Event Comment: Paid Cropley, linen draper, #63 4s.; Barrow & Co., for oil #133 6s. 6d.; Lawrence, paper hanger, #35 7s. 6d.; Tallow chandler's 3rd bill #44 18s. 11d.; J. Johnston's Music Bill #6 15s. 6d.; Waller & Co., hosiers, #19 6s. 6d.; Mr Lauchery on note #6 6s.; Slingsby on ditto, #80.; Mr Highley on Acct #100. Receipts: #160 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Acted but once these 14 years. [See 4 May 1772.] Paid Hewetson & Co. (lacemen) #13 6s.; Thomson (smith) #52 7s. 6d.; Stacy (colourman) #13 12s.; J. Johnston's Music Bill #26 15s.; Mr Hopkins (for author of Maid of Oak's) Bill #4 4s.; Mr Luppino for making dresses &c. #64 14s. 6d.; Cole (turner) #16 2s.; G. Garrick on Acct #100; Chorus 2 nights (Courtney excluded) #2 15s. Receipts: #123 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Reddish being a little out of his Senses he could not play Morcar in Matilda therefore notwithstanding the Bills were up for it we were oblig'd to change it to the West Indian & about Two o'clock we put up fresh Bills for West Indian and as Mrs Abington was not in humour to play at so Short Notice we were oblig'd to borrow Miss Barsanti to play Miss Rusport (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd Mrs Johnson's rent one year to Lady Day 1774 #6 (Treasurer's Book). Tragedy of Braganza is oblig'd to be deferr'd till Thursday on account of Mrs Yates's indisposition. Receipts: #161 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Overture and Music for the Prelude composed by Bates. Mr Bensley return'd from Covent Garden Theatre Play'd Pierre as usual was received with Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid Carpenter's Bill #31 10s.; Two surveyors (by Butler) #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [The carpenter's bills averaged #10 per week during the season, or about #380 total. No further mention will be made of this item.] Receipts: #238 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Hamlet -Smith as usual (Hopkins Diary). Paid half year's Watch, St Martins #32 9s. 6d.; Housekeeper's 4 Bills #50 7s. 10d.; Music Books to Mr Stayner, #6 18s. (Treasurer's Book). [The housekeeper's weekly bill averaged #10, for a total of #380 the season. No further itemization of it will be made.] Receipts: #183 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: After this night the Theatrical Candidates will be laid aside on account of other performances. Mr Jefferson hiss'd in Mirabel-not perfect (+Hopkins Diary). [Treasurer's Book suggests (erroneously) mainpiece as The Clandestine Marriage.] Paid Tallow chandler's second bill #34 16s. 9d.; Mr Hatsell for Theatrical Fund Benefit balance 25 May last #293 4s. 2d., plus 5 month's Interest at 3, #3 13s. 2d., #296 17s. 4d.; Remainder of Mr Garrick's salary for last season paid to Mr Hatsell #235 13s. 2d.; Valcour on note by order #10 10s.; Tabor and pipe 9 nights #4 14s. 6d. Rec'd Mr Garrick's draft on Mr Wallis #532 10s. 6d.; Stopages #13 14s. 6d. Receipts: #159 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book).*c1775 10 27 dl After this night the Theatrical Candidates will be laid aside on account of other performances. Mr Jefferson hiss'd in Mirabel-not perfect (+Hopkins Diary). [Treasurer's Book suggests (erroneously) mainpiece as The Clandestine Marriage.] Paid Tallow chandler's second bill #34 16s. 9d.; Mr Hatsell for Theatrical Fund Benefit balance 25 May last #293 4s. 2d., plus 5 month's Interest at 3, #3 13s. 2d., #296 17s. 4d.; Remainder of Mr Garrick's salary for last season paid to Mr Hatsell #235 13s. 2d.; Valcour on note by order #10 10s.; Tabor and pipe 9 nights #4 14s. 6d. Rec'd Mr Garrick's draft on Mr Wallis #532 10s. 6d.; Stopages #13 14s. 6d. Receipts: #159 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's 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: Paid half year's land tax to Mich. last #27 4s. 6d.; Ditto Window lights #13 18s. 1d.; Hopkins, Prompter's bill for last season #7 19s.; Mrs Whitlock, sundry bills #26 8s. 9d. Receipts: #98 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rosetta first time by Miss Sharp--a loud Voice a bad face and mean figure She had Applause--but it won't do (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly and adds: Miss Sharpe was a Scholar of Mr Bates's--since married to Mr William Palmer, brother to Mr John and Mr Robert Palmer."] Rec'd the late Mr Powell's bond for #200 and 9 years interest in full #290; Stopages #11 18s. Paid Barrow and Co., Oil Bill #50 3s.; Powney, (stationer) #14 11s. 6d.; Tallow Chandler's third bill #47 12s. 4d.; Evans on Wardrobe acct #10 10s.; Grist on acct #6 6s.; Machin, Chorus 13 nights, #3 5s. Receipts: #116 13s. [Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid bill for Portugal Dishes #3. Receipts: #217 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Portia by Mrs Siddons being her first appearance upon this Stage a good figure rather handsome--wants Spirit and ease her Voice a little course very well receiv'd (Hopkins, Diary). Paid Mr Wrighten on note #100; Mr Garrick 2 nights for Bon Ton and Little Gipsey, #238. Receipts: #197 (Treasurer's Book). Books of the Songs and Chorusses of the Afterpiece to be had at the Theatre. [This note appeared on all subsequent bills advertising the Jubilee this season.] The most accomplished actress can display little other abilities in this part [Portia] than a correct elocution, and a knowledge of the author. The lady of last night being thus circumstanced [her first appearance] it is impossible to pronounce what the nature or extent of her powers may enable her to execute when placed in a situation that calls them forth. But from the speciman she gave there is not room to expect anything beyond mediocrity. Her figure and face, although agreeable, have nothing striking, her voice (that requisite of all public speakers) is far from being favourable to her progress as an actress. It is feared she possess a monotone not to be got rid of; there is also vulgarity in her tones, ill calculated to sustain that line in a theatre she has at first been held forth in; but as these observations are formed when the lady laboured under the disadvantages of a first attempt in the metropolis, her future efforts may perhaps entirely remove them (Middlesex Journal, 30 Dec. Quoted in Hampden, Journal)

Event Comment: Paid 5 days salary list #525 1s. 3d.; Supernumeraries for the Jubilee #71 7s.; Ditto for the Jubilee this night #14 8s.; Tallow Chandler's 4th bill #50 13s. 1d. (Treasurer's Book). [N.B. at a rate of 2s. 6d. for walking in a pageant the Jubilee would seem to have required 115 supernumeraries this evening.] Receipts: #194 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years. [See 11 Nov. 1752.] Characters New Dressed in the Habits of the Times. This play is alter'd by Mr Colman and receiv'd with Some Applause, but it don't seem to hit the present Taste a few hisses at the End (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid salary list #630 1s. 6d.; Widow Hunter #2 2s.; King's glass bill #3 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [Mainpiece reviewed and contrasted with the original in the Westminster Magazine for Jan.: "Upon the whole we cannot esteem this a striking comedy, even with the assistance it has now received,--the fine manner in which it is got up, and the great expence which the managers have been at in habiting the whole dramatis personae in splendid and characteristic Old English dresses. All the actors except Mr King and Mr Parsons performed but indifferently. Bensley is the worst Old Man we ever saw. He presents the countenace of a sickly old woman; and the uniform goggle of his eye, by which he means to express infirmity and distress is the look of a man in anguish from the colic. Mr Palmer, Mr Brereton, and Mr Davis have a bloated vulgarity about them, which should ever deter the manager from assigning them the parts of cavaliers or men of fashion. Baddeley, as usual, overdid his part, and Mr Yates, as usual, was not very perfect in his."] Receipts: #192 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid 3 extra trumpets 6 nights #6 15s.; Mawson (mercer's bill) #7 17s.; Mr Cook for Boys 14 nights #21. Receipts: #200 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Garrick put the finish hand to the sale of half the patent &c. to Dr Ford, Linley, Ewart, and Sheridan for #35,000 to be delivered over in June next. Garrick it was said rais'd #12,000 last year by subscription to pay New Ornamentation, which cost #3000, so that the remaining #4500 and #35,000 was no bad interest for the #5,000 he gave in 1747. New property valuation giving him a...(Winston MS 11, from Burney News Cuttings). Paid Mr Palmer, spermacetti candle Bill #186 13s.; Mr Machin, Chorus, 19 times #4 15s. Rec'd Mr Percy's rent 1 year to Mich Last, #10; Stopages #14 5s. Receipts: #167 2s. (Treasurer's Book). From the Morning Chronicle, 19 Jan.: "David Garrick, Esq., has signed and sealed for the sale of his share in the patent and Property of Drury Lane Theatre. The purchasers are Dr Ford, Mr Ewart, Mr Linley, and Mr Richard Sheridan. The purchase money is #35,000. The public may now therefore depend upon it that this will be the last season of Mr Garrick's performing. The new proprietors as an act of their own, have stipulated that Mr Garrick shall continue to keep that box which has of late years been set apart for the accomodation of his family. Mr Garrick intimated last night to the audience his having sold his share in Drury Lane Theatre, by answering in the part of Abel Drugger , on being asked if he had any interest at the theatre, 'I had some, I don't know what I may have.'

Event Comment: Rec'd 1 years rent from Mrs Groath #3. Paid Mr Wallis on note #2 2s.; Frederick (Jew) bill for silks #17 8s. 6d.; 3 extra trumpets #6 15s. Receipts: #181 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The New Comedy of The Runaway oblig'd to be deferr'd till Tuesday, on account of Mrs Hopkins' sudden illness. Paid Mr Machin, Chorus, 24 nights, #6; Tallow Chandler's Bill #49 6s. 8d.; additional flutes #1; Mr Landall for sashes #6 14s. Receipts: #195 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). The new Comedy of The Runaway is unavoidably oblig'd to be deferred till Saturday. Rec'd Mr Stanley's Oratorio Account, 11 nights, #327 5s. Paid Lawrence (paper hanger) #13 7s.; Renters (for 11 Oratorio nights) #88; Cubit (tinman) #7 14s. 6d.; Gardner (shoemaker) #25; Chettle (timber merchant) #22 14s. 6d.; Mist andCo. (brazier) #10 8s.; Thomson (smith) #5 16s. 6d. Barrow andCo. (oil) #106 5s.; Tallow Chandler's 8th Bill #26 12s.; Palmer's Bill of Bath for Spermacetti Candles #162 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [MacMillan quotes from Kemble's note on the playbill, a Garrick interpolation in Drugger 's last speech (IV, vii): "Abel: Did you never see me play the Fool? Face: Yes. Abel: But the wise ones say I have played the Fool long enough; So I am going to leave it off and grow melancholy." [This note does not appear in the Hopkins Diary in the Folger Library.] Receipts: #265 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [As afterpiece Public Advertiser announces The Rival Candidates, but see Hopkins Diary, 12 Oct.] The Managers met again to-day, but nothing settled. Hamlet was given out. I saw Mr Sheridan, he told me that Mr Lacy and he had agreed that no Play should be given out, nor any Bills put up, till they had settled this Affair, which was to be done to-Morrow at Mr Wallis's (the Attorney's) where they were all to dine. I waited on Mr Lacy, who agreed to the same, and no Bills or Paragraph were sent to the Papers. All the Business of the Theatre is at a Stand, and no Rehearsal called. Wed. 16th--Mr Sheridan, Dr Ford and Mr Linley dined today by Appointment with Mr Wallis where Mr Lacy was to have met them; about four o'clock he sent a verbal Message that he could not come to Dinner, but would wait upon them in the Evening, and about nine o'clock he came, and everything was settled to the Satisfaction (of them all) and a Paragraph sent to the Papers, and the Hypocrite and Christmas Tale was advertised for Friday, but no Play was to be done on Thursday--Covent Garden did not play on Friday (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 16 Oct., summarizes the proprietors' dispute: the Drury Lane patent had been purchased [in 1747] by David Garrick and James Lacy. On his death Lacy had devised his half-share to his son, Willoughby Lacy; on his retirement from the stage Garrick had sold his half-share to Sheridan, Ford and Linley. The original agreement between Garrick and Lacy, as recited in a document retained by the attorney Albany Wallis was that, in case of the sale of either share of the patent, or any part of either share, the seller was obligated to offer the first refusal to purchase to the other partner, and that this was to be done only when the theatre was closed for the summer. In selling one half of his share to Robert Langford and to Edward Thompson, Willoughby Lacy was--so argued his three partners--acting illegally: he had not offered to them the first refusal, and he was negotiating the sale at a time when the theatre was open. Public Advertiser, 17 Oct.. prints a statement from Lacy saying that he did not feel himself bound by the original agreement between his father and Garrick, but that, in the interest of the business of the theatre, he had asked Langford and Thompson to withdraw their claim to partnership, to which request they had acceded. Receipts: #130 9s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never performed here. [Afterpiece in place of Tom Thumb, announced on playbill of 28 Nov. Address, probably written by Mrs Abington, printed in Public Advertiser, 9 Dec] Receipts: #274 19s. 6d. (271/5/0; 3/14/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author [of mainpiece, who is named in the Account-Book, but not on the playbill]. "A considerable tumult prevailed last night among the audience of this Theatre, on account of the unavoidable substitution of Miss Chapman and Mrs Harlowe for Mrs Esten and Mrs Wells (who are both indisposed). It was not that the audience objected to the former two, but because the names of Mrs Esten and Mrs Wells were printed in the bills usually sold about the Theatre, though not in those properly issued from the House. [Mrs Esten's name, however (but not Mrs Wells'), is listed in the "House" playbill for this night.] The audience were very violent, and the actors, after having nearly finished the first Act twice, were obliged to begin the Comedy a third time, before it was suffered quietly to proceed" (Morning Herald, 9 Feb.). "The fracas at Covent-garden Theatre on Wednesday evening was occasioned by the dexterity of certain Lottery Office keepers, who, in order to give notoriety to their shops, daily cause spurious Dramatis Personae of the theatres to be circulated; and on the reverse of these bills is conspicuously held forth the advantages of the public paying their cash into their gambling treasuries" (Morning Herald, 10 Feb.). Receipts: #191 17s. 6d. (187.2.6; 4.15.0; tickets: none listed)

Event Comment: "The represention announced for last night at this Theatre was Twelfth Night; but as Mrs Jordan found herself too ill to perform, new bills were issued, and the substitute was to be The Siege of Belgrade. About the middle of the day, however, Mrs Jordan found herself well enough to perform, and the other bills were circulated, importing that the play was to be Twelfth Night. But, in the afternoon, Mrs Jordan found herself too ill to perform, and a message was sent again to the theatre, signifying the melancholy disappointment. It was then too late to make any other change, and Twelfth Night was represented, Mrs Goodall reading the part of Viola. There was considerable difficulty in collecting the performers, after these repeated changes. Barrymore could not be found, and Caulfield dressed for Orsino; but when he was ready to appear Barrymore arrived, and took the part. It was then discovered that Phillimore was absent, and Caulfield was doomed to dress once more, for Phillimore's character; but soon after Phillimore came to the house. Mrs Kemble being indisposed, Miss Mellon undertook her part of Maria ...The Audience (a large one) indeed grumbled a little at this kind of dramatic hocus pocus, but on the whole, were not churlish in their testimonies of satisfaction" (True Briton, 13 Jan.). Receipts: #222 19s. (160.4.0; 58.11.6; 4.3.6)