Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. King goes to Covent Garden (Cross). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Passerini at the Great Room, Dean Street, Soho. N.B. The Pastoral will precede the Oratorio. The Pastoral, by Desire. The overture and greatest part of which composed by his Majesty the King of Prussia. Mainpiece by Handel. Tickets for the 29th will be taken. Tickets at half a guinea for the Pit, and 5s. for the Gallery. To begin at 6:30 p.m. [The Pastoral is not named in the Bill, but from comment on its musical composer is deemed to be Charlottenburg Festegiante. See 16 March.

Event Comment: Tomorrow acted but twice these 10 years, King Lear. With a new Ballet by Guerin and Mlle Capdeville

Event Comment: At the Great Room, George Inn Yard. Mrs Charke and King's Company of Comedians. A new Droll. Pit 1s. 6d. First Gallery 1s. Upper Gallery 6d. 12 noon to ten p.m. during the time of the Fair

Event Comment: PPublic Advertiser: Mr Vanneschi begs leave to inform the Nobility and Gentry, that a Licence being granted to him from the Lord Chamberlain's office, with his Majesty's most gracious Approbation, for exhibiting Italian operas at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket, Subscriptions for the ensuing Season will be taken in by Mess. Drummond and Co., Bankers at Charing Cross. He humbly desires his Protectors and Subscribers, to oblige him with an early Payment of their Subscription Money, in order that he may be able to give the necessary Securities to Sga Colomba Mattei, and to Sg Pasquale Potenza, as also to the Rest of his Singers and Dancers. It being given out that Mr Vanneschi hath not engaged the Use of the Opera House for the ensuing Season of Operas, it is hereby certified, that the Proprietor thereof hath agreed with Mr Vanneschi for the same. Sign'd by order of the Proprietor. Peter Crawford, Treasurer of said Theatre

Event Comment: For the King (Cross). Both pieces By His Majesty' Command. Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: Receipts: #74 19s. (Account Book). Mr Barry is engaged at Covent Garden, and will perform the part of King Lear on Monday next

Event Comment: BBarry play'd at C. Garden some little Noise, on Account of his being ye occasion of ye late Riot, & demanding more Money than usual-but his speech declaring his Innocence; King Lear went on in quiet (Cross). It is hoped that the Ladies and Gentlemen who took places for the Fatal Marriage this evening will excuse its not being acted 'till tomorrow, as it is impossible for Mrs Cibber to perform the character of Isabella without proper respit. The Old Comedy alter'd from Shirley [The Gamesters] will be reviv'd next week (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Lying In Hospital, Aldersgate St. Receipts: #76 15s. Income from Tickets #80 11s. (boxes 114; pit 273; gallery 111). Charges #84 (Account Book). Tomorrow the First Part of King Henry IV. [A long plea for attendance at this performance appeared in the Public Advertiser: "It affords me the greatest satisfaction when I peruse your paper, and find so many advertisements for charitable Benefits at the Theatres; which must greatly add to the Entertainment of the Stage, when we are sensible that the profits are to be appropriated towards the relief and support of the Indigent and distress'd; for the refief of whom, it must (at the same time it gives us secret pleasure) raise the astonishment of foreigners to see so many charitable piles raise their benevolent roofs in and about this great Metroplis. Amongst which I must beg leave to recommend to the Public, the City of London Lying In Hospital in Aldersgate Street (for the Benefit of which the Play of the Conscious Lovers will be performed this evening at Covent Garden); whose charitable doors have been opened for the relief of a much greater Number since the late dearth of Provisions, than its Annual Income (being supported by voluntary contributions) can possibly support, without further aid from the Public." The plea continues by emphasizing the need for expert and tender care for pregnant women, and by pointing out the satisfaction British sailors will have in knowing their wives may be delivered in this hospital.] [The Occasional Prologue (Written by Mr Lockman, Secretary to the Society of Free British Fisheries) was published in the Public Advertiser on 16 Dec.: @"Not sweeter Joy the wond'ring Indian feels,@When his far dazzling Glory Sol reveals@Than warms my heart at this auspicious Sight,@The splendid Audience of this cheerful night."@ Much emphasis on the misery of child-bearing, yet the need for a large population "to a commercial land." Also included was the Epilogue, by Lockman, "Intended for Mrs Hamilton," ending, "May each youth, here, breathe Bevil's gen'rous flame@Each virgin merit Indiana's fame."

Event Comment: Receipts: #124 17s. Barry's 1!3 of profits came to #14 19s. Miss White entered from the 4th Inst. 4 days at 3s. 4d.-13s. 4d. Paid Mrs Griffith for Flowers, a sash, and work for the dancers, #4 15s. Also paid her for a Crown and Garter for King Lear, 7s. One pair ear rings for Miss Condill #4 4s. Bought 3 1!2 doz. wax candles at 3s. per dozen, #5 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

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: N.B. We have engag'd Mr King; & Miss Baker from Ireland, one Mr Moody, a Stroler,-Mr Beard is gone to Covent Garden, 'tis said to be manager Mr Mossop to Ireland. Receipts: #120 (Cross). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places from Mr Varney at the Stage Door. No admittance behind scenes. [The customary note about prices and admittance will not be noted further here.] [At the opening of the theatres this season appeared an essay in Goldsmith's Bee, giving close observations upon actors, and deploring the relative stiffness and formality of English actors in comparison with the French. Advised English actors to travel abroad. Yet (Vol. 1759, p. 12) commented on the magnificnece of "our theatres as far superior to any others in Europe where plays only are acted. The great care our performers take in painting for a part, their exactness in all minutiae of dress, and other little scenical proprieties has been taken notice of by Riccoboni." Complains of the convention of laying a rug before a dying scene and of the vacant expressions of mutes on stage.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Recipts: #222 0s. 6d. Paid Meares (Tailor) #1 11s. 4d.; Paid Mr Monck 80 days salary to this day #20; Paid Xmas Boxes: King's Footmen, #2 2s., Chairmen, #2 2s., Prince of Wales Footmen, #1 1s., Chairmen, #1 1s., Princess of Wales Footmen #1 1s., Chairmen #1 1s., Porters at Inns of Court #3 14s

Event Comment: Benefit for Shuter. Mainpiece: Not acted in 10 years. Receipts: #194 10s. in cash, plus #147 18s. from tickets (Boxes 378; Pit 356). Charges #64 5s. Advanced to Mrs Ward #30. [Shuter called for imaginative participation of his audience in his Medley Skit (see Larpent MS 171): @"Suppose my dress alter'd with each exhibition....@If I speak like a Dutchman, or Brogue it like Paddy,@Or mimic Monsieur, or lisp like a Lady"@ Parts for The English Sailors in America (by G. A. Steevens) are listed in Larpent MS 172: Indian King , English Captain , Irishman , Sailor Ned and Sailor Ben , a Black Messenger , Guards , White Savage Lady , Black Woman , Image .

Event Comment: Full prices. Last time of performing till Easter Holidays. Receipts: #214 11s. Paid Kemp #6 8s.; Meares #0 10s. 6d.;Mr Platt for mahogany chair frames (12), #9 12s.; Paid Rich #50; Paid 10 night's Rents for Oratorios #100. I was to see the Jovial Crew and the Fair again, at the Gallery at Covent Garden, where I see Mrs Viebert, Miss Meredith & Mr Madan. Slept in at Drury Lane Gallery where I see the best part of Catherine & Petruchio for King's Benefit (Hailey, Brietzcke Diary, Vol. 197, p. 210)

Event Comment: BBritish Chronicle, 25 Sept.: Last Wednesday the King, Queen and Royal Family went to Covent Garden to see The Beggar's Opera with a [directive?] of the fitting up of the Box (Winston MS 9)

Event Comment: Boxes #24 15s. Paid Dall for a modal and making a Crown intended for the King's Box-#1 2s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #134 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Box #43 17s. 6d. Paid Mr Blackmore a Bill for sundries and expenses in taking the inventory of the Men's Wardrobe #26 2s. 6d. Bought three men's outfits #68. Gave the King's footmen and Chairmen #4 4s., and Prince of Wales' Footmen and Chairmen #2 2s. Gave the Porters of the several Inns #3 14s. (Account Book). [The Gentlewoman who played Bertha was Miss Fielding. See notation of payment to her for acting this part, 10 Jan.] Receipts: #176 16s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: (The Hope of the Earth) performed last June in Honour of the King's Birth Day, but now with some alterations. Afterpiece: (The Promises of Heaven) an entirely new Serenata writ in order to celebrate, as far as lies in Sga Mattei's power, the late Royal Nuptials, and approaching Coronation. The Nobility and Gentry will please to dispense with their servants not being admitted this night