Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Joanna Baillie. "Adapted to the stage by J. P. Kemble" (note in his hand on Kemble playbill), Text in the author's A Series of Plays (T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies, 1798). Prologue by the Hon. Francis North; Epilogue by Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (Larpent MS 1287)]: The Scenery, Musick, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. The Musick of the Third Act composed by Shaw [and sung by Sedgwick (Dramatic Censor, II, 162)] and of the Second and Fourth Acts by Kelly. The Scenes designed by Greenwood? Jun and Capon, and executed by them, Banks, &c. The Dresses and Decorations designed by Johnston, and executed under his direction by Gay and Underwood. The Female Dresses designed and executed by Miss Rein. Receipts: #308 12s. 6d. (264.3.0; 43.15.6; 0.14.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Costollo and Mrs Green. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted. Receipts: #56 0s. 6d. Charges: #63. Deficiency of #3 9s. 9d. each covered by income from tickets: Costollo, #92 17s. (boxes 72; pit 367; gallery 198); Mrs Green, #37 7s. (boxes 55; pit 106; gallery 77). Paid Robertson for working the Ostridge in [Harlequin] Sorcerer 6 nights at 2s. 6d. per night, 15s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Vincent, Mrs Green, and Miss Vincent. Charges #64 7s. [Deficit to beneficiaries #1 2d. apiece, covered by income from tickets: Mrs Vincent #59 1s. (Box 88; Pit 129; Gallery 177); Mrs Green #36 13s. (Box 56; Pit 103; Gallery 72); Miss Vincent #30 6s. (Box 72; Pit 82).] (Account Book). Receipts: #61 6s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Green and Ansell (box-keepers). Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted. Charges #83 1s. 6d. Deficit #53 13s., covered by income from tickets: Ansell #112 7s. (Box 341; Pit 162; Gallery 28); Green #135 4s. (Box 470; Pit 106; Gallery 18). Rec'd of Condell his deficiency and #20 in full for Fruit Rent this season: also deficiencies from Mrs Naylor and Potter. Paid Mr Scovell for copying Music in Maid of the Mill--#3 9s. (Account Book). Receipts: #53 13s. (Account Book)

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: Benefit for Mrs Green. Mainpiece: Acted there but once. Charges #66 7s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Green #19 10s., plus #52 15s. 8d. from tickets (Box 116; Pit 113; Gallery 68) (Account Book). Receipts: #85 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Green. Mainpiece: Written by Dr Goldsmith. Charges #64 5s. Profit to Mrs Green #16 1s. 6d., plus #34 6s. from tickets (Box 56; Pit 108; Gallery 41) (Account Book). Receipts: #80 6s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [by William Kenrick] never performed before. [The play failed to succeed. Kenrick accounts for the failure in his Preface to the 1773 edition by reference to the Macklin affair (See 23 Oct., 30 Oct. and 18 Nov.) He quotes from the Public Advertiser (22 Nov.): "On Saturday last a new comedy called the Duellist was performed, for the first time, at Covent Garden Theatre. Previous to the curtain being drawn up, the following written handbill was dispersed about the house. 'Mr Macklin has been pursued by a malicious party to such a pitch of rancour, that at last they have succeeded so far in their cursed designs, as to get him discharged this theatre, and thereby have deprived him of the means of a livelihood; therefore if the public have any spirit, they will not suffer the new play to begin till Mr Colman promises that Mr Macklin shall be engaged again.' This handbill found its way into the green-room, and had a very visible effect on the performers, as was plainly evident from their confusion. The piece was received with great marks of approbation, and given out again for Monday, which was attended with some hissing, but that was greatly overpowered by the general applause of the audience. The overture to Thomas and Sally being attended to with silence, the greatest part of the author's friends quitted the theatre; which being taken advantage of by a party in the gallery, a riot ensued, and the entertainment was not suffered to go on till another play was given out for Monday." Kenrick agrees with this account, then analyses several other objections which he dismisses, to wit, in the play (a) too lengthy a satire on lawyers, (b) an indelicate passage in Latin (omitted from the printed version); in the audience, a conspiracy of Garrick and Bickerstaffe against him; and lack of a claque of his own friends to carry through their suport of him. Macklin's name appears on the playroll this night, but only for a accumulated 4 days of pay #8 16s. (Account Book).] Receipts: #221 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs P. Green, Hussey and Morris. Last time of performing till the holidays. Charges #64 10s. Deficit to each #8 18s. 8d., cover'd by income from tickets: Mrs Green #44 2s. (Box 53; Pit 137; Gallery 103); Hussey, #59 18s. (Box 162; Pit 92; Gallery 56); Morris, #46 19s. (Box 39; Pit 114; Gallery 201). [The Account Book indicates that The Padlock was substituted as the afterpiece at the last minute.] Receipts: #37 14s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Gentlemen and Ladies. Admission: 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s., 6d. 6 P.M. The Great Booth on the Bowling Green

Event Comment: First Piece: A Dramatic Satire on the Times. Third Piece: A Farce of two Acts. N.B. As Mr Green could not possibly be sure of the House till Monday Night late, he hopes the Shortness of Time will plead his Excuse for not waiting on his Friends, and that they will favour him with their Company notwithstanding

Event Comment: Benefit Mr Green, a Citizen of London

Event Comment: Benefit Ray, Green, Barclay, Mrs George. Afterpiece: By Desire. Not acted these 7 years [see 14 May 1739]

Event Comment: Prologue written by Macklin: (Cooke, Memoirs of Charles Macklin, pp. 150-51.) From scheming, pelting, famine, and despair, Behold to grace restored an exil'd Play'r: Your Sanction yet his fortune must compleat, And give him privilege to laugh and eat. No revolution plots are mine again; You see, thank Heaven, the quietest of men. I pray that all domestic feuds might cease; And beggar'd by the war, solicit peace; When urg'd by wrongs, and prompted to rebel; I sought for freedom, and for freedom fell; What could support me in the sevenfold dame? I was no Shadrak and no angel came. Once warn'd, I meddle not with state affairs; But play my part, retire and say my pray'rs. Let nobler spirits plan the vast design, Our green-room swarms with longer heads than mine; I take no part-no private jars foment, But hasten from disputes I can't prevent; Attack no rival brother's fame, or ease; And raise no struggle, but who most shall please. United in oursdlves, by you approv'd. Tis ours to make the slightest muse belov'd; So may the stage again its use impart, And ripen Virtue, as it warms the heart. May discord, with her horrid trump, retreat, Nor drive the frighted Beauty from her seat; May no contending parties strive for sway, But judgmemt govern, and the stage obey

Event Comment: Benefit for Collins and Mrs Green. No Building on Stage. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Vaughan, Green, Potter (Boxkeepers). No Building on Stage. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Green, Miles, and Sga Maranesi. Tickets deliver'd for The Pilgrim, as also those by Miss Sledge, will be taken. Mainpiece for last time this season

Event Comment: Benefit for Miles, Mrs Green, and Miss Miller. No Building on Stage

Event Comment: Benefit for Miles, Mrs Green and Mrs Baker. None admitted behind Scenes

Event Comment: Benefit for Green and Ansell (box-keepers). Mainpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 20 Jan. 1764.