Event Comment: On 21 March died of a Consumption, at Somerset House, Mrs George Garrick, wife of Mr George Garrick, a Lady in whom was united every amiable quality (Public Advertiser, 22 March.)

Event Comment: A Free Benefit for Ryan. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [See 3 April 1756.] Written by the late Mr Hughes. [For Afterpiece, see note.] Receipts: Door, #87 7s. Tickets #121 17s. (boxes 267; pit 286; gallery 122). (Account Book). [Ryan had advertised his benefit on 15 March to be The Siege of Damascus and a new Dramatic Satire called The Anniversary, being a Sequel to Lethe. On 16 March the following letter appeared in the Public Advertiser: "Upon reading Ryan's advertisement of a New Dramatic Satire, I was extremely pleas'd with a Description of the motive that occasioned it. He being last week at dinner with a set of particular friends, they inquired what Play and Farce he had chose this year for his Benefit. He inform'd them the Siege of Damascus and Lethe. Lethe, replied a Gentleman is very pleasing, but your friends have seen it, and you must fall into the fashion of having a new additional Scene; for a little bit of novelty may give assistance to its merit, and prove to your advantage. Why, then, said a facetious Gentleman, who sat very near him, Pray sir, do you write him one; 'twill cost you little trouble, and, you know, you are very capable. No more capable than yourself, Good Sir, answered the other; but to show I am full as willing, if you'll attempt to please his friends with one, upon my word I'll use my best endeavor to do the same, in writing of another. We need not fear Severity, for none will blame a friendly inclination to serve a man, who, I believe everyone wishes well. "Twas agreed, but Ryan judiciously observed, 'twould be a shame that two Gentlemen, each capable of writing to give an audience satisfaction, should condescend to make mere Lacqueys of their pens, and send them forth to hold the tail of Lethe; therefore if they should once begin, let them each write only one Hour longer, and they might raise a Structure of their own. They kindly undertook it, and in a Week sent him the piece he has now advertised."

Event Comment: There are Places inclosed for the Ladies to sit, and it is humbly hoped that the Gentlemen will not be offended, as it is impossible to accommodate everyone with Seats. To begin at Six. Public Advertiser, 12 and 13 June: Sga Seratina and Mr Reinhold distinguished themselves beyond expectation and the Company was pleas'd to say that Sga Seratina was in no way inferior to the famous Spiletta. Performed before a very genteel and numerous audience with great applause. It will continue to be performed Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

Event Comment: As 11 Aug., but: Mr Trufler's daughter continues to make the Rich Seed and Plomb cakes, so much admired by the Nobility and Gentry. They are made in a square Form, and will cut out in as large Slices as those of four Times the price. they are always kept ready made, and will be sent to any Part of the Town when bespoke, at Half a Crown each. [The piece was not advertised for 15. Aug. in the Public Advertiser.

Event Comment: [Not listed in Public Advertiser, but notice of continuation at admission price of 1s. is given.] Before the performance Sga Seratina and Mr Reinhold and others will sing several new songs

Event Comment: This night a new Occasional Interlude call'd Hymen was introduc'd between the Acts; but not put in the Bills (Hopkins). [For cast, see 21 Jan.] An occasional Interlude on the Marriage of Princess Augusta to Prince of Brunswick call'd Hymen (Cross Diary). This night a new occasional Interlude called Hymen, but not in the bills. Hymen was written by Mr Allen (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). [The Larpent MS 217 lists four characters and a Chorus: Hymen, Cupid, Venus, Mars, Chorus. The words of the Songs by Cupid, Hymen and Venus were published in the Public Advertiser, 23 Jan.] Receipts: #122 5s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Middlesex Hospital. [The Occasional Prologue written by Mr Lockman, published in the Public Advertiser 12 Dec.

Event Comment: Benfit for Costollo, Mrs Pitt, Mr Stede. [Public Advertiser assigns Maria to Miss Elliot.] None admitted behind Scenes. Last time of performing Mainpiece this season

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Acted but once these 14 years. Miss Pitt's second appearance as an actress. [N.B. The celebrated Mr Foote is in a Fair way of Recovery (Public Advertiser).

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Palmer. Part of Pit laid into boxes. House charges #64 4s. [Profit to Mrs Palmer #167 17s.] Receipts: #232 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Fifteen minutes past 4 went into the Pit at Drury Lane...even the lowest characters in this play well performed here. Holland being suddenly taken ill, Bensley played Sir John Melville. I like his figure better than Holland's, tho he's well suited to the characters he usually plays. At the end of the play we had a minuet by Mr Georgi and Mrs Palmer, the dancing very graceful. Then Vernon presented the Cries of London (an imitation of Shuter) in which he introduced of his own a description of the Tombs in Westminster Abbey. The thought of the statues of those, who never prayed while living, praying most devoutly, is good. In the character of Friendly, Vernon introduced a sketch of Ancient and Modern Hospitality. I suppose this is Vernon's first attempt at an imitation of Shuter. He did tolerably but Shuter's figure is of great advantage to him. After dinner bought the Public Advertiser of the 18th for the Playbills and the Atheist a pretty good fable in verse by J. Oakman (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. With two New Scenes in the Afterpiece painted by Richards and Dahl. Mr Woodward, at the particular request of several persons of Quality has changed from the Fair Quaker to The Busy Body. Tickets deliver'd for Fair Quaker will be admitted. House charges with candles and extras #65 15s. Balance to Woodward #102 7s. plus #58 5s. for 233 Box tickets (Account Book). [Public Advertiser, 12 Dec. 1767: "Speedily will be published the Battle of the Wigs, an additional canto to Dr Garth's poem The Dispensary. Occasioned by the Disputes between the Fellows and licentiates of the College of Physicians in London. By B. T. and M. B."] Receipts: #168 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Burletta a New Musical entertainment composed by Hook. Tickets 3s. 6d. [The performance occurs between a concert and fireworks. The whole entitled Mr Hook's Annual Festival. The news commentary in the Public Advertiser notes the performance seems adapted to all Tastes on account of the great Variety it affords, the Ode being rather serious, and the Burletta is wrote on a Subject of Ridicule."

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By the Author of the Register Office [Reed]. By Permission and Particular Desire. The tragedy was originally written in Italian by Sg Fonidoso Dellarundo, of Civita Vecchia, and bequeathed by him, at his Decease, to an English Gentleman, with whom he had contracted an intimate Acquaintance. It was translated into English by the celebrated Mr Rone, and (considering the difference of the idiom between the two languages) it is thought equal at last, if not superior to the original (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: Never acted there. Charges #69 12s. 6d. Profit to Woodward #121 2s. 6d., plus #44 10s. from tickets (Box 178) (Account Book). The several Musical Pieces performed last night at Covent Garden, were very agreeably received by a numerous Audience. The well contrasted variety of the Compositions in which each performer exerted their [highest] excellency had the most pleasing effect. Dr Arne's elegant Serenata, as well as the Thunder Ode, composed by Mr Michael Arne, met with the greatest Applause. The Performance will be repeated on Wednesday Next (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #190 15s

Event Comment: Benefit for Reinhold (Public Advertiser). [For Mrs Reinhold playbill on 19 April, which seems to be a misprint.] Charges to Mr Reinhold #69 19s. 6d. Profit to him #30 7s., plus #98 7s. from tickets (Box 266; Pit 147; Gallery 98) (Account Book). Receipts: #100 6s. 6d

Event Comment: [Mainpiece advertised this night with New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Public Advertiser in a column entitled Theatrical Intelligence reviews Cleonice at length, concluding: "On an improbable incident hinges the whole plot! The last Act is particularly unpleasing. Mr Barry is very aukwardly situated every Time he comes on, which seems to be merely to sermonize-Upon the whole, Cleonice appears to be that kind of play which deserves neither extravagant praise nor very severe censure. The Prologue commenced on the hacknied Subject of abusing Sentimental Comedy, and serv'd to deceive us by informing us, that we were to see an original Play. The Epilogue. was well imagined and happily express'd. It was most excellently deliver'd by Mrs Bulkley."

Event Comment: Announced by the playbill, but "Not perform'd on Acct. of Mr Garrick's Death (at 8 o'Clo'Morng)" (MS annotation on Kemble playbill). See also Public Advertiser, 21 Jan.: Drury Lane Theatre was shut up last night on [this] melancholy Occasion

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, probably by Richard Wilson, altered from Illumination, by Frederick Pilin. Author of Epilogue unknown]. 2nd piece: Not acted these 28 years [acted 9 May 1763]. 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Henry Man. Text 1st published in his Miscellaneous Works, 1802, Vol. II, which does not assign the parts, and also lists Mr Carlton, Ralph, Butler. Prologue by the author (London Chronicle, 3 May)]. Public Advertiser, 15 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Wilson, at Stars Acres, upper end of Bow Street. Receipts: #277 19s. 6d. (13.4.6; tickets: 140.15.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe; MS: Larpent 577; not published. The following season this was altered, and acted successfully as The Castle of Andalusia]: With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. A new Overture, and the whole of the Music under the Direction of Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 29 Nov.: The admirable first scene, the subterraneous Receptacle of the Banditti, is the production of the ingenious Mr Richards. Receipts: #182 10s. (180/12/6; 1/17/6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns the 1st Gravedigger to Parsons, but "an Apology was made for Parsons, and Suett went through his Part" (Public Advertiser, 2 Oct.). In afterpiece the playbill retains Parsons as Solomon; for Fawcett see 26 Nov.] "We have for so many years been accustomed to see Hamlet dressed in the Vandyke costume, that it may be material to state that Mr Kemble played the part in a modern court dress of rich black velvet, with a star on the breast, the garter and pendant ribbon of an order-the mourning sword and buckles, with deep ruffles: the hair in powder; which, in the scenes of feigned distraction, flowed dishevelled in front and over the shoulders" (Boaden, Kemble, I, 104). Receipts: #285 16s1. (265/14/0; 19/19/6; 0/2/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Widow and Children of the unfortunate Mr Linton, late of this Theatre. [Linton, a musician belonging to the CG band, had been attacked and killed by footpads on 8 July.] "The band were all dressed in mourning, suited to the occasion, and are entitled to their share of applause" (Public Advertiser, 30 Sept.). Afterpiece: Not acted these 4 years

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Martyr. Public Advertiser, 20 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Martyr at Mr Robley's, Bow-street, Covent Garden

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Brooks. Public Advertiser, 18 July: Tickets to be had of Mrs Brooks, at Mr Woodmason's, No. 68, Pall-mall

Event Comment: "The orchestra, during the whole time of representations [of the opera] has by no means been conducted with that exactness that should be expected from that band...It must be supposed that neither the master of music at the harpsichord, nor Mr Cramer, the leader, have influence or power enough to prevail on the band to play, or rather, to accompany, more correctly...The arias of the tenor and base [sic] have been played, or rather accompanied, too fast, and without harmony with the voices of Morelli and Fineschi, which being good, and they seeming to wish to sing with all possible expression, the orchestra should have accompanied accordingly. Mme Storace, howefer, has baffled the efforts of the musicians to make her sing out of tune, quick or slow. As they fiddled, she modulated" (Public Advertiser, 17 Jan.). Receipts: #147 12s. 6d. [non-subscription]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Bernard. [Mrs Mountain perhaps did not act Rosa (see 8 May).] Public Advertiser, 24 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bernard, No. 19, Bedford-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #255 2s. (147.19; 5.16; tickets: 101.7)