Event Comment: Mr Lacy a Proprietor of this Theatre made his first appearance upon the Stage in the part of Alexander. He is very Tall, & Thin, a good Voice but His Fright took away from it's power--he was rec'ed with Applause. Mr Garrick wrote a New Occasional Prologue to introduce him, which was Spoken by Mr King & rec'ed with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid 4 days list at #91 8s. 10d. per diem #365 15s. 4d.; Mr J. French on Acct #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine commented on Willoughby Lacy's performance (Oct. 1774): "His performance was far from answering the expectations we had been taught to form from a friend and pupil of our English Roscius. Indeed Mr Lacy is a very young man: therefore we ought not to draw the line of our expectation. His figure is at present lank, awkward, and unengaging; his voice distinctly powerful, but inharmonious; his action outre, vulgar and forced: his attitudes unnatural, affected and disgustful; and his delivery a continued rant, without proper change, a pleasing variety, or a just discrimination of the necessary difference of tone demanded by the different passions. These...capital defects...are not unsurmountable...The play was prefaced by a new Prologue, evidently the production of Mr Garrick. It had some humor and was well received. The purport of it was to beg favor for the hero of the evening, whom it compared to a young swimmer, who had tried to float in two shallow streams, and was now about to venture himself in the great deep. This image is certainly an apt one, though, it is no great compliment to the audiences of Norwich and Birmingham."] Receipts: #248 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Garrick Bays 1st time these four years Very fine House (Hopkins Diary). Mrs King many years actress and dancer will leave the stage at her Benefit. Garrick [will] play for her (Winston MS 10). Paid Marshall & Co. (plumbers) #11 9s. 6d.; Mr Racket (taylor) #20 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) #29 6d.; Mr Ireland (upholsterer) #34 7s.; Barrow & Co (oil merchants) #88 10s.; Printer's Bill #8 12s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #280 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Garrick inexpressibly fine. Mrs Abington Beatrice, first time-very Great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Sparks and Co. Lace Bill #10 15s. Mr King (glassman) for lustres his bill #75 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [From the Gazeteer and New Daily Advertiser, 7 Nov.: "The desertion of the theatres in consequence of the disease with which so many are afflicted, has been productive of one agreeable effect, that of bringing Mr Garrick forward in Benedict much earlier than was expected. It cannot be a matter of surprise that Roscius should have escaped the infection and his spirits and constitution seems proof against the attacks of age itself; after above 30 campaigns, his ardour and execution appear rather to increase. Benedict owes all its consequence to his attachment; there is a peculiar turn of humour in this soldier that none but Mr Garrick has ever been able to enter into the true spirit of. Last night he supported the character with undiminished excellence, and in the speech where he meditates and then resolves on marriage, he soared beyond himself. Beatrice is Shakespeare's Benedict in petticoats, and very happily has got into the hands of Mrs Abington" (Quoted in Hampden, Eighteenth Century Journal).] Receipts: #264 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Moody Dr Cantwell 1st time--very bad (Hopkins Diary). Theatrical Review, 27 Nov.: Dr Cantwell was, this evening, played by Mr Moody on account of Mr King's illness, and, as we apprehend, it was undertaken on a short notice, we think he executed it with great propriety and justness. [Potter interprets the moral impact of the play considering it an improvement over Cibber's Non-Juror, its source.] Receipts: #108 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr G very fine-Voice clear to the last great Applause. House (Hopkins Diary). Ladies and Gentlemen requested to come early to prevent confusion. Rec'd Stopages #6 5s. 6d.; from Mr Clutterbuck #100; Paid salary list #494 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct #2; Mr S. French #1 10s.; Signora Vidini, 1 day in full of this season 16s. 8d. Receipts: #268 8s. 6d. (Treasurer#s Book)

Event Comment: Mr G. never play'd Kitely better (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr Hatsell (mercer) #59 16s.; Cropley (linen draper) #92 2s.; Cole (turner) #56 11s.; Hopkins & Co. (ironmongers) #49 8s.; Stacy (colourman) #10 8s. Middleton (colorman) #11 8s.; Scott (copper laceman) #41 7s. 6d.; Ireland (upholsterer) #30 1s.; Carter (scowerer) #11 6s. 6d.; Cubitt (tinman) #15 8s. Receipts: #251 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Diamond made his first appearance upon the Stage in the Part of Romeo he is very younge a Smart Figure good Voice & made a very tolerable first appearance he met with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Chorus 2 nights (this inc.) #5 1s.; Paid Mr French on acct #20; Paid printer's bill #11. Paid Mr Garland, for copper plate printing #10 17s. 6d.; Paid Mr Weston, per order #18 17s. 4d. [The printer's bill was paid regularly each Thursday, averaged #8 19s. per week, and will not be further noted. Total payments this season #353. See Town and Country Magazine for favorable review of Miss Mansell as Juliet and of Diamond as Romeo.] Receipts: #208 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid 3 days Salary List at #86 15s. 6d. per diem #260 6s. 6d.; Mr Bransby on note #20; Sg Como, Sga Crespi, and Sg Demaria 3 days each not on list, #4 3s. 3d.; Mr J. French on Act #20; 2 pair dancer's shoes 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #267 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

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: Mr Inchbald from the Norwich Compy. made his first appearance in Osmyn very bad Figure, Indifferent voice and a very bad Actor. a Small hiss at End of Play (Hopkins Diary). Osmyn, Young Gentleman (Cross Diary). This appears to be the last night of Miss Younge's performing in London this season--She left Drury Lane, and went ot Dublin. Mr Joseph Inchbald became an actor in the York Company of Comedians--He died at Leeds in Yorkshire, where he is buried--I knew him intimately--he was an excellent man, and an admirable actor of old comic characters, and of drunken men--He was at once-poor fellow-the greatest Sloven and in many Particulars of the nicest Delicacy too, that could be imagined (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan)

Event Comment: Nusquam hodie effugies, veniam quocumque vocaris. Rare Words. I wonder where he stole 'em. Swift. To begin at 7 p.m. Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. Gallery 1s. [A contest was in the making. This night Macklin advertised at his Great Room in Hart St.; At the request of most of the Wits, Witlings, Scorners, Laughers, Jokers, Sneers, and other Choice Spirits of this Metropolis...will come on before the Inquisitor General, the Trial of the egregius Sam. Smatter, alias Woud'be, alias Mimic, alias Buffon, alias Critt, alias Wit, alias Beau, alias fine Gentleman, and vulgarly call'd Esquire, for a public cheat and Imposter. The whole public are summoned to be on the Jury. Common Sense their Forman. Nusquam hodie effugies, veniam quocumque vagaris. Rare words, I wonder where he stole 'em. Swift. Out of Mr--'s Portmanteau; the particulars of which Sam Smatter can inform any person of who shall ask him that favour."

Event Comment: The Principles not to be didactically and drily delivered but demonstrated by apt and familiar instances and illustrated by a set of Pupils long trained and properly prepared for the Purpose. [This performance originally scheduled for 26 April, but deferred to this date, a noon performance.] See Sketch of Mr Foote's Lectures on Oratory, as delivered Yesterday at the Little Theatre in the Haymarket (St James Chronicle, as 29 April)