Event Comment: Mrs Bradshaw & Mrs Johnston great Applause to the Farce (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw and Mrs Johnston. Afterpiece: Written by Henry Fielding, not played for 25 years. [Actually last played there 19 May 1759.] Music compiled from the works of the most eminent composers. Rec'd from Sinking Fund (2nd) #525, from Stopages #14 2s. Paid salary list #564 16s.; J. French on acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #114 2s. 6d. Charges: #66 12s. 6d. Profits to Mrs Bradshaw and Mrs Johnston: #47 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs H. Johnston, Morning Chronicle, 21 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Mrs H. Johnston, No. 47, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #401 15s. (255.14.6; 15.7.0; tickets: 130.13.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs H. Johnston. 1st piece: Not acted these 2 years. 3rd piece: Not acted here these 10 years [never previously acted at this theatre]. Morning Chronicle, 16 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mr and Mrs Johnston, No. 24, Bedford-street, Covent Garden. The Doors to be opened at 5:30, and to begin at 6:30, and so continue for the remainder of the Season. Receipts: #380 11s. 6d. (168.5.6; 17.1.0; tickets: 195.5.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Mr R. Johnston for Gilding &c. #34 15s. 6d.; 2 Clarinets 6 nights (21st inst. incl.) #9 9s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #261 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Last time for the Institution of the Garter this season. Paid R. Johnston's bill for gilding &c., #19 10s.; Mr Greenwood for painting #8 8s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #240 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Barry was not in Spirits--not much applause (Hopkins Diary). Mrs Barry Failed greatly tonight from what she did the first night (MacMillan). Rec'd Mr Condill's 2nd payment for Fruit Office #20; Mr Burges one yrs rent to Xmas last with #4 4s. King's tax deducted, #16 16s.; Paid Mr Burges, Bricklayer #53 14s. 6d; Barrow & Co. for Oil #96 1s.; Mr Lawrence, paperhanger, #24 4s. 6d.; Mrs Lowe and Co., glaziers, #13 2s. 6d.; Mr Cropley, linen draper, #17 18s.; Mr Hatsell, mercer, #112 17s.; Hewetson & Co., lacemen, #28 19s. 6d.; Mr Scott, copper laceman, #37 6s. 6d.; Spermacetti Candles' Bill #286 8s.; Mr R. Johnston's Bill #124 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine this month printed a counterblast to the flattering Picture of Garrick given 1 Feb. This article damned him as a manager, and quoted Smollett from Roderick Random, II, 260.] Receipts: #176 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw, Mrs Johnston and Mrs Millidge. Paid half year's paving &c. to Lady Day last, #14 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #151 6s. Charges: #67 11s. 6d. Profits to Mrs Bradshaw, Johnston and Millidge: #83 14s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw, Mrs Millidge, Mrs Johnston. Afterpiece by Allan Ramsay, with the Original Music, New Accompanyments, and a New Medley Scotch Overture. By Particular Desire. Paid Properties #1 17s. 7d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #207 15s. Charges: #65 10s. Profits: #142 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnston (Housekeeper and Box-book keeper). Rec'd from Sinking Fund (3rd) #73 10s.; From Mr Clutterbuck (1st) #500; from Stopages #11; Paid Salary list #564 16s.; J. French on acct #5 5s.; G. Garrick on acct #100. Receipts: #276 4s. 6d. Charges: #84. Profits to Mr A. Johnston: #192 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw and Mrs Johnston. Paid Mr Parsons in lieu of Benefit #105. Receipts: #73 17s. Charges: #64 15s. Profits to Mrs Bradshaw and Mrs Johnston: #9 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw, Mrs Love & Mrs Johnston. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. Public Advertiser, 1 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bradshaw, at Nichol's, baker, Bridge Street, Covent Garden; of Mrs Love, No. 36, Gerrard Street, Soho; of Mrs Johnston, No. 97, near Craven Buildings, Drury-lane. Receipts: #120 1s. 6d. (31.10.0; 20.13.0; 0.7.6; tickets: 67.11.0) (charge: #66 7s.)

Event Comment: "It was with extreme regret that we perceived the ravages of time in the person of [Mrs Crawford, who had not acted in London since 12 Apr. 1785], tho' we were much consoled in observing that his influence is not equally apparent in her abilities...The blaze is gone, but there is a richness in the setting lustre...Kemble is evidently [Johnston's] model, and he followed him so closely, as even to the crossing of the legs in dying; so that where he was best, his efforts seemed to be the effect of imitation" (True Briton, 24 Oct.). "Mrs Crawford has had her day; but the sun of her genius has long sunk beneath the horizon...Many parts of her performance, we were sorry to observe, evinced the most evident decline of powers, and her tremulous accents, the debility of which was rendered the more striking from the want of several teeth, proclaimed that her days of play and action were nearly brought to a close...She was received with reiterated plaudits throughout...Nature has been very bountiful in supplying [Johnston] with a voice of much compass and melody, but he does not appear to have paid much attention to the cultivation of her favours. His transitions are often abrupt, and sometimes discordant; and the management of his tones is of so strange a nature that it appears more like two distinct voices than a judicious modulation of his natural accents" (Morning Herald, 24 Oct.). Receipts: #260 9s. (253.4.6; 7.4.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnston. [He had 1st acted Hamlet at Edinburgh, 9 July 1794: Egerton's 1st appearance at cg was on 5 June 1797.] 2nd piece [1st time at this theatre; M. PAST 1, author unknown. Larpent MS 1207; not published. 1st acted at Sadler's Wells, 28 May 1787, when the playbill gives the 2nd title as "The Highland Laddie", and adds "The Words of the Airs selected from Allan Ramsay"]. Times, 13 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnston, No. 31, King-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #230 19s. 6d. (110.2.6; 1.14.0; tickets: 119.3.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for H. Johnston. Mainpiece: 1st time at this Theatre; by Permission of Mr Colman. Morning Chronicle, 9 Apr.: Tickets to be had of H. Johnston, No. 47, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #334 3s. 6d. (174.7.6; 1.14.0; tickets: 158.2.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: The Scenery re-painted, and the Dresses and Decorations entirely new. The Musick composed by Kelly. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood, Chalmers, and others. The Machinery, Decorations and Dresses designed and under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood and Gay. The Dresses by Johnston, Gay and Miss Rein. Account-Book: Paid Hatton, sword cutler, #5 10s; Chorus #11 16s. 6d. Receipts: #370 2s. (254.6.6; 114.3.0; 1.12.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted this season. Benefit for Johnston (housekeeper). No Building on Stage. Tickets deliver'd for This Night will be taken. [The playbill lists this night as the first appearance of Vernon and Champness in the characters of Squire and Thomas, but see 9 April, where they had appeared in them.

Event Comment: Two glass branches added to the Stage Boxes, and look well (Hopkins MS Notes). Places may be had of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door. Doors open half past 4 o'clock. Play to begin exactly at 6 o'clock. Vivat Rex et Regina. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcet and Mrs J. Johnston. Being the last time of performing the Mainpiece this season

Event Comment: Paid Mr Johnston's bill for the Garter #56 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #230 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Acted but once these 14 years. [See 4 May 1772.] Paid Hewetson & Co. (lacemen) #13 6s.; Thomson (smith) #52 7s. 6d.; Stacy (colourman) #13 12s.; J. Johnston's Music Bill #26 15s.; Mr Hopkins (for author of Maid of Oak's) Bill #4 4s.; Mr Luppino for making dresses &c. #64 14s. 6d.; Cole (turner) #16 2s.; G. Garrick on Acct #100; Chorus 2 nights (Courtney excluded) #2 15s. Receipts: #123 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Abington Phillis first time-Very well (Hopkins Diary). Paid 5 days salary list at #104 4s.; #520 1s. 8d.; Mrs Jewell 11 days not on list #5 10s.; Mr Johnston 4 days not on list #1 6s. 8d.; Blurton 11 days additional salary 18s. 4d.; Carpenter 11 days additional salary 18s. 4d. Receipts: #240 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 30 April 1773. See, for afterpiece, the Regatta attached to Queen Mab, 11 Nov.] Mr Moody very bad in Maj. Oldfox , &c. Mrs Greville not much better in Olivia (Hopkins Diary). Rec'd from the late Mrs Johnston for Old Women's Cloaths #10 10s.; By ditto from Mr Garrick for wax candles #1 12s. Receipts: #150 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Reddish. Mainpiece: Not acted in 4 years. [See 22 Dec. 1772.] Monimia by Mrs Canning very So, so. The Farce much hiss'd it was badly performed (Hopkins Diary). Rec'd Mrs Groath's one years rent to Xmas last #3. Paid Salary list #416 4s. 4d.; Johnston's Music Bills #24 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine concluded with respect to the afterpiece: "This little drama met with rather an unfavourable reception. It would be breaking a butterfly on the wheel, were we to enter into strict examination of it; and as it was a mere benefit-night performance, it would be going out of our way to dwell much on its defects; suffice it therefore that although we so far join with the audience in condemnation of it, that we allow it wanted terseness of dialogue, brilliancy of wit, and strength of fable, yet we protest we have seen worse singing pieces received with applause. Jerry Jingle had same humor, and the music had great prettiness about it."] Receipts: #140. Charges: #67 14s. Profits to Reddish: #72 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull, Mrs Litchfield & Waddy. 1st piece [1st time; C 5, by Thomas Hull. Larpent MS 1215; not published]: Altered from [The Bashful Lover, by] Massinger. [In it the playbill assigns Hortensio to Pope, but he was ill, and in his "stead Johnston read the part of Hortensio" (European Magazine, June 1798, p. 396). Prologue by John Taylor Poems (I, 60).] Morning Herald, 29 May: Tickets to be had of Hull, Duke's Court, Dean's-yard, Westminster; of Mrs Litchfield, James-street, Covent-Garden; of Waddy, No. 214, opposite Southampton-street, High Holborn. Receipts: #261 2s. 6d. (53.9.6; 4.16.6; tickets: 202.16.6; of which Hull took #72 7s.; Mrs Litchfield #60 17s., Waddy #69 12s. 6d.)