Event Comment: Benefit for Clarke. Mainpiece: Not acted these 8 years. [See 22 March 1750.] No building on the Stage. Receipts: #49 4s. 6d. Charges: #63. Deficiency covered by #114 14s. from tickets (boxes 160; pit 394; gallery 156). Rec'd from John Rich, #300, being part of the sum paid Mrs Finny on account of the New Building. Paid out for sundries from the theatres and sum, to Barry and Lee, #284 14s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: We play'd the Beggar's Opera & ye Oracle by Children for the Benefit of some distress'd Actors who formerly belong'd to the Theatres. There was #102 in the House, the following Persons receiv'd from it Mr Marshall #23. Mr Morgan #21. Mrs Edgerton #5 5s. Mr Bowman #5 5s. Mr Phenix #10 10s. Mrs Gardner (formerly printer to ye house) #2 2s. N.B.: Mrs Clive refus'd to play her part of Lucy , it was done by Miss Young. New performers engag'd Y: Fletewood, Obrien, Packer, Perry, Miss Glen (Cross)

Event Comment: Boxes 5. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Crudge at the stage-door of the theatre. To begin exactly at six o'clock. [These customary announcements on all playbills will not be noted again; only significant differences will be noted during remainder of season.

Event Comment: N.B. This was Mr Packer's first appearance at Drury Lane Theatre. He had acted one night at Covent Garden in the preceding season, Johnson, in the Rehearsal and the Frenchman in Lethe, which pieces were perform'd for Mr Lee's Benefit. Mr Garrick was there, and engag'd Mr Packer, who was going to Ireland, with Mr Barry, and Mr Woodward, into the Drury Lane Company. I am writing this on the sixth of April 1801--tonight Mr Packer told me the above Particulars at Drury Lane Playhouse, where he has always remained since his first being engaged there (J. P. Kemble's note on Huntington bill). Receipts: #100 (Cross); #107 1s. 6d. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: OObrien did Brazen, for his first appearance, & met with great Applause (Cross). [See a two-column comment on The Recruiting Officer and O'Brien's acting in Theatre No II published in The London Chronicle, No. 277, 5-7 Oct., p. 343: "The character of Brazen never existed in human nature, but is merely the child of Farquhar's own licentious invention...and for this reason I imagined it impossible for any actor to appear to advantage in it, without having recourse to that buffoonery and grimace which has always been made use of by the most eminent to support it; but I was agreeably surprised to find myself mistaken: for the young gentleman who has now got it into his possession goes through the whole with a genuine comic spirit; and, by his peculiar method of acting it, in a great measure corrects the unnatural absurdity of the writer." Specific details of his acting as well as comments on other roles are given.] Receipts: #150 (Cross); #174 3s. 6d. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: TThe London Chronicle for 1758 (p. 455): On Friday the 3rd instant was presented Coriolanus. The two first acts of this play, as it is performed at the above theatre, were written by Shakespear; the three last for the most part by Mr. Thomson. But how a man of Mr Sheridan's knowledge (who first introduc'd it there about four years ago) could think of pounding into one substance two things so heterogeneous in their natures as the productions of those authors, is to me amazing. Mr Smith enters in the first act, after having (as we are to suppose) just overcome the Volsci, to the tune of violins and hautboys; but I am a little afraid the grandeur of his triumph is a little misapplied, considering the early times in which Coriolanus lived, before the Roman empire had arrived to any degree of splendor and magnificence, and was great in virtue only. However it makes a fine show; and Mr Smith, who has an excellent person, by the help of a little burnt cork and a real coat of mail cuts a very martial appearance. I think it was one of the Gracchi, who, when he was speaking to the people, always had a servant behind him in the Rostrum with a pitch-pipe which he touched whenever he found his master's voice rising beyond a certain height; such an instrument as this would, in my opinion, be of service to Mr Smith, for his fault seems to be that of keeping too much at the top of his vioce. Mrs Hamilton in the part of Veturai, especially in the last act, excells herself; and in particular, she repeats that line: "He never can be lost who saves his country," with the genuine spirit of a free-born Englishman. By the unnatural conjunction which is attempted to be made in this tragedy, most of the other characters are robbed of their significance. Those two excellent actors, therefore, Ryan and Sparks, only give us just cause to regret that the parts of Tullus and Volscius are not longer....After the play was presented a Ballad Opera called The Contrivances; in which some good comedians are oblig'd to submit to the drudgery of supporting as contemptible a trifle as ever was acted on the stage

Event Comment: Yesterday died Mr Benj. May many years principal Director of Entertainments at king's Theatre (Winston MS 8). Receipts: #150 (Cross); #148 (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: With new Additions and Alterations. Pit and Boxes to be laid together, and no person to be admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered this day at the said Office in the Theatre at Half a Guinea each. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. The Doors to be open at Half an Hour after Four o'clock, Pit and Boxes at Five, to begin at Half an Hour after Six. This day is published Price 1s. Solomon, An Oratorio, with New Additions and Alterations

Event Comment: By Authority, for three nights only. 7 p.m. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre, Price 1s. [See account of interdicted performance, 12 Jan.

Event Comment: Benefit for Lowe. Afterpiece: A Musical Masque. With new Additions. Books of the Masque may be had at the theatre, Price 6d

Event Comment: [This month published Observations on the Use of Theatres, their present regulations and possible improvements. Price 1s. Printed for Cooper. See review in Gentleman's Magazine (p. 232). Proposal is that the "conduct of theatrical entertainments be for the future taken under the care of the goverment, and a person of judgment and integrity appointed by the name of comptroller, or conductor of the stage, who alone shall determine what old plays shall be acted, and what new ones received; and who shall take charge of the money received, and defray the necessary expenses, accounting for the remainder to the public. The author seemingly Dr John Hill, lately (see 21 Dec. 1758) upset by the failure of his farce, The Rout. (Winston MS 8). Receipts: #108 (Cross); #122 6d. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: Benefit for Verney (Housekeeper). Observations on the Importance of Theatres, with computation of the Sum they might raise by Taxation, published at 1s. Receipts: #300 (Cross)

Event Comment: For the Benefit of some Distressed Actors, who formerly belonged to the Theatres. Play to begin at exactly 7 o'clock

Event Comment: To the Printer of the Public Advertiser: Sir, On seeing the Burletta of Galligantus at the little theatre in the Haymarket, I was agreeably surprised to see a performance of the kind carried on in so genteel a manner, no way inferior to any opera; and after the nicest inspection of the whole performance, I have the pleasure to inform the Nobility, Gentry, &c., I found all the performers were English, their Dresses very completely adapted, their voices excellent, and their actions quite genteel and comic, their music charming and set without the assistance of any Foreigner, it being composed by Mr J@@D@@, a Native of Ireland, whose excellency in that art needs no encomium. I am, yours A True Briton

Event Comment: AA Letter to Garrick on Opening the Theatre, published at 1s. [See 1 Nov. for answer. This is Edward Purdon's 33-page criticism of Garrick, on his repertoire, his personnel and casting, and his secondary position to cg in the matter of decoration.] Receipts: #120 (Cross)

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: Mainpiece: By Henry Jones. Afterpiece: [See note under cg play this night. During this year appeared An Essay Upon the Present State of the Theatre, in France, England, and Italy, a "work absolutely necessary to be read by every lover of Theatrical Exhibitions," printed for J. Pottinger. It contains twenty-two chapters on tragedy, thirteen on comedy, opera, authors, and the art of acting. Pages 147-51 discuss the obligation of English farces to French ones.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Receipts: #115 3s. [The Weekly Magazine; or, Gentleman and Lady's Polite Companion (1760), pp. 61-63, deplores the lack of new plays and lack of competition for the Patent houses. "Our theatres seem now to aim at glorious opposition: Harlequin is set against Harlequin, one dancing master opposes another; the scene shifters, the singers, and even the drummers figure at each house by turns, and it is to be hoped soon that the mere actor will become useless....The Fair has scarce even pantomime probability...for instance Harlequin should never exercise his magical power without reason, and should never make escapes without being pursued, but here he conjures, leaps, runs and waggles without any apparent design; and the whole seems destitute of plot, a if contrived by a dancing master. Harlequin's Invasion at the other House is still rather more absurd." The author expected a speaking Harlequin, Pantaloon, Pierot, Mezzetin, &c. but found the customary figures banished for the substitution of a "stupid Taylor and his more stupid wife." Regrets the sinking of stage performance to such absurdity.

Event Comment: Pit and Boxes to be put together. No Person to be admitted without tickets, which will be deliver'd this day at the Office in the Theatre, a Half a Guinea each. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. Galleries to be open'd at Half an Hour after Four O'clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Half an Hour after Six

Event Comment: Receipts: #224 18s. 6d. Advanc'd to Mrs Ward #20. Paid Sarjant on acct of salary #5; Paid Ridout one third of the surplus of this night's receipt being #144 18s. 6d. than the #80 allow'd for the charge: #48 2s. 6d. This morning I was at Mr Shadwell's for his Orders [for free theatre tickets] & took all my sisters to Covent Garden Gallery to see the Jovial Crew & Rape of Proserpine, which was full of noisy holiday people (Hailey, Brietzcke Diary, Vol. 197, p. 544)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Hilliard. Tickets of Miss Hilliard at Mr Pervil's, Auctioneer, upper end of Bow St., Covent Garden; and of Sarjant at the Stage Door of the Theatre, where places for Boxes may be taken. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted. Receipts: #24 2s. 6d. in cash. Charges #64 5s. Deficit to Miss Hilliard #40 0s. 6d., coverd by income from tickets #79 17s. (Boxes 101; Pit 278; Gallery 129). Paid for 7 doz. wax candles at 24s. per dozen #8 8s

Event Comment: The Twenty-Third Day. Daily Advertiser, 18 Aug.: Last Saturday John Sterne was committed to Newgate by Justice Welch, for the Murder of Mr Matthews, an eminent Surgeon in Brook St., Holborn. [Sterne had been an usher in Mathews' Academy, was discharged, but Matthews let Sterne live in Matthews' house for a long time, then expelled him and put his belongings on the stairs. On Friday 15 Aug. Sterne got two pistols and came back to Owen's Coffee House. Here] he waited three Hours for Mr Matthews, who was gone with a Friend to the little Theatre in the Haymarket and afterwards into Company at the Pewter Platter, a publick house in Cross St. [There Sterne shot Matthews.

Event Comment: Calculated for the use and entertainment of the town in general, but particularly the admirers of The Minor, and more especially those who have been present at the humorous representations of that piece. 'The plain roast and boiled of the theatres will never do at this table. We must have huge seasoned ragouts, and rich sauces.' Perhaps I may produce something that may hit your palate--What think you of a Mimick? Vide the Introduction of The Minor. Nothing will be taken under full prices. No admittance behind the scenes. Care will be taken to keep the house cool. To begin exactly at Seven

Event Comment: Never acted there before. [The Death of George the Second prevented the performance of the 25th taking place. The Theatres closed for three weeks--heretofore six weeks. See Remarks on the Minor, with Foote's Answer, Gentlemen's Magazine, Nov. 1760, pp. 502 ff. Opened 17 Nov.

Event Comment: Boxes: #38 13s. [During the interim when theatre was closed 21 disbursements were made to tide a dozen actors or servants over, amounting to #32 15s. 2d., and leaving a profitable balance of only #1 8s. 6d. on the books (Account Book). Receipts: #140 12s. 6d. (Account Book).