Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years. Written by George Duke of Buckingham. With Songs, Dances, New Scenes, Machines, Habits and other proper decorations. The Music New-compos'd by Mr Arne. No After Money will be taken. To prevent any interruption in the movement of the machines, 'tis hoped no Persons will take it ill that they cannot be admitted behind the scenes. Receipts: #90

Event Comment: The main dance team became known and advertised as Checo and Chiaretta

Event Comment: BY Command of their Royal Highnesses the Duke, and the Princesses Amelia, Caroline, and Louisa. New Habits and decorations for the dances

Event Comment: Benefit for Signora Provenzale. Pit and boxes together at Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. The Music by Jomelli. N.B. As Miss Asolin cannot dance this day having sprained her ankle, Mr Gallini will be so humane as to perform with Miss Provenzale that she may not be disappointed of her benefit

Event Comment: By Permission. Benefit Barry. Tickets for the 10th instant will be taken. Being positively the last time of performing. Afterpiece: Taken from the Mistake. Neville MS Diary: Barry's expression of the savageness of the Moor, particularly with his eyes, is very great. Mrs Dancer does not suit herself in the character of Desdemona. We had two dances by Miss Froment with a foolish Farce in two acts

Event Comment: Benefit Rogers, Simson, and Mrs Chetwood. Tickets to be had of Rogers at Mr Molloy's, Wine Merchant in Bear Yard, Lincoln's Inn Fields; at Mr Settre's, Linen Draper, at the Golden Anchor, next Tom's Coffee House, Covent Garden; of Mrs Chetwood, Castle Tavern, Drury Lane; and of Simson, at Mr Gill's, a shoemaker, Basinghall St. [At 5 p.m. this day Jack, Joseph and Polly Granier are scheduled to dance in several dances at the New Wells, Lemon St., Goodman's Fields. Carney has also gone over to the New Wells.

Event Comment: New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations for the dances. [No after money.] The New Grand Ballet, call'd the Turkish Pirate, and the Comic Entertainment of Dancing, the Laundress's Visiting Day were perform'd last Monday at Drury Lane, with uncommon applause. The Scenery was well contriv'd, the habits very elegant, and the dance in a taste particularly agreeable. The comic entertainment is a fine piece of low humour, the various characters were well represented and afforded a great deal of Mirth; Sig Salomon especially, in the character of the woman's taylor, show'd a great deal of a good comedian as well as an excellent dancer, and the whole was greatly approv'd of.--London Courant; or New Advertiser, 31 Dec

Event Comment: With proper scenes, Machines, &c. [This is the Dryden-Davenant version.] Paid G. Garrick balance of his bill #6 13s.; Christmas Box to ye Beadle 3s. 6d.; Mr Norton 5 chorus #1 5s.; Xmas Jury #1 1s.; Mr Madden for an Embroidered Coat and a velvet suit of Cloaths #12 (Treasurer's Book). [This month was published A Dissertation on Comedy (by John Hippisley, Jr) in which the Rise and Progress of that Species of the Drama is particularly considered and deduced from the earliest to the present age. By a Student of Oxford. Printed for T. Lowndes (Gentleman's Magazine, Register of Books). The "Student of Oxford" seems to have been a Garrick apologist in the extreme: "But whatever reason there may have been formerly for this complaint [the immorality of the stage] since Mr Garrick's management the Stage is become the school of manners and morality: Ribaldry and Profaneness are no longer tolerated, Sense and Nature exert their influence; Pantomime daily declines, Dancers are but little encouraged; the Burletta performs to empty benches, and the British can now vie with the Athenian Drama when in its severest state of purity" (p. 15). Also, from the same source, Reflections on that Species of Dramatic Writing which it improperly call'd Serious Comedy: from the French of M Maillet du Boulley.] Receipts: #120 (Cross); #126 3s. (Treasurer's Book)