Event Comment: RRylands MS.: Benefit for Numberers &c, Mrs Marshall, Miss Lee, Miss Budgell, Miss Wright, Miss Cole, and Mr Walker. Tickets deliver'd out by Edwards, Owen, Brooks, Rumball, and others will be taken. Receipts: #120

Event Comment: A New Oratorio. Tickets will be deliver'd to subscribers (on paying their Subscription money), this day, and every day following at Mr Handel's in Brook Street, near Hanover Square. Attendance will be given from 9 o'clock in the Morning till Three in the Afternoon. Pit and Boxes to be put together and no persons to be admitted without tickets, which will be deliver'd that day at the Office in Covent Garden Theatre, at Half a Guinea each, First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. N.B. Each subscriber is to pay Six Guineas upon taking out his subscription ticket, which entitles him to three Box tickets every night of Mr Handel's first six performances in Lent; and if Mr. Handel should have any more performances after his first six nights, each subscriber may continue on the same conditions. The Gallery will be open'd at Four O'Clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Six o'clock. [These notices concerning price, subscription, and time of performance recur regularly, but will not be recorded further here.

Event Comment: Last time of performing the Oratorio this season. The Subscribers to Mr Handel's six former performances, who intend to continue their subscription on the same conditions for six more, are desired to send their subscription money to Mr Handel's House in Brook Street, where attendance will be given this day [15 March] in order to deliver out their subscription tickets

Event Comment: Benefit Stevens, Waters, Brook, Hussey. As we could not have our Benefit on Saturday Last, the Company are so kind to pay for us at us at the Theatre Royal in Lincoln's Inn Fields; we humbly hope that our friends will excuse the Disappointment (it not being in our power to avoid it) and favour us on Friday, 3 June, when tickets deliver'd out for the 28th of May for Drury-Lane will be taken this night at Lincolns Inn Fields..-London Daily Post and General Advertiser. This was not acted at dl. Fleetwood refused and they acted at lif, Friday 3 June. Yates, Taswell, Mrs Macklin, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Hale of cg and Havard Played. N.B. there was an execution on dl at the time.-Winston MS. from Dyer MS

Event Comment: Performance After the manner of an Oratorio Set by Mr Handel. Tickets will be deliver'd to subscribers on paying their subscription money, this day and every day following at Mr Handel's House in Brook Street, near Hanover Square, where attendance will be given from nine o'clock in the Morning till three in the afternoon. Pit and Boxes to be put together, and no person to be admitted without tickets, which will be deliver'd at the Office in the theatre at Half a Guinea each, First Gallery 5s.; Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. [Customary notice which will not be repeated.] Gallery opened at Four o'clock, Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Six. Mrs Delany to Mrs Dewes: There is a four-part song that is delightfully pretty...there was no disturbance at the playhouse. -Delany, Autobiography, II, 262. [Libretto by Congreve.

Event Comment: 1 Written by Shakespear. Benefit Church, Baker, Saunder, Dunbar, Bride, Brooks, Peite, and Stephens (Gallery Box-Keeper). Places of Hobson at the stage door

Event Comment: Having for a Series of Years received the greatest Obligations from the Nobility and Gentry of this Nation, I have always retained a deep Impression of their Goodness. As I perceived, that joining good Sense and Significant Words of Musick, was the best Method of recommending this to an English Audience; I have directed my Studies that way, and endeavour'd to shew, that the English Language, which is so expressive of the sublimest Sentiments, is the best adapted of any to the full and solemn Kind of Musick. I have the Mortification now to find, that my Labours to please are become ineffectual, when my Expences are considerably greater. To what Cause I must impute the Loss of the Publick Favour, I am ignorant, but the Loss itself I shall always lament. In the mean time, I am assur'd that a Nation, whose Characteristic is good Nature, would be affected with the Ruin of any Man, which was owing to his Endeavours to entertain them. I am likewise persuaded, that I shall have the forgiveness of those noble Persons, who have honour'd me with their Patronage, and their Subscription this Winter, if I beg them Permission to stop short, before my Losses are too great to support, if I proceed no farther in my Undertaking; and if I intreat them to withdraw three Fourths of their Subscription, one Fourth part only of my Proposal having been perform'd. I am, etc. G. F. Handel. Attendance will be given at Mr Handel's House in Brook's St., Hanover Square, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next, in order to pay back the Subscription money. [Two poems in honor of Handel in the 21 Jan. issue of the Daily Advertiser. A letter in the 25 Jan. issue indicates that the subscribers would not accept the proferred refund; Handel announced he would resume performances in view of this response.

Event Comment: Benefit Dunbar, Walker, Fryar, Edwards, Lathbury, Sga Bettini. Tickets deliver'd out by Bride and Brooks will be taken, and those deliver'd out by Collins that could not get in last night will be taken to this play

Event Comment: Benefit I. Sparks. Tickets deliver'd out by Lloyd, Mason, Caustin, &c will be taken, and tickets deliver'd out by Brooks, Bride, Mrs Barclay, Mrs Fenn, and others for the Country Wife for Thursday last will be taken this night. Being the last time of the Company's performing this season. [The advance notice of this night had included the Musical Entertainment of Neptune and Amphitrite (compos'd by Arne), but this is omitted from the notice of the day.

Event Comment: Benefit Usher, Saunders, Heath, Pritchard, Goodwin, and Brooks

Event Comment: Paid Candlemen, #1 10s.; Hickman (Porter), 18s.; Paddick rais'd, 10s.; Salary list at #49 17s. 7d. per day, #299 5s. 6d. Paid Cross for paper & pens, 7s.; Paid Bill Stickers, #2 14s.; Paid Brooks & Mason Hand Bills, 12s. (Treasurer's Book). [The payment to Billstickers and for Handbills, for Candlemen, and for Hickman, the porter, are weekly constants. They are averaged for the season in the following table and will not be further itemized.] @Item Weekly Average Season Total@Billstickers #2 14s. #86 8s.@Handbills 12s. #22 4s.@Candlemen #1 10s. #48@Hickman 18s. #28 16s.@ Receipts: #130 (Cross); #131 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: OOccasional Prologue call'd for. Mr Griffith (Son of Griffith an Actor in Ireland) play'd Barnwell: Toll: [erable] (Cross). This day at Noon will be publish'd and sold by the proprietor and the print shops, two portraits of those celebrated Comedians, Mr Woodward and Mrs Clive, in the characters of the Fine Gentleman and Lady in Lethe (as they are to perform them tonight, at Drury Lane) curiously engraved (in Miniature) from Original drawings of the same size. By J. Brooks, Engraver of Silver and Copper plate. N.B. The above prints may be had together or separate (General Advertiser).Receipts: #140 (Cross)

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: A List of the Company Performers etc.@Actors Messrs Ross #1 6s. 6d.@Sparks #250 #1 8s.@Dyer #180 #1@Smith #1 8s.@Shuter #1 6s. 8d.@Ridout #180 #1@Clarke 16s. 8d.@Collins 13s. 4d.@Dunstall 13s. 4d.@Bencraft #100 12s.@Barrington #100 12s.@Gibson 10s.@Marten 6s. 8d.@Costollo 6s. 8d.@Anderson 6s. 8d.@Hull 6s. 8d.@Wignell 5s.@Bennet 5s.@Redman 4s. 2d.@Holtom 5s.@Buck 4s. 2d.@Perry 4s. 2d.@Stoppelaer 3s. 4d.@R. Smith 3s. 4d.@Giffard 3s. 4d.@Creswick 3s. 4d.@Gibbs 3s. 4d.@Weller 3s. 4d.@C. Smith 2s. 6d.@Blakey 2s. 6d.@Davis 5s.@Actresses Misses Ms Macklin #300 #1 13s. 4d.@Ms Ward #1 6s. 8d.@Ms Hamilton #1 10s.@Ms Elmy 13s. 4d.@Ms Vincent 13s. 4d.@Ms Green 11s.@Ms Pitt 10s.@Ms Dyer #70 7s. 8d.@Ms Barrington 6s. 8d.@Ms Baker 6s. 8d.@Ms Morrison 5s.@Ms Ferguson 5s@Ms Stephens 5s.@Ms Helm 4s. 2d.@Ms Mullart 3s. 4d.@Ms Sledge 3s. 4d.@Ms Copen 3s. 4d.@Ms Burden 3s. 4d.@Ms Davis 3s. 4d.@Ms Cokayne 3s. 4d.@Ms Allen 2s. 6d.@#9 19s. 4d. Actors #15 10s. 10d.@#25 10s. 2d.@Singers Men Messrs Beard #210 #1 3s. 4d.@Mattocks 10s.@Baker 6s. 8d.@Legg 5s.@#2 5s.@Singers Women Mrs Ms Lampe 13s. 4d.@Ms Brent 13s. 4d.@Ms Young 10s.@Ms Abegg 5s.@#2 1s. 8d.@Men Singers #2 5s.@#4 6s. 8d.@. Dancers Men Messrs Poitier Sr #80 8s. 10d.@Maranesi #150 16s. Sd.@Poitier Jr #150 16s. 8d.@LaLauze #100 12s.@Miles 10s.@Granier 10s.@Desse 6s. 8d.@Rochford #50 5s.@Dumay 5s.@Gosly 5s.@Baltazer 5s.@Dufour 5s.@Lassy #35 3s. 8d.@#5 9s. 6d.@Dancers Women Mrs Capdeville #150 16s. 8d.@Ms Maranesi #120 13s. 4d.@Ms Vernon 10s.@Ms Granier 6s. 8d.@Ms Jansolien 6s. 8d.@Ms Mariane #50 5s.@Ms Welch #35 3s. 8d.@Ms Craford #35 3s. 8d.@Ms White 3s. 4d.@Ms Dause 3s. 4d.@Ms Vallois 2s. 6d.@#4 4s. 10d. Men Dancers #5 9s. 6d.@#9 14s. 4d.@Mrs P. R. 10s.@Ms S. B. 6s. 8d.@Ms Bambridge 1s. 8d.@10s. 4d.@Prompters etc. Mr Stede 10s.@Young 5s.@Robertson 1s. 6d.@16s. 6d.@Painters Messrs Lambert #100 12s.@Dall #100 12s.@Austin 2s.@#1 6s.@ Servants numberers Stables 5s.@Housekeeper Sarjant #40 4s. 6d.@Wardrobe Whitefield #30 3s. 4d.@Officekeeper Ballard 3s. 4d.@Pearson 2s. 6d.@Box office Carne 2s. 6d.@Davis 2s. 6d.@Assistants Baker 2s. 6d.@Etherington 2s.@Lobby Door Goode 2s.@Ruby 2s.@Evans 2s.@Condell 2s.@Box Keepers Ansell 2s.@Letsam 2s.@Vaughan 2s.@Green 2s.@Potter 2s.@Pit Office Henning 2s.@Wilford 1s. 8d.@Toten 1s. 8d.@Pit Door Keepers Ross 1s. 8d.@Clingo 1s. 8d.@Ass. Office Clarke 1s. 8d.@1 Gal. Office Slater 2s.@Doorkeeper Rawlinson 1s. 8d.@2 Gal. Office Derby 2s.@Doorkeeper Seymour 2s.@Constable Barnes 2s.@Featherman Scott 1s. 8d.@Porter Besford 2s.@#3 9s. 10d.@Women Dressers #1 2s. 8d.@Charwomen 12s. 10d.@#5 5s. 4d.@Women Dressers Mrs Goold Wardrobe Keeper 3s. 4d.@Asst. Do Ms Wignell 2s. 6d.@Do Ms Paddick 1s. 8d.@Ms C. White 1s. 6d.@Ms Hales 1s. 6d.@Ms Martin 1s. 6d.@Ms Potts 1s. 6d.@Ms Wallis 1". 6d.@Ms Broad 1s. 6d.@Ms Gwynn 1s. 6d.@Ms Whitfield 1s. 6d.@Ms Buck 1s. 6d.@#1 2s. 8d.@Charwomen Mrs Brooks 1s. 2d.@Ms Hanmore 1s.@Ms Warwick 1s.@Ms Byrn 1s.@Ms Niblett 1s.@Ms Hollingsworth 1s.@Ms Barron 1s.@Ms Rumsey 1s.@8s. 2d.@Lampman Smith, Jo. 1s. 8d.@Sweeper Cawder, Jo. 1s. 6d.@Candleman Carter 1s. 6d.@12s. 10d.@Performers Sallerys #25 10s. 2d.@Singers Do #4 6s. 8d.@Dancers Do #9 14s. 4d. 18s. 4d.@Prompters Do 16s. 6d.@Painters Do #1 6s.@Servants Do #5 5s. 4d.@#47 17s. 4d.@Nightly Charges as per estimate #36 1s.@#83 18s. 4d.@--British Museum Egerton MS 2271.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy [by Henry Brooke]. New dressed in the habits of the times. This tragedy was wrote by Mr Brooks and performed some years ago at Dublin. The first four Acts went off heavy, the last very well--Miss Mowat made her first appearance in this Piece at Drury Lane--Prologue by Mr Murphy heavy. Epilogue by Mr Garrick, great applause (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Afterpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [See 9 Nov. 1761.] With Additions and Alterations. [The Additions to The Fair seem to have included a number of actual animals (instead of the men costumed as an Ass and a Hog as used in Mother Shipton), for the Account Book this year for the first time notes payments, 22 March 1774, "for the hire of Horses in The Fair," and 18 June 1774, "To Mr Brooks for attending with the Camels &c. in the Fair." The tradition of bigger and better spectacles seems to have passed on from Rich to Colman.] Receipts: #180 17s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Pit and Boxes Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. To begin at 7:00 p.m. Director-Vento; Ballet Master-Bouqueton, A New Comic Opera. Music by the most celebrated masters. [The Public Advertiser on 13 Sept. (notice dated 9 Sept.) had inserted a plea from the managers of the Opera to the Nobility and Gentry to enter their names at the office for season subscriptions in order that their names might be engraved. The singers and dancers who had been engaged for the season: Serious Opera. First Man-Venanzio Rauzzini; First Woman-Caterina Gabrielli; Tenor-Onofrio; Second Man-Manzoletto; Second Woman-Francesca Gabrielli; Last Man-Vincenzo Sestini. Comic Opera: First buffo-Trebbi; First buffa-Sga Sestini; Serious Man-Manzoletto; Serious Woman-Francesca Gabrielli; Second buffo-Fochetti; Second buffa-Sga Cardarelli; Third buffo-Vincenzio Sestini; Ballet Master: Bouqueton. Dancers: Fierville, Palladini, Helm, Mlle Escoelil, Sga Tinti, Mlle Sophie. Managers: Mrs Yates and Mrs Brook; Treasurer-Crawford.

Event Comment: A Serious Opera [1st time; SER 3, author unknown; a pasticcio]. The Music by several celebrated Composers, and conducted [i.e. arranged] by Bianchi. Public Advertiser, 4 Dec.: Roncaglia was welcomed with merited and very flattering Applause, yet he seemed hurt at sharing with Ansani those marks of public Favour. We exhort them both to remember that Persons of their superior Talents ought to lay aside every petty Prejudice and personal Animosity. "[Ansani] had a finely toned, full, and commanding voice, was a spirited actor, and in the first opera, called Ricimero, sustained the most prominent and important part. But he was unfortunately of a most peevish, quarrelsome temper; Roncaglia was saucy and conceited, and neither could brook the superiority claimed by the other. Their mutual jealousy, and the importance assumed by the tenor soon produced an irreconcilable breach, Ansani threw up his engagement, and the season went on heavily to its close for want of him"(Mount-Edgcumbe, p. 29)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Griffiths. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:30. Tickets to be had of Griffiths, No. 3, Southampton-buildings, Holborn; at the Royalty Coffee-house, Well Close Square; King's Arms, Leadenhall-street; Band Coffee-house; Sun-tavern, Foster-lane; Grotto, Southampton-buildings; Angel, St. Giles's; Cock and Bottle, Upper Brook-street; Nag's Head, Carnaby-market; One Tun, St. James's Market; Fox's Coffee-house, Bow-street; the Go, the Jump, and the Finish; and of Rice, at the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit for Bowden. Morning Chronicle, 2 May: Tickets to be had of Bowden, No. 9, Lower Brook-street, Grosvenor-square. Receipts: #270 6s. (141.11.6; 10.13.0; tickets: 118.1.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bowden. Account-Book: Received from Campbell for Fruit Rent #200. Oracle, 11 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bowden, No. 6, Lower Brook-street, Grosvenor-square. Receipts: #274 7s. 6d. (122.1.6; 8.3.0; tickets: 144.3.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bowden. [1st piece in place of The Duenna, advertised on playbill of 19 May.] 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1]. True Briton, 8 May: Tickets to be had of Bowden, No. 6, Lower Brook-street, Grosvenor-square. Receipts: #236 12s. (101.14.6; 8.5.0;tickets: 126.12.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett. 3rd piece [1st time; F 1, by George Colman, ynger, based on L'Anglais; ou, Le Fou Raisonnable, by Joseph Patrat]. Times, 6 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Fawcett, No. 41, Frith-street, Soho, and at Brook-Green, Hammersmith. Receipts: #501 18s. (226.13.0; 3.0.6; tickets: 272.4.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Munden. 2nd Piece [1st time in London; MF 2, by Thomas John Dibdin, 1st acted at Manchester, 15 Mar. 1793. Text (Huddersfield: J. Brook [1795] gives cast for Manchester]: The Music (with a new Waltz Overture, and an accompaniment for the Tamborine & Triangle) composed by Reeve. 3rd piece [1st time; M. INT 1]. Morning Chronicle, 4 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Munden, No. 16, Clement's-inn. Receipts: #630 12s. 6d. (237.13.0; 2.10.0; tickets: 390.9.6)