Event Comment: [This evening] a cause came on to be tried in the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, in which Mr William Bates, Music Master, was Plaintiff and Spranger Barry, Esq</a> the celebrated tragedian, defendent, upon a demand made by the plaintiff for a large sum of money due to him from the Defendent, for the performance of Miss Slack, the Plaintiff's apprentice, at the Theatre in Cork...After a short hearing a verdict was given in favour of the Plaintiff (Lloyd's Evening Post, 25-28 Nov.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Yates. Mainpiece [by R. Glover, Esq</a>]. Pit and Boxes will be laid together. Ladies send Servants by 4 o'clock, and come as early as possible to prevent Confusion

Event Comment: Paid Dan Malthus, Esq</a>, 1 year's Rent to Xmas last, Land Tax #3 5s. to Mich last deducted #29 15s.; Mr Thomson (Smith &c.) #1 1s. 8d. sewer tax; #36 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #189 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Chapman for horsekeeping [for Jubilee] #12 6s. (Treasurer's Book). [Published this month A Letter to David Garrick, Esq. on his conduct as Principal Manager and Actor at Drury Lane. Printed for S. Bladon. Accuses Garrick of controlling the press, save for two papers, and thus getting more favourbale treatment than his position and actions deserve. "You are a mere actor. You affect to feel where you do not, and imitate tones, looks and gestures, while your heart is at ease. This should heighten our opinion of you as an artist, whatever we might think of you as a man. I believe you are not generally judged of in this manner. It is not difficult to impose on the world." The author (David Williams?) deprecates Garrick's supposed handling of the actors of his company, and desires to see more Shakespeare. Suggests Garricks' acting perfection lies in the extreme, in exaggerated gesture, and sudden bursts of passion." Suggests he is getting old and should try his hand at Shylock.] Receipts: #271 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Mr Ximenes...is a very spirited and very chaste performer (Theatrical Review, 13 March). This Day Publish'd (in Quarto, price 2s.) Sanitas, Daughter to Aesculapius, to David Garrick, Esq</a>, a Poem

Event Comment: Being desired, for one night only under thr direction of Dr Arne at the Theatre Royal...will be performed the celebrated Catches and Glees, after which by Authority will be performed a new Burletta...alter'd and plann'd for Music from a favourite piece written by Henry Fielding, Esq</a>. Music entirely new composed by Dr Arne, with a new Irish and Scots Medley Overture. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin at 6:00 p.m. Books of both performances to be had together at the Theatre at 1s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Payments: Mr D. Garrick's 3 Nights for the Christmas Tale, 30 Dec., 4 & 11 Jan., #84 charges deducted each night--#371 14s. (Treasurer's Book). At Isleworth, James Lacy, Esq.: one of the patentees of Drury Lane Theatre died (Gentleman's Magazine, 44, p. 47). [For full account of Lacy, see Covent Garden Magazine (229-34).] Rec'd of Mr Burges, 1 yrs. rent to Xmas last (#4 4s. King's Tax deducted) #16 16s.; Paid Mr Cropley (linen draper) 2 Bills #66 10s. 6d.; Mr Scott (laceman) #66 1s.; Messrs Lowe & Co. (glaziers) #18 6s.; Mr Burges (bricklayer) #65 8s.; Mr Waller (hosier) #24 5s.; Messrs Barrow & Co., oil, #53 7s. 6d.; Messrs Hopkins & Co. (ironmongers) #30 11s.; Mrs Vaughan (haberdasher) 2 bills, #14 10s. 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) 3 bills, #120 11s.; Mr J. French's draft to Mr Wise #5 10s.; Mr J. Johnston's Music Bill #24 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #246 18s. 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: Rec'd stopages #11 18s.; Paid Daniel Maltoss [sic] Esq one year's rent due Xmas #31 10s. 10d. (Treasurer's Book). [Evidently Daniel Malthus. Although Victor was still Treasurer and Evans sub-treasurer this season, some new bookkeepers seem to be recording the financial transactions, for several different hands appear in the manuscript. The spelling by one of these bookkeepers is bad even by eighteenth-century standards. DeLoutherbourg's name is spelled a half-dozen different ways, including Lutenborgh, Lutterbourg, and Latherbourg.] Receipts: #266 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A sacred Oratorio selected from the works of $George Frederick Handel, Esq.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Taylor. Mainpiece: Written by Hugh Kelly Esq</a>. Tickets to be had of Miss Taylor at Sergeant's, Paradise-street. Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin precisely at 6:00

Event Comment: Benefit for Master Russell. Tickets to be had of Master Russell at the Swan, Elephant stairs. Afterpiece: Written by Henry Fielding, Esq. In Act I the Triumphal Entry of Tom Thumbv, attended with Giants, Giantess's, Dwarfs, Pigmies, Drums, Trumpets, &c

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in 3 acts, altered from Garrick's original 5 acts by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.] The Music composed by Dibdin. With New Dresses. The Scenes, Machines, &c. invented by DeLoutherbourg. The Christmas Tale reduced to three Acts (by R. B. Sheridan esq.) was performed for the first time as a Farce--was received with very great Applause--it is too long, and must be shortened (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 22 Oct. 1776: This Day at Four o'Clock will be published A Christmas Tale (1s.) [For Baker see 28 Sept.] Receipts: #241 14s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 16 years [not acted since 27 Oct. 1758]. With Alterations [by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Prologue by David Garrick]. The Characters new dressed. This Play is revived with Alterations (by R. B. Sheridan Esq) and a new occasional Prologue written by Mr Garrick? and spoken by Dodd, both well received. Miss Essex made her first Appearance upon this stage in Silvia, a small mean Figure and shocking Actress, so bad that she is to do the Part no more. Reddish was very imperfect in Vainlove from the Beginning, but was so very much so in the last Act, that the Audience hissed very much, and cryed out, 'Off, Reddish, Off!" He went forward, and addressed them as follows, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been honoured with your Favour and Protection for these ten years past, and I am very sorry to give any cause for your Displeasure now; but having undertaken the Part at a very short Warning, in order to strengthen the Bill, and having had but two Rehearsals for it, puts it out of my Power to do Justice to the Part, or myself.' The Play then went on. So great a Lye was never delivered to an Audience by any Actor or Actress before. He had the Part at least six weeks in his Possession, and repeated Notice to be ready in it, and six Rehearsals was called for it,--indeed, he attended but three. Vernon undertook to study the Part at eleven o'clock to-night, and to perform it to-morrow (Hopkins Diary). [Miss Essex was from the hay.] Receipts: #209 6s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. Written by Congreve. [For Prologue see 19 Nov.] Love for Love was revived with alterations by R. B. Sheridan Esq. (Note by J. P. Kemble on Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #150 0s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Whitefield and Wewitzer. Mainpiece: Written by the late Hugh Kelly, Esq., Never acted there. Public Advertiser, 26 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Whitefield, Crown-court, Bow-street; of Wewitzer. Great Hart-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #137 4s. 6d. (55.14.6; tickets: 81.10.0) (charge: #85 12s. 6d.)

Event Comment: By Authority of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Stewart and Walker. Mainpiece [1st time; PAST 5]: Done into English, from the Original of Allan Ramsay, by Cornelius Vanderstop, Esq. As it has long been the Desire of the Nobility and Gentry to have this celebrated Piece performed in English, the Gentleman who has undertaken this ardent Task hopes it will give Satisfaction to the Public in general. [Text 1st published For the Author, 1777.] Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by James Stewart. Authors of Prologues unknown.]. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:00. No Persons whatever to be admitted behind the Scenes, nor any Money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. Ladies are desired to send their Servants by Five to keep Places. Tickets to be had at the Edinburgh Coffee-house and Jamaica Coffee-house, Cornhill; the St. Andrew, Wapping; and of Walker, No. 4, New Round Court, Strand

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq. Receipts: #171 8s. (169.9; 1.19)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain, Mainpiece: Altered from the Original [Woman is a Riddle, by Christopher Bullock. Not in Larpent MS; not published]. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT I, author unknown. MS not in Larpent; not published]. 3rd piece: Written by Henry Fielding, Esq. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Tickets delivered by Davis, Wright, Mrs Lefevre will be admitted. Constant fires will be kept on the stage, Pit, Boxes and Galleries to air the house

Event Comment: Benefit for Jewell, treasurer. Tickets to be had of Jewell, in Suffolk-street. Mainpiece: Written by the late $S. Foote, Esq.

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for a Gentlewoman. Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [Author of Prologue unknown.] Afterpiece: Written by Thomas King, Esq. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:30. The Public may be assured that the principal Performers in the above play and farce are Persons accustomed to the Stage, and that the utmost Attention will be paid to the credit of Performance. Tickets delivered by Mrs Lefevre and Blackburn will be admitted