Event Comment: [For Cross' comment, see dl.] Receipts: #203 8s. 6d. Paid Barry one third of the surplus of this night's receipt over and above #80 allow'd for the charges:-#41 2s. 10s. Paid Lambert (Scene Painter) 3 month's salary to 16 Nov. last:-#25 (Account Book). [Lee, who seems to have entered earlier on a percentage-of-Box-Receipts: basis for his salary, received only one-third of receipts above a house charge of #100.] The Tragedy of King Lear was presented on this stage; King Lear by Mr Barry, and Cordelia by Mrs Bellamy; The latter was received with universal satisfaction; but on the former's appearance, after a thundering Peal of Applause, a few misguided persons made it necessary for Mr Barry to inform the audience that it ever had been his study to contribute his utmost to the entertainment of the town, and that all reports of his having been exorbitant in his demands were injurious and totally groundless. Upon this he was desired with one general acclamation to proceed in the play. The disturbers of the public were ordered to be silent or to be turned out of the house; and this great actor proved, by the improvement he has made in this character, that excellent as he is, he is still capable of reaching new strokes of perfection; and in the conclusion of the play the applause he met with was the tribute of hearts gratefully agitated through the whole performance with a variety of passions thrown into a ferment by powers most wonderfully suited to tenderness and compassion (London Chronicle, 3-6 Dec.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miles, Mrs Baker, Miss Young. Receipts: #47 0s. 6d. Charges: #63. Deficiency of #5 6s. 6d. apiece covered by income from tickets: Miles #51 3s. (boxes 79; pit 161; gallery 71); Mrs Baker, #36 16s. (boxes 60; pit 99; gallery 62); Miss Younger, #28 19s. (boxes 17; pit 112; gallery 79). Rec'd #16 8s. 3d. being overcharge for Taxes, &c. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Mainpiece: By Desire, and not acted these 4 years. [See 17 Jan. 1755.] Tickets deliver'd out for the 19th, and 22d for Douglas will be taken. Tickets sold at the Door will not be taken

Event Comment: TThe Guardian deferred; Mrs Clive indisposed. Tomorrow will be reviv'd Comus, the characters of the Bacchanal and Euphrosyne by a Gentleman and Gentlewoman who never appeared on the stage before. Receipts: #150 (Cross)