Event Comment: Benefit for Dunstall. Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [See 29 Nov. 1764.] Afterpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 2 Dec. 1769.] Charges: #64 5s. Profit to Dunstall #1 1s. 6d., plus #170 17s. from tickets (Box 433; Pit 410; Gallery 36). Paid Whitefield a quarter year's salary #25, and Sarjant ditto, #10. Paid Mrs Carne half year's salary #15 all due Lady Day last (Account Book). Receipts: #65 6s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 21 Nov. 1769.] Paid half year's land and window tax for St Martin's to Lady Day last #38 4s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #157 6s. 6d. Charges: #67 19s. 6d. Profits to J. Palmer: #89 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A New Serious Opera. The Music entirely new composed by Sacchini. The whole entirely new dressed agreeable to the opera and dances. And a new scene for the opera and last dance painted by M. Munich. The great preparations making for the opera have rendered it impossible to perform it till this day

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw, Mrs Johnston and Mrs Millidge. Paid half year's paving &c. to Lady Day last, #14 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #151 6s. Charges: #67 11s. 6d. Profits to Mrs Bradshaw, Johnston and Millidge: #83 14s. 6d

Event Comment: Whitson Eve-No Play (Treasurer's Book). Paid 5 day's salary at #86 14s. 7d. per diem, #433 12s. 11d.; Mrs Weston 2 nights in Inst. of Garter, 5s.; Rec'd from Mr S. Barry's Bag #130 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Public Advertiser: When the Disturbances of the Theatre at Rome, in the Days of Augustus, caus'd several Tumults, the Emperour interpos'd and pronounc'd the Sentence of Banishment on a very great Actor, for whose Sake these Disturbances were made. He observ'd at the same Time, that the Stage had a strong Tendency to disturb all as well as to amuse the People. The Actor said, with great Spirit, "'Tis for your Interest, Caesar, that they shoul d be amus'd any Way." The Civil War of England, 1641, did not commence 'til the Playhouses were shut. People are never more discontented than when depriv'd of their Favourite Diversions

Event Comment: Venice Preserv'd deff'd on account of Barry's illness. Paid half year's Cleansing &c. to Lady Day last (St Martin's) #11; a Tow Bill 10s. [This tow bill came to this amount monthly for nine months, amounting to #4 10s. for the season. No further note will be taken of it this season.] Paid for Properties #1 7s. 10d. Receipts: #174 1s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Doors open at 5 o'clock. Play begins at 6 o'clock. [Young Lady identified by Kemble note on playbill and by Winston MS 10. Her identity appears from playbill of 13 Oct. where her name occurs in character of Rosetta along with the statement that it is her fourth appearance on any stage. She appears on the weekly payroll from the first week at 16s. 6d. per day (Account Book). The Westminster Magazine believed her to be no actress (October issue): "Her musical powers were not extraordinary; her acting powers still worse."] Receipts: #206 14s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Before the performance this evening Macklin came to the audience in person with a sheaf of newsclippings in his hand and belabored his detractors, falsely accusing Reddish and Sparks from Drury Lane as leading a planned coalition against him. The play went on with applause, but affidavits sworn under oath by both Sparks and Reddish the following day, brought the dispute to such a head in the newspaper that a riot occured the night of 18 Nov., when Macklin did Shylock (since Colman would not risk Macbeth after 13 Nov.) and announcement was made by Colman that Macklin had been dismissed. See 23 Oct.] Receipts: #152 11s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Author of the Farce. Rec'd Stopages #29 18s.; Paid 6 days salary at #87 11s. 4d. per diem, #525 8s. Mr King 6 night's extra salary #3; Mr Clinch 30 nights not on the list #12 10s.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #3 16s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #185 2s. 6d. Charges: #84. Profits to author of Farce: #101 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Comic Opera Love in a Village oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of indisposition of Miss Catley. Tomorrow a new Comedy (never performed) call'd The Duellist. The subject of the new Comedy advertised for Performance Tomorrow, as far as we can guess, from the Title, is remarkably well timed. There is at this Day no predominant Passion carried to such a ridiculous extreme as Duelling. We can be laughed out of our Follies on the Stage when we defy the Power of pulpit Oratory and serious Argument. Let us hope therefore, that the comic Satirist of Tomorrow Evening may have exercised his Pen with some Ability on a very important subject (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #134 6s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [by William Kenrick] never performed before. [The play failed to succeed. Kenrick accounts for the failure in his Preface to the 1773 edition by reference to the Macklin affair (See 23 Oct., 30 Oct. and 18 Nov.) He quotes from the Public Advertiser (22 Nov.): "On Saturday last a new comedy called the Duellist was performed, for the first time, at Covent Garden Theatre. Previous to the curtain being drawn up, the following written handbill was dispersed about the house. 'Mr Macklin has been pursued by a malicious party to such a pitch of rancour, that at last they have succeeded so far in their cursed designs, as to get him discharged this theatre, and thereby have deprived him of the means of a livelihood; therefore if the public have any spirit, they will not suffer the new play to begin till Mr Colman promises that Mr Macklin shall be engaged again.' This handbill found its way into the green-room, and had a very visible effect on the performers, as was plainly evident from their confusion. The piece was received with great marks of approbation, and given out again for Monday, which was attended with some hissing, but that was greatly overpowered by the general applause of the audience. The overture to Thomas and Sally being attended to with silence, the greatest part of the author's friends quitted the theatre; which being taken advantage of by a party in the gallery, a riot ensued, and the entertainment was not suffered to go on till another play was given out for Monday." Kenrick agrees with this account, then analyses several other objections which he dismisses, to wit, in the play (a) too lengthy a satire on lawyers, (b) an indelicate passage in Latin (omitted from the printed version); in the audience, a conspiracy of Garrick and Bickerstaffe against him; and lack of a claque of his own friends to carry through their suport of him. Macklin's name appears on the playroll this night, but only for a accumulated 4 days of pay #8 16s. (Account Book).] Receipts: #221 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Music by Sacchini and other celebrated composers. The Dances under the direction of Pitrot. With New Cloaths, Scenes and other Decorations. Pit and Boxes Half a Guinea; Gallery 5s.; Second Gallery 3s. Doors to open at 5:30. To begin at 7:00 p.m. N.B. Fierville having unfortunately sprained his ankle by a fall at the rehearsal yesterday...Mariottini, who never appeared in England before, has kindly undertaken to supply his place. The Managers beg leave to acquaint the Nobility and Gentry that Mesdames Favier having arrived from Florence, but being indisposed from the great fatigue of the journey are incapable of dancing this day

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 25 Jan. 1772.] [Brown identified by Kemble note on playbill. Macklin no longer appears on the playlist. This day is published at 1s. 6d. The Duellist, a Comedy, as it was represented at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. To which is prefixed a concise Narrative of the very Extraordinary Circumstances attending its Reception. T. Evans Bookseller.] Receipts: #188 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: King not being sufficiently recover'd the School for Wives deferr'd. Paid half year's rent to the Duke of Bedford to Mich. last #165 2d.; Insurance of theatre and New Building to Christmas 1774 from this day #51 10s. 6d.; Mr G. Garrick on acct #100. Receipts: #183 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Fri 24 Paid 5 days salary at #88 7s. per diem, --#441 15s.; Mr King's extra salary #2 10s.; Mr J. French on acct #21 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Entertainment of The Harlequin Dr Faustus, will be laid aside after tomorrow, on account of the preparation for the New Entertainment. Paid Mrs Day (habit maker) #2 12s. 6d., and Rowson for swords &c. #2 7s. 6d. Receipts: #184 14s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid 5 days salary list #441 15s.,; King's extra salary #2 10s.; Mr J. French on acct #5 5s.; Mr J. Palmer on note #21 (Treasurer's Book). [This month was printed An Apology for the Conduct of Charles Macklin, Comedian, which, it is hoped, will have some effect in favour of an aged player, by whom the public at large have been uncommonly gratified." Price 1s. Axtell (Gentleman's Magazine Register). This year was publish'd Miscellaneous Pieces in Verse and Prose, with Cursory Theatrical Remarks, by P. Lewis, Comedian. Contains some apostrophes to Garrick, Holland, etc.] Receipts: #213 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of their Majesties. Present Their Majesties. Gave Yeomen of Guards #2 2s. (Account Book). [Winston MS 10 suggests (from Burney Actor's MS) that Wignell died this day. If so his name is carried in the Bill for the Sylphs until 26 Jan., and he appears regularly upon the payroll through Sat 29 Jan. On this latter occasion he is marked for only half his customary salary, and does not appear thereafter. He would seem to have died in the middle of the week of 22-29 Jan. 1774.] Receipts: #243 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Tomorrow being His Majesty's birthday, the Managers have changed the usual day of performing to this evening

Event Comment: Paid 5 day's salary at #88 3s. 8d. per diem-#440 18s. 4d.; Mr King's extra salary #3; Mrs Bradshaw on note #10 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #208 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [Oratorios were not given at Covent Garden this season. No record of any occurrence in the Account Book for this day. Full Epilogue to the Man of Business publish'd in Public Advertiser, with note that many lines were omitted, because of its length, in the theatre.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: [a tragedy by Alexander Dow]: Never acted before. New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. This Play was receiv'd with very great Applause Mrs Barry Play'd finely & the Scenes were applauded (Hopkins Diary). Rec'd Stopages #4 12s. 6d. Paid 4 days salary list #348 14s. 8d. Mr King's extra salary #2 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #238 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd Stopages #4 12s. 6d. Paid 4 days salary list #348 14s. 6d.; Mr King's extra salary #2; Mr G. Garrick on acct #50. Receipts: #245 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Last time but one of performing the New Tragedy before the Benefits. Rec'd stopages #4 12s. 6d. Paid 4 days salary list #348 14s. 6d.; Mr King's extra salary #2. Receipts: #216 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)