Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses (playbill). This Comedy was written by Mr Obrien. It was very much hiss'd from the 2d Act & with the greatest difficulty we got thro' the Play amidst Groans hisses &c. They would not Suffer it to be given out again. After many Altercations between the Audience Mr G. & Mr King by the Author's Consent the Play was withdrawn (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble briefer. See long review of The Duel in British Theatre article, London Magazine, Dec. 1772, and Town and Country same month.] Paid Mr Scott (c[opper] laceman) #83 9s.; Mr Waller (hosier) #17 18s. 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) #80 19s.; Mr Barrow & Co. for oil, #45 13s.; Mr Cropley (linen draper) #73 14s.; Mr Cubitt (tinman) #15 19s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #241 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid one year's insurance to Xmas next #15 (Treasurer's Book). [Copies of the annual insurance policies were extant in the Sun Insurance Office, 63 Theadneedle St. London, E. C. 2, as of Dec. 1951.] Receipts: #134 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [Macklin dismissed after this night. See the account in The Genuine Arguments of the Council, with the Opinion of the Court of the King's Bench, &c., By a Citizen of the World, (London, 1774). Extracts in E. R. Page, George Colman, the Elder (New York, 1935). See notes for 23 and 30 Oct. and the subsequent action in note for 20 Nov. He did not return until 18 May 1775. This night was aparently, except for #4 5s. which was not recorded on the books of the theatre until 18 June well after the season closed. Macklin's suit in court against the rioters was judged 24 Feb. 1775. A column and a half account of the trial appeared in the Public Advertiser, Saturday 13 May 1775, giving the testimony of the witnesses accused of starting the riot, the lawyers, and the judge. The accused were Leigh, Miles, James, Aldus, and Clarke. The first four were convicted of a conspiracy and a riot, the last of a riot only. During the Course of the Business Lord Mansfield took Occasion to observe, that the Right of Hissing, and Applauding in a theatre was an unalterable Right, but there was a wide Distinction between expressing the natural Sensations of the Mind as they arose on what was seen and heard, and executing a pre-concerted Desagn, not only to hiss an Actor when he was playing a Part in which he was universally allowed to be excellent, but also to drive him from the theatre, and effect his utter ruin." See also William W. Appleton, Charles Macklin, An Actors Life (Cambridge, Mass., 1960), Chapter X.

Event Comment: Benefit for the City of London Lying-In Hospital, Corner of the City Road in Old Street. Tickets deliver'd for the Clandestine Marriage, and the 22nd instant will be taken. Charges: #81 5s. Profit to Hospital #23 6s., plus #111 14s. from tickets (Box 293; Pit 171; Gallery 128). Paid Palmer (wax chandler) #144 8s. Receipts: #104 11s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. The tragedy of King Henry II cannot be performed, on account of the indisposition of Miss Miller. Paid Mr Nix the balance for London Lying In Hospital #23 6s.; Paid Garton balance for Theatrical Fund, #89 4s. 6d.; Paid Mr Helme the balance for the Discharge of persons imprison'd for small debts #4 5s. Receipts: #129 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid for 2 extra Flutes & Guitars (29 ultimo incl.) #2 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [This month was published Bell's edition of Shakespeare's acting plays, 'as performed at the Theatres Royal in London, requlated from the Prompt Books of each House, by permission of the managers, with notes critical and illustrative by the author of the Dramatic Censors, 5 vols. 12 mo. Price 15s."] Receipts: #246 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Lusignan by Mr G. as Usual very fine (Hopkins Diary). [Judgment confirmed by statement in London Chronicle, 14 Oct.] The Comedy of As You Like It, obliged to be deferred. Paid a cotton bill #2 11s. 4d. Receipts: #219 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by R. B. Sheridan] never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses. [Gentleman's Magazine for Jan. states: "Tuesday 17, Was performed for the first time at Covent Garden a comedy call'd The Rivals, said to be written by Mr Sheridan. Some objections being made both to language and character, the author has thought proper to withdraw his piece for correction, and it has since been played with applause." See 18 and 28 Jan. The Westminster Magazine, Jan., remarked: "This comedy was acted so imperfectly, either from the timidity of the actors on a first night's performance, or from an improper distribution of parts, that it was generally disapproved....The author promised some alterations, which implied that he would be glad the Town would suspend judgment till a farther hearing" See 28 Jan. John Hampden quotes from Lloyd's Evening Post, 18 Jan., the Morning Chronicle and Morning Post of the same date, and the London Chronicle of 19 Jan. articles damning the casting and the imperfectness of the actors, the impudence of Shuter in particular, and the fatigue of the audience.

Event Comment: Benefit for Clinch. Doors opened at half past 5. Play to begin at Half an Hour after 6. [Afterpiece written by Sheridan for Clinch, traditionally in gratitude for his saving The Rivals from damnation. (See Thomas Moore's Life of Sheridan [London, 1825], I, 148). The Westminster Magazine for May adds to cast: Irish Corporal-Fox; Soldiers-$Davies, $Wewitzer, Chaplin, and reviews the piece briefly: St Patrick's day is replete with broad humor, homely jests, and extravagant caricature. The language in general shewed the author a man of honour and observation; the situations were whimsical and produced that mirth which the audience in the Prologue were invited to partake of....The jests were occasionally too low and vulgar, and his scene too extravagantly absurd. The main drift of the Prologue was to tell the Audience that a fine Spring impeded the theatrical harvest; and that at this season the benefits of Nature were the greatest enemies to the Performer's Benefits."

Event Comment: Benefit for City of London Lying In Hospital, Old Street Road

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. The Comedy of Old City Manners oblig'd to be deferr'd. On 31 Dec. (Sunday) died Th. Weston of Drury Lane Theatre (Winston MS 11). [See Memoirs of Thomas Weston that Celebrated Comedian (London, 1776, 59 pp). This year appeared A Serious Disuasion from Frequenting the Playhouse, by Jacob Orton (22 pp. pub. in Shrewsbury). His text is taken from Bulstrode's charge to the Grand Jury of Middlesex, 21 April 1718. "One Playhouse ruin'd more souls than fifty churches are able to save."] Paid Mr Grist on acct per Mr D. G. #20; Three extra trumpets 6 nights #6 15s. Supernumeraries for the Jubilee continued to cost 14s. 10d. during its run. Receipts: #219 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Provoked Husband and Rival Candidates was given out for Tuesday. On Sunday Morning Mrs Yates sent word she was ill and could not play--sent to Miss Younge, and she sent word that she was ill in bed--King sent word he had a sore Throat, and could not play--so that we could do no Play but the Committee and Rival Candidates. On Monday the Managers met, but nothing was settled. At twelve o'clock Mrs Baddeley sent word she had a sore Throat, and could not play in the Riv[al] Can[didates] (Hopkins Diary). The Hypocrite and The Christmas Tale are obliged to be deferred. "[Smith] has a good figure, is gentlemanlike, and decent in everything he undertakes. When we allow that, we have said all; he wants both feeling to be affected, and powers to convey his feelings, if he had them. In fine, in spite of all the partiality of his friends, or the ignorant prejudices of those who never judge but at second hand, his performance of Richard was little more than a strong union of judgement and industry, unaided by nature. He should woo genteel Comedy oftener; and not that coy sister of hers, who certainly holds Smith at the point of her lance" (London Magazine, Oct. 1776, p. 511). Receipts: #186 18s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; DR. POEM 5, by William Mason, 1st acted at Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, 30 Mar. 1764]: Written on the Model of the ancient Greek Tragedy. The Overture and all the Music composed New by Dr Arne. With a New Scene designed and executed by Dahl [recte Dall]. The Dresses, Decorations, &c. all entirely New. Books of the Lyrical Part of the Drama to be had at the Theatre. 'But I had rather talk of Caractacus; I agree that he will not suffer by not being sputtered by Barry, who has lost all his teeth. Covent Garden is rather above Drury Lane in actors, but both sets are exceedingly bad, so bad-that I almost wish Caractacus was not to appear. Very seldom do I go to the play, for there is no bearing such strollers" (Walpole [to the author, 8 Oct. 1776], IX, 419-20). "I attended Caractacus last winter, and was greatly interested, both from my friendship for Mr Mason and from the excellence of the poetry. I was out of all patience; for though a young Lewis played a subordinate part very well, and Mrs Hartley looked her part charmingly, the Druids were so massacred, and Caractacus so much worse, that I never saw a more barbarous exhibition" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 81-82). Public Advertiser, 7 Dec. 1776: This Day is published the Lyrical Part of Caractacus (6d.). [The publisher, J. Wilkie, states that he also has the "whole Drama, as altered by the Author, 18d." Ibid., 9 Dec., contains an advertisement from Mason stating that this version is unauthorized.] Ibid., 12 Dec.: This Day is published [by A. Ward of York] a new Edition of Caractacus, now altered for Representation at the Theatre-Royal in Covent Garden (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #163 10s. (163.6; 0.4)

Event Comment: Benefit for the City of London Lying-in Hospital. Mrs Greville-Indiana--$Miss Younge being ill (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 4 Dec.: Tickets to be had at the Hospital, in Oldstreet Road. Receipts: #253 9s. (70.14; 0.0; 0.0; tickets: 182.15) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 5s. 1st Gallery 3s. 6d. 2nd Gallery 2s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. Books of the Oratorios to be had at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season. The date of Tenducci's re-appearance in London seems to have been a matter of some uncertainty (see dl, 10 Feb.)]

Event Comment: The Last Time [i.e. Season] of its ever being exhibited in London. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. Mainpiece: Never acted there. Interlude [1st time; INT 1, author unknown. Larpent MS 433; synopsis of plot in London Chronicle, 5 May]. Public Advertiser, 17 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Wilson at his House in Tavistock-street, Bedford-square. Receipts: #187 1s. (87.8; tickets: 99.13) (charge: #67 5s.)