Event Comment: [Afterpiece in place of Tom Thumb, announced on playbill of 3 Oct.] "Covent Garden Theatre. As personal allusions and party views have been attributed to the dramatic satire, called The Wishes, the author thinks he cannot so effectively disclaim them as by entirely withdrawing the piece" (Unidentified clipping, dated 5 Oct. 1782, The Tale Edition of Horace Walpoles Correspondence, cd. W. S. Lewis, 1955, xxix, 219). Paid Guard for Scene Men from 8 June to 21 Sept., on 9 occasions, approximately #900. Paid Music #7 14s.; properties 9s. [both being an average payment throughout the season per night]. Receipts: #221 8s. 6d. (218/11/0; 2/17/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe, altered from his The Banditti (see 28 Nov. 1781). Text in his Dramatic Works, Vol. 1 (T. Woodfall, 1798)]: With new Scenes [by Carver (O'Keeffe, u, 38)], Dresses, and a new Overture. The Selected Airs by Handel, Vento, Giordani, Giardini, Bertoni, Dr Arne, and Carolan, the Irish Bard. The Overture and New Airs composed by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [This was Sga Sestini's 1st appearance on the English-speaking stage. For several preceding seasons she had been a member of the Italian opera company performing at the King's.] "Sestini . . . was handsome, sprightly, and a good actress, if great exuberance of gesticulation, activity of motion, and affected Italian smorfie could make her one; but her voice was gritty and sharp (something like singing through a comb), and she was nothing of a singer, except for lively comic airs. Yet she was . . . long a favourite with the mass of the public, though not with the connoisseurs" (Mount-Edgcumbe, p. 33). Account-Book, 30 June 1783: Paid O'Keeffe in full for The Castle of Andalusia #368 18s. 6d. Receipts: #166 2s. 6d. (165/9/0; 0/13/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. "There was, in my early days, such a permanent property as a stage-door in our theatres, and the proscenium beyond it; so that when [Jane] Shore was pushed from the door, she was turned round and staggered till supported by the firm projection behind her. Here was a terrific picture full in the eye of the pit, and this most picturesque of women knew the amazing value of it" (Boaden, Siddons, I, 326). Receipts: #232 (209/8; 21/18; 0/14)

Event Comment: It having been discovered that many Persons going in upon Subscription Tickets, have returned and taken Money from the Receivers, No Money will in future be returned at the doors of this Theatre

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by John O'Keeffe. MS: Larpent 608; not published. CG playbill of 16 Nov. 1795 has a detailed synopsis of the action]: Intermixed with Songs and Dialogue. With new Music, Scenes, Dresses, Machinery, and Decorations. The new Music composed by Shield. The new Scenes designed by Richards, and executed by Richards, Hodgins, and assistants. To conclude with a Representation of the Lord Mayor's Show on the Water. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. "As to the Pantomime it wanted nothing on the first Night but Abbreviations . . . [which should be] omission of the Doctors, the two Women of the Town, and the whole of Edwin's Character" (Public Advertiser, 27 Nov.). Gentleman's Magazine, Jan. 1783, pp. 29-31, contains a detailed synopsis of the procession, and adds, "The personages of this procession were all dressed in the characters of the time in which they lived, and before each of them a label, a scroll, or a pageant was carried, bearing their name, or some allusion of the poets to their occupation. The figures in transparency were all painted as large as the life, and had a most grand and beautiful effect . . . The idea of the paintings was furnished by Mr Richards and Mr Smirk [sic], and all of them executed by the latter in a style of so much taste and excellence that it is a matter of some wonder to us, where an artist of Mr Smirk's abilities has been so long concealed . . . The glee introduced with so much applause is the composition of the late Dr Rogers (who lived in 1600); the other airs in the pantomime and procession arc by Handel, Lord Kelly, Abel, Stamitz and Shield, and have very great merit. The expense of preparing this splendid spectacle must have been very great, and the cost of continuing its representation cannot be inconsiderable, since more than 200 supernumeraries are employed to walk in the procession." Receipts: #215 3s. (206/3; 9/0)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Mainpiece: Written by Beaumont and Fletcher. [Authors and speakers of Prologues and Epilogue unknown; they are printed in Public Advertiser, 30 Nov. Ryder was not Thomas Ryder, who at this time was acting at the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.] The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:00

Event Comment: Books of the new Dance to be had at the Theatre. "Nothing could equal the manner in which the whole was conducted: the wrestling, the gladiators; the defeat of the Sabines; the besieging of Rome by the latter; their reconciliation with the Romans, &c." (Morning Herald, 13 Dec)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 4, but published in 5, by Richard Bentley. The assignments of Fearon, Booth, Mahon (who are not listed in the text) are my own conjecture. Prologue and Epilogue by Richard Bentley Jun. (Public Advertiser, 18 Dec.)]: New Dresses, &c. Words of the Epithalamium will be given at the Box Doors. Public Advertiser, 11 Jan. 1783: This Day is published Philodamus (1s. 6d.). Afterpiece: Never performed at this Theatre. Receipts: #203 2s. (198/16/6; 4/5/6)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Gardner. Afterpiece: From The Devil upon Two Sticks, written by the late Samuel Foote, Esq. [Mrs Mills is identified in Morning Chronicle, 1 Jan. 1783. For remarks on this night's performance, including references to Dunstan by Charles Lamb, see Theatre Notebook, VIII, 5.] Gardner having unavoidably been obliged to postpone his night from the 26th to the 30th, he thinks it his duty to inform his friends that tickets delivered for the 26th will be taken

Event Comment: [Miss Kemble was from the York theatre.] Receipts: #277 11s. 6d. (271/4/0; 5/17/6; 0/10/0)

Event Comment: Books of the new Dance to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: In afterpiece, added, following Lord Mayor's Show: A New Historical Procession of the Several Companies, with their respective Pageants, and the Chief Magistrates belonging to the City of London, from its Foundation. The Scenes, Machinery and Decorations, both of the Pantomime and Procession, invented and designed by Richards, and executed by Him, Smirk, Hodgins, Catton, and others. Book of the Songs, with an Explanation of the Procession [reprinted in Public Advertiser, 21 Jan.], to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 21 Jan.: The glee is the composition of the late [Benjamin] Rogers (who lived in 1600); the other airs are by Handel, [the Earl of] Kelly, Abel, Stamitz, and Shield . . . More than 200 supernumeraries are employed to walk in the Procession. Receipts: #236 4s. 6d. (231/4/0; 5/0/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Sestini. Public Advertiser, 13 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Sga Sestini, No. 52, Margaret-street, Cavendish Square. Afterpiece [1st time; burl 2, by John O'Keeffe. MS: Larpent 616; not published]: Taken from the Italian of La Serva Padrona [by Gennaro Antonio Federico]. The Music chiefly the Original of Parosasi [i.e. Pergolesi, and so spelled on playbill of 17 Feb.]. The new Music composed by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #256 5s. 6d. (198/12/0; 7/3/6; tickets: 50/10/0) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: "The company [of spectators] was so numerous that there was hardly room on the stage for the performers to go through their pans . . . Mme Simonet displayed all that power of acting for which she has been so justly celebrated since the first introduction of the ballets called 0?Action when first Vestris held the sceptre of Terpsychore at the King's Theatre [in 1780-81]" (Public Advertiser, 18 Feb., which also has a synopsis of the action)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [Mrs Mills was from the Edinburgh theatre.] Receipts: #173 6s. 6d. (140/13/0; 32/11/0; 0/0/0; ticket not come in: 0/2/6)

Event Comment: The new Comedy called A Bold Stroke for a Husband [announced on playbill of 21 Feb.] is obliged to be deferred till Tuesday, on account of Quick's Indisposition. [In mainpiece the theatre playbill lists Fearon as Justice Shallow. Public Advertiser retains Wilson; and in its issue of 24 Feb. reviews him in the part.] Receipts: #148 9s. (139/0/6; 9/8/6)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Miss Linley still continuing so ill [see 7 Mar.] as not to be able to perform this Evening, Mrs Bannister has been so kind as to undertake to supply her Place. Tickets to be had and Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook at the Stage Door of the Theatre, at half a guinea each. Pit 5s. 1st Gallery 3s. 6d. 2nd Gallery 2s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]

Event Comment: Paid Lee Lewes in lieu of a Benefit #105. Afterpiece: Never acted at this Theatre. Receipts: #157 1s. 6d. (153/19/0; 3/2/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. The great Overflow from Covent-Garden Theatre, on Tuesday last, has induced many of Mr Bannister's Friends to desire he would again perform the Part of Polly. In Compliance with the Wish of those to whom he is under so many Obligations, he will, this Evening, make his Appearance in that Character, for the last Time of his appearing in Petticoats [but see 3, 13 May]. Tickets delivered for Alexander and Acis and Galatea will be admitted. Receipts: #276 10s. 6d. (167/11/6; tickets: 108/19/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: usual Entertainments at this Place are cut off till further Notice: the Reason of which, together with the true State of the Theatre, will in a few Days be laid before the Public by the Proprietors

Event Comment: Creditors of Mr Taylor are requested to meet the Trustees this Day, at One o'clock, at the Bedford Arms, Covent Garden. The Proprietor having, upon a certain Ground, granted the use of the House for the Benefit of the Performers, during the Remainder of the Season, there will be an Opera on Thursday next. [It was cancelled.] Several Persons of Fashion having generously raised a new Subscription for the Relief of the Performers, they take this opportunity of returning them their most cordial thanks. The Price of the new Subscription is Five Guineas each Subscriber, for 12 Benefit Nights, the Money to be paid into the hands of Mr Drummond, Banker, at Charing-Cross. [On 27 May a concert was held at the Pantheon for the benefit of the singers and dancers who had lately belonged to the King's Theatre, in which they all participated.]

Event Comment: The last Time of the Company's performing this Season. [Mainpiece acted for the 22nd time this season. The playbill states, "for the 23rd Time"; on the Kemble playbill this has been corrected in MS to 22nd. Genest, VI, 262, says that this play was also acted on both 3 and 4 June. But on those nights the theatre was dark.] Receipts: #270 11s. (260/7; 10/4; after-money not listed). Account-Book, 5 June: Paid Mrs Siddons a Present from the Proprietors #100; 6 June: Paid 100 Renters #20 4s. apiece; 23 June: Received of Their Majesties #156

Event Comment: The last Time of the Company's performing this Season. [On this night Wewitzer acted both at CG and the HAY.] Receipts: #135 3s. 6d. (132/14/6; 2/9/0). Account-Book, 7 June: Paid Harris for One Year's Superintendence #500, Garton [treasurer] in full of his Salary #238, Miss Younge in lieu of Cloaths this Season #200; 30 June: Paid Lewis in full for Salary as Acting Manager #200. Between 7 and 30 June various sums, a few of which are here specified, were entered in the Account-Book as being paid to the following tradesmen and others: perukemaker, fireworks maker, blacksmith [#277 6s.], basketmaker, scalemaker, haberdasher, sadler, bill-sticker, turner, harpsichord-tuner, silk-dyer, printer, sawyer, plumber, linen-draper, woollen-draper, brazier, coal merchant [#189 8s.], timber merchant [#500 8s.], stonemason, hosier, music copier, shoemaker, painter, tinman, oil merchant [#452 2s.], gunsmith, worsted laceman, book-binder, glazier, copper laceman [#127 15s.], silk mercer, tallow chandler, stationer, engine-maker, gold-beater, furrier, watch-maker, bookseller, victualler, rope-maker, embroiderer, bricklayer [#226 14s.], wax chandler [#501 2s.], upholsterer [#729]. Many of these disbursements had to do with the extensive rebuilding of the theatre