Event Comment: Mainpiece :By Particular Desire. The Orphan of China published. Price 1s. 6d. Dedicated to Garrick. Translated from the French of Voltaire. Acted at Paris with great applause. Published This Day Reflections on Theatrical Expression in Tragedy, with a proper introduction and appendix. For the character of the above see The Monthly Review for July (Public Advertiser). [This must be the second edition of Roger Pickering's pamphlet. See 13 March 1755.] Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMonr Delatre danc'd, no notice taken of the french (Cross). [Apprentice published--1s., by Mr Murphy.] Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Barbaut's Second Subscription Oratorio, taken from the First Book of Milton's Paradise Regained and set to music by Mr Charles Barbant in two parts with a solo upon the Violin by Signor Marella; a solo upon the German Flute by Mr Tacet; a Concerto on the Lute by Mr Servi?; a Hautboy concert by Mr Barbant; and an organ concerto ditto; and a Great Concerto with Clarinets, French Horns and Kettle-Drums, composed by Mr Barbant. Boxes and Pit put together at Half a Guinea each, Gallery 3s. Tickets to be had at Mr Barbant's, at Mr White's in Marshall St., Carnaby-Market; and at Mr Browne's Stationer [sic], facing the Opera House, Haymarket. To begin at half an Hour after six. N.B. the Books of the Oratorios stitched in Blue Paper at 1s. each are sold at Mrs Browne's [sic] in the Haymarket, and at the House on the night of the performance

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin. Last time of Performing the Mainpiece this season. Afterpiece: Translated from the French by Macklin. Receipts: #190 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for the French Dancers, tho' not in the Bills. It was to have been The Winter's Tale, but Mrs Cibber is taken ill (Cross). Tickets deliver'd for The Winter's Tale and Catherine and Petruchio will be taken. Last time of performing the mainpiece this season. Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit Sig and Signora Forti. [Actually a charity benefit, as the ship with their costumes was seized by the French.

Event Comment: A Sacred Oratorio by Pope, set by Charles Barbandt. Benefit for the Composer. Box 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. To begin at Seven O'clock

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment never perform'd before. The Music composed by Dr Arne. Full Prices. Boxes #53 (Account Book). [About 212 persons in Boxes. A profitable and popular afterpiece for Rich, but it cost him each night this season 10s. 6d. for Mr Wrexell for the Clarinet, and 5s. to Dell for the French Horn.] Receipts. #181 8s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Tenducci. Tickets 5s. Coffee and Tea included. [Pasqualino had a similar musical evening there, 18 June, with fireworks.

Event Comment: Books of the Opera to be sold at the Theatre. Nothing under FULL PRICE can be taken. Opera not perform'd this season. [A riot this night in which the benches were torn up. Led by Fitzpatrick against the abolishment of the custom of admitting at half-price after the third act. See previous disturbance at Drury Lane. No more plays at cg until 3 March 1763 while repairs were being made to theatre. See Gentleman's Magazine, Feb. 1763, Historical Chronicle, Th. 24: A riot happened at Covent Garden theatre occasioned by a demand being made for full prices at the opera Artaxerxes. The mischief done was the greatest ever known on any occasion of the like kind; all the benches of the boxes and Pit being entirely tore up, the glasses and chandeliers broken, and the linings of the Boxes cut to pieces. The rashness of the rioters was so great, that they cut aWay the wooden pillars between the Boxes, so that if the inside of them had not been iron, they would have brought down the Galleries upon their heads. The damages done amount to at least #2000. Four persons concern'd in the riot have been committed to the gatehouse. The Beauties of All Magazines Selected, for March 1763 (p. 142) reprinted from the Ledger a humorous account of this riot as told by a sailor in fabricated seaman's language: As soon as the foresheet was clewed up...As to my 5s., why the owners are welcome to it towards repair, for you stripp'd plank, timbers, and scantlings,-you gutted her; she look'd like a French prize, after a yard-arm engagement."

Event Comment: Full Prices. Afterpiece: A Pantomimic dance by Love (Biographia Dramatica). Much followed and brought several crowded houses, and the success chiefly owing to the reports our newspapers were, at that time, daily filled with, of the French wild Beast that was devouring (and yet pursued by) children. This wild beast was happily introduced in this pantomime, pursued by boys led on by a Frenchman. At last the Beast made his Re-entry, and ran across the stage with the poor Frenchman in his mouth, to the great joy of the Pit, Box and Galleries (Victor, History of Theatres, III, 72). Dorilas for the first time by Mr Cautherly--very decent, but wanted spirit. This pantomime is fathered by Mr Lowe [?]--went off with applause, --Mr Garrick made most of the Business to it, which is very good (Hopkins Diary). [Letter from C. V. Theatricus on ladies' removing their hats in the theatre. A Gentleman had requested it and a debate ensued in the Public Advertiser, as to whether he wished to see the play better or to gaze more audaciously on many pretty faces. Long letter also from G. F. Theatricus to the Public Advertiser, commenting on the excellence of Powell, Mrs Yates, Holland, the Palmers, Cautherly and Bensley for their performance in Venice Preserved, Romeo and Juliet, and Mahomet respectively.

Event Comment: Paid Mr French on account #50 [scene painter and maker of light props] (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #85 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr French #20 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #153 17s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Not acted these 2 years. [See 27 Oct. 1764.] Paid French on account #30; and Frederick for cloath #6 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #115 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: N.B.: The Cunning Man is oblig'd to be deferr'd. Rec'd Condell's first [fruit concession] payment #20; Paid French on account #20; Mr John Palmer on his note #10. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #127 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. [Genest, V, 120, suggests The Old Maid as afterpiece with Clerimont-French">Cautherley; Capt. Cape-$Baddeley; Mrs Harlow-$Miss Pope; Miss Harlow-$Mrs Bennet; but Treasurer's Book Specifies Queen Mab.] Paid $French on acct. #50; Shepherd for cotton #2 18s. 4d.; Mrs Hilman for cloaths #4 14s. 6d.; Mrs Humphreys for a suit of cloaths #9 9s.; Miss Allen for cleaning stockings #1 6s. 6d.; Licensing the Earl of Warwick and Cymon #4 4s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #181 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid French on account #50 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #137 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Blandford (tallow chandler) bill #48 14s. 6d.; Waller (hosier) bill #18 13s. 6d.; Burgis (bricklayer) bill #46 18s.; Swan and Buck (mercers) bill #28 5s.; Mrs French on acct #21; Chorus singers 1 night #2 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #198 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Half past 5 went to the 5s. Gallery at the Opera House to see the comic opera La Buona Figliola, altered from Goldoni. The Music by Sg Nic Piccini, a Neopolitan composer. The Marq by Sg Lovatini, Castina by Sga Zamporini, the German by Sg Marigi. These I believe are reckoned the best of the company. I can't say I was greatly entertained, tho the music is very pleasing. There is something very absurd and truly characteristic of the present age in supporting a set of people at an immense expense to perform plays in a language which very few here understand. We had dances after every act by Sg Adriani, Sga Radicati, &c. It is said the dances at the opera are better than those at the theatres, but I am no great judge either of music or dancing. The scenes, particularly that of the Garden with waterworks &c. are very fine. They who go into the Pit &c. must be in a vile French dress (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. House charges #66 3s. 6d. [Profit to Palmer #74 18s. 6d.] Afterpiece: Not acted for 14 years. [See 11 Feb. 1748.] Last till after the holidays. Paid George Garrick on account #50 and French on account #20; Salary list #290 12s. 8d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #141 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Love. House charges #66 7s. [Profit to Love #84 19s.] Paid Manager's subscription to Widow Nimmo #2 2s; Paid French on acct #20; Rec'd Stopages #3 3s. Paid salary list #435 19s. (Treasurer's Book). [Neville attended and commented that Bayes was well done by Love, We had Hearts of Oak, Bayes's Horse, & and a Concerto on the Harpsichord by Master Love, who was much applauded.'] Receipts: #151 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Widow Vincent. House charges #64 15s. 6d. [Deficit Mrs Vincent #20 3s. 6d.] Rec'd by draft on Mr Clutterbuck #200, and from Sinking Fund #287; Paid Blandford (tallow chandler) #27 18s. 11d.; and French on account #12 12s. (Treasurer's Book). Fifteen minutes past 5 went to the 2s. gallery...(Widow Vincent's voice pleases me much. Holland did Oakly,-he imitates Garrick, but is very inferior to him (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #44 12s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fox, Mrs Cross, Miss Simson. By Particular Desire. House charges #64 7s. [Profit to actors #1 2s. 6d. plus tickets. Received Mr Dickinson's deficiency #54 14s.] Rec'd of Clutterbuck #100. Paid French on account #40. Paid Florio for 7 nights in Cymon #7 7s.; Chorus singers #2 10s. 6d.; Rec'd repayment of Arne's note #50 and of Hopkins' note #28; Stopages #2 3s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #65 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Barthelemon. Prices 3s. To begin at 6:30 P.M. Taken from the French of M Rousseau; Music by Barthelemon

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Abington. Mainpiece: Not acted in 4 years. [See 17 March 1768.] Pit and Boxes thrown together. Ladies are earnestly intreated to come early and prevent any difficulty and confusion in getting to their Seats