Event Comment: By authority of Lord Chamberlin. By Desire of the Masons. With two additional Scenes

Event Comment: In Mr G. fine Scene with Thomas , Just as he was going to trust him with the Secret the House was very Silent and Mr G. very fine a fellow in the Gallery bawld out--Speak louder--It disconcerted Mr G. very much (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Mr Waller's Bill (hosier) #30 16s. 9d.; Mr Pryer [Turner] #3 2s.; Mr Bannizter [sic] for two songs #5 5s. Receipts: #242 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Abington being ill with a cold, The Sultan is oblig'd to be deferr'd a Day or two. Receipts: #83 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd stopages #11 18s. Paid To Mr Garrick, author of the alteration of the Chances and two preludes #171. Receipts: #106 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera of Two Acts written by Mr Bate--Much hissing and Crying out no more no more!--Mr Reddish was desired to give out the Play as soon as Matilda was over--but he with his usual politeness ran up and undress'd himself as fast as he could so that the play was not given out till the End of the Farce as soon as the Blackamoor was given out for the next Night they kept a great Noise and call'd for another Farce to be given out--at length they began to be more appeas'd and went away vowing Vengeance on it the next Night (Hopkins Diary). The Overture and Music of the afterpiece entirely New. Books of the Songs &c. to be had at the Theatre. New Scenes, Dresses, &c. [This is Larpent MS 400. Sir Oliver Oddfish distrusts his servants and is about to replace them with blacks, giving his nephew the chance to introduce Frederick , his daughter Julia 's lover, in disguise as a blackamoor, and to effect an elopement. Act I criticizes Londoners and concludes with the comment, "O that I should ever live to see the day when white Englishmen must give place to foreign blacks." MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid the late Mr Johnston's bill to his executors #44 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [Afterpiece reviewed in three columns in the Westminster Magazine for Feb. Reviewer thought it had been produced well in all departments, music, scenery, costume, and acting, but concluded it a theatrical trifle giving not much credit to its author.] Receipts: #166 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Abington continuing ill, The Maid of the Oaks oblig'd to be deferr'd. Soon after the Farce began off off--no, more, no more, was the General Cry with much hissing--Mr King went on Two or three times to know their pleasure but they would not hear him. They Call'd for Mr Garrick he attended--but they would not hear him for a long time tho' Attempted Several times to speak--at last Somebody said hear him! hear him!--Mr G. told them that he would wait their [sic] all Night with pleasUre if they requir'd it--hear him! again was bellow'd out--he told them he waited to know their pleasure--whether they would have the Blackamoor go on or if they would have any other Farce then a great Noise ensued; as soon as they were quiet Mr G. told them that his Theatrical Life would be very Short and he should be glad to end it in peace--A man in the Pit said if you have a mind to die in Peace don't let this Farce be play'd again Mr Garrick was on and off the Stage several times nothing would content them--at Length Mr King told them that the Author had taken the Copy from the Prompter and was gone away with it.--Soon after this they withdrew So ended this troublesome Affair (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble is considerably lengthened.] Paid Mr Rowland's bill for dinners #8 9s. 3d. Receipts: #284 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by Hugh Kelly, not printed] never performed. [It was performed but once. The Biographia Dramatica suggests failure was partly due to Woodward's misconception of the main character. The Westminster Magazine for Feb. damns the play, for developing two confusing and parallel plots, for the acting, and for the language.

Event Comment: An Operetta of Two Acts. Music entirely New by Dr Arne. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin at 7:00 p.m. Being desired by many persons of quality

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire and advertised as Garrick's last time of performing the character of Lusignan. This Farce of Two Acts was written by Mr Colman -the first Act was receiv'd with great Applause the second Act a little heavy -and not so much Applause as the first (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr Park 1 chorus 4 nights (Jubilee) #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine for March tells the plot of the afterpiece, and concludes: "The wit and dialogue of this piece will hardly keep it long in esteem with the public. They are sometimes lively, but generally pert and affected."] Receipts: #272 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Being the last time of Garrick's appearing in character of Sir John Brute . When the Song Encor'd Mr Garrick said Come Col. give us that Song again for two very good Reasons, the first because your friends desire it-and Secondly because I believe I shall never be in such good company again. House Mr and Mrs Davies (Sold) (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr Davies in lieu of Bt #60. Rec'd of Mr Davis on acct #30. Receipts: #281 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Abington. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Garrick's last time of performing Archer . Pit and Boxes will be laid together. Ladies and Gentlemen most earnestly requested to come early (playbill). Mrs Abington having wrote to Mr Garrick that she intended to quit the Stage at the End of the Season never to return to it again, he very kindly play'd for her Benefit (Hopkins Diary). Tickets deliver'd for Much Ado will be taken. Attempted to get into Drury Lane Theatre to see Mr Garrick in the character of Archer, but the crowd was so great that after suffering thumps, squeezes and almost suffocation for two hours, I was oblig'd to retire without effecting it (Hampden, Journal). Receipts: #129 19s. 6d. Charges: #65 7s. 6d. Profits to Mrs Abington: #64 12s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for LaMash, Griffith, Blurton, and Cubitt. Paid salary list #621 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Tickets delivered by Miss Berkley will be taken. Mainpiece: Nor acted these two years. [See 8 April 1774.] Receipts: #57 11s. 6d. Charges: #71 9s. Deficit to La Mash, Griffith, Blutton, and Cubitt: #13 17s. 6d. (Treausrer's Book)

Event Comment: The People flock'd about the doors by Two o'clock. there never was a greater Overflow-Mr G. was never happier in Lear -the Applause was beyond description 3 or 4 loud Claps Succeeding one another at all his exits and many Cry'd out Garrick for Ever &c., &c. House (Hopkins Diary). [Kemble's note differs slightly.] Paid Mr Short, Chorus Singer #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Hannah More wrote to Mrs Gwatkin: The eagerness of the people to see Garrick is beyond anything you can have an idea of. You will see half a dozen duchesses and countesses a night in the upper boxes: for the fear of not seeing him at all, has humbled those who used to go, not for the purpose of seeing but being seen; and they now courtsy to the ground for the worst places in the house" (Hampden, Journal). [Letter to David Garrick, Esq on his appearance in Lear last night 13 May: The correspondent who signs himself Stock Fish and who claims to have been one of the survivors of the Black Hole of Calcutta, and who took a young lady from the country to see Garrick's last performance, blames him for endangering the lives of his majesties subjects for not providing proper bars, lanes, and queue lines to handle the crowds: "I went with intention to get into the Pit as the most eligible Part of the House (for your Boxes are always engag'd) and we got to the Door in Vinegaryard about five o'clock. Here the Passage to the first Door was too full for me to entertain any Hopes of getting in that Way, we therefore made for Catharine-street but the Multitudes of People waiting for the Opening of the Gallery-doors, rendered it impossible for us to get along through the Court; we therefore made a Circuit, and at length arrived opposite the Door in Catharine-street, where it was with Difficulty we could keep our Stands on a Foot Pavement....You will be absolutely inexcusable, if after this Warning you neglect to adopt some Method for the Security of the Lives of his Majesties Subjects on similar Occasions.--What think you of the following Scheme, viz. To keep the outer Doors next the Street shut, till the inner ones are opened ; and then, by a Proper bar, to prevent more than one at a Time entering, who shall there pay Entrance-money, and receive the Tickets of Admission through the inner Doors' (Public Advertiser 18 May).] Receipts: #308 1s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Garrick's last time of performing Hamlet . Benefit towards encreasing a Fund, for the relief of those who from their infirmities shall be oblig'd to retire from the stage. Pit and Boxes are laid together, and no admittance into the Pit or Boxes without Tickets. Ladies and Gentlemen urged to come early. Servants must be at the theatre by 5 o'clock to keep places. Doors will be opened at half past Five. Play to begin at half past Six. On Saturday Mr Garrick will perform a principal part in a Comedy. Pit and Boxes put together, most of the tickets were sold for a Guinea a piece, very few under half a Guinea and the whole quantity Sold in about Two hours (Hopkins Diary). [Kemble's note briefer.] Receipts: #85 8s. 6d. Charges: #23 4s. 1d. [See 10 June.] (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. When the play began there was a very great Noise the performers were oblig'd to Stop and go off the Stage Mr Reddish went on and desir'd to Know their pleasure they said they wanted the Pit door be open'd to let out some of the people for so many had Crowded in that they could not Sit down-the door was open'd and in a little time after all was quiet and the Play was begun once more at a quarter after Seven. During this time the King Sent Two Messages to Mr G. to desire that he would not let this Noise disconcert him and his Majesty would take care that all should be quiet before the play began (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble: "I cannot say enough of Mr Garrick's Performance tonight." Kemble further notes that Garrick's fatigue led them to abandon further performances until Saturday 8 June.] Paid Mr Heard extra allowance #3; Ditto on note #5 5s.; Mr Carpenter's salary 15s.; Mr Martini a grautity #10 10s.; Wallis salary in full 13s. 4d. Receipts: #293 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Afterpiece: A Comedy of two Acts never performed. Dr Thomas Francklin. [According to the Biographia Dramatica, "This is a poor performance, founded on Destouches' L'Amour Use, and met with no success; being nearly condemned, nothwithstanding the King and Royal family were present. Foote told his friends, that, when he lighted the King, to his chair, his Majesty asked who the piece was written by: 'It was written (says the wicked Wit) by one of your Majesty's Chaplains; but it is dull enough to have been written by a Bishop.)'"]

Event Comment: A Musical Entertainment in Two Acts never performed. Music by Dibdin. [Weston had died.

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Paid Kirk Housekeeper's bills to October 12 #102 19s. 4d.; Chorus Singers #6 15s. They called for the Epilogue (to the Runaway) and made a great Noise for it all through the first Scene of the Farce, but it was not spoken. Miss Younge was not down ready to begin [the mainpiece], Sheridan ordered the Curtain to be drawn up, it was two Minutes before she came to begin (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #219 16s. 6d