Event Comment: Benefit for the Miss Hopkins'. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2 (?), by Thomas Holcroft. Not in Larpent MS; not published]: The Music [by William Shield (European Magazine, Jan. 1782, p.59)] entirely new. Public Advertiser, 15 Apr. Tickets to be had of the Miss Hopkins', No. 7, Little Russel-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #129 8s. 6d. (61.15.0; 24.5.6; 0.1.0; tickets: 43.7.0) (charge: #66 11s. 6d.)

Event Comment: The Characters will be dressed in the Habits of the Times. The Musick of Macbeth had a proper Attention paid to it in the getting up by Mr Linley (who composed the Additional Accompaniments) and went off with great Applause. Mrs Melmoth, who came out at Covent Garden [on 26 Feb. 1774], made her first Appearance upon this Stage in Lady Macbeth, was very wild in the Part, met with some Applause. The Play was dressed in the Habits of the Times. [Note added by J. P. Kemble: I have seen some of these Habits, and very paltry and very improper they were] (Hopkins Diary). [Mrs Melmoth was from the Edinburgh theatre.] Receipts: #191 1s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. Written by Congreve. [For Prologue see 19 Nov.] Love for Love was revived with alterations by R. B. Sheridan Esq. (Note by J. P. Kemble on Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #150 0s. 6d

Event Comment: House Pacini's Night Bought by the Managers (Hopkins Diary). The last time of performing till Easter. Paid salary #416 4s. 4d.; Mr Smith for Abrams [sic] the Jew #21; Miss Abrahams [sic] #10 10s. Receipts: #262 8s. 6d

Event Comment: Queen Mab is reviv'd with Alterations and Additions particularly Grand New Scene with a Representation of a Regatta very well executed but is too much like The Naval Review (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Hopkins differs slightly. He also adds from the Public Advertiser, 13 Nov., The last grand scene is a Representation of the whole Regatta sailing by Ranelagh. That and the Red House were invented and drawn by Mr deLoutherberg, and painted by Messrs French, deRoy, Greenwood, and others."] Rec'd stopages #11 12s. 6d. Paid Salary list #626 16s. 6d. Receipts: #152 12s. (Treasurer's Book). [Fuller descriptions of the Regatta scene appeared in the Westminster Magazine for Nov.: The Scene affords a picturesque view of the Thames on the Surry Side to Ranelagh Gardens representing the procession of barges etc., of the different squadrons, previous to their landing the company. The effect produced by this united scenery and machinery was very pleasing; every barge appeared to be rowed to the time of the band of music which is supposed to be upon the water, and evepy man and oar keeps a regular stroke: the sky, flat behind, was finely designed and executed for the general relief, and disposition of the men and boats near shore, in the foreground, was beautiful and did the painter great credit. The whole concluded with a Tar 's song in character, by Mr Bannister, and a dance by sailors and their doxies.'

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). The new Comedy of The Runaway is unavoidably oblig'd to be deferred till Saturday. Rec'd Mr Stanley's Oratorio Account, 11 nights, #327 5s. Paid Lawrence (paper hanger) #13 7s.; Renters (for 11 Oratorio nights) #88; Cubit (tinman) #7 14s. 6d.; Gardner (shoemaker) #25; Chettle (timber merchant) #22 14s. 6d.; Mist andCo. (brazier) #10 8s.; Thomson (smith) #5 16s. 6d. Barrow andCo. (oil) #106 5s.; Tallow Chandler's 8th Bill #26 12s.; Palmer's Bill of Bath for Spermacetti Candles #162 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [MacMillan quotes from Kemble's note on the playbill, a Garrick interpolation in Drugger 's last speech (IV, vii): "Abel: Did you never see me play the Fool? Face: Yes. Abel: But the wise ones say I have played the Fool long enough; So I am going to leave it off and grow melancholy." [This note does not appear in the Hopkins Diary in the Folger Library.] Receipts: #265 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). Last time of Garrick's performing Richard . Ladies desired to send their Servants a little after Five to keep places, to prevent Confuson. It is Vanity to endeavor to describe Mr G. Merits they beggar all Descripiton, suffice it to Say he was what he represented (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble conservatively toned down.] Paid Sg Como and Crispi in full #3 8s. 3d. Mr Hurd ditto 7s. 6d. Receipts: #284 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid half year's land tax to Mich. last #27 4s. 6d.; Ditto Window lights #13 18s. 1d.; Hopkins, Prompter's bill for last season #7 19s.; Mrs Whitlock, sundry bills #26 8s. 9d. Receipts: #98 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author of the Alterations (Hopkins Diary). [On this day Garrick wrote to Mrs Abington, relative to his practice in casting new plays: "That I may hear no more of this or that part in Mr Murphy's play, I now again tell you that every author since my management distributed his parts as he thinks will be of most service to his interest, nor have I ever interfered, or will interfere, unless I perceive that they would propose something contrary to common sense" (Harvard Theatre Collection, Autograph Letter Signed). Charges: #84 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Rec'd stopages #11 13s. Paid Mr Norfolk (glazier) #48 9s.; Thompson (smith) #10 7s.; Hopkins prompter's bill #23 9s. 6d.; Ray, linen draper's bill #115 19s. 6d.; Barrow and Co., oil #99; Cubitt (tinman) #8; Vaughan (haberdasher) #4 3s. 6d. Receipts: #219 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. Paid 2 extra Flutes 15th Inst. 10s.; Paid author of the Sultan's benefit balance 21 Dec. last #60 7s. 6d.; Mr Hopkins bill for Licensing to the 26th inst. #8 8s. (Treasurer's Book). [N.B. Bickerstaff the author was living in exile presumably in St Malo, France. Garrick knew his address from a letter 24 June 1772. Whether the funds were forwarded to him, no record seems to exist. Presumably they were.] Receipts: #218 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A few hisses at the End of the Farce (Hopkins Diary). [Public Advertiser: A correspondent, who was at Drury Lane Theatre Thursday evening, remarks that the Ridicule of the Head-Dresses in Mr Garrick's last Epilogue, and in his performance of Sir John Brute, has had its proper Effect; for the Ladies have lowered their Main Top-Gallant Sails from nine inches to twelve; so that they are not present above three quarters of a yard higher than they ought to be.] Paid salary list 4 days #416 4s. 4d.; Tallow chandler #35 9s. 9d.; Mr Parsons on note by order #25; Settre and Co., Mercers #9 6s. 10d. Receipts: #252 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Runaway published. Paid salary list #416 4s. 4d.; Thomson (smith) #4 14s. 6d.; Buzaglio (smith) #11 7s. 6d.; Jennings (glover) #10 4s. 6d.; Racket (taylor) #37 17s. 6d.; Mist (ironmonger) #18 19s.; Carter (scowerer) #12 16s. (Treasurer's Book). House (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #248 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Mr Parsons) Bought by the Managers (Hopkins Diary). N.B. On 6 May treasurer paid Parsons in Lieu of a Benefit #105 (Treasurer's Book). Paid salary list #621 16s. 6d. Receipts: #153 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Mr Aickin's Night Bought by Managers) (Hopkins Diary). N.B. On 25 April the treasurer paid Mr Aickin in lieu of Benefit #60. Receipts: #269 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)