Event Comment: JJohn Rich Esq, Master and Patentee of the TRCG, died Thursday 26 Nov. 1761, about six o'clock in the evening, at his house adjoining to the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, in the seventieth year of his age. Mrs Priscilla Rich sole executrix of the Will of John Rich Esq, deceas'd. Mr John Rich was buried in Hillingdon Churchyard. (See his Epitaph, Lysons's Middlesex Parishes, p. 162) Dec. 4, 1761. ibid p. 173 (Hopkins MS Notes). Income from Boxes #85 5s. Rec'd of John Condill on acct of Fruit #20. Expenses #46 3s. 8d. [The balance brought forward to this date for this season was #2007 9s. 1d. From this was subtracted the #1291 19s. 4d. necessary for starting the season (see 9 Sept.), which left Beard a favorable balance of #715 9s. 9d. with which to carry on. The Winston Theatrical Record ceases on this date.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Widows and Orphans of the Brave Men who perished, and for those who were wounded, in the Glorious Action on the 14th of February last [off Cape St. Vincent], under Admiral Sir John Jervis. Patrons: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, His Royal Highness the Duke of York, His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. Stewards: Duke of Leeds, Duke of Bedford, Earl of Chesterfield, Earl of Cardigan, Earl Spencer, Lord Kinnaird, Charles Grey Esq., Thomas Tyrwhitt Esq., William Lushington Esq., William Manning Esq., John Thomson Esq., John Julius Angerstein Esq.

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for the Widows and Orphans of those brave Men who perished, and those who were wounded, in the Glorious Action of the 14th February last [see king's, 18 May.] Patrons: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, His Royal Highness Duke of York, His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. Stewards: Duke of Leeds, Duke of Bedford, Earl of Chesterfield, Earl Spencer, Lord Kinnaird, Charles Grey Esq., Thomas Tyrwhitt Esq., Wm. Lushington Esq., Wm. Manning Esq., John Thomson Esq., John Julius Angerstein Esq. Boxes to be taken, and Tickets had at the Office of the Theatre, and at the Bar of Lloyd's Coffee-House. Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: Benefit for Crofts. [His profit remarkable considering his uniformly bad press in Theatrical Review.] Paid Printer's Bill #9 6s.; Black Lyon Bill #4 5s. 3d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #179 5s. 6d. Charges: #49 10s. 6d. Profits to Croft: #129 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Major John Triquet (late of Spittal-Fields) under Misfortune

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@147, p. 68: The King and Queene & a Box for ye Maydes of Honor at the Opera. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 350, and 1 Jan. 1684@5. The opera was certainly given on 3 June, probably on 10 June, and probably on 13 June, the day that the news of the Duke of Monmouth's landing reached London; as Downes states that it was acted six times, there were three additional performances between 3 and 13 June 1685. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 40): In Anno 1685. The Opera of Albion and Albanius was perform'd; wrote by Mr Dryden, and Compos'd by Monsieur Grabue: This being perform'd on a very Unlucky Day, being the Day the Duke of Monmouth, Landed in the West: The Nation being in a great Consternation, it was perform'd but Six times, which not Answering half the Charge they were at, Involv'd the Company very much in Debt. Roger North: The first full opera that was made and prepared for the stage, was the Albanio of Mr Grabue, in English, but of a French genius. It is printed in full score, but proved the ruin of the poor man, for the King's death supplanted all his hopes, and so it dyed (Roger North on Music, ed. John Wilson [London, 1959], p. 311). The Prologue and Epilogue, published separately, are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 244-46. The score and the libretto were published in 1687 (licensing date of 15 March 1686@7): Albion and Albanius; An Opera; Or, Representation in Musick. Set by Lewis Grabu, Esq; Master of His late Majesty's Musick

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. St. James's Evening Post, 31 Oct.: We are informed, that John Ellys Esq: the eminent painter, succeeds Mr Wilks in the management of Drurylane Play-House; and that Mr Cibber Jr succeeds his father, who has resign'd to him

Event Comment: At the Desire of Isaac Bickerstaffe, Esq.; for the Benefit of his cousin John Bickerstaffe

Event Comment: Benefit for Whitefield and Wewitzer. Mainpiece: Written by the late Hugh Kelly, Esq., Never acted there. Public Advertiser, 26 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Whitefield, Crown-court, Bow-street; of Wewitzer. Great Hart-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #137 4s. 6d. (55.14.6; tickets: 81.10.0) (charge: #85 12s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild. 1st Piece: 1st Time at this Theatre, and with Permission of G. Colman, Esq. [owner of the copyright]; written by Joseph Atkinson, Esq. [i.e. altered from his The Mutual Deception (see hay, 29 Aug. 1786)]. 2nd piece: Not acted these 2 years. 3rd piece: Not acted these 7 years [acted 23 May 1783]. Receipts: #225 0s. 6d. (113.0.6; 5.5.0; tickets: 106.15.0)

Event Comment: [By Nicholas Rowe.] Never Acted before. The Medley, 22 April: Whereas Nicodemus Somebody, Esq; alias The Merry Mr Pack, belonging to the Play-house in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, was on Wednesday Night last very noisy and troublesome in the first Gallery of Theatre-Royal in Drury-lane, he's desir'd hereby, when out of his own House, to behave himself with a little more Manners and Discretion, and not distinguish himself again by his ill-natur'd Gestures and frequent Hissings

Event Comment: AAsh Wednesday. Publish'd this day. Price only 1s. Letters which have passed between John Beard Esq Manager of Covent Garden Theatre, and John Shebbeare, M.D. Wherefore I thus entreat with due Submission, Between the Bard and me you'd make decision, The whole now on your Approbation waits. Prologue to the Perplexities, sung by Mr Beard. Printed for G. Kearsly N.B. This Pamphlet is entered at Stationers Hall, whoever pyrates any part of it will be prosecuted. [This pamphlet of 50 pages is given a four-column review in the Gentleman's Magazine for March (p. 124). The controversy was over a play which Shebbeare submitted to Beard and which the latter finally rejected after holding it two seasons. Beard's letters are quoted. The reviewer is severe upon Shebbeare: Upon the whole for anything that has hitherto appeared, the managers of both theatre have rather been to blame for receiving some pieces that they should have rejected, than for rejecting any they should have received. No piece has yet been printed, by the rejection of which the managers have betrayed their trust, or neglected their duty to the public. There may be such pieces in manuscript, but, if there are, the most effective way of avenging the author on the manager is to print them, for the voice of the public would instantly and effecturally do justice to the writter...by compelling the representation.' Shebbeare was Joseph Pittard?]

Event Comment: Paid Dan Malthus, Esq, 1 year's Rent to Xmas last, Land Tax #3 5s. to Mich last deducted #29 15s.; Mr Thomson (Smith &c.) #1 1s. 8d. sewer tax; #36 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #189 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Daily Advertiser, 18 Dec.: Yesterday at about Six in the Morning died Mr John Mills, a celebrated Comedian, after an Illness of ten or twelve Days: The last Time of his appearing upon the Stage was on Saturday se'nnight last, in the Character of the sick King in the second Part of Henry IV

Event Comment: FFog's, 24 March: Colley Cibber, Esq; one of the Patentees of [dl], being now possessed of a more commodious Post, has sold his entire Share of the Cloaths, Scenes, and Patent, to John Highmore, Esq; and at the End of this Season he is, we hear, to quit the Stage

Event Comment: Benefit Giffard. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Afterpiece: a new Dramatic Satire. [By David Garrick.] Tickets at Giffard's Lodgings [Mr Bolney's) in Great Queen Street

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Charke. By Authority. Mainpiece: Not acted these Seventeen Years. Wrote by the late Mr Lillo. Afterpiece: Wrote by the late Henry Fielding, Esq. Founded on a true Tragic Event which happened in Penryn, in Cornwall, in the reign of James I

Event Comment: By Authority of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Stewart and Walker. Mainpiece [1st time; PAST 5]: Done into English, from the Original of Allan Ramsay, by Cornelius Vanderstop, Esq. As it has long been the Desire of the Nobility and Gentry to have this celebrated Piece performed in English, the Gentleman who has undertaken this ardent Task hopes it will give Satisfaction to the Public in general. [Text 1st published For the Author, 1777.] Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by James Stewart. Authors of Prologues unknown.]. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:00. No Persons whatever to be admitted behind the Scenes, nor any Money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. Ladies are desired to send their Servants by Five to keep Places. Tickets to be had at the Edinburgh Coffee-house and Jamaica Coffee-house, Cornhill; the St. Andrew, Wapping; and of Walker, No. 4, New Round Court, Strand

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister Jun. Mainpiece: By Permission of George Colman Jun., Esq. [Prologue by George Colman Jun. (Kemble Mem.), printed in Henry Angelo,@Reminiscences, 1828, I, 331-32.] Morning Herald, 29 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Bannister Jun., No. 2, Frith-street, Soho. Receipts: #538 18s. 6d. (251.19.6; 32.18.0; 3.0.0; tickets: 251.1.0) (charge: #163 9s. 2d.)

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by the late J. Addison, Esq. N.B. The Letter from some Gentlemen of the Inner-Temple (desiring the first Part of King Henry the Fourth to be play'd soon) was receiv'd, and, in Compliment to their Request, that Play will be Acted on Tuesday next