Event Comment: After this night The Maid of the Oaks will be laid aside for sometime. Rec'd Mr Condell's first payment for Fruit Office #20. Receipts: #200 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: New Scenes and Dresses for the Mainpiece. Paid Mr Dibdin in part of #100 allowed for his Benefit for the Cobler (remitting #50 in part of his debt), #50. Receipts: #124 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by R. B. Sheridan] never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses. [Gentleman's Magazine for Jan. states: "Tuesday 17, Was performed for the first time at Covent Garden a comedy call'd The Rivals, said to be written by Mr Sheridan. Some objections being made both to language and character, the author has thought proper to withdraw his piece for correction, and it has since been played with applause." See 18 and 28 Jan. The Westminster Magazine, Jan., remarked: "This comedy was acted so imperfectly, either from the timidity of the actors on a first night's performance, or from an improper distribution of parts, that it was generally disapproved....The author promised some alterations, which implied that he would be glad the Town would suspend judgment till a farther hearing" See 28 Jan. John Hampden quotes from Lloyd's Evening Post, 18 Jan., the Morning Chronicle and Morning Post of the same date, and the London Chronicle of 19 Jan. articles damning the casting and the imperfectness of the actors, the impudence of Shuter in particular, and the fatigue of the audience.

Event Comment: Afterpiece. By Desire. For the Author (2nd night). Paid Mr Luppino for dancing dresses #18 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #162 15s. 6d. Charges: #73 10s. Profit for author [Dr Franklin): #89 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: For the Author (3rd Night) (Treasurer's Book). "NB Pante Extras this Nt #4 18s. 6d. retd to Authr. Vide 10th inst.; Paid Mr J. Johnston's Music Bill #8 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #182 14s. Charges: #78 8s. 6d. Profit to Author [Franklin] #104 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: For Author of Entertainment, 1st Night. On the 17th of Feb. there was allowed "the Author of Rival Candidates cash paid by him for the admission of his Friends the 1st Night in lieu of Manager's orders #8 13s." Paid Mr Grimaldi on note #10; Returned charge of Pantomime & extras 7th inst. to Author (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #183 1s. Charges: #73 10s.; Profits to Bate: #109 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Acted but once these 20 years. The Golden Pippin oblig'd to be deferr'd, on account of Mr Quick's hoarseness

Event Comment: For the Author 2nd Night. Paid Mr Malthus one year's rent to Xmas last (#1 11s. 6d. Land tax deducted) #31 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). A Peep Behind the Curtain is oblig'd to be deferr'd. Receipts: #219 6s. 6d.; Charges: #73 10s.; Profits to Author: #145 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece advertised this night with New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Public Advertiser in a column entitled Theatrical Intelligence reviews Cleonice at length, concluding: "On an improbable incident hinges the whole plot! The last Act is particularly unpleasing. Mr Barry is very aukwardly situated every Time he comes on, which seems to be merely to sermonize-Upon the whole, Cleonice appears to be that kind of play which deserves neither extravagant praise nor very severe censure. The Prologue commenced on the hacknied Subject of abusing Sentimental Comedy, and serv'd to deceive us by informing us, that we were to see an original Play. The Epilogue. was well imagined and happily express'd. It was most excellently deliver'd by Mrs Bulkley."

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: Taken from The Jovial Crew. Part of pit laid into boxes. Send servants by 4 o'clock. Paid Mr Grimaldi's draft on Mrs Adams #100 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #291 9s. 6d. Charges: #68 18s. Profits to Smith: #212 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Reddish. Mainpiece was originally written by Mr Jones, Author of the Earl of Essex, but not quite finish'd it is now altered by Dr Hiffernan--very bad (Hopkins Diary). Paid Salary List 4 days #378 10s. 8d.; J. French on Acct #5 5s. Receipts: #219, 4s. 6d. Charges: #70 11s. 6d. Profit to Reddish: #148 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Baddeley who play'd the Lady in Comus got out of the Enchanted Seat before her time & made a great Laugh the Farce was much hiss'd at the End (Hopkins Diary). [The Masque (never performed there) is the version reduced to two Acts by George Colman.] Benefit for Cautherly. Paid Mr J. Aickin in part of #60 in lieu of Benefit (remiting #10 to his credit) #50. Receipts: #197 11s. 6d. Charges: #68 17s. Profits to Cautherly: #128 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)