Event Comment: Benefit towards the Increase of a Fund, established by the Performers of the Theatre Royal Covent Garden for the Support of Decayed Actors and their Families. This Fund having been begun by voluntary contributions among the performers, improved by a proportionable Weekly Deduction on their salaries, and intended as a reciprocal Provision for them their widows and children, in sickness and infirmity, it is humbly hoped and appeal to the Generosity of the Public will not be taken amiss. Such of the Nobility, Gentry, &c. who are pleas'd to favour this Undertaking, are desired to send for places, Box or Pit tickets, to Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door. Mainpiece [by John Banks]: Not acted these 20 years. Occasional Prologue, written by Hull [printed in the Jester's Magazine, May 1766, p. 241]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mortimer, Tomlinson and West. Tickets deliver'd for Rule a Wife (which is oblidg'd on account of Palmer's Indisposition) will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith (box-office-keeper) and Cridland (box-keeper). Tickets deliver'd by Berrisford, Chinnaw, Humphreys, and Carlton will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Several. Watson, Roberts, Palmer. Tickets deliver'd by Daney and C. Roberts will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Bowers and Veal (door-keepers). Tickets deliver'd by Broad and Hodges will be admitted

Event Comment: Pit and Boxes laid together. No admittance to Pit but through the boxes and with tickets. Towards raising a fund for the relief of those who from their infirmities shall be oblig'd to retire from the stage. This fund having been begun by a voluntary contribution among the performers improved by a proportionable weekly deduction on their salaries and intended as a reciprocal provision for them, their widows and children in sickness and infirmity, it is humbly hoped an appeal to the generosity of the public will not be taken amiss &c. (Winston MS 9)

Event Comment: MMiss Young's night. Tickets 5s. To be had of Miss Young

Event Comment: Benefit for Westminster Lying In Hospital, near Westminster Bridge. Charges #85 5s. Balance due to the Hospital #12 5s. 6d. The Hospital also receiv'd income from delivery of tickets, #102 3s. Box 203, Pit 228, Gallery 172 (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire of the Right Honorable and Honorable The Governors (Being the Last Time of performing till the Holidays). Not acted this season. For the Benefit of the General Lying-In Hospital, Quebec Street, Oxford Road. Charges #85 5s., Balance to Hospital #5 6d. Hospital also receiv'd #156 10s. from tickets (Box 544, Pit 116, Gallery 31). Paid for 1 year's watch for theatre due at Xmas #12 10s. and for the House in Bow Passage 12s. 6d. Paid Dunstall the balance due for the theatrical Fund #136 17s. (Account Book). Receipts: #90 5s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. With the latest improvement by Mr Handel. Pit and boxes to be put together. Tickets will be deliver'd that day, at the Office in the theatre at Half a Guinea each. First Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. 6d. Galleries to be opened at Half an Hour past Four. Pit and Boxes at Five. To Begin at Half an Hour after Six (Public Advertiser, 4 March). [N.B. This is an Advance notice. No notice occurs on this day, but the following: This Day publish'd Esther: An Oratorio, with the last improvements by Mr Handel. To be performed, by Their Majesties Command at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. Price 1s.] Went into the First Gallery at Covent Garden to hear the Oraortio, Esther, composed by Handel. The Stage was formed into an orchestra, like one side of an amphitheatre divided by an organ, atop of which was a head of Handel in a radiated frame. In the front sat the vocal performers, Champney, Vernon, Mrs Arne, Mrs Pinto, Miss Young, and Mrs Frasi. Stanley played on the Organ but retired after the 1st or 2nd act. The house was not much crowded, tho the King and Queen, those idols of fools, were there (Neville MS Diary). Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Ross. Charges #65 15s. 6d. [Profit to Ross #54 1s. plus #79 from Tickets (Box 280; Pit 60)] (Acount Book). Receipts: #119 16s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Arne. Afterpiece: By Desire. House Charges #68 16s. 6d. [Profits to Mrs Arne #150 18s. 6d.] Tickets deliver'd for The Beggar's Opera will be admitted. Dido oblig'd to be defer'd a few days. Paid 1 year's Watch for St Martin's #10 2s.; Reynolds Oil bill #46 4s.; Carpue (silk dyer) #7 9s. 6d.; Jennings (glover) #13 12s.; Vernon on note #21; Chorus 1 night #2 5s. 6d.; Hautboy 5s.; Salary list #294 2s. 8d. [Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #219 14s. (Treasurer's Book). At 4 dined at the Chop House in St Clements. At 5 went to Drury Lane to see the Tempest for the benefit of Mrs Arne the prettiest performer at the house...She has a sweet little voice...A grand Dance of Fantastic Spirits in different shapes. At the end of the play a Double Hornpipe by Mr Walker and Miss Tatley. We had the entertainment of Daphne and Amintor with dancing by Sg and Sga George, Sg Tessoni, Miss King, &c. Having a seat in the third row of the Pit, was much pleased as all the principal characters were well played and the scenery is very fine. Had I been later in going, I should not have got in (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mattocks (playbill). Charges #65 2s. [Profit to Mattocks #52 14s. plus #36 8s. from tickets (Box 83; Pit 83; Gallery 32).] (Account Book). Receipts: #117 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Wilford. Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 30 Sept. 1761.] Last time of performing till the holidays. Charges #64 10s. [Profit to Miss Wilford #36 plus #130 16s. from tickets (Box 353; Pit 261; Gallery 34).] (Account Book). Paid Cooper (printer) #44 13s. 2d. (Account Book). Receipts: #100 10s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dyer. Charges #68 5s. [Profit to Dyer #30 14s. plus #141 3s. from tickets (Box 392; Pit 215; Gallery 109).] (Account Book). Receipts: #98 19s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Poitier. Afterpiece: Alter'd from Addison. The Music entirely new set by Mr Arnold. [Original three acts reduced to two.] To be performed for this night only. Charges #75 14s. [Profit to Mrs Thompson #59 7s. 6d. plus #48 9s. from tickets (Box 135; Pit 98) (Account Book). As indicated by the name Mrs Thompson in the Account Book, Miss Poitier was already married by this time, although she does not appear in the Bills under the name Mrs Thompson until 16 Sept. 1767. She was first married to Vernon, the singer at Drury Lane.] Receipts: #135 1s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Clarke. Charges #64 7s. [Profit to Clarke #23 9s. plus #122 19s. from tickets (Box 220; Pit 339; Gallery 171).] (Account Book). Receipts: #87 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Gibson. Mainpiece: Not acted these 25 years. Written originally by Shakespeare, and reviv'd and adapted to the stage by Mr Theobald. Charges #66 5s. [Profit to Gibson #37 18s. 6d. plus #30 15s. from Tickets (Box 79; Pit 74).] Paid one year's Rector's Rate for the Theatre #8 6s. 8d., and for House in Bow Passage, due at Lady Day 8s. 4d. (Account Book). [Neville attended, noted the information contained in the playbill, but could not hear well from his 2s. seat in the Gallery.] Receipts: #104 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Walker. Charges #67 3s. 6d. [Profit to Walker #19 14s. 6d. plus #43 13s. from tickets (Box 66; Pit 143; Gallery 57).] (Account Book). Receipts: #86 18s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dodd. House charges #66 10s. [Profit to Dodd #112 4s.] Tickets deliver'd by Miss Tetley will be taken. B. Johnson's head bill #3 14s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #178 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fishar, Ballet Master and Sga Manesiere. Entertainments by Children for that night only. Charges #64 5s. [Profit to each #21 11s. 9d. plus income from tickets: Fishar #38 14s. (Box 57; Pit 107; Gallery 84); Sga Manesiere, #29 13s. (Box 60; Pit 55; Gallery 64).] Paid Barratt (wax chandler) #201 5s.; Paid Buxtons and Co., (oyl men) #135 16s. (Account Book). Receipts: #107 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dunstall. Charges #66 7s. [Profit to Dunstall #32 5s. plus #140 15s. from tickets (Box 255; Pit 464; Gallery 74).] (Account Book). Receipts: #98 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Squibb. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Charges #65 2s. [Profit to Squibb #13 10s. plus #85 10s. from tickets (Box 137; Pit 205; Gallery 205).] Paid half year's land tax for theatre #37 10s., and for House in Bow Passage #2 1s. 8d.; Paid half year's window lights tax for theatre #6 10s., for House in Bow Passage 15s.; half year's Scavanger's rate for theatre #2 1s. 8d., for House, 2s. 1d. (Account Book). Receipts: #78 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miles and Stede. Charges #65 10s. [Profit to each beneficiary: #5 17s. 9d. plus income from tickets: Stede #42 11s. (Box 34; Pit 131; Gallery 144); Miles #106 16s. (Box 176; Pit 328; Gallery 136).] Paid Wilford for 29 nights renter's money #290 to 1 May inclusive (Account Book). Receipts: #77 5s. 6d. (Account Book)