Event Comment: Benefit for the Unhappy Sufferers by the late Dreadful Fire in King's Stredt, Covent Garden (playbill). We gave our Night's pay for ye Sufferers by the fire in King's Street Covent Garden Sun: ye 23d. of Dec. (Cross). Sisters diner at Mrs B's. I slept [slipt?] in after the play at Drury Lane & see them in the Gallery, where I had a few words with Mr Williams (Hailey, "Brietzcke Diary," Vol. 197, p. 69). Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command. Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken places are desired to send their servants before 3 o'clock. No persons can possibly be admitted behind the scenes or into the Orchestra. Present their Majesties the Duke of York, Prince William Henry, Prince Henry Frederick, and Lady Augusta. [The Winston Theatrical Record lists the customary night's expenses as follows]: @Renters #12 1s.@Barber 5s. 4d.@Music #4 19s. 5d.@Tallow Candles #2 10s.@Wax Candles #1 6s.@Coals 10s.@Lamps #1 12s. 3d.@1 days Billstickers 11s. 6d.@1 days Bills #1 7s.@1 days Advertising 5s.@Wardrobe Bill (a day) #1 7s.@Property Bill (a day) #1 6d.@Extras (for Opera and Rape) #1 6s. 6d.@J. Rich #5 5s.@C. Rich #1@Guards (18) and a Serjeant #1@#36 6s. 5d.@ Extras that night: @Yeomen of His Majesties' guard #1 1s.@Yeomen of Her Majesties' guard #1 1s.@His Majesties' Footmen #1 1s.@Her Majesties' Footmen #1 1s.@Princess of Wales' Attendant #1 1s.@Their Majesties' Coachman 6s.@Total #5 11s.

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Income from Boxes #83 10s. Present Their Majesties, Lady Augusta; Prince William Henry, Prince Henry Frederick, Paid Vincent in full for 10 Lac'd Coats...8 Trumpet Banners and 2 Kettle drum banners #73 10s. Receipts: #232 11s. (Winston Theatrical Record)

Event Comment: MMr Vernon-Macheath, 1st time; Mr Parsons-Filch, Mrs Parsons-Mrs Peachum (Cross Diary). Mr William Parsons came with Mr James Love from Edinburg, and Made his first appearance on the stage in London this evening; He died of an asthma on Tues. 3 February in the severe winter of 1795, and was buried in the churchyard of Lea-Church near Blackheath in Kent; he was in his 60th year (Macmillan [Hopkins MS Notes]). Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 19 Oct. 1759.

Event Comment: Theatres closed for death of Prince William. Died Sunday 29 Dec

Event Comment: Rec'd stopages #5 12s.; Paid salary list #440 9s.; Williams one night, Musical Lady, 10s. 6d.; Chorus singers 2 nights #4 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #180 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd stopages #3 9s. 6d.; Paid salary list-#441 4s.; Chorus 1 night, #2 5s. 6d.; Paid Mrs Brown, not on list #1 12s. 6d.; Paid Mr Williams (violin) in Musical Lady 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #221 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Williams 2 nights in Musical Lady #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #162 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [T+Theatrical Monitor, No VI appeared this day with a blast, in the form of an occasional Epilogue, at the morals, language and plan of the Oxonian in Town. This was the first performance of Macklin's afterpiece in London. It had been played in Dublin. "Its curious idiom, half-brogue, and half Cockney, puzzled the audience, as did its highly topical Irish allusions. With his usual candor, Macklin observed: 'I believe the audience are right. (The play was withdrawn after this single performance.) There's a geography in humor as well as in morals, which I had not previously considered--'" Cooke, Macklin, p. 270. According to Kirkman, in his curtain speech Macklin "courageously admitted: 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very sensible tha there are several passages in this play which deserve to be probated and I assure you that they shall never offend your ears again!' As soon as Mr Macklin had finished this address, the audience testified their approbation of his determination, by loud and reiterated plaudits" (Kirkman, Memoirs of the Life of Macklin, II, 3). See Also Charles Macklin: An Actor's Life by William W. Appleton (Cambridge, Mass., 1960), p. 141.

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: Died at Bristol, William Powell aged 33. His share retained by Mrs Powell who later married Fishar (Winston MS 10)

Event Comment: Paid Wm Gard for performing in the Lyon 12 Nights #1 10s. Paid Thomas Singleton for the same #1 10s.; Paid Henry Williams for performing the Bells 4 nights #1 10s. (Account Book). [Epilogue is Larpent MS 306.] Receipts: #194 2s

Event Comment: [The usual payments to Williams, Gard, and Singleton for 4 nights' work. See 15 Feb.] Receipts: #157 11s

Event Comment: Benefit for Miles. Charges #73 16s. Balance to Miles #47 14s. plus #119 7s. from tickets (Box 226; Pit 331; Gallery 132). Williams, Gard & Singleton rec'd customary Pay for performing the Bell and the lion in the Pantomime [see 15 Feb.] (Account Book). Receipts: #121 10s

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd by Saunders will be taken. Half House charge, plus half extras and half value of tickets came to #63 9s. 6d. [This minus half the receipts left a deficit to Saunders of #37 11s. 9d., just covered by] income from tickets #53 17s. (Box 89; Pit 158; Gallery 79); William Gard and Singleton rec'd usual pay [see 15 Feb.] (Account Book). Receipts: #51 14s. Half value of tickets received from Ellis, Stephenson, Bushell and Francis

Event Comment: Last time of performing this season. Williams for performing the Bells 7s. 6d.; Gard and Singleton 2s. 6d. each for performing in the lion. LeLewes and Quick paid up deficiencies for last season, and Ansell and Green theirs for the 26th inst. (Account Book). Receipts: #155 17s

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: [Letter in the paper from William Havard denying the report of his having #50 a year annually from the Fund, or that he ever intended it (Winston MS 10).

Event Comment: Proprietor of Marlebone Gardens, Mr Arnold, summoned to Bow St. to pay penalty of #5 for causing Fireworks to be made contrary to the Act of 9th and 10th of William III. Opinion of the Bench he was not fineable (Public Advertiser). Letter to Garrick in consequence of his moving the Court of the King's Bench for leave to file an information against author of Love in the Suds &c. will shortly be publish'd by D. Kendk. Was publish'd 7 July Folio 2s. 6d. an quarto 1s. 6d. 2nd edn. (Winston MS 10, from Burney News Clippings.

Event Comment: Mrs Greville ill new piece deferr'd. A Christmas Tale after this night will be laid aside for sometime (playbill). Paid Chorus 4 nights (this incl.) #8 2s; Extra Guitars and Flutes 2 nights (this inc) #2.; Mr Wrighten on note #12 12s.; Mrs Weston's Debt & Costs to Rd Williams #4 17s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #210 18s. (Treasurer's Book)