Event Comment: Mainpiece: By ParticUlar Desire. The Farce greatly hiss'd (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr Slingsby's draft on the managers #14 13s. 6d. Receipts: #259 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Yates would not play for Mr Slingsby altho' her name has been advertis'd from the beginning--Mrs Hartly of Covent Garden was ask'd to do the part, She refus'd it as it was to be done there for a Benefit the week after at Last Mr Reddish said Mrs Canning Should do it, & Such a performance I think was never Seen in Drury Lane Theatre very bad indeed many hisses (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Slingsby. [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid 1 yrs. Subscription to St George's Hospital to Lady Day 1776, #10 10s. Receipts: #270 10s. Charges: #68 8s. Profits to Slingsby: #202 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Matilda deferr'd Reddish Ill. Matilda was advertis'd for this Night but Mr Reddish came Yesterday as Mad as a March Hare, Said he had all the Terrors of the Damn'd upon him, & that he had not had a Wink of Sleep all Night. Call'd the Great Gods & the dear Woman (Mrs Canning) that lay by his Side to Witness the Truth of this Assertion & behav'd like a Man in Despair (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble delicately omits reference to Mrs Canning.] Paid salary list 4 day #378 10s. 8d.; J. French on acct #5 5s.; Mr. J. Johnston Music bill #10 1s. Receipts: #180 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Grist did not play better than the first night (Hopkins Diary). Paid for Women's cloaths #12; Johnston's Music Bill #15 9s. Receipts: #114 19s. 6d. (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: Mr G. never better (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble: Mr Garrick prodigiously fine.'] Receipts: #286 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: With New Music, Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations for the Afterpiece. This Farce is brought on the Stage by Mrs Abington--it is very dull--It is vastly well got up and was receiv'd with Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly, mentioning Bickerstaff as the author. Larpent MS 397 contains elaborate stage direction at opening: "An interior apartment in the Seraglio. An arch in the middle of the back scene, which is shut with a curtian. On the right hand toward the front is a sopha in the Turkish manner, low deep, and long, covered with carpets and cushions. A little gold table about eight inches high and a foot and a half square. Upon it a rich or gold saver set with jewels, with two cups on porcelain, and a spoon made of the beak of an Indian bird, which is redder than coral, extremely rare and of extensive price." This may have been intended for a reading audience. In the piece Mrs Abington, an English slave , rebels in the confines of the Seraglio, and start a reform movement wherein men are to please the women. Concludes with demostration of the nobility of English women who will not be enslaved, who will not flatter, who will preserve their liberty and dignity, and who are capable of returning love for honor and respect. Reviewed in Westminster Magazine for Dec.: "The Audience appeared to be divided in their opinion of the merit of the Sultan, some loudly applauding, and others as loudly condemning it, when the curtain dropped. The Majority however, stood firmly for it, and a verdict was returned in its favor. The managers not only well dressed this dramatic trifle, but bestowed three new scenes on it: The Outer Gate of the Seraglio--An Interior view of it--and a Garden terminating in a prospect of the sea. The first was but la! la! The last two were beautiful and picturesque. Five airs were introduced into this piece which had a very good effect....The music of the two first was the composition of Mr Dibdin, and was exceedingly pretty."] Receipts: #143 1s. 6d. (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: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. When Face ask'd Drugger if he had any Interest with the Players--Mr G. Answer'd I believe I had once but don't know if I have now or not--It It had a good Effect--his having Just Sold his Share of the Patent (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] On Wed. Night Jan. 18, 1776, Mr Garrick concluded his treaty for the sale of his share of the patent and property of Drury Lane Theatre to 4 gentlemen for #35,000 (Winston MS 11). Receipts: #256 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The play went off with Great Applause and the Opera till begining of the Second Act. when they hiss'd very much and a very great Noise ensued and with very great difficulty we got to the end of the Farce (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Mr Hurst (by order) on Note #13 13s. Receipts: #109 2s. (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)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). Afterpiece: For the last time this season. [Public Advertiser, 20 April: The following Accident happened at Drury Lane on Thursday in the Entertainment of the Jubilee. As Mr Hurst and Mr Palmer were representing the characters of Posthumus and Iachimo in the Fighting Scene where they were engag'd with extreme violence, the former narrowly escaped losing his eye from a severe wound in the temple."] Paid Richard Barnard for detecting a pickpocket 10s. 3 extra trumpets #1 2s. 6d. Receipts: #121 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House Mr Baddeley's Night Bought by Managers (Hopkins Diary). Treasurer paid Mr Baddeley in lieu of Benefit #60. Rec'd Baddeley on acct #20. Paid salary list #621 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). On Monday Cymbeline. Before the Play the Musical Prelude call'd The Theatrical Candidates; to which will be added The Rival Candidates. Receipts: #297 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Human Nature cannot arrive at greater Excellence in Acting than Garrick was possess'd of this Night All words must fall far short of what he did and none but his Spectators can have an Idea how great he was-The Applause was unbounded. House (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #309 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Love, Mrs Cross, and Mrs Millidge. Last time of performing both pieces this season. Afterpiece: By Desire. Tickets delivered for Macbeth, on Monday the 13th, and by Garland, Walker, L'Englois, and Mas. Pulley will be taken. This Benefit was fix'd and advertised for Macbeth on Tuesday the 21st but as Mr G., wanted that day to play himself he gave them the above Play and Farce as a Recompense for their coming later they had a very great House (Hopkins Diary). Rec'd stopages #9 9s. Receipts: #105 6d. Charges: #84. Profits to Mrs Love, Mrs Cross, and Mrs Millidge: #21 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Garrick's last time of performing Hamlet . Benefit towards encreasing a Fund, for the relief of those who from their infirmities shall be oblig'd to retire from the stage. Pit and Boxes are laid together, and no admittance into the Pit or Boxes without Tickets. Ladies and Gentlemen urged to come early. Servants must be at the theatre by 5 o'clock to keep places. Doors will be opened at half past Five. Play to begin at half past Six. On Saturday Mr Garrick will perform a principal part in a Comedy. Pit and Boxes put together, most of the tickets were sold for a Guinea a piece, very few under half a Guinea and the whole quantity Sold in about Two hours (Hopkins Diary). [Kemble's note briefer.] Receipts: #85 8s. 6d. Charges: #23 4s. 1d. [See 10 June.] (Treasurer's Book)