Event Comment: Benefit for Sparks. Receipts: #83 2s. 6d. plus Tickets #184 12s. (boxes 335; pit 551; gallery 182). Advanced Mrs Bellamy on her salary #105. Two new Renters came in at 1 share each: Sir Thomas Robinson and Robert Hassell (Account Book). Mr Smith takes this earliest opportunity to return thanks the Ladies and Gentlemen who honoured him with their presence at his Benefit on Tuesday Night, and is very sorry for any interruption that might happen in the performance. The indulgence of his friends that night far exceeded his most sanguine exceptations; otherwise he should have provided proper accomodations for them on the stage (Public Advertiser). [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758, for contemporary comment on mainpiece: "It is not paying it a very great, much less an underserved compliment to give it the preference over all the dramatic pieces that have been presented at either house these six or seven years...Tears were the first praises I gave it...no play except Lear ever make such a strong constant impression on my feelings."

Event Comment: Benefit for Barrington and Mrs Lampe. No building on stage. Receipts: by income from tickets: Barrington #90 16s. (boxes 142; pit 286; gallery 12); Mrs Lampe, #53 2s. (boxes 52; pit 180; gallery 131) (Account Book). [The original title of afterpiece, a burlesque opera by Henry Carey, was Margery; or, A Worse Plague than the Dragon a sequel to the Dragon of Wantley. The music was advertised as by the late Mr Lampe.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Unhappy Sufferers by the late Dreadful Fire that happened in King Street, Covent Garden. Places for boxes to be taken, and tickets to be had of Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door of the Theatre; where, if any persons are so charitably disposed as to send more than the price of the ticket, a receipt will be given him to the person who brings it. And the profits arising from such Benefit Play, will be paid into the hands of the Church Wardens of St Paul's, cg, and St Martins in the Fields, to be distributed by them for the purposes intended. And as there has been no interest made for this benefit, more than arose from the Advertisements in the public Play-Bills, it is hop'd the Inhabitants of the above parishes will favour this charity with their personal appearances at the said Theatre this Night. Receipts: #128 13s. in cash plus #42 5s. (169 Box tickets). Total Income #170 18s. Charges #64

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Part of Pit will be laid into the Boxes. No building on Stage. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted. Afterpiece: A Ballad Farce Reviv'd. Receipts: #82 5s. 6d. in cash, plus #187 1s. from tickets (Boxes 399; Pit 492; GGalllery 135). Total #269 6s. 6d. Charges #63. [Mr Smith found his own candles.

Event Comment: Memorandum: Mrs Baker, actress, died this day at Coventry on her Journey from Liverpool to London. Paid Mr J. Rich on Account #10. [This is Account or ledger Number 1 (Account Book).] Receipts: #71 11s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment never perform'd before. The Music composed by Dr Arne. Full Prices. Boxes #53 (Account Book). [About 212 persons in Boxes. A profitable and popular afterpiece for Rich, but it cost him each night this season 10s. 6d. for Mr Wrexell for the Clarinet, and 5s. to Dell for the French Horn.] Receipts. #181 8s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Several, Mr Bride, &c. Shawford, Berrisford, Roberts. Tickets deliver'd by Mrs Johnson will be taken

Event Comment: Young Gentlewoman-Miss E. Miller, marryed since to Mr Thomas Baker, an actor of cg, and a singing master. Mrs Baker is at present separated from her husband (1792) and performs only at Sadler's Wells in Pantomimes &c! Qu: Count Haslang and Mrs Baker (Hopkins MS Notes). Income from Boxes #27 2s. 6d. Nightly expense as usual #32 16s. 11d. Receipts: #74 7s. 6d. (Winston Theatrical Record)

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of Their Majesties. Sga Manesiere lived with Mr Fisher, Ballet Master at cg, who marryed her in her last illness. N.B. She had some Property. This Lady was a pattern of neatness and exterior modesty (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd for the Benefit of Mr and Mrs Hopkins will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Barrington. No Building on Stage

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Simson. No building on Stage. Mr Blakes died (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Pantomime, the Overture and Comic Tunes compos'd by Potter, the Airs and Chorusses by Batishall. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken. The Words of the Airs and Chorusses in the Entertainment will be given away at the theatre (playbill). At the end of the Play a great Noise & many cry'd out, the whole! the whole, &c. Mr Holland told 'em there never was any more play'd, which a little appeas'd em; but some noise continued till the Curtain was drawn up for the Pantomime & then all was quiet. The Pantomime got great applause; the Tunes were very bad, & a great want of Business & Incidents thro' the whole. The Scenery is very Pretty & well Executed. The Elephant is excellent & has a Fine Effect (Hopkins). Machinery Pleas'd. Business so, so (Cross Diary). [Wording in comment from Hopkins Diary-MacMillan, differs only slightly.] Receipts: #269 13s

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Davies. Oroonoko by Mr Powell (Hopkins). Very well (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #166 10s. (MacMillan); charges: #64 4s. [Profit to Mrs Davies: #102 6s.

Event Comment: Benefit for Bowers, Veal, and Broad. Mr Lee read Lord Trinket (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lee and Miss Slack. Comedy never performed, Alteration of Wycherley's play into two acts by Lee (Genest, V, 69). Tickets and places to be had of Lee at LaGrange's Medicinal Warehouse, in New St., Covent Garden; of Miss Slack, at Mr Bates', Charles St., Covent Garden; and at Stage door

Event Comment: Benfit for Costollo, Mrs Pitt, Mr Stede. [Public Advertiser assigns Maria to Miss Elliot.] None admitted behind Scenes. Last time of performing Mainpiece this season

Event Comment: Benefit towards the Increase of a Fund, established by the Performers of the Theatre Royal Covent Garden for the Support of Decayed Actors and their Families. This Fund having been begun by voluntary contributions among the performers, improved by a proportionable Weekly Deduction on their salaries, and intended as a reciprocal Provision for them their widows and children, in sickness and infirmity, it is humbly hoped and appeal to the Generosity of the Public will not be taken amiss. Such of the Nobility, Gentry, &c. who are pleas'd to favour this Undertaking, are desired to send for places, Box or Pit tickets, to Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door. Mainpiece [by John Banks]: Not acted these 20 years. Occasional Prologue, written by Hull [printed in the Jester's Magazine, May 1766, p. 241]