Event Comment: At Marybone Gardens. Translated into English. The Music by Pergolesi. Admittance 2s. 6d., tea and coffee included. [Daily Advertiser, 15 May, notice: Only 26 Tickets for ball room will be sold each night. Admittance one shilling; Ballroom five shillings to admit one gentleman and two ladies.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Glanville and Kear. Being the last Night of performing in the Gardens for this season

Event Comment: N.B. This was Mr Packer's first appearance at Drury Lane Theatre. He had acted one night at Covent Garden in the preceding season, Johnson, in the Rehearsal and the Frenchman in Lethe, which pieces were perform'd for Mr Lee's Benefit. Mr Garrick was there, and engag'd Mr Packer, who was going to Ireland, with Mr Barry, and Mr Woodward, into the Drury Lane Company. I am writing this on the sixth of April 1801--tonight Mr Packer told me the above Particulars at Drury Lane Playhouse, where he has always remained since his first being engaged there (J. P. Kemble's note on Huntington bill). Receipts: #100 (Cross); #107 1s. 6d. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: TThe London Chronicle 1758 (p. 461): Having already read the play [The London Cuckolds] it was no wonder if my inclinations to attend the exhibition of it were very small; however, being in some measure oblig'd to perform that penance, I paid my money and sat down in the pit, where I underwent three hours entertainment, if I may call it so, only to be rooted in a former opinion, that the author of this comedy deserved to be hanged; and that the only excuse which could be made for suffering it to be acted would be invincible stupidity. This monstruous production of nonsense and obscenity, is the spawn of one Ravenscroft, a writer whose wit was as contemptible as his morals were vitious. He does not seem to have had one sentiment either of a man of Genious of a gentleman, at least if we may judge by the characters he has daubed, which are a pack of reprobates of the lowest kind. Nor are the things which look like incidents in this play the produce of his own invention, but the squeezings from an extravagant novel of Scarron, and two or three ill-chosen fables of LaFontaine; of which ingredients he has contrived to mix up a sort of hog-wash, sweetened with a few luscious expressions and a large portion of the grossest lewdness, to the palates of swine, or what is the same thing, men like them; but which must be odious to, and nauseated by all people of delicate taste, or common modesty. The three gallants in this comedy, Townly, Ramble and Loveit, never make their appearance upon the stage but to talk bawdy, and that in terms very little different from the most vagabond inhabitants of Covent Garden, nor do they make their exit but with a professed intention to commit adultery with one woman or another, who walks off with him very contentedly for that purpose. I must here observe that adultery is committed no less than seven times during the five acts. [The play an insult to the London aldermen and their wives.] There were several men of distinction in the boxes at this play, and I think about eight ladies. What their inward feelings might be I know not; but if one might judge of their thoughts by the gravity of their looks, they were rather mortified than diverted. But of the women of the town, who as we suppose were unwilling to let slip so fair an opportunity of getting a supper and a bed-fellow, there were crowds both in the pit and green boxes...

Event Comment: Sunday 24 Dec. 1758 My honest friend Mr Wells was buried at Covent Garden (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Receipts: #170 (Cross); #166 14s. (Winston MS 8). Sun. Dec. 31, 1758 Mrs Macklin buried at Covent Garden (Cross)

Event Comment: The Anniversary Meeting of the Shakespeare Society will be held this day, at the Shakespeare's Head Tavern in Covent Garden. Dinner to be on the table at three o'clock. E. B. Secretary

Event Comment: With new Additions and Alterations. Today is Publish'd Susanna, an Oratorio, with New Alterations and Additions; as it is perform'd at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. J. & R. Tonson, in the Strand

Event Comment: Today is Publish'd Price 1s. Samson: An oratorio, as it is perform'd at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. Printed for J. & R. Tonson in the Strand

Event Comment: This day is publish'd Judas Maccabaeus: a Sacred Drama. Set to Music by Mr Handel, as it is Performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. Printed for J. Watts and sold by B. Dod at the Bible and Key

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry, who having been confined for some time past by a severe Illness, humbly hopes those Gentlemen and Ladies, who intend to favor him at his Benefit, will send for Tickets to his Lodgings at Mr Pope's, a Peruke Maker in Russel St., Covent Garden; the Star Tavern, in Coleman St.; or to Mr Varney at the Stage door where Places for the Boxes may be taken. Receipts: #130 (Cross); #104 8s. 6d. (Winston MS8)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. The Burletta, with the Addition of a new Act and a new Character, as originally performed at the Theatre Royal in Naples. At the Great Room in Marybone Gardens properly and elegantly fitted up for that purpose. 7:30 p.m. Admittance 3s. N.B. Mr Trotter's dauthter continues to make the rich seed and plumb cake, so much admired by the Nobility and Gentry at 2s. 6d. each, and likewise makes almond cheesecakes in a small size at 2s. per dozen. Six or eight make a Dish, and are hot every day one o'clock

Event Comment: Benefit for Holland. Tickets of Holland, at his lodgings next door to the Bedford Arms, in the Piazza, Covent Garden; and at the Stage Door. Receipts: #170 (Cross); Charges #63 (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Davies. Tickets of Davies at No 16 in New Crown Court, Russel St., Covent Garden; and at the Stage Door. Receipts: #170 (Cross); charges #63 (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: This and every evening during the Summer Season. The Gardens are extremely pleasant and delightful

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer, Bowers; We borrow'd Smith from Cov. Garden to do Osmyn Mr Mossop's Father being dead (Cross). [Genest suggests that this was Mossop's last appearance at dl.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: For one night only. Never acted before. By particular desire. An Historical Play, taken from Holinshead's Chronicles, and written by the late Mr Lillo, Author of George Barnwell. Tickets for Boxes and Pit to be had of Mr Cross, at his House in Crown Court, Russel St., Covent Garden; and of Mr Varney at the Stage Door. 7 P.M

Event Comment: Admittance 1s. [Price repeated in subsequent bills.] Books of the Burletta to be had at the Garden, Price 1s

Event Comment: N.B. We have engag'd Mr King; & Miss Baker from Ireland, one Mr Moody, a Stroler,-Mr Beard is gone to Covent Garden, 'tis said to be manager Mr Mossop to Ireland. Receipts: #120 (Cross). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places from Mr Varney at the Stage Door. No admittance behind scenes. [The customary note about prices and admittance will not be noted further here.] [At the opening of the theatres this season appeared an essay in Goldsmith's Bee, giving close observations upon actors, and deploring the relative stiffness and formality of English actors in comparison with the French. Advised English actors to travel abroad. Yet (Vol. 1759, p. 12) commented on the magnificnece of "our theatres as far superior to any others in Europe where plays only are acted. The great care our performers take in painting for a part, their exactness in all minutiae of dress, and other little scenical proprieties has been taken notice of by Riccoboni." Complains of the convention of laying a rug before a dying scene and of the vacant expressions of mutes on stage.

Event Comment: Admission: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for Boxes to taken of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door of the Theatre. Play to begin exactly at o'clock. [This information, appearing at the foot of each bill, will not be repeatdd hereafter, except for significant differences.] Receipts: #111 5s. Deficit brought over from last season accounts, Journal T. Folio, 182, #164 0s. 6d. Paid Mr Lambert 3 month's salary to 15 Aug. last #25 (Covent Garden Cash Book). [Goldsmith's Bee (1759, p. 9) remarks on the better business used by Lovegold in the French theatre than used at cg: "Lovegold [in France] in the height of his passion stops to pick up a pin, quilting it in his coat, and snuffs out an extra candle." Implies that such subconscious revelations of the character of the miser might well be used by the English.

Event Comment: Receipts: #161 12s. To Covent Garden Playhouse to see Miss Brent in the character of Polly. Mr Dives was there and Lt Fevey, went to Miss Borgard in the side box and see her and Miss Ligonier into their coach, went and spoke to Mr Kindersley in the upper boxes, and fetched Mrs B, Mr and Mrs Pickel out of the Gallery. I liked her singing much. It was the 11th night (Elma Hailey, "The Brietzcke Diary 1759-1765," Notes and Queries, (Aug. 1951), 196, p.360)

Event Comment: Farce not so much hiss'd (Cross). This month published A Defence of Mr Garrick in Answer to the Letter Writer [See 13 Oct.], 37 pp. [Closes with the paragraph: "Nor need I take notice of your accusation against the manager for his neglect in the Decorations of the Scenery, since it is notorious to everyone who has eyes, that the scenes at Drury Lane are as well adapted to the Representations, and as well executed, as any Covent Garden can boast of (though you are pleased to assert the contrary) Pantomimical Decorations not excepted."] Receipts:#100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Receipts: #139 9s. 6d. Paid Gom for carpenters #7 11s. 6d. Paid Mr Arne for composing as per bill #12 12s. Was at Covent Garden to hear Miss Brent, I sat in the Boxes but there was not much company there (Hailey, "Brietzcke Diary," p. 361)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Unhappy Sufferers by the late Dreadful Fire that happened in King Street, Covent Garden. Places for boxes to be taken, and tickets to be had of Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door of the Theatre; where, if any persons are so charitably disposed as to send more than the price of the ticket, a receipt will be given him to the person who brings it. And the profits arising from such Benefit Play, will be paid into the hands of the Church Wardens of St Paul's, cg, and St Martins in the Fields, to be distributed by them for the purposes intended. And as there has been no interest made for this benefit, more than arose from the Advertisements in the public Play-Bills, it is hop'd the Inhabitants of the above parishes will favour this charity with their personal appearances at the said Theatre this Night. Receipts: #128 13s. in cash plus #42 5s. (169 Box tickets). Total Income #170 18s. Charges #64

Event Comment: Mr Berry dy'd (Cross). Receipts: #170 (Cross). British Chronicle; 8 Jan. 1760. (Winston MS 8): Died Mr Edward Berry in Russel St., Covent Garden, 53 years one of the comedians of tr dl. On this Sunday the body was interr'd in the Cemetery of St Martin's Church. The loss of so worthy a man was expressed by those present. His only daugher is to [....] with the following inscription to his memory, to whom he has left his fortune worth about #1000: @Epitaph@Here lies the remains of@Edward Berry@Who lived@With public applause and private esteem@The former he acquired as@An Excellent Comedian, the latter as an@Honest Man. 8 Jan 1760 Aet 5s.@Light lie the turf, what tho' no breathing Bust@Of mimic Marble dignifie thy dust?@Yet filial sorrow pays the Dudeous Tear@And heartworn Friendship heaves a Sigh sincere.@Pleas'd may thy shade these humble rites receive@The last sad tribute gratitude can give@