Event Comment: [The following puff appeared in the Public Advertiser: "Yesterday about twelve the Races began on the Bowling Green, Southwark. There were several started for the Plate called Public Approbation, amongst the Rest was a celebrated Theatrical Horse, and two or Three Racers belonging to the same Stable, and some young Colts and Fillies, lately bred in the Stud of an eminent Sportsman in the Haymarket. The dispute laid principally between the noted Don Quixote and the Little Female Minor. The contest was warm, and several Heats were ran [a number of performances during the day?] before it could be decided; which at length was given by a small Majority of the Subscribers and the Clerk of the Course, in favor of the latter. However, her Antagonists being Bloed, they have challenged her to run again, play or pay, for three Days sucessively; and she will start This Day, tomorrow and Monday next, exactly at Twelve. Bets are laid, the Little Minor against the Field; and Eight to Six that in the end she distances the famous Old Horse, and beats him absolutely hollow."

Event Comment: At the bottom of the Bowling Green. N.B. There is a commodious Coachway within six yards of the Booth, without coming through the Fair at all

Event Comment: Never acted there before. [The Death of George the Second prevented the performance of the 25th taking place. The Theatres closed for three weeks--heretofore six weeks. See Remarks on the Minor, with Foote's Answer, Gentlemen's Magazine, Nov. 1760, pp. 502 ff. Opened 17 Nov.

Event Comment: Benefit for Sg and Signora Paganini. A new Comic Opera. Purely Comic without any serious part in it. To begin at Six, Vivat Rex

Event Comment: Income from Boxes #70 13s. 6d. Paid Performers' salary [50]-#181 5s. 10d.; Servants [50] #20 14s. 6d. [Six new actors were entered.] Paid scenemen #10 17s. this night, and for incidentals #8 6s. 3d., and to Richards for painting a scene #5 5s. [Detailed pay scale listed by Winston.] Receipts: #153 17s. (Winston Theatrical Record)

Event Comment: Income from Boxes #15 10s. Paid Whiteford, Wardrobe Keeper, six months' salary due 24 Sept. #20. Receipts: #121 7s. (Winston Theatrical Record)

Event Comment: To begin at six precisely

Event Comment: JJohn Rich Esq, Master and Patentee of the TRCG, died Thursday 26 Nov. 1761, about six o'clock in the evening, at his house adjoining to the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, in the seventieth year of his age. Mrs Priscilla Rich sole executrix of the Will of John Rich Esq, deceas'd. Mr John Rich was buried in Hillingdon Churchyard. (See his Epitaph, Lysons's Middlesex Parishes, p. 162) Dec. 4, 1761. ibid p. 173 (Hopkins MS Notes). Income from Boxes #85 5s. Rec'd of John Condill on acct of Fruit #20. Expenses #46 3s. 8d. [The balance brought forward to this date for this season was #2007 9s. 1d. From this was subtracted the #1291 19s. 4d. necessary for starting the season (see 9 Sept.), which left Beard a favorable balance of #715 9s. 9d. with which to carry on. The Winston Theatrical Record ceases on this date.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. To Begin exactly at Six o'Clock. [The earlier opening hour continues.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Reviv'd, not acted these six Years. Written by Mr Foote

Event Comment: A Serious English Opera never performed before, by Mr Rolt. Music by Mr Michel Arne and Mr Battishall. Though it met with a favourable reception was preformed but six nights to thin audiences (Victor, History of the Theatres, III, 58)

Event Comment: Rec'd of J. Jackson for an order for 3 in the Gallery the 28th inst. 6s. Paid Sutherland for playing bag pipes in Faustus six nights #1 10s. (Account Book). [Sutherland received his five shillings a night for this performance each time Harlequin Dr Faustus was put on for the rest of the season.] Receipts: #206 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Doors will be open'd at 5 o'clock. Play to begin exactly at six o'clock. Powell after the play advised the Audience they had been applied to make 5 o'clock the hour to admit the company and that the Doors in the future would not be opened till that hour (London Evening Post, 7 Oct.). Receipts: #102 19s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: This and every Evening at Six Entertainment of the Season to Conclude with an Entertainment Music and ancing, call'd Don Quixote

Event Comment: By Authority. Benefit Miss Rose (near six Years old), who for her surprising capacity and Theatrical Abilities is most deservedly celebrated. Tickets for 18 March will be taken. To begin at 7 p.m. N.B. No person on any pretence whatever to be admitted behind the Scenes unless those few possess'd of tickets for that purpose. Those Ladies and Gentlemen who chuse entire Boxes are most humbly requested to secure them immediately

Event Comment: Paid John Doe, Claridge, and Smith each 15s. for performing six nights in the Ass and Hog to 1 Jan. [i.e., in Mother Shipton]. Receipts: #176 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). Doors open at 5 o'clock. Play to begin promptly at six. Paid Printer's Bill #9 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #236 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Two Young Lady's made their first Appearance in the Characters of Polly & Lucy Pupils of Dr Arne--Miss Wellers figure is very well for Polly but she wants Spirit & is apt to Sing out of Tune. Mrs Bradley is Tall & a good figure for Lucy and acquitted herself very well in that character they both met with Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly: Two young Gentlewomen appeared in the characters of Polly and Lucy,--brought out by Dr Arne,--Miss Weller and Mrs Bradley.--Miss Weller's figure was very well for Polly; but she is a piece of still life, sings out of tune and will never make an actress.--Mrs Bradley,--very tall, and appears to have blackguard requisites enough for Lucy, but will not do for anything else--Hopkins Diary No 7. Mrs Bradley is since married to Mr Prior the Builder.--J. P. Kemble."] Paid Renters #8 [this payment occurs each playing night of the season, 188 times in all, and will not be further noted]; Mr Carver, six days, #6 [a weekly payment outside the pay list throughout the season. Presumably to scene painter. No further noted]; Mr S. French, 6 days, #1 10s. Renters total for season #1592. Carver total for season #088 (Treasurer's Book). [see account of Miss Weller and Miss Bradley in Town and Country Magazine (Theatre XXXVIII): The first performed the part of Polly, and the latter that of Lucy. Their figures are both genteel, and their countenances expressive. Miss weller was much confused upon her first entrance; but from the melody of her voice, tho she did not raise it sufficiently in many parts, there is reason to believe, when she was got the better of her terrors of facing an audience, that she will be an acquisition to the stage, at least as a vocal performer. Miss Bradley's performance of Lucy with great spirit, vivacity and Propriety' and her singing being so well suited to the character, she so much eclipsed Polly, that the audience formed a more indifferent opinion of her abilities than she deserved."] Receipts: #220 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid salary 1st 5 days at #84 6s. 11d. per diem, #421 14s. 7d.; Mr S. French, six days #1 10s.; Mr Roye on acct 1st. #4 4s.; Mr Clinch, per order #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [This is the last payment to Mr S. French. Mr Roye hereafter seems to take his place at #4 10s. per week during the rest of the season. Query. Pierre Royer, painter? His name spelled Royer in the Treasurer's Book, 3 Jan. 1773. His total season's payment #153. Not further itemized.] Receipts: #171 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid 4 extra trumpets six nights (3rd inst. incl.) #9 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #251 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Trumpets six nights this included #6 15s.; L. Saunderson, 11 weeks salary #22; Mr Abrams paid by the late Mr Johnston #25. Receipts: #155 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [These performances were held in a temporary booth erected following the destruction of the theatre by fire (see 26 June). In August King Lear, with Everard as Lear and Cooke as Edgar, was acted here three times [Edward Cape Everard, Memoirs of an Unfortunate Son of Thespis [Edinburgh, 1018], p.78). Everard states that the booth was kept open for about six weeks, but no further records of what was acted have survived.

Event Comment: "My father [George Colman elder] told me that, on the seventh of June, on which day and night desolation had attained its climax [because of the Gordon riots], and London is said to have been seen from one spot blazing in thirty-six different parts, the receipt of his playhouse exceeded twenty pounds. This sum appears somewhat of the smallest for the night's receipt of a Theatre Royal in London; but how, instead of twenty pounds-worth of spectators, twenty persons, or one person, could have calmly paid money to witness, in the midst of this general dismay, a theatrical entertainment, is astonishing' (Peake, II, 47)

Event Comment: The Last Time of Performing in This Theatre. Kemble Mem.: Sheridan wrote the Address [not listed on playbill; see Gazetteer, 6 June], Palmer delivered it. Universal Magazine, June 1791, p. 438: On Saturday night, of a gradual decay, and in the 117th year of her age, died old Madam Drury, who lived through six reigns, and saw many generations pass in review before her...She had a rout of near 2000 people at her house the very night of her death; and the old lady found herself in so much spirits, that she said she would give them 'No Supper' without a 'Song'; which being complied with, she fell back gently in her chair, and expired without a groan. Dr Palmer, one of her family physicians, attended her in her last moments, and announced her dissolution to the company. [This was written by George Colman, ynger.] Gazetteer, 6 June: Samuel Johnson was powerfully and pathetically shewn the universal horror which men feel of the last even towards things indifferent, or sometimes unpleasant; and there seemed to be some apprehension of this sort of pain on Saturday, for a very few attended to take their leave of the scene where they have been so often regaled with fictitious sorrow and gladness. [This theatre was first opened on 26 March 1674. It has been altered and redecorated on several occasions, notably by the architects Robert and James Adam in the summer of 1775, for which see illustration in The London Stage, Part IV, Vol. III, 1650. The new theatre was not in readiness until April, 1794. The principal reason for the delay was that the patent had lapsed, and "it being necessary to obtain one previous to the payment of their respective sums on the part of the subscribers, application was made to Mr Harris, of Covent Garden Theatre, who possessed a dormant patent." The price set was #15,000, and the patent was sent to a banker for inspection. A Mr George White, who had married a daughter of William Powell, one of the former patentees, and had thereby a financial interest, objected to this price, and "obtained a prohibition in the Court of Chancery which obliged the banker to restore the patent to the Manager of Covent Garden Theatre." The subscribers to the new Drury Lane thereupon refused to pay their subscriptions, and work on the demolition of the old theatre was halted (London Chronicle, 30 July 1792). Sheridan finally offered #20,000: #15,000 to Harris and #5,000 to White, which was accepted, and work on the theatre was resumed, the cornerstone being laid on 4 Sept. 1792 (Morning Chronicle, 6 Sept.; London Chronicle, 12 Sept. 1792). The Actual sum eventually paid to Harris was #11,667.] Paid in lieu of Benefits: Kelly #100; Miss Farren #300; Aickin #60; Williames #42. Received from Their Majesties for Season #78. Paid Renters #20 apiece (Account-Book). Receipts: #105 5s. 6d. (74.7.0; 24.0.6; 6.18.0)