Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses (playbill). This Comedy was written by Mr Obrien. It was very much hiss'd from the 2d Act & with the greatest difficulty we got thro' the Play amidst Groans hisses &c. They would not Suffer it to be given out again. After many Altercations between the Audience Mr G. & Mr King by the Author's Consent the Play was withdrawn (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble briefer. See long review of The Duel in British Theatre article, London Magazine, Dec. 1772, and Town and Country same month.] Paid Mr Scott (c[opper] laceman) #83 9s.; Mr Waller (hosier) #17 18s. 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) #80 19s.; Mr Barrow & Co. for oil, #45 13s.; Mr Cropley (linen draper) #73 14s.; Mr Cubitt (tinman) #15 19s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #241 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Wright's note to Herring and Chas., #14 15s. 10d.; Mr G. Garrick's 2 notes for Mr Weston #24 3s. 6d.; Mr J. French 2nd Nov. last, #13; Mr J. Aickin per order #5 1s.; Mr Rollett, on note #10 10s.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #5 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #140 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Dr Nares 4 boys, 10 Oct. #1 10s.; Mr Cooke 6 boys 5 nights (5th inst incl.) #10 10s.; Mr J. French on acct #12 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #199 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Rec'd Stopages #16 7s.; Paid salary list #513 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #138 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: For the last time this Season. Paid Mr Dimon on acct per order #5 5s.; Mrs Slaughter's bill; #3 6s. Mr Davies draft to Peters #6 6s.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #5 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #148 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. [See 21 March 1768.] Paid Mr Davies's note to Dennis #6 6s.; ditto to Lacy, #3 6s. 3d.; Rec'd Mr Condill for Fruit Office (1st payment) #20. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #197 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Tragedy of Hamlet having been greatly Altered by D. G. was perform'd for the first time Mr Garrick playd divinely & Merited the great Applause he receivd It is Alterd much for the better in regard to the part of Hamlet & I think the alterations very fine & proper (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble considerably briefer. See "Garrick's Long Lost Alteration of Hamlet," PMLA, Sept. 1934.] Paid Mr George Garrick on account #100; Mr Bulkley for Mr Weston, #2 8s. (Treasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine comments unfavorably on the Hamlet alteration: "How far the critics will approve these mutations we will not at present determine; but the admirers of Shakespeare must certainly be displeas'd, whenever they see his immortal works mutilated."] Receipts: #284 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lying In Hospital, Store Street, in Tottenham Court Road. Paid salary list #513 17s. 6d.; Rec'd stopages #15 17s. (Treasurer's Book). [Figures written on playbill indicate Charges #84.] Receipts: #196 12s. Charges: #77 2s. Profits to Hospital: #119 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Paid Mr Dibdin's draft #70 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #264 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A New Pantomime of Mr Messinks went off with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Music By Dibdin. New Scenes, Habits, and Machines. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken. [Repeated.] Paid 4 days salary list at #85 12s. 11d., #342 11s. 8d.; Miss Mansell on acct #5 5s.; Mr Clinch ditto, #6 6s.; Dr Arne for Mrs Bradley 2 nights per order #5 5s.; Stopages nil (Treasurer's Book). [Full description of the New Pantomime is given in the Westminster Magazine (January 1773): Harlequin born to the Pigmies comes to manhood, gets a job from the Register Office in a Nobleman's family where he meets Colombine. They love, and elope, a chase ensues through several noted places in London, which are detailed in the review. The union of the lovers is finally consended to, and all closes with dancing. "Some of the paintings in the scenery are well executed; and the generality of Mr Dibdin's music deserves equal praise." In it Mrs Wrighten gives a ludicrous imitation of Miss Catley's manner of singing. The reviewer's general thesis about the London stage of this period, given first in the preliminary number, 1 Jan. 1773 continues: "The Stage seems now buried in universal darkness...The Publick for several weeks, has been fed with the lean carcass of two villainous pantomimes."] Receipts: #162 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Hopkins's bill for licenses #5 5s.; Miss Younge for cloaths #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Full Prices (Winston MS 10). Receipts: #157 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Tallow Chandler's 4th Bill #41 6s. 5d.; Spermacetti Candles, #132 18s. Mr Tomlinson for Men's cloaths #11 11s.; Mr J. French on acct #20; Miss Hopkins, 15 nights (19th Dec. incl.) #3 15s. (Treasurer's Book). [The sixth edition of Wm. Law's Absolute Unlawfulness of Stage Representations was published this year (1st. edn. 1726) This day was published the Preliminary Number of the Westminster Magazine, which, monthly, included a section called The English Theatre, which observed generally on the state of the Stage, and commented specifically on new plays. Its view of the stage in general was not as sanguine as had been that of the writer for the Town and Country Magazine (1 April 1772). "We are of opinion, that the English Theatre is now in its decline. Whether it is that the stores of Dramatic Subjects or of Dramatic Genius are exhausted, is not immediately obvious; but there is a fault somewhere....We have seen the Morning star of Wit--the Noon too is past; we have now arriv'd at its evening...There is in Arts, as in Empires, a progress which leads to Refinement; and this refinement leads to Ruin." According to the writer the meridian glory of the English stage was during the reign of Queen Anne. Reviewer damns the Irish Widow, refuses to discuss the Gamesters (revived), damns the Rose and praises the Garrick alteration of Hamlet. This year also appeard Granny's Prediction, a 53-page pamphlet attack on Mrs Barry, condemning her on moral grounds (polygamy) and on aesthetic grounds, commenting on each of her characters. By a spiteful female relative Elizabeth Franchetti.] Receipts: #142 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid one year's insurance to Xmas next #15 (Treasurer's Book). [Copies of the annual insurance policies were extant in the Sun Insurance Office, 63 Theadneedle St. London, E. C. 2, as of Dec. 1951.] Receipts: #134 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr G. Garrick's two notes for Mr Weston, #15 12s.; Paid Mr J. French on acct #12 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #227 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not Acted these 2 years. [See 19 Oct. 1770.] Paid salary list #513 17s. 6d.; Rec'd stopages #17 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #160 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 13 April 1771.] Paid Mr Cropley (linnen draper) #14 16s.; Sandys & Co. (colourmen) #50 3s.; Mr Chettel (timbermerchant) #52 4s.; Mr Cole (turner) #46 3s.; Mr Barrow & Co. for Oil, #46 6s. 6d.; Mrs Vaughan (haberdasher) #22 18s.; Mr Callon for men's cloaths #30 (Treasurer's book). Receipts: #217 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Malthus one year's rent Xmas last (#2 2s. 6d. Tax deducted) #30 17s. 6d. Mr J. French on acct. #15 15s.; Mr Batchelor for men's cloaths #5 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #258 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid salary list #513 17s. 6d.; Mr Davies's draft to Gapper, #4 7d.; Miss Mansell's salary in full to this day #7 17s.; Rec'd stopages #19 18s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #153 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: All for Love deferr'd. Miss Younge ill. Paid Mr Clinch in full of salary to 23rd Inst. excl. #12 14s.; Mr Powney (stationer) #7 14s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #232 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Calthorpe's first payment #157 10s.; Mr G. Garrick on acct #100; Tallow chandler's 5th bill, #42 2s. 3d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #250 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Characters in Afterpiece New Dress'd. Paid Mr Weston per Mr G. G's note #4 11s. 7d. (Treasurer's Book). [King's costume in part of Wilding cost #8 12s. 3d. Payment made 4 March.] Receipts: #174 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: King Lear oblig'd to be deferr'd till Monday, when it will be acted (playbill). Paid 5 day's salary list at #87 1s. 3d. per diem #435 6s. 3d.; Mr Weston per Mr G. G's note #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Full prices. Receipts: #130 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Reddish a Debt & costs #6 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Benefit for Author of The Wedding Ring. The opera published (Winston MS 10). Receipts: #173, 16s. Charges: #84. Profit to author of The Wedding Ring: #89 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Wedding Ring defer'd. Bannister ill. Paid Mr Reddish to Mr Settree, per order #33 4s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #268 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Paid salary list #522 7s. 6d.; Mr Lings, on note, per order #20; Rec'd stopages #16 4s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #210 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)