Event Comment: Benefit for Wilford, Clingo (pit door-keepers, Abbot (stage door-keeper), Trout (lobby door-keeper). Tickets deliver'd out by the late Russ (pit door-keeper), Besford, Dixon, Mislebrook &c. will be taken

Event Comment: To the Printer of the Public Advertiser, Mr Woodfall: Why don't you constantly, every day, print a list of the Mistakes which the guessing Messieurs Ledger and Gazatteer make in their account of the playbills? Woodward, says the Gazetteer, is to play Harlequin, and Miles the Clown this evening [Friday 14 Oct.] in Harlequin Sorcerer; Tenducci and Brent the Shepherd and Shepherdess. The Ledger informs me that Woodward will play Lissardo in the Wonder, when you say Dyer; and that Mrs Younger is to play Inis, when you advertise Mrs Green will play that character. I dare say, Mr Garrick very shortly will make his appearance in the Gazetteer or Ledger. Your Humble Servant, &c. [Garrick was in France at this time.

Event Comment: The Music by Handel, Boyce, Arne, Howard, Baildon, Festing, Geminiani, Galluppi, Giardini, Paradies, Agus, Abos &c. The Overture composed by Abel. Books of the Opera to be sold at the theatre

Event Comment: MMiss Rogers being taken Suddenly ill, Mr Powell made an Apology (for Masr. Burton's reading the Page) but Spoke so low the Galleries could not hear; they cry'd out what is it &c. he spoke louder & all was well (Hopkins). Receipts: #220 15s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Benefit for Powell. Ladies send Servants by 3 o'clock (playbill). Othello (for first time) Mr Powell. This Night there was the greatest over flow ever known. the Crowd was so great it prevented the Ladies from coming into the Boxes till near Seven o clock at half past Six begun the play. As the Ladies were not come into the Boxes, being prevented by passage being Stopt up by the Crowd the Gentlemen Cry'd out. off off &c. Mr King & Mr Havard remaind on the Stage some time but the Noise increasing. Mr King address'd the Audience & told them it would be equally agreeable to the performers to stay half an hour longer, upon which there was a great Clap & the Curtain was drop'd & a quarter before Seven begun the play again. N.B. The Farce was hiss'd all thro'(Hopkins). This night one of the greatest overflows that ever was known. The crowd was so great it preventdd the ladies from coming to their places in the boxes till near seven o'clock-At half past six the play began, and in the first scene they cried Off, off.' Mr King and Mr Havard remained on the Stage some time; but the noise increasing, Mr King went forward and said, It would be equally agreeable to the performers to stay half an hour longer, before they began-upon which there was a great clap, and the curtain was dropped; and in about a Quarter of an hour began the play again (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #268 11s. (MacMillan). charges. #64 9s. [Profit to Powell: #204 2s.

Event Comment: The Book of the opera at the Theatre. Comic opera in 3 acts by Lloyd .Music by Mr Rush. [See reduction to two-act farce, 2 March 1765. First performance in England of C. S. Favart's Le Caprice Amoureux (a parody of Goldoni's Bertoldo).

Event Comment: Both pieces By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: Never performed there. Last night was deposited in the Vault of St Paul's Covent Garden the remains of James Bencraft, that truly honest, amiable, and benevolent man, whose perpetual pleasantry and delectable vein of humour cannot more aptly be described than in the words of Hamlet-"That fellow of infinite jest &c., Alas poor Jemmy" (+Winston MS 9 from The Gazetteer)

Event Comment: Pit and Boxes laid together. No admittance to Pit but through the boxes and with tickets. Towards raising a fund for the relief of those who from their infirmities shall be oblig'd to retire from the stage. This fund having been begun by a voluntary contribution among the performers improved by a proportionable weekly deduction on their salaries and intended as a reciprocal provision for them, their widows and children in sickness and infirmity, it is humbly hoped an appeal to the generosity of the public will not be taken amiss &c. (Winston MS 9)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Jos. Besford for Plumes for the Champion's Horse, &c. 10s.; Paid Mr Tomkyns & Co. a bill for wine at the practises last season #1 17s. 1d. (Account Book). Receipts: #164 19s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Program By Command of their Majesties. Present their Majesties, the Duke of Cumberland, Princess of Brunswick, and Lady Louisa. Paid Yeoman of the Guard #2 2s. Paid Messrs Tomkyn and Robinson a bill for wine, &c. 4s. 3d. (Account Book). Receipts: #243 7s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Vincent for coronation anthems &c. 17s. (Account Book). Receipts: #140 3s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: My old clothes are become very strait. I wear them and my great coat commonly when I go to the Play, as one is much exposed in getting out to Flambeaux, Chair poles, &c. (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #166 6s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Neville MS Diary. Went into the Pit of Covent Garden. The Miser and Harlequin Dr Faustus. Shuter an excellent Lovegold. Harriet-The scenes and machinery of the Pantomime pretty; the Cascade, the Windmill &c. $Woodward">Miss Vincent. The scenes and machinery of the Pantomime pretty; the Cascade, the Windmill &c. $Woodward an excellent Harle. Receipts: #173 17s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Beard's Night. Charges. #64 5s., Balance to Beard #198 12s. (Account Book). Got but a bad place in the 2s. Gallery at Covent Garden where I saw Love in a Village with the Citizen...At the end of Act 2, we had the dance of the Female Archer, by Mad LaRiviere, Miss Wilford, &c. with Miss Pope of the other House. Ought to be particularly encouraged because she is virtuous. Mr Elliot has sold her to Cumberland (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #262 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for King. House charges #76 10s. [Profit to King #55 14s.] Paid Master Burney 15 nights #3 2s. 6d. Printer's bill #9 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #132 4s. (Treasurer's Book). At 5 went to the Pit at Drury Lane to see the Clandestine Marriage...I could see this play, as it is now performed, every night, but J. Palmer was not so good in Brush as the other Mr Palmer whose character it is. Plym did not please tonight. The scene between the lawyers was omitted. We had the Irish Lilt by Mrs King, Giorgi, &c., and a comic scene by her and M Dugermay, with Linco's Travels...Mrs King is certainly a very fine dancer and has the best legs I ever saw. Past eleven ere we got out. A little girl of 7 or 8 years old danced very prettily (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: With several curious and uncommon performances by the Venetian and his children. Neville MS Diary: At 6 got into the Pit at Sadler's Wells just as the entertainment began with concerts. The singing by Mrs Lampe, Master Herryman, &c. Dancing by Sg Grimaldi, Tassoni, Miss Reynolds from Drury Lane. Tumbling, but not equal to that by Plaida's company. Postures in which the Venetian and his children (a boy and a girl particularly) excel greatly. One stands on his hands, turns his feet backwards to his haunches, and walks in this position or forms an arch with his breast, while the other stands on his head upon it, the father carries one on his hand around his body, one stands on his head on his father's hand. These I mention as a specimen of many more, equally curious, tho' seeing these postures is disagreeable to a humane mind. The Father balances too the slack rope. The whole concluded with the pantomimic entertainment called Merlin

Event Comment: MMr Aickin hissed for being imperfect.--This night was introduced at the end of the Pantomime a Grand Masquerade in imitation of that given by the King of Denmark at the Opera House, and lighted up after the same manner--Every performer belonging to the House was on, even Mr Garrick and his brother.--The dresses were very elegant, and the whole very striking,--and gave pleasure to the Audience (Hopkins Diary). [The masquerade remained a part of Queen Mab and was also attached to Fortunatus. It evoked the following verse in Lloyd's Evening Post, Nov. 21-23]: One night last week a merry blade,@Who'd seen the Royal Masquerade,@And paid ten guineas for admission,@Began to damn the imposition;@His friend reply'd, "You may complain,@For I last Night at Drury Lane,@Saw full as much for eighteen pence,@As you got at such vast expence."-- G.S. C y

Event Comment: The Last time of the Company's performing this season. The Oxonian in Town, cannot be perform'd on account of the indisposition of a performer. Doors open at Half past 5. To begin at Half past 6. [Account Book indicates the following as paying up their deficiencies or half value of tickets: Perry, Gardner, Legg, Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones, Wignell, Barnshaw, Wild, Mrs Hartle, Miss Brown, Ellis and Sherratt. Master Harris receiv'd #5 5s. for his performances this season. The Salary list for 25 May, recording payments for a ten day Period, amounted to #639 2s. 2d., or about #63 per day. Basic house charges of #63 may have been based on this salary figure, with the extras of candles, music, wardrobe, &c. added. See 6 June.] Receipts: #67 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Bills was prhnted for Zingis but Mr Holland being taken very ill an Apology was made for the Change (Hopkins Diary). Chang'd from Zingis...Mr Holland Ill, Small Pox (Cross Diary). [The playbill for Zingis reads: Timur-Holland; Zingis-Aickin; Zemouca-Reddish; Cubla-Jefferson; Zena-Palmer; Aunac-Packer; Nevian-Bannister; Sidacou-Hurst; Nadir-Wright; Jelizou-Keen; Suida-Wrighten; Officers-Ackman, Fawcett, &c.; Mila-Mrs Stephens; Ovisa-Miss Younge.