House, attended by several great Officers of State, to see the Rehearsal, but about ten o'clock a message was sent, signifying his Majesty's pleasure to have the new dramatic novel of Polly Honeycombe added to it; upon which fresh Bills were printed and pasted up...In consequence of a strict order from the managers not a single person was admitted into tne House before the doors were opened; nevertheless the Pit was filled in the space of four minutes (Gazetteer & London Daily Advertiser, 13 Dec.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Elliot. No Building on Stage. Last time of performing the Afterpiece this season. [But see 18 April.] Lost...a pocket book containing an account of last year's tickets for a benefit at Covent Garden. It is of no use to anyone but the owner (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: Only two acts of mainpiece will be performed. Benefit for Gallini. To begin at 7 p.m. (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. To begin at 7 p.m. By Authority (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: The following Italian Singers have arrived in Dublin: Giuseppi Giordani, Francisco Giordani, Sga Marina Giordani, Sga Nicolina Giordani, Spiletta (Daily Advertiser). [Engaged for the Dublin season.

Event Comment: [The title alone had a certain startling appeal. The General Advertiser reminded its readers twenty years before (11 Nov. 1748) "Clandestine marriages are illegal and punishable by the Statute of the 7th and 8th of King William, Chap. 35 under which Law the Parson shall forfeit One Hundred Pounds; and every man married without Banns or Licence shall forfeit ten Pounds, to be recovered with costs, by any Person that shall inform."

Event Comment: [Long letter of complaint in Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser about text of the Libretto, arguing verse would be better for translation than prose, in the printed books supplied at the Opera House.

Event Comment: Paid Housekeeper's Bills #21 9s.; Ditto his properties #1 19s. (Drury Lane Treasurer's Book). [These bills amounted to #222 and #37 respectively for the season, or an average of #6 per week for Housekeeping Bills and #1 per week for properties. No further itemization will be made. A patron wrote a letter to the Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser on 6 Oct. 1766, suggesting that he was annoyed by the way "our noisy friends in the Upper Gallery" kept calling for the Prologue. The Uproar increased when the farce or Daphne and Amintor began. Mr Vernon was oblig'd to step forward, Cap in hand and apologize, which put him out of character." Castle was not in bill. Noted in review. See 4 Oct.] Receipts: #145 16s. 6d. (Drury Lane Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: PPublic Advertiser, 5 Sept. 1769: Mr Crawford and Co. beg Leave to acquaint the Nobility and Gentry, with the following List of their new Singers, and others engaged for the serious and comic Operas next Season. Those marked thus& are new Performers, viz. Principal Singers for the Serious Operas: &Signior Guadini, first Man. &Signora Cecilia Grassi, first Woman. For comic or serious: Signor Lovattini, first Man. &Sig Zamperini, &Signora Guadini, first Women. &Signor Piatti, 2nd Man serious. &Signor Bianchi, Tenor, Signora Zamperini, Sig Morighi, Signora Piatti. Composer: Sig Guiglielmi. Principal Dancers: Mr Slingsby, &Signor Galiotti, &Signor Siminon, &Signora Guidi, Signora Radicatti, &Signora Gardel. Ballet Master: &Sig Campioni. [See 7 Nov.

Event Comment: Benefit of the New Building of the City of London Lying In Hospital, in the City Road, Old Street. Paid Weston's note to Mr Curtis #5; Mrs Bolter for 25 yds. white and silver silk, #28 15s.; 8 extra Trumpets 4 nights (13th inst. incl.) #12 (Treasurer's Book). This day published The Theatres; a poetical dissection by Sir Nicholas Nipclose (Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser). [It is packed with embittered comments on managerial policy and upon theatrical personalities.] Receipts: #228 18s. 6d. Charges: #84; Profit to Hospital #144 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Pantomime (never performed). The Music entirely new, by Fisher, New Scenes, Machines, Dresses, and Decorations. Books of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under FULL PRICE will be taken. [The note about full prices and availability of books of songs, &c. accompanies each subsequent bill for Sylphs this season. The Westminster Magazine (Jan. 1774) fears the afterpiece may have been composed by Woodward. The reviewer recounts the story in some detail, likes the paintings and scenery, but states categorically: "We do not hesitate to pronounce it the worst Harlequin entertainment we remember to have seen...The music too is very insipid and pilfered from other masters."] Receipts: #237 3s. 2d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mr Garrick inexpressibly fine. Mrs Abington Beatrice, first time-very Great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Sparks and Co. Lace Bill #10 15s. Mr King (glassman) for lustres his bill #75 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [From the Gazeteer and New Daily Advertiser, 7 Nov.: "The desertion of the theatres in consequence of the disease with which so many are afflicted, has been productive of one agreeable effect, that of bringing Mr Garrick forward in Benedict much earlier than was expected. It cannot be a matter of surprise that Roscius should have escaped the infection and his spirits and constitution seems proof against the attacks of age itself; after above 30 campaigns, his ardour and execution appear rather to increase. Benedict owes all its consequence to his attachment; there is a peculiar turn of humour in this soldier that none but Mr Garrick has ever been able to enter into the true spirit of. Last night he supported the character with undiminished excellence, and in the speech where he meditates and then resolves on marriage, he soared beyond himself. Beatrice is Shakespeare's Benedict in petticoats, and very happily has got into the hands of Mrs Abington" (Quoted in Hampden, Eighteenth Century Journal).] Receipts: #264 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Macklin. Daily Advertiser, 24 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Macklin, Tavistock-Row, Covent-Garden. [Mrs Bulkley's 1st appearance as Portia was at this theatre, 1 Jan. 1768.] Receipts: #212 8s. (132.1; tickets: 80.7) (charge: #64 10s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Henderson. Pit and Boxes will be laid together. Ladies and Gentlemen are most earnestly requested to come early, to prevent Inconvenience in getting to their Places, and to send their Servants to keep them by Four o'clock. [Prologue by Arthur Murphy {Works, 1786, VII, 369).] Morning Herald, 14 Feb.: Tickets to be had at the house of the late Mr Henderson [see 8 Nov. 1785], Buckingham-street, York Buildings. "The poetical address delivered by Mrs Siddons before the play was written by Murphy, and was so very dull that we will charitably suppose his feelings obstructed the operation of his fancy" (General Advertiser, 27 Feb.). Receipts: #141 9s. 6d. (140/15/0; 0/14/6; tickets: none listed) (charge: free)

Event Comment: "A most ridiculous circumstance happened in the last act [of mainpiece]--nothing less than a total silence on the Stage, where all the Dramatis Personae stood in a rank, waiting for the next speech, which however was not heard, for, after a considerable time, the curtain was let down . . . Lewis came forward and acquainted the House that the part sent to Aickin was incomplete, and that he (who was to finish the Play) had never been furnished with the last speech. As we understood rehearsals were necessary to getting up Plays, we cannot reconcile this blunder to our apprehension" (General Advertiser, 6 Mar.). Receipts: #157 16s. (152/10; 5/6)

Event Comment: A revived Serious Opera, with Grand Chorusses, New Dresses and Decorations; the Music by Sacchini. "In the second act [Mme Mara, who sang Andromeda] was encored in a song of Bravura . .. The amazing extent of her voice never appeared in a more conspicuous light... As to the Chorusses, we understand that they were under the immediate direction of Mme Mara, which accounts for the uncommon precision with which they were executed" (General Advertiser, 22 Mar.)

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera [1st time; COM 2], written by Charles Francis Badini, and set to music by Pasquale Anfossi. "The Author has . . . struck out ideas fit to excite the utmost powers of harmony. We do not think that he has been sufficiently seconded by Signor Anfossi. The music evidently labours under a tedious monotony" (General Advertiser, 22 May)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Woollery. [As afterpiece the playbill announces A Beggar on Horseback, but "on account of Edwin's being unluckily hurt by a fall from his horse, the farce was changed to A Mogul Tale (General Advertiser, 15 July).] Morning Chronicle, 10 July: Tickets to be had of Miss Woollery, No. 5, Delahay-street, Westminster

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Webb. Morning Chronicle, 17 July: Tickets to be had of Mrs Webb, No. 22, corner of Broad Court, Bow-street, Covent Garden. "Old Jack, instead of appearing with all that easy, flowing, negligent facetiousness which the poet has so inimitably pourtrayed, assumed the part of moral solemnity, and every joke was delivered with a sort of sententious dignity that destroyed its natural impression" (General Advertiser, 22 July)

Event Comment: "[In mainpiece] Richard , last night, was personated by Davies, and the Governor by Macready" (General Advertiser, 19 Oct.). Receipts: #226 18s. (222.7.6; 4.10.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: In Three Acts [and see 16 Oct.]. "Richard Coeur de Lion has been compressed into an after-piece by an exclusion of the part of Margery, the 2nd Chorus, and other trifling incidents" (General Advertiser, 23 Oct.). Receipts: #218 10s. (209.7.6; 9.2.6)

Event Comment: [As afterpiece the playbill announces Richard Coeur de Lion, but because of "Mrs Jordan's sudden indisposition [it was changed] to The Humourist" (General Advertiser, 22 Nov.).] Receipts: #177 7s. 6d. (148.10.0; 27.8.0; 1.9.6)