Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Pit and Boxes laid together, and Stage, for better accommodation of the Ladies, will be form'd into Front and Side Boxes. Tickets to be had of Barry at the corner of Bow St., and of Hobson at the Stage Door. [This month was printd The Town, a Satire by Wm. Kenrick, with especial attack upon Garrick and Garrick's plays. In Miss in her Teens, he boasts the strange pretense, To satire Coxcombs, while he murders sense." Kenrick is one of the few who criticizes Garrick (p. 21) for playing a low character Abel Drugger, rather than a king. He yields indirect praise to Janeton Auretti by blaming the town for cheering her dance, while neglecting the players: @Yet if Janeton shakes her slender feet@How loud the thunder clatters through the Pit.@ Prologue intended to have been spoken on the Revival of The Distress'd Mother, for the Benefit of Mr Barry, but omitted through some misunderstanding. Written by Mr Rolt, printed in Gentleman's Magazine, March 1748, p. 134.] Receipts: #270 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel); cash, #80 3s. 6d.; tickets, #118 5s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: FFreeholder's Magazine, Jan., p. 247: A Card. The frequenters of Drury Lane playhouse present their compliments to Mr Garrick, and take the liberty of reminding him, that as he has now no capital performer, besides himself, belonging to that house, to engage Mr Lee, if at liberty. As Mr Garrick's reputation as a player, and a fortune, are now established upon a basis sufficiently firm and solid, he need not entertain those jealous apprehensions of Mr Lee he formerly did. And as the Public have encouraged Mr Garrick so far, as to acquire an immense fortune, they esteem it incumbent upon him, in point of gratitude, to oblige them in whatever may contribute to their satisfaction and pleasure

Event Comment: After this night the Theatrical Candidates will be laid aside on account of other performances. Mr Jefferson hiss'd in Mirabel-not perfect (+Hopkins Diary). [Treasurer's Book suggests (erroneously) mainpiece as The Clandestine Marriage.] Paid Tallow chandler's second bill #34 16s. 9d.; Mr Hatsell for Theatrical Fund Benefit balance 25 May last #293 4s. 2d., plus 5 month's Interest at 3, #3 13s. 2d., #296 17s. 4d.; Remainder of Mr Garrick's salary for last season paid to Mr Hatsell #235 13s. 2d.; Valcour on note by order #10 10s.; Tabor and pipe 9 nights #4 14s. 6d. Rec'd Mr Garrick's draft on Mr Wallis #532 10s. 6d.; Stopages #13 14s. 6d. Receipts: #159 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book).*c1775 10 27 dl After this night the Theatrical Candidates will be laid aside on account of other performances. Mr Jefferson hiss'd in Mirabel-not perfect (+Hopkins Diary). [Treasurer's Book suggests (erroneously) mainpiece as The Clandestine Marriage.] Paid Tallow chandler's second bill #34 16s. 9d.; Mr Hatsell for Theatrical Fund Benefit balance 25 May last #293 4s. 2d., plus 5 month's Interest at 3, #3 13s. 2d., #296 17s. 4d.; Remainder of Mr Garrick's salary for last season paid to Mr Hatsell #235 13s. 2d.; Valcour on note by order #10 10s.; Tabor and pipe 9 nights #4 14s. 6d. Rec'd Mr Garrick's draft on Mr Wallis #532 10s. 6d.; Stopages #13 14s. 6d. Receipts: #159 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

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: Benefit Garrick, who perform'd King Richard. Pit and Boxes 4s. Gallery 1s. 6d. Tickets to be had at Garrick's Lodgings in Mansfield Street, Goodman's Fields, Bedford's, Tom's, Carey's, and Fleece Tavern. The Stage will be built after the Manner of an Amphitheatre, where Servants will be allow'd to keep Places, and likewise in the First Boxes, but not in the Pit, who are desire'd to be at the House by Three o'clock

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Garrick to Peter Garrick (Dec. 1741): You perhaps would be glad to know what parts I have play'd, King Richd-+Jack Smatter in Pamela-Clody fop's fortune-Lothario fair Penitent-Chamont Orphan-Ghost Hamlet-& Shall soon be ready in Bays in ye Rehearsal-and in ye part of Othello-Both of which I believe will do Me and Giffard great Service-I have had great Success in all, & 'tis not yet determin'd whether I play Trajedy or Comedy best-$Old Cibber has spoke with ye Greatest Commendation of my Acting, as to playing a Harlequin 'tis quite false-Yates last Season was taken very ill & was not able to begin ye Entertainment so I put on ye Dress & did 2 or three Scenes for him, but Nobody knew it but him & Giffard; I know it has been Said I play'd Harlequin at Covent Garden but it is quite false.-Little, Pineapples, pp. 28-29

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: By Command of Prince and Princess of Wales. A Free Benefit for Quin. Receipts: #88 13s., plus #136 15s. from tickets. [Garrick had written Quin he was too ill to play in the mainpiece but would act in his farce. Notice of 23 March about Amphitheatre repeated.] Tickets deliver'd out for 9 March will be taken. To prevent mistakes none will be admitted into the Boxes but by tickets deliver'd by Quin, and at the Office in the Box Lobby.--General Advertiser. If any Gentlemen or Ladies shall be displeased with the alteration in the Performance of the Play [i.e., Garrick's absence] the money shall be return'd.--Theatrical Clippings, Folger Library

Event Comment: Benefit for ye encrease of a fund for ye support of a publick Charity [Lock Hospital] (Cross(. Rec'd cash #76 17s. 6d., plus #123 16s. from tickets; Total #200 13s. 6d. Paid Moor for pair breeches for Garrick #1 5s.; Paid 1 year's subscription to H. Park Hospital #10 10s.; To Garrick by George Garrick #7 10s.; Paid King playing S. Doctor #1 1s. by order of Lacy (Treasurer's Book). Last time of performing till the Holidays. Receipts: #160 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: To begin exactly at 6:00 o'clock. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Mr Varney at the Stage door. [Repeated throughout the season.] Ye Naturalizing Bill having made some Noise against the Jews, some people call'd out for ye Merchant of Venice, & a Letter was thrown upon ye Stage desiring that play instead of the Opera, but we took no Notice of it, some little hissing but it dy'd away (Cross). [Sometime in the calendar year 1753, Lacy and Garrick drew up a mortgage on the Drury Lane property for #10,000, to be amortized to James Clutterbuck over a period of twenty-one years at the rate of #4 per acting night, and permission to grant free seats in any part of the theatre (except the stage, scenes and orchestra) to forty persons. These latter to be named and seats assigned ten days prior to the opening of any season. This thirteen-page document, which describes accurately the bounds of the 13,134 square feet of land on which the ten buildings comprising Drury Lane Theatre stood, contains protective clauses for Clutterbuck, to the effect that Garrick and Lacy will exhibit nowhere else in London without the #4 nightly payment and for Garrick and Lacy, to the effect that arrears in payment could be collected solely from Drury Lane property, and not from the individual incomes of the mortgagees. It was not signed, so apprently was not executed. (See Havard, Collection of Documents dealing with affairs of Drury Lane, No 2, fMS, Thr 12.)] Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Paid printer's bill #9 6s (Treasurer's Book). The New Tragedy of Dido, for Benefit of the author, is oblig'd to be deferr'd till Thursday next. Receipts: #229 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Had no intention of going to the play, but seeing Garrick was to play Lord Chalkstone, I (after hearing Mr Romaine's Lecture on the chapter which contains ye Destruction of Sodom) went before 9 to ye right-side door of ye Pit. The doorkeepers said, --No Room. Saw that ye Canopy, Yeomen, &c. would prevent my seeing. They desired me if I could not get in at ye other door to come back. Found a number of people waiting there and at ye door of the First Gallery; so went back, entered and stood in ye same disagreeable situation I did last night. But I saw the inimitable Garrick very well. [Comments on excellence of whole cast.] Scarcely cool now past eleven o'clock. Ye King and Queen, Princess of Brunswick, Louisa, and all that Tribe were at dl tonight (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Being the last time of performing both pieces till the Benefits. Mr Garrick's night. Paid salary list #522 7s. 6d.; Rec'd stopages #16 14s. (Treasurer's Book). [See 23 Feb. when the charges were returned, giving Garrick a clear benefit.] Receipts: #199 12s. Charges: #84. Profit to Garrick: #115 12s. (Treasurer's Book)

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: Benefit Mrs Yates and Miss Medina. Tickets at Yates's, No. 6, near the Playhouse in Ayliff St., Goodman's Fields. Garrick to Peter Garrick: Mr Littleton...said I was only born to act what Shakespear writ--Little, Pineapples, pp. 30-31