Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire and advertised as Garrick's last time of performing the character of Lusignan. This Farce of Two Acts was written by Mr Colman -the first Act was receiv'd with great Applause the second Act a little heavy -and not so much Applause as the first (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr Park 1 chorus 4 nights (Jubilee) #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine for March tells the plot of the afterpiece, and concludes: "The wit and dialogue of this piece will hardly keep it long in esteem with the public. They are sometimes lively, but generally pert and affected."] Receipts: #272 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Reddish. Mainpiece: Not acted in 4 years. [See 22 Dec. 1772.] Monimia by Mrs Canning very So, so. The Farce much hiss'd it was badly performed (Hopkins Diary). Rec'd Mrs Groath's one years rent to Xmas last #3. Paid Salary list #416 4s. 4d.; Johnston's Music Bills #24 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine concluded with respect to the afterpiece: "This little drama met with rather an unfavourable reception. It would be breaking a butterfly on the wheel, were we to enter into strict examination of it; and as it was a mere benefit-night performance, it would be going out of our way to dwell much on its defects; suffice it therefore that although we so far join with the audience in condemnation of it, that we allow it wanted terseness of dialogue, brilliancy of wit, and strength of fable, yet we protest we have seen worse singing pieces received with applause. Jerry Jingle had same humor, and the music had great prettiness about it."] Receipts: #140. Charges: #67 14s. Profits to Reddish: #72 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vernon. Rec'd Mrs Johnston's rent 1 year to Lady Day #6. Paid Powney (stationer) #7 2s. 6d.; Ray (linen draper) #25 6s. 6d.; Vaughan (haberdasher) #4 10s. 6d.; Norfolk (glazier) #2 3s.; Barrow and Co. Oil #54 15s. 6d.; Pryer (turner) #5 18s. 6d.; Carter (scowerer) #9 8s. 6d.; Evans for Spermacetti Candles #5; Watch Rate half year #18 15s.; Cubit (tinman) #2 6d. Receipts: #160 10s. Charges: #66 16s. Profits to Vernon: #93 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Permission. Benefit for Mrs Gardner

Event Comment: Mr Baker made his first Appearance in Jerry Sneak--he is a tall, thin, awkward Figure, looked like a Pinmaker, is a very strong Copy of poor Weston, has some Requisites, may in Time be a tolerable Actor in low Comedy--pretty well received. [Note added by $J. P. Kemble: Mr Baker, I have heard, had at this Time just received an Inheritance of fifteen thousand Pounds, which he so quickly dissipated as to be reduced within five years after to the Condition of Coachman to a Bristol Diligence] (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #181 2s

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Newton, box-keeper. As Newton superintends the whole Performance of the Play, Farce and Interlude, the greatest care will be taken to gratify the taste of a most generous Public. Tickets to be had of Mrs Newton at the Seven Houses

Event Comment: [As afterpiece Public Advertiser announces The Rival Candidates, but see Hopkins Diary, 12 Oct.] The Managers met again to-day, but nothing settled. Hamlet was given out. I saw Mr Sheridan, he told me that Mr Lacy and he had agreed that no Play should be given out, nor any Bills put up, till they had settled this Affair, which was to be done to-Morrow at Mr Wallis's (the Attorney's) where they were all to dine. I waited on Mr Lacy, who agreed to the same, and no Bills or Paragraph were sent to the Papers. All the Business of the Theatre is at a Stand, and no Rehearsal called. Wed. 16th--Mr Sheridan, Dr Ford and Mr Linley dined today by Appointment with Mr Wallis where Mr Lacy was to have met them; about four o'clock he sent a verbal Message that he could not come to Dinner, but would wait upon them in the Evening, and about nine o'clock he came, and everything was settled to the Satisfaction (of them all) and a Paragraph sent to the Papers, and the Hypocrite and Christmas Tale was advertised for Friday, but no Play was to be done on Thursday--Covent Garden did not play on Friday (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 16 Oct., summarizes the proprietors' dispute: the Drury Lane patent had been purchased [in 1747] by David Garrick and James Lacy. On his death Lacy had devised his half-share to his son, Willoughby Lacy; on his retirement from the stage Garrick had sold his half-share to Sheridan, Ford and Linley. The original agreement between Garrick and Lacy, as recited in a document retained by the attorney Albany Wallis was that, in case of the sale of either share of the patent, or any part of either share, the seller was obligated to offer the first refusal to purchase to the other partner, and that this was to be done only when the theatre was closed for the summer. In selling one half of his share to Robert Langford and to Edward Thompson, Willoughby Lacy was--so argued his three partners--acting illegally: he had not offered to them the first refusal, and he was negotiating the sale at a time when the theatre was open. Public Advertiser, 17 Oct.. prints a statement from Lacy saying that he did not feel himself bound by the original agreement between his father and Garrick, but that, in the interest of the business of the theatre, he had asked Langford and Thompson to withdraw their claim to partnership, to which request they had acceded. Receipts: #130 9s. 6d