Event Comment: Benefit for Burton and Philips. Tickets of Philips at Martlet Court in Bow St., Covent Garden, and at the stage door (Playbill). [Advertised as not acted in 10 years, but see 29 Oct. 1748.] Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: First time in 12 years. [See 11 April 1747.] Benefit for Burton and Philips. Tickets at Burton's at the Lock and Key in Brownlow St., Long Acre, and at stage door. Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit Philips. To prevent mistakes, tis humbly hoped all Gentlemen and Ladies that take places, will be pleas'd to send for tickets at the same time. Tickets to be had of Mr Page at the stage door

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton and Philips. Last time of performing the Afterpiece this season. Tickets deliver'd by Mr Hayes will be taken. Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 2 Feb. 1753.] This month was published An Answer to that Important Question Whether it is lawful for the Professors of the Christian Religion to go to plays (32 pp.) [Advises members of the Congregation to read Scriptures instead.] Also published A Letter of Abuse to David Garrick. Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Philips and Mrs Lee. Tickets deliver'd by Miss Williams and Miss Berkeley will be admitted. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire, and Dress'd in the Habits of the Times

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by Richard Cumberland] never performed. [Genest, V, 282, reports that Garrick was in the House this night and was agreeably surprised at the complimentary reference to him in the Epilogue: Who but has seen the celebrated strife Where Reynolds calls the Canvass into life: And, 'twixt the Tragic, and the Comic Muse, Courted of both, and dubious where to chuse, Th'immortal Actor stands?' A long retelling of the plot appeared in the Freeholder's Magazine for Dec., concluding: This comedy was received with great applause by the Audience. It is said to be written by Mr Cumberland, who has already oblig'd the Public with a musical piece, called the Summer's Tale. The Performers, particularly Mr Smith, Mr Woodward, Mr Yates, Mrs Green, Mrs Bulkley, and Mrs Yates, did great justice to their characters. The Prologue was spoken by Mr Smith, and the Epilogue, which alluded to the celebrated picture of Sir Joshua Reynolds, where Comedy and Tragedy are contending for Mr Garrick, by Mrs Yates." Receipts: #215 18s

Event Comment: Prologue by Garrick; Epilogue by Cumberland, spoken by Foote and Mrs Jewell. A Comedy Never performed [by Foote]. [Audience included Dr Johnson, Mr Colman, Mr Garrick, Dr Goldsmith, Mr Macpherson, Mr Stevens, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Lord Littleton....So much applause that the audience stopped the play and required one speech repeated (Theatrical Intelligencer).

Event Comment: KKing did Tom (Well) Mrs Clive being taken ill-Mrs Abington did Phillis & I borrow Mrs Baker from Rich to do Lucinda. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 5, by Richard Cumberland. Author of Prologue unknown]: A Romance of the Fourteenth Century, Formed upon the Plan of an unpublished Drama [Johanna von Montfaucon], written and transmitted by Augustus von Kotzebue, The Overture, Songs, Chorusses, Marches and Finale, with appropriate Symphonies between the Acts, by Busby. The Scenery, Dresses, Machinery & Decorations entirely New. The Scenery by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, &c. The arrangement of the Marches, Chorusses & Military Movements incidental to the Piece, under the direction of Farley. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. The Words of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. "The appropriate beauty of the scenery, in which the rules of perspective are critically observed, the splendour of the decorations and the richness of the dresses, have been rarely equalled" (Universal Magazine, Jan. 1800, p. 75). Receipts: #318 6d. (316.2; 2.4)

Event Comment: Not performed for 12 years. [See 5 Nov. 1746.] Mossop, Palmer, Miss Macklin, Mrs Davies, Miss Pritchard played parts for first time. Receipts: #100 (Cross).; #114 10s (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 5, by Matthew Gregory Lewis; incidental music by Michael Kelly (see 2 Feb. 1798), with one selection from Jomelli. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1797, pp. 357-58)]: With new Dresses, Scenery, and Decorations. The Scenery designed by the late Mr Greenwood [who died on 1 Nov.], and executed by his Son, Pugh, and others. Times, 15 Jan. 1798: This day is published The Castle-Spectre (2s.). "There is a sufficient number of Ghosts, Hobgoblins, Cells and Trap-doors to serve for a pantomimical exhibition of the most extravagant nature, and the whole may, with no breach of propriety, be termed a Speaking Pantomime, of which Kemble is made the Harlequin and Mrs Jordan the Columbine" (Morning Herald, 16 Dec.). Receipts: #316 18s. 6d. (257.6.6; 58.17.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales [who were present]. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mrs Centlivre

Event Comment: We play'd the Beggar's Opera & ye Oracle by Children for the Benefit of some distress'd Actors who formerly belong'd to the Theatres. There was #102 in the House, the following Persons receiv'd from it Mr Marshall #23. Mr Morgan #21. Mrs Edgerton #5 5s. Mr Bowman #5 5s. Mr Phenix #10 10s. Mrs Gardner (formerly printer to ye house) #2 2s. N.B.: Mrs Clive refus'd to play her part of Lucy , it was done by Miss Young. New performers engag'd Y: Fletewood, Obrien, Packer, Perry, Miss Glen (Cross)

Event Comment: DDesdemona-Mrs Havard">Mrs Davies. $Mrs Havard being ill Mr King play'd Iago (Hopkins). Mrs Yates ill...Mrs Davies Desdemona (Cross Diary). Benefit for Vernon. Tickets for The Roman Father will be taken. Both main and afterpiece, By Particular Desire. Mr King Iago. Mr Havard could not play Mrs Havard being dead (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). A mistake in the Diary. Mrs Havard died Friday 27th (J. P. Kemble MS Notes-MacMillan). Music A La Mode deferr'd on account of Indisposition of a principal performer. Last time of performing till the Holidays. Charges: #64 4s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Paid Mrs Lowe@and@Co. (glaziers) #17 11s. 6d.; Hatsell, (mercer) #142 3s.; Scott (copper laceman) #16 11s.; Marshall & Co., (plumbers) #27 8s.; Ireland (upholsterer) #43 4s.; Stacy (colourman) #18 16s.; Gardner (shoemaker) #36 11s.; Barrow & Co. (oil) #103, 13s.; Thomson (smith) #27 8s.; Cubitt (tinman) #24 15s. Receipts: #143 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Waldron & Mrs Greville. Public Advertiser, 19 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Waldron, No. 16, Glanville-street, Rathbone Place; of Mrs Greville at the Orange Warehouse, the Corner of King-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #178 15s. (69.0; 15.1; 0.0; tickets: 94.14) (charge: #74 14s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Tickets deliver'd by Mrs James will be taken. For ye Benefit of Mrs James, tho' her name was not put up, who is going to leave the Stage, and retire as said to a Nunnery. Mr Macklin's Oratory open'd at his house in ye Piazza (Cross). Public Advertiser 22 Nov.: At Macklin's Great Room in Hart St. Covent Garden this day...will be opened The British Inquisition. This Inquisition is upon the plan of the ancient Greek, Roman and modern French, Italian Societies@of@liberal@investigation...&c. First lecture to be on Hamlet. [See Mackliniana (2 Vols. Folger Shakespeare Library) MS notes by Isaac Reed, from the Public Advertiser, 22 Nov. Macklin's lecture series was repeated on 23, 28 Nov., 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 26, 28 Dec.] Receipts: #200 (Cross)