Event Comment: Both pieces by His Majesty's command. [John Pringle wrote to Blayney Townley on 14 Nov.: Great are the disputes at present between the rival theatres, vieing with each other in different characters which afford unusual entertainment to all frequenting the stage. His Majesty on Saturday night paid his first visit to Covent Garden in perference to the opera at Drury Lane, when Lady Townley by Pegg Woffington gave him great pleasure, with the addition of unusual huzzas in a part of the Miller of Mansfield." -Historical MS Commission, 10th Report, Appendix, Part IV (London 1887), p. 257.

Event Comment: On Monday Next Douglas a Tragedy. [The Public Advertiser includes a full column extract from David Hume's Letter to Rev John? Home concerning Douglas: "I have the Ambition to be the first who shall in public express his Admiration of your Noble tragedy of Douglas; one of the most interesting and pathetic Pieces, that was ever exhibited upon any theatre. Should I give it preference to the Merope of Maffei, and to that of Voltaire which it resembles in its subject; should I affirm that it contained more Fire and Spirit than the former and more Tenderness and Simplicity that the latter; I might be accused of partiality....But the unfeighned tears which flowed from every eye, in the numerous representations which were made of it on this theatre; the unparalleled command which you appeared to have over every affection of the human breast; these are incontestable proofs that you possess the true Theatric Genius of Shakespear and Otway, refined from the unhappy Brabarism of the one, and Licentiousness of the other." The reference was to earlier performances in Edinburg.

Event Comment: PPittard's Observations on Garrick's Acting pub. as 6 d. Dedicated to Earl of Chesterfield (Winston MS 8). [Joseph Pittard the actor? or pen name for John Shebbeare?] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Last Time of performing it. Receipts: #153 14s. 6d. Barry's 113 of surplus came to #24 11s. 6d. Paid George Lambert (scene painter) 3 months' salary #25. The following additional Renters came in this night at 1 share each: Thomas Fludyer, John Calcraft, Charles Lanoe, and Samuel Berkeley. Richard Vincent Sr bought in at 2 shares (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Clarke. Mainpiece: Not acted these 8 years. [See 22 March 1750.] No building on the Stage. Receipts: #49 4s. 6d. Charges: #63. Deficiency covered by #114 14s. from tickets (boxes 160; pit 394; gallery 156). Rec'd from John Rich, #300, being part of the sum paid Mrs Finny on account of the New Building. Paid out for sundries from the theatres and sum, to Barry and Lee, #284 14s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [This month published Observations on the Use of Theatres, their present regulations and possible improvements. Price 1s. Printed for Cooper. See review in Gentleman's Magazine (p. 232). Proposal is that the "conduct of theatrical entertainments be for the future taken under the care of the goverment, and a person of judgment and integrity appointed by the name of comptroller, or conductor of the stage, who alone shall determine what old plays shall be acted, and what new ones received; and who shall take charge of the money received, and defray the necessary expenses, accounting for the remainder to the public. The author seemingly Dr John Hill, lately (see 21 Dec. 1758) upset by the failure of his farce, The Rout. (Winston MS 8). Receipts: #108 (Cross); #122 6d. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: Receipts: #150. Paid Meares #1 6s.; Mock #1 10s.; Kemp #9 12s.; John Rich #500; Mrs Colman for a purple and silver gown #18 18s

Event Comment: Benefit for Cresswick, Desse, Mrs Jansolin. Last time of performing till Whitsun holidays. Receipts: #25 plus #173 7s. 6d. from tickets: Cresswick #30 17s. (Box 53; Pit 106; Gallery 17); Desse #80 12s. (Box 146; Pit 186; Gallery 162); Mrs Jansoline #61 17s. (Box 105; Pit 130; Gallery 161). Rec'd from John Rich #200 by the hand of Mrs Rich. [The House is now showing a deficit of #727 5s. 11d. (Account Book).] Charges: #63 (Account Book)

Event Comment: TThe Jovial Crew, as advertised for this Day cannot be perform'd on account of the indisposition of Miss Brent. Positively the last time of the company's performing this season. Boxes #5 17s. 6d. Paid Younger a bill for writing parts #2 12s. Paid Ross in full to make his sallery #300 for the season: #60. The Account Book indicates a deficit this night of #1240 12s. 4d. after all salaries are paid. This deficit was reduced by #301 18s. 8d. on May 27 by deductions from the annual salaries of 23 actors and dancers for 19 nights on account of "the death of His Late Majesty King George the Second." A little more than 10 per cent was taken from the salary of each: From Miss Macklin's salary of #300, was deducted #31 16s. 10d., &c. The others who were similary taxed were: @Name Salary Deduction@Ross #300 #31 16s. 10d.@Maranesi & Mrs Maranesi[Wife #270 #28 13s. 2d.@Sparks #250 #26 10s. 8d.@Dyer & Mrs Dyer[Wife #250 #26 10s. 8d.@Beard #210 #22 5s. 9d.@Ridout #180 #19 2s. 1d.@Poitier Jr #150 #15 18s. 6d.@Miss Capdeville #150 #15 15s. 5d.@Barrington #100 #10 12s. 3d.@Bencraft #100 #10 12s. 3d.@LaLauze #100 #10 12s. 3d.@Poitier Sr #80 #8 9s. 9d.@Leppie #80 #8 9s. 9d.@Mrs Jansolien #60 #6 7s. 4d.@Mrs Viviez #60 #6 7s. 4d.@Rotchford #50 #5 6s. 1d.@Mrs Marianne #50 #5 6s. 1d.@Hussey #35 #3 14s. 3d.@Mrs Welsch #35 #3 14s. 3d.@Mrs Crawford #35 #3 14s. 3d.@ On 30 May the deficit was further reduced by receipts from 26 actors for advances, one-half value of tickets for their benefit performances, &c., plus #200 from John Rich, in the amount of #506 6s. 5d. (Account Book).] Receipts: #43 7s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: A new English Comic Burletta from the Italian. Music by John Adolf? Hasse. To begin at half after seven

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. John Rich, Master & Patentee of Covent Garden Theatre died (Winston MS 9)

Event Comment: Benefit for Beard. Ladies desired to send servants by 3 o'clock. Music for the afterpiece by John Frederick Lampe

Event Comment: [This year was published, John Geere's Serious Consideration on Plays , Games and other Fashionable Diversions, showing the sinfulness and dangerous tendency therof (47 pp.).

Event Comment: [This year was published The Companion to the Playhouse; or, An historical account of all the Dramatic Writers, and their works that have appeared in Great Britain and Ireland to the year 1764. Composed in the form of a Dictionary. for the more readily turning to any particular author or performance. Two vols. Dedicated to Garrick. (Who receives eleven and one-half columns of comment, more than any other dramatist.) This is the beginning of the Biographia Dramatica. This year was published Essays on Important Subjects intended to establish the Doctrine of Salvation by Grace, by John Witherspoon (President of Princeton). Vol. II, contained a Serious Enquiry into the nature and effects of the Stage," being an attempt to show that contributing to the support of a Public Theatre is inconsistent with the character of a Christian (112 pp).

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Benefit for Mrs Cibber. Send servants to keep places at 3 o'clock. Tickets deliver'd for King John will be taken. Garrick returned [from trip to France and Italy] to his house in Southampton St. (Winston MS 9)

Event Comment: Paid John Sutherland for playing the bagpipes in Midas 3 nights 15s. Paid Samuel Norman, carver, for 4 Grand state chairs #63 (Account Book). Receipts: #194 11s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Rec'd from Blackmore #6 6s. for two spring velvet suits of cloaths in his last bill. Paid John Sutherland playing the Bag Pipes in Faustus 4 nights #1 (Account Book). Receipts: #193 19s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid Blandford (tallow chandler) 4th bill #34 6s. 6d.; Paid Colthorpe on acct for half season #157 10s.; Paid John Palmer for Spermacetti candles #118 14s. 6d.; Paid Daniel Malthus Esq one year's rent #30 7s. 6d.; Gave the Knight's Marshall men Xmas boxes 10s. 6d.; Duke of Cumberland's Footmen Xmas box, #2 2s.; Beadle and Watchmen Xmas Box 12s. 6d.; the Bricklayer man 2s. 6d.; Paid Roberts, shoemaker, on account #3 3s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #139 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Rec'd stopages #1 8s.; from John Palmer in part of his bond #70; Paid 5 days salary list #367 13s. 4d. Receipts: #173 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Went to the 2 shilling Gallery to see the new tragedy, with its musical entertainment The Cunning Man, a sort of translation of Rousseau's Devin du Village. Holland, Powell and Bensley played Warwick, Edward and Pembroke very well. Mrs Yates did great justice to Queen Margaret. Mrs Palmer did Elizabeth. The Prologue was spoken by Bensley, the Epilogue by Mrs Yates. The characters were very richly dressed in the dresses of the time. The improper use of ridiculous modern dresses on the stage often offends me (Diary of Sylas Neville, unpublished MS portion)

Event Comment: Paid John Sutherland for playing the Bagg Pipes 4 nights in Dr Faustus #1 (Account Book). Receipts: #190 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid John Sutherland for playing Bagg Pipes 3 nights in Midas and 1 in Dr Faustus #1 (Account Book). Went into the Pit to see Woodward in the character of Brazen. He is a most inimitable fellow....This play is entertaining, but rather loose. End Act II, a pantomime Dance by Fishar and Manesiere. The entertainment was Harlequin Dr Faustus (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #145 9s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Younger. Tickets deliver'd by Bryan and Branson will be taken. Tickets sold at doors will not be admitted. Charges #65 15s. Balance to Younger #58 10s. plus income from tickets. Younger 70 129 159 #52 15s. Bryan 4 49 61 #14 9s. Branson 26 102 134 #35 4s.@Total ticket value #102 8s. (Account Book).@ Rec'd #20 a year improv'd rent of the houses in Bow St. and part of the effects of the late John Rich...#250. Receipts: #124 5s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Tragedy [by John Hoole] never perform'd. Paid Younger for a license for Cyrus & the New Occasional Prologue, #3 3s. (Account Book). [Account of the plot of the mainpiece, but without observational comment appeared in Lloyd's Evening Post, 2-5 Dec.] Receipts: #229 4s. (Account Book)