Event Comment: Nothing under full price, will be taken during the time of the performance (General Advertiser). [This note appears on succeeding bills which include Miss in Her Teens this season, and will not be recorded further.] Afterpiece: Never acted there before [by David Garrick]. Receipts: #196 3s

Event Comment: Letter from John Potter, Proprietor of the New Theatre in the Haymarket, to the author of the General Advertiser: As the resentment of the Town for the disappointment of the performance advertised to be exhibited at my theatre on Monday last, shall fall entirely upon me, I hope I may be allowed to acquaint the public with the nature of my case. [Suggests he should not be to blame for misbehavior of any person who hired his house, that he had some apprehensions in this case, but that the Bottle Conjurer paid the rent in advance and agreed to have a House officer in the box office to return the money if the audience was displeased.] All the caution above mentioned was taken, and the money locked up in the office, guarded by persons of reputation, who would have returned it, and publicly on the stage told them, that if the person did not appear, their money should be return'd. But instead of complying with that offer, my House was pulled down, the Office broken open, the money taken out, and the servants oblig'd to fly to save their lives. I hope therefore this may be deem'd a sufficient justification in my behalf, and all that could be reasonably expected from me; and that those gentlemen who are conscious of having injured me, will be so generous as to make me a reasonable Satisfaction, considering the damage I have suffer'd, which in a moderate computation will amount to upwards of four thousand pounds. This day is Publish'd, at 1s. Lethe, a Dramatic Satire, by David Garrick as it is perform'd at Drury Lane. By Paul Vaillant, facing Southampton Street in the Strand. [A letter from Samuel Foote to the Author of the General Advertiser clears himself from any imputation of confederacy in the Bottle Conjuror fraud. See also my Introduction, note 103.] Receipts: #100 (Cross); #119 2s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: Farce by David Garrick. Paid half year's Land Tax due Michelmas #34 6s., and half year's window tax #8 17s.; Paid oyl bill #50 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #128 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Garrick put the finish hand to the sale of half the patent &c. to Dr Ford, Linley, Ewart, and Sheridan for #35,000 to be delivered over in June next. Garrick it was said rais'd #12,000 last year by subscription to pay New Ornamentation, which cost #3000, so that the remaining #4500 and #35,000 was no bad interest for the #5,000 he gave in 1747. New property valuation giving him a...(Winston MS 11, from Burney News Cuttings). Paid Mr Palmer, spermacetti candle Bill #186 13s.; Mr Machin, Chorus, 19 times #4 15s. Rec'd Mr Percy's rent 1 year to Mich Last, #10; Stopages #14 5s. Receipts: #167 2s. (Treasurer's Book). From the Morning Chronicle, 19 Jan.: "David Garrick, Esq., has signed and sealed for the sale of his share in the patent and Property of Drury Lane Theatre. The purchasers are Dr Ford, Mr Ewart, Mr Linley, and Mr Richard Sheridan. The purchase money is #35,000. The public may now therefore depend upon it that this will be the last season of Mr Garrick's performing. The new proprietors as an act of their own, have stipulated that Mr Garrick shall continue to keep that box which has of late years been set apart for the accomodation of his family. Mr Garrick intimated last night to the audience his having sold his share in Drury Lane Theatre, by answering in the part of Abel Drugger , on being asked if he had any interest at the theatre, 'I had some, I don't know what I may have.'

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5]: By the celebrated Henry Fielding; and never yet performed or published. With new Scenes, Dresses, &c. [and incidental music by Michael Arne. Prologue by David Garrick. Epilogue by the same (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 12 Dec. 1778: This Day is published The Fathers (1s. 6d.). "This play was written by Mr Henry Fielding, some years before his death. Mr Garrick saw it at that time. Mr Fielding gave the only fair copy he had of it to his friend Sir Charles Williams, of whose judgment he entertained a high opinion. Sir Charles soon after went abroad, and the comedy was mislaid. Mr. Fielding communicated this circumstance to his family on his death-bed; and enquiry was made for it, but without effect. At length Mr Thomas? Johnes, Member for Cardigan, looking over Sir Charles's books, found a comedy in manuscript, which he read, and, approving, had it transcribed and sent to Mr Garrick for his opinion, who, like Archimedes, cried out, 'This is the lost sheep! This is Mr Henry Fielding's play!' Mr Garrick communicating it to Mr Johnes, Mr Johnes immediately sent the original manuscript, which was in Mr Fielding's hand-writing, to the family, with his best wishes for its success, promising to assist it to the utmost of his power" (Gentleman's Magazine, Dec. 1778, p.586). See also, for corroboration of the above and for other details, Wilbur L. Cross, The History of Henry Fielding, 1918, III, 99-104. Receipts: #210 11s. 6d. (186.6.0; 23.19.6; 0.6.0)

Event Comment: RRev. T. Newton to David Garrick, 18 Jan.: I was almost angry with you, to see your name last week in the bills for Costar Pearmain. I am not fond of your acting such parts as Fondlewife, or even Clodio, nor should be of the Lying Valet, if it was not of your own writing. You who are equal to the greatest parts, strangely demean yourself in acting any thing that is low and little; and not only I, but really all who admire you and Wish you well, that is all who know you, are grieved and wonder at it. If I was an actor surely I would rather wish to be a Raphael than a Hogarth; or if I was a poet, I would choose infinitely rather to be a Milton than Hudibras.--Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 5-6. [Morning Herald 28 June 1787 suggests that Yates was Winifred apShenkin.

Event Comment: RRehearsal deferred by Garrick's illness. London Daily Post and General Advertiser: Whereas it has been industriously reported to my prejudice, that I was at the Masquerade in the Habit of a Madman; this is to assure the Gentlemen or Ladies, who are offended at me, without Cause, I was not at either of the Masquerades this Season, as can be testify'd by several Gentlemen in whose Company I was. If any Person has a Mind to be further satisfy'd, I will fully convince them of the Truth of this Advertisement. David Garrick

Event Comment: For the Authors. [See "David Garrick and the Clandestine Marriage," by Frederick L. Bergmann, PMLA (March, 1952), pp. 148-62, a study of Garrick's contribution on basis of the Folger Library MS.

Event Comment: New Scenes, Dresses, Machinery and other Decorations. Book of the Entertainment to be had at 1s. 6d. at Theatre. A Dramatic Romance by David Garrick, Music composed by Michael Arne. Gave King's Footmen and Chairmen #4 4s.; Queen's ditto; Dukes of York and Gloucester ditto (Treasurer's Book). [A memorandum dated 22 August 1766 (Folger Library, Garrick Album, 520 MS, Cage) explains that Michael Arne was to compose the Music for Cymon, and as compensation shall be intitled to and receive one third part of the profits of the three first nights which the author shall take for his own Benefits." Zachariah Stephens was witness. See 15 Jan. 1767.] Receipts: #196 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A new short Introductory Piece before a play [The Meeting of the Company]. This new Prelude call'd The Meeting of the Company or Bayes' Art of Acting by D. G. Esq--it is full of fine Satyr & an Excellent Lesson to all performers, it was receiv'd with very great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in the wording. The salaries this season were #94 7s. 8d. per day; #566 6s. per week. Kemble's note as to total receipts is short by 8 pence.] Prices: Box 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [Unfavorable review of Meeting of the Company in The Westminster Magazine (Sept., p. 472). The actor Aickin referred to this season is J. Aickin. Francis Aickin left dl before the beginning of this season. He was dismissed by Garrick in May. See Booden, Private Correspondence of David Garrick, I, 651-55.] Paid Renters #8; Advanced Mr Watson (box office keeper) #10; Ditto to Mr Mortimer (box office keeper) #15 (Treasurer's Book). [The funds to the box office keepers was operating cash which was returned 29 May 1775. Payment to Renters was same for each acting night until the eighty-eighth night (9 Jan. 1775) when it dropped to #4 nightly, since half of the stock holders (the Old Renters) were paid up by that time. The remaining 100 nights of the season plus 11 Oratorio nights yielded #448 to the Renters. No further mention of this item of expense will be made this season.] Total to Renters #1,152. Receipts: #212 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Gallery 3s. Pit 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Doors open at half past five. Play begin at half past six. [Repeated.] Before the Play a new Overture and New Occasional Prelude (Public Advertiser). The House has been quite alter'd since last Season and is now fitted up in the most elegant manner Possible by the Adam's etc. and is the most Compleat of any Theater in Europe. Great applause to the House before the Curtain. The Theatrical Candidates is wrote by D. G. Esq and was received with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording. In Judging the popularity of a play in terms of box receipts for this season one must be aware of the fact that the treasurer's account books here differ from those of the five preceding years in not recording the income from the tickets delivered out for benefit nights. Hence on those nights the stated income reflects only the money taken at the door the night of the performance, and does not indicate the larger amounts which the actors received for their tickets. Deficits to various actors listed on the following pages were all paid up, presumably from the ticket receipts. Each actor doubtless at least broke even on his benefit.] Ceiling rais'd 12 feet. Old side Boxes top and bottom remov'd. New passages to Boxes. Entrance Bridges St. Light pillars to support Boxes inlaid with plate glass on green and crimson ground. Old chandeliers remov'd. Gilt branches with two candles each on pillars. Four new chandeliers in front. No slit i Curtain. Adam architects. 4,000 guineas. Persons not employed in the night's amusement ordered not to come behind the scenes--performers by that means go cross stage (Winston MS 11, from Dr Burney's News Cuttings). Paid Renters #8; Supernumeraries and Drum #1 16s.; taylor's Bill #10 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [For the 188 acting nights of the season and for 11 Oratorio nights the Renters were paid a total of #1,692. The Supernumeraries were paid an average of #5 per night or #940 for the season. No further account of these items will be made. Full account of the new look given to Drury Lane by the Adam's brothers in the Westminster Magazine for Sept. along with an approving review of the Meeting of the Company.] From Lloyd's Evening Post, 25 Sept., "On the New Front of Drury Lane Theatre": @Garrick asham'd to poke his nose@Too sheepishly beneath the Rose:@And fearing, poor man, what were Worse,@His bashfulness might hurt his purse;@Resolves this year to push a front,@And put a better face upon't.@Not surely meaning to give o'er@His Art, and make no faces more.@Yet, fair as tis, I'd have him know@If tis the last he means to show.@This face will never make amends,@For turning tail upon his friends;@Who own, by general consent,@His face the best Stage ornament.@ (In Folger Library, David Garrick Verses, Prologues and Epilogues, MS, p. 86.) Receipts: #208 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Archer by Mr King. Cherry first time Miss Jarratt pretty well. Sga Pacini danc'd for the first time. She is a small figure, not much Elegance but was very well received (Hopkins Diary). Agreement with Sga Paccini, 20 June 1775: "I do agree for my partner, Mr Willoughby Lacy, and myself, to engage Signora Paccini as first dancer at our Theatre, the ensuing season, which commences the first week in September 1775, and finishes the end of May 1776; for which the said Signora shall receive from us, by weekly or monthly payments as she pleases, the sum of three hundred and twenty-five pounds sterling, and she is likewise to have a benefit in course of salary, and at the best time of the year, for which she is to dance whenever she is called upon, to the best of her power and abilities. This engagement the managers of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane engage to fulfill on their part, under the penalty of five-hundred pounds sterling. Witness my hand this nineteenth day of June 1775." (Signed.) David Garrick for Willoughby Lacy and himself (Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, II, 63). The Comedy of The School for Lovers oblig'd to be deferr'd. Receipts: #153 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Fund, for the Relief of those who from their Infirmities shall be obliged to retire from the Stage. Prelude [1st time; M. PREL 1, by David Garrick, and others. In a synopsis of the plot the London Chronicle assigns Bannister; it lists the names of the other performers and, separately, their parts. The assignments given above are my own conjecture. Not in Larpent MS; the composer of the vaudeville written by Garrick is unknown]. The Words of the Songs will be given at the Theatre. Ladies and Gentlemen are requested to come early, to prevent Confusion. And to send their Servants by Five o'clock to keep the Places. Receipts: #217 8s. 6d. (100.9.0; 25.14.6; 0.0.0; tickets: 91.5.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted here. [Mrs Armstead is identified in Morning Chronicle, 16 May. Prologue by George Colman elder (Collection...of English Prologues and Epilogues, II, 207).] Afterpiece: Not acted these 20 years. With a new Overture, the Original Prologue [by David Garrick], and a New Scene, in which will be introduced an air. With a Grand Jubilee-Pageant, in Honour of Gulliver. The Music, Dresses, Scenes, Trophies and Decorations entirely new. The Music composed by Dr Arnold. ["Lilliput was altered by Garrick (its author), and a procession of cards introduced in it, Gulliver walking as the Knave of Clubs" (Gilliland, I, 121-22). London Chronicle, 16 May, gives a synopsis of this pageant.] The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken at the Theatre. After this Evening the Entertainments of this Theatre will be discontinued till further Notice, on account of the Performers employed at Drury Lane Theatre [see 28 May]

Event Comment: Altered from Shirley by Garrick--(some hissing at it) (Cross). [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758 for generally favorable contemporary comment, but one which deplores Garrick's retention of Shirley's obsolete expressions. The printed version contains scenes in Act III not appearing in the Larpent MS] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit Garrick. By Command of Prince and Princess of Wales. [Winston MS. from Dyer MS.: A prodigious audience] Farce never acted there. Seven rows of the Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes. Stage to be form'd into side boxes where servants may keep places. Tickets of Mr Valliant, Bookseller, Strand; or at Garrick's, Bow St., Covent Garden

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Mr Garrick played Lusignan and Lord Chalkstone. It is almost impossible to express how finely he played both characters. The Prologue was called for. Mr Garrick went on directly to speak it--as soon as he appeared a general clap and a loud huzza,--and there was such a noise from the House being so crowded, very few heard anything of the prologue.--As soon as the play began there was a great disturbance in the Gallery, and some called out, Guards Guards! that they could not go on.--Mr Lacy went on the Stage, and looked up to the gallery, and came off again without saying anything.--They soon grew quiet, and the play went on.--Monsr Rousseau sat in Mr Garrick's box (Hopkins Diary). [Account in the Public Advertiser of the original story upon which VanBrugh founded some circumstance in his Provok'd Wife, signed Heartfree. The Gentleman's Magazine, January, in the Historical Chronicle section noted that Jean Jacques Rousseau arrived in England on 13 Jan. and "was at the play on the 23rd, and presented himself in the upper Box fronting his Majesty."

Event Comment: Benefit Giffard. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Afterpiece: a new Dramatic Satire. [By David Garrick.] Tickets at Giffard's Lodgings [Mr Bolney's) in Great Queen Street

Event Comment: Acted there but once. By Authority. Tickets deliver'd out by Miss Barton which could not get in on Thursday last, will be admitted this Night. [An Epistle from Mr Theophilus Cibber, to David Garrick, Esq. London: 1755, dated Nov. 20, 1755: When Th. Cibber returned from Guilford last July, he found a discharge from Covent Garden (p.5) He got a license from the Duke of Grafton to open Little Haymarket (p. 6). He began and acted ten nights in three weeks, with some success, but when Drury Lane opened, Th. Cibber was ordered to stop (p. 7). He then petitioned the Duke of Grafton to have The Haymarket for two or three times weekly for the rest of the season. He hoped that the Little Haymarket might be a nursery for young performers, as well as for new pieces (p. 24). See dl 24 Nov.

Event Comment: MMrs Love play'd Mrs Peachum very bad. Her fit seem'd a very Aukward Imitation of Mrs Pritchard in the Jealous Wife (Hopkins). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No money received at the Stage Door. None returned after the curtain is up. Play to begin exactly at 6 o'clock. Places may be had of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door. Vivat Rex et Regina. [Customary notice, which will not be repeated here, Sept. 15 David Garrick & his Lady set out for Italy from his house in Southampton St. Covent Garden (Winston MS 9). Winston also refers to a Sept. 9 Letter from T. Davies, cg, to the poet Charles Churchill begging he would not introduce so unimportant a person as himself in his Smithfield Rosciad.] Receipts: #248 9s. (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No money taken at the Stage Door, nor any after the Curtain is up. Door open by 5 o'clock. Play begins at 6 o'clock. [Customary note repeated on all bills.] [This month publish'd A Letter to David Garrick on the opening of the Theatre, in which with great freedom he is told how he ought to behave, by H. W. The thesis of the pamphlet: The decline of dramatic genius is owing in great measure to your management (p. 16). "What I would earnestly recommend to you is to represent as many new plays as possible, and let them stand or fall on their own merit."

Event Comment: Prelude [1st time: PREL 1, by George Colman elder; incidental music by Thomas Linley Sen. and Nicola Piccinni. Prologue by David Garrick (Poetical Works, II, 327)]. The Words of the Songs in [the] Prelude will be given at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:3O. To begin at 6:30 [see 11 Nov.]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook at the Stage Door. No Money to be taken at the Stage Door, nor any Money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. The TR opened this Season under the Management of Messrs Lacy, Sheridan, Ford and Linley. This Summer the Flys has been raised considerably--the Stage widened and heitened--the orchestra enlarged, and Iron ornaments at the Top. New Brooms written by G. Colman Esq. went off with tolerable Applause--is much too long (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 3 Oct. 1776: This Day at Noon will be published New Brooms! (1s.). [Yates had last acted Malvolio at dl on 6 Jan. 1764 and at cg on 5 May 1772.] Receipts: #269 19s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; c 4, by George Colman elder. Prologue by the author (Prose on Several Occasions, III, 244). Epilogue by David Garrick (Poetical Works, II, 351). Larpent MS 450; synopsis of plot in London Chronicle, 11 July Postcript; not published]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With alterations [by David Garrick]. Receipts: #157 14s. 6d. (119.16.0; 37.14.0; 0.4.6)