Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. This Morning at Ten will be publish'd at 6d. An Epistle from Mr The. Cibber to David Garrick, Esq; to which are prefix'd some occasional verses, Petitions, &c.: @Lowliness is young Ambition's ladder,@Whereto the Climber upwards turns his face;@But when he once attains the upmost Round,@He then unto the ladder turns his back,@Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees@By which he did ascend.@Shakespeare@"Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so we would have it; let them not say, we have swallow'd him up," Ps. XXXV. v.25. Printed for R. Griffiths. [A thirty-five-page apologia, and bitter attack upon Garrick for supposed complicity in prohibiting the license of the Haymarket to him.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Speedily will be publish'd at 1s. 6d. Dedicated to David Garrick Esq a New Edition of the Orphan of China...acted at Paris with great applause. [A weekly writer says of this performance: "I could wish that our modern Play-wrights would endeavor to imitate this author in the judicious choice and dispositions of their Fable; and further think this very piece not unworthy the notice of our managers. The Translator has indeed, with great propriety, laid his version at Mr Garrick's door, since there is nobody so well qualified to take the orphan under their protection."] Printed for R. Baldwin in Paternoster Row. Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: This day Published The Englishman Returned from Paris, as it is performed at Covent Garden. By Samuel Foote, Esq: Printed for Paul Vaillant, at 1s

Event Comment: By Desire and Consent of Frederic Handel, Esq. Afterpiece: Musick composed by his Majesty the King of Prussia. Pit half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. 6 p.m. At the Great Room, Dean St., Soho

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Woffington. Mainpiece: By N. Rowe, Esq. Not acted these 20 Years. [The Young Gentlewoman possibly Miss Condill. See 1 Nov. 1756.] Afterpiece: Taken from Dryden and Colley Cibber, Poets Laureate

Event Comment: The Tragedy of the Roman Father, written by William Whitehead, Esq: the present Poet Laureate, will be reviv'd at Drury Lane soon after the Holidays (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: To be Lett. Elegantly Furnish'd, the House of the Late Colley Cibber, Esq: in Berkley Square, the Corner of Bruton Street (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #106 3s. Gave Porters of the several Inns, #3 14s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [B$Barry's one-third of surplus came to #40 16s. 4d. The fourteen Renters who received payments on 23 Feb. were New Renters (i.e., they had purchased shares only since the beginning of the current season). The Hutchison Mure Esq Account (See cg 1757 Estimate of Constant Expenses) lists forty shares outstanding for Old Renters at 2 shillings per night. Rich, during the next thirty days, sold new shares until by 27 March 1758 he had on his books forty-five New Renters in addition to the 40 old ones. Their names will appear as they bought in. On this night (25 Feb.) George Wolley purchased one share. This was an appropriate time to sell stock in the theatre since Rich could now show a favorable balance on his nightly Account Books of #620 3s. 9d. with all bills paid, including interest to Old Renters.] Receipts: #202 9s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: FFoote read part of his The Minor on 9 Nov. 1759 in a course of Comic Lectures and left for Dublin on 10 Nov. (Theatrical Duplicity or, A Genuine Narrative of the Conduct of David Garrick, Esq. to Joseph Reed on his Tragedy of Dido. MS in Harvard Theatre Collection)

Event Comment: Receipts: #52 10s. 6d. Paid Jno Rich Esq as per receipt #52 10s

Event Comment: Benefit for Bransby and Miss Young. British Chronicle, 16 April 1760: Died the celebrated Charlotte Charke in the Haymarket, daughter of Colley Cibber, Esq, poet laureate-a gentlewoman remarkable for her adventures and misfortunes

Event Comment: By Authority. 7 p.m. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. The little Theatre was at this time enlargening, it being very small before the alteration, and having but one gallery with the way into the pit at each angle of the front boxes (Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Samuel Foote, Esq. [London, 1777]. Printed for J. Brew)

Event Comment: This Week a Patent passed the Great Seal for the Establishment of a new Theatre, to Samuel Foote, Esq. only (Public Advertiser, London notes, p. 2, col. 3). Mr Barry and Mrs Dancer from Dublin are said to be engaged for this summer at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket (Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser, London notes, p. 2, col. 2, which corroborates the Foote patent)

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: AAsh Wednesday. Publish'd this day. Price only 1s. Letters which have passed between John Beard Esq Manager of Covent Garden Theatre, and John Shebbeare, M.D. Wherefore I thus entreat with due Submission, Between the Bard and me you'd make decision, The whole now on your Approbation waits. Prologue to the Perplexities, sung by Mr Beard. Printed for G. Kearsly N.B. This Pamphlet is entered at Stationers Hall, whoever pyrates any part of it will be prosecuted. [This pamphlet of 50 pages is given a four-column review in the Gentleman's Magazine for March (p. 124). The controversy was over a play which Shebbeare submitted to Beard and which the latter finally rejected after holding it two seasons. Beard's letters are quoted. The reviewer is severe upon Shebbeare: Upon the whole for anything that has hitherto appeared, the managers of both theatre have rather been to blame for receiving some pieces that they should have rejected, than for rejecting any they should have received. No piece has yet been printed, by the rejection of which the managers have betrayed their trust, or neglected their duty to the public. There may be such pieces in manuscript, but, if there are, the most effective way of avenging the author on the manager is to print them, for the voice of the public would instantly and effecturally do justice to the writter...by compelling the representation.' Shebbeare was Joseph Pittard?]

Event Comment: [This evening] a cause came on to be tried in the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, in which Mr William Bates, Music Master, was Plaintiff and Spranger Barry, Esq the celebrated tragedian, defendent, upon a demand made by the plaintiff for a large sum of money due to him from the Defendent, for the performance of Miss Slack, the Plaintiff's apprentice, at the Theatre in Cork...After a short hearing a verdict was given in favour of the Plaintiff (Lloyd's Evening Post, 25-28 Nov.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Yates. Mainpiece [by R. Glover, Esq]. Pit and Boxes will be laid together. Ladies send Servants by 4 o'clock, and come as early as possible to prevent Confusion

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Masque (in three parts) [by George Colman] never perform'd, in which will be introduc'd the Principal Solemnities at the Installation of the Knights of the Garter. With New Music, composed by Dr Arne, Habits, Decorations and Scenes. Books of the Masque to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #220 10s. 6d. (Account Book). The greater part is borrowed with some variation from Ben Jonson [Masque of Oberon]. The same liberty has been taken with a few passages of Shakespeare, and a Chorus of the late Gilbert West, Esq. The final chorus is from Dryden...an effort to entertain the public by the combined powers of the most eminent proficients in the arts of Music, Painting and Poetry (Adv. to Printed Edn., Colman's Dramatic Works, IV, London, 1777)

Event Comment: Paid Dan Malthus, Esq, 1 year's Rent to Xmas last, Land Tax #3 5s. to Mich last deducted #29 15s.; Mr Thomson (Smith &c.) #1 1s. 8d. sewer tax; #36 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #189 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Chapman for horsekeeping [for Jubilee] #12 6s. (Treasurer's Book). [Published this month A Letter to David Garrick, Esq. on his conduct as Principal Manager and Actor at Drury Lane. Printed for S. Bladon. Accuses Garrick of controlling the press, save for two papers, and thus getting more favourbale treatment than his position and actions deserve. "You are a mere actor. You affect to feel where you do not, and imitate tones, looks and gestures, while your heart is at ease. This should heighten our opinion of you as an artist, whatever we might think of you as a man. I believe you are not generally judged of in this manner. It is not difficult to impose on the world." The author (David Williams?) deprecates Garrick's supposed handling of the actors of his company, and desires to see more Shakespeare. Suggests Garricks' acting perfection lies in the extreme, in exaggerated gesture, and sudden bursts of passion." Suggests he is getting old and should try his hand at Shylock.] Receipts: #271 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Mr Ximenes...is a very spirited and very chaste performer (Theatrical Review, 13 March). This Day Publish'd (in Quarto, price 2s.) Sanitas, Daughter to Aesculapius, to David Garrick, Esq, a Poem

Event Comment: Being desired, for one night only under thr direction of Dr Arne at the Theatre Royal...will be performed the celebrated Catches and Glees, after which by Authority will be performed a new Burletta...alter'd and plann'd for Music from a favourite piece written by Henry Fielding, Esq. Music entirely new composed by Dr Arne, with a new Irish and Scots Medley Overture. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin at 6:00 p.m. Books of both performances to be had together at the Theatre at 1s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Payments: Mr D. Garrick's 3 Nights for the Christmas Tale, 30 Dec., 4 & 11 Jan., #84 charges deducted each night--#371 14s. (Treasurer's Book). At Isleworth, James Lacy, Esq.: one of the patentees of Drury Lane Theatre died (Gentleman's Magazine, 44, p. 47). [For full account of Lacy, see Covent Garden Magazine (229-34).] Rec'd of Mr Burges, 1 yrs. rent to Xmas last (#4 4s. King's Tax deducted) #16 16s.; Paid Mr Cropley (linen draper) 2 Bills #66 10s. 6d.; Mr Scott (laceman) #66 1s.; Messrs Lowe & Co. (glaziers) #18 6s.; Mr Burges (bricklayer) #65 8s.; Mr Waller (hosier) #24 5s.; Messrs Barrow & Co., oil, #53 7s. 6d.; Messrs Hopkins & Co. (ironmongers) #30 11s.; Mrs Vaughan (haberdasher) 2 bills, #14 10s. 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) 3 bills, #120 11s.; Mr J. French's draft to Mr Wise #5 10s.; Mr J. Johnston's Music Bill #24 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #246 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A new short Introductory Piece before a play [The Meeting of the Company]. This new Prelude call'd The Meeting of the Company or Bayes' Art of Acting by D. G. Esq--it is full of fine Satyr & an Excellent Lesson to all performers, it was receiv'd with very great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in the wording. The salaries this season were #94 7s. 8d. per day; #566 6s. per week. Kemble's note as to total receipts is short by 8 pence.] Prices: Box 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [Unfavorable review of Meeting of the Company in The Westminster Magazine (Sept., p. 472). The actor Aickin referred to this season is J. Aickin. Francis Aickin left dl before the beginning of this season. He was dismissed by Garrick in May. See Booden, Private Correspondence of David Garrick, I, 651-55.] Paid Renters #8; Advanced Mr Watson (box office keeper) #10; Ditto to Mr Mortimer (box office keeper) #15 (Treasurer's Book). [The funds to the box office keepers was operating cash which was returned 29 May 1775. Payment to Renters was same for each acting night until the eighty-eighth night (9 Jan. 1775) when it dropped to #4 nightly, since half of the stock holders (the Old Renters) were paid up by that time. The remaining 100 nights of the season plus 11 Oratorio nights yielded #448 to the Renters. No further mention of this item of expense will be made this season.] Total to Renters #1,152. Receipts: #212 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)