Event Comment: Boxes: #38 13s. [During the interim when theatre was closed 21 disbursements were made to tide a dozen actors or servants over, amounting to #32 15s. 2d., and leaving a profitable balance of only #1 8s. 6d. on the books (Account Book). Receipts: #140 12s. 6d. (Account Book).

Event Comment: MMaster Leoni's first appearance. Music by Smith. On account of Machinery and music no persons can be admitted behind Scenes or into the Orchestra. Nothing under full prices will be taken. Books of the Entertainment will be sold at the Theatre at 6d. each. The Enchanter, a new Musical Entertainment wrote by Mr Garrick, and set by Mr Smith, very well received.Master Leoni, a Jew, made his first appearance in this piece, and was received with great applause (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: Books of the Entertainment sold at the Theatre at 6d. each. [This notice appears on subsequent bills advertising the Enchanter, and will not be further recorded.

Event Comment: By Authority. 7 p.m. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. The little Theatre was at this time enlargening, it being very small before the alteration, and having but one gallery with the way into the pit at each angle of the front boxes (Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Samuel Foote, Esq. [London, 1777]. Printed for J. Brew)

Event Comment: At the Great Room, Dean St., Soho. By Desire. An Italian Oratorio in Two Acts. Words by Metastasio. Music by Jomelli. First Time of performing this Grand Musical Entertainment in England, and is judged by all conoisseurs to be the most exquisite piece of composition ever heard before. Pit Half a Guinea, Gallerias 5s. To begin at half past six precisely. A very strong rumour prevails, that leave will be applied for to the higher Power, for a third Theatre in this City; and it is even hinted, that two well-known performers have already ventured on a purchase, and are selecting together a company with that design (Public Ledger)

Event Comment: No persons to be admitted without tickets, which will be delivered this day at the Office in the Theatre. Charges paid by, and receipts gained by Messrs Smith and Stanley. Galleries opened at half past Four. Pit and Boxes at Five. Prices 10s. 6d., 5s., 3s. 6d. Oratorio to begin at 6:30 p.m. Received (Account Book): @368 tickets at 10s. 6d. #193 4s.@410 tickets at 5s. #102 10s.@435 tickets at 3s. 6d. #76 2s. 6d.@1215 persons.@Receipts: #371 16s. 6d.@Charges: #35.

Event Comment: Music composed by Dr Arne. Pit and Boxes will be laid together at Half a Guinea, and no person to be admitted without Tickets, which may be had at Dr Arne's in the Piazza next the Church, Covent Garden, and of Varney at the Stage Door of the Theatre. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. [Information concerning this Oratorio appeared in the Public Advertiser, 23 Feb.. "on Saturday last the New Oratorio called Judith, composed by Dr Arne, to be at Drury Lane on Friday, was rehearsed at the House of a Lady of Quality, where was present a numerous Assembly of the First Distinction, who honoured it with the highest approbation. We are assured that in the Sacred Oratorio, Sg Tenducci has obtained Permission from his Plaintiff, to sing the part which Signora Eberhardi was so obliged as to understudy for him, in Case he could not obtain such Indulgence."

Event Comment: This day Publish'd Price 1s. Samson an Oratorio, as it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. Altered and adapted to the stage from the Samson Agonistes of Milton. @171 tickets at 10s. 6d. #89 15s. 6d.@232 tickets at 5s. #58@320 tickets at 3s. 6d. #56@723 present.@Receipts: #203 15s. 6d.@ Paid renters #10. Paid Younger a Bill for writing parts #2 12s. 11d. (Account Book). Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit and Increase of a Fund for the support of Decayed Musicians or their Families. The words of the anthems will be given at the theatre. Pit and Boxes Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted this season. Full Prices. [Sparked by Victor's publication of his History of the Theatres of London and Dublin, 1730 to the Present, a series of articles on the Rise and Progress of the English Stage appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine for May (p. 214 ff); June (p. 264 ff); and July (p. 297).

Event Comment: Benefit for Decayed Actors formerly belonging to the theatres royal. Last Night. Original articles between Garrick and Lacy expired (Winston MS 9)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Full prices. No money returned after curtain is drawn up. Vivat Rex. [A. Murphy and S. Foote joined a partnership and rented dl theatre from Garrick for summer performances (Genest, IV, 616). For Gentleman, Miller? See Winston MS 9.

Event Comment: By Authority. [The Stratagem] An English Tragi-Comical Burletta, translated from the Italian. Music by Hasse. All Scenes, Cloaths, and Decorations entirely new. Prices: Box 5s.; Pit 3s.; Gallery 2s. To begin exactly at Seven. Places to be taken at the Theatre. Vivat Rex. 'Tis hoped no Gentlemen will take it amiss that they cannot be admitted behind the scenes, or into the orchestra. Those who have already taken places, will be so good to send in time (Public Advertiser). [This full notice repeated in subsequent bills, will not be recorded further.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Twist. Tickets to be had of her at 10 Wild-Court, Wild-St., and at the Theatre

Event Comment: Boxes, 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for Boxes of Mr Johnson at the stage door. No persons may be admitted behind scenes or into orchestra. No money to be returned after curtain is drawn up. [Usual note not to be further recorded.] Theatre newly painted and decorated (Winston MS 9)

Event Comment: To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant, at the Stage-Door of the Theatre. No Money to be return'd after the Curtain is drawn up. [Customary notice each night during the season. Significant changes only will be recorded hereafter.

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. No Gentlemen can possibly be admitted into the Orchestra, or behind the scenes except those who attend the Royal Family. The Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken places for this evening, are desired to be at the Theatre by Five o'clock at the farthest, or their places cannot be secur'd

Event Comment: At the large Theatrical Booth at the bottom of the Bowling Green. A new Comedy Written on the plan of a gentleman whose abilities have long received the sanction of public approbation. Interspersed with a variety of Entertainments infinitely superior to what have been generally given at the Fairs. The Songs will be new and spirited. The Dances lively and characteristic. By a company of Comedians from both Theatres. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit 1s. 6d. Gallery 1s

Event Comment: Full Prices. There will not be room behind the Scenes for more than the persons acting in the coronation, [Others] cannot possibly be admitted. The coronation of their Majesties was followed by a stage representation of it at both houses...Garrick knew that Rich would spare no expense in the presentation of his show; he knew too that he had a taste in the ordering, dressing, and setting out these pompous processions, superior to his own; he therefore was contented with the old dresses which had been occasionally used from 1721-1761. This show he repeated for near forty nights successively, sometimes at the end of a play, and at other times after a farce. The exhibition was the meanest, and the most unworthy of a theatre, I ever saw. The stage was...opened into Drury Lane; and a new and unexpected sight surprised the audience, of a real bonfire, and the populace huzzaing and drinking porter to the health of Queen Anne Bullen. The Stage in the meantime, amidst the parading of Dukes, duchesses, archbishops, peeresses, heralds &c. was covered with a thick fog from the smoke of the fire, which served to hide the tawdry dresses of the processionalists. During this idle piece of mockery, the actors, being exposed to the suffocations of smoke, and the raw air from the open street, were seized with colds, rheumatisms, and swelled faces. At length the indignation of the audience delivered the comedians from this wretched badge of nightly slavery, which gained nothing to the managers but disgrace and empty benches. Tired with the repeated insult of a show which had nothing to support it but gilt copper and old rags, they fairly drove the exhibitors of it from the stage by hooting and hissing, to the great joy of the whole theatre....Rich...fully satisfied [the publick's] warmest imaginations (Davies, Life of Garrick, I, 365 ff.)

Event Comment: The Music for the afterpiece compos'd by Mr Stanley, with a Hunting Song (never perform'd before) by the late Mr Handel. Books of the Entertainment to be sold at the Theatre at 6d. each. [Afterpiece: a short simple compliment to their Majesties on their nuptials (Biographia Dramatica). MacMillan suggests parts for afterpiece: Dametas-$Champness; Damon-$Lowe; Priest-$Fawcett; Phebe, Delia-$Miss Young; Sylvia-$Mrs Vincent.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these two years. [George II's death had closed the theatres on 4 Nov. the previous year.] Income from Boxes #14 15s. Paid Mr Powell for two years att[endin]g Office & pass [?] Ac[count]. #100. Advanced to Hull #20. Receipts: #64 16s. (Winston Theatrical Record)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. John Rich, Master & Patentee of Covent Garden Theatre died (Winston MS 9)

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: Not acted in 5 years. [See 4 Feb. 1758.] The Drummer was revived at this period at both theatres...to take advantage of the reigning weakness of the people, who went in crowds many days and nights to an Haunted House, by what was called the Cock-Lane Ghost-a delusion set on foot, and very ingeniously carried on by a girl of 12 years of age, daughter of a clerk of St Sepulchre's Church, who resided in Cock Lane near Smithfield. [The Ghost was supposed to be that of one Fanny, a gentleman's mistress buried in the church. By knockings and scratchings she supposedly haunted the girl intimating foul practices concerning her death.] It would be incredible to relate the numbers of persons of distinction that attended this delusion! many of whom treated it as a serious and most important affair...at last the girl's father and three or four others were tried in the King's Bench, found guilty' Pillioried and imprisoned. This most effectively laid the Ghost; and is the best and properest cure for every ghost that may arise hereafter. (Victor, History of the Theatres, III, 18 ff). [The theme exploited again by Garrick in The Farmer's Return from London, dl 20 March.