Event Comment: A New Pantomime of Mr Messinks went off with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Music By Dibdin. New Scenes, Habits, and Machines. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken. [Repeated.] Paid 4 days salary list at #85 12s. 11d., #342 11s. 8d.; Miss Mansell on acct #5 5s.; Mr Clinch ditto, #6 6s.; Dr Arne for Mrs Bradley 2 nights per order #5 5s.; Stopages nil (Treasurer's Book). [Full description of the New Pantomime is given in the Westminster Magazine (January 1773): Harlequin born to the Pigmies comes to manhood, gets a job from the Register Office in a Nobleman's family where he meets Colombine. They love, and elope, a chase ensues through several noted places in London, which are detailed in the review. The union of the lovers is finally consended to, and all closes with dancing. "Some of the paintings in the scenery are well executed; and the generality of Mr Dibdin's music deserves equal praise." In it Mrs Wrighten gives a ludicrous imitation of Miss Catley's manner of singing. The reviewer's general thesis about the London stage of this period, given first in the preliminary number, 1 Jan. 1773 continues: "The Stage seems now buried in universal darkness...The Publick for several weeks, has been fed with the lean carcass of two villainous pantomimes."] Receipts: #162 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Messrs Rooker, Messink and Giorgi. Paid salary list #520 7s. 6d.; Mr J. French on acct #20; Rec'd of Mr Hopkins in full #20; Stopages #18 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #196 4s. Charges: #74 14s. Profits to beneficiaries: #121 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Reddish. Music for Mainpiece composed by an eminent Master. Authorship Henry Jones, Reddish, and Dr Hiffernan (Biographia Dramatica). Rec'd Stopages #2 12s. 6d. Paid 4 days salary list #348 14s. 8d.; Mr King's extra salary #2; Mr Garrick on Acct #50; Mr Costain on note #2 2s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #247 1s. 6d. Charges: #72 10s. Profit: #174 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for King. The Play was very Imperfect. Bon Ton is a Comedy in Two Acts. Written 15 or 16 years ago Mr G. out of Friendship for Mr King gave it him to get up for his Benefit-It was verY well perform'd & receiv'd with the highest Applause (Hopkins Diary). Mainpiece: Not acted these 16 years. [See 29 Jan. 1759.] Part of Pit laid into boxes. Paid 4 days salary, list #377 4s.; J. French on acct #5 5s.; Mr Carter in full for Music for Rival Candidates #42 (Treasurer's Book). [Rather unfavorable review of Bon Ton in Westminster Magazine for March. Ascribes it to Burgoyne, with touches form Garrick.] Receipts: #291 2s. 6d. Charges: #66 7s. 6d. Profits to King: #224 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House. Mr Reddish Still continuing a little Mad or So--Mr Cautherly plaid the Duke & very well was applauded (Hopkins Diary). Last time but one of performing before Easter. Paid Carpenter's Dinners &c. at Black Lyon #6 6s.; Tabor & Pipe 10 nights (1st inst. incl.) #5 5s.; Rec'd of Mr Rowland 1 yrs. rent to Lady Day last (#1 16s. Land tax deducted) #41 4s. Receipts: #180 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Taken from Ossian (composed by Byrn). View of the Sea and Rockv from which Oscar escapes, by leaping from a Precipice into arms of his Soldiers--a View of a Bridgev, with the Camp of Carrol--the Death of Carrol by the Hand of +Malvina, with his Fall into the Sea, and the Burning of the Camp of Carrol. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] The Overture by Reeve, with an accompaniment on the Harp by Weippert. "[The afterpiece] is a showy spectacle, but by no means equal in merit to the heroic ballet of Raymond and Agnes. It were greatly to be wished that some safer expedient could be adopted for breaking the violence of Oscar's fall, in the scene where he leaps from the rocky precipice into the arms of his soldiers. A serious disaster happened in this part last season, and had nearly occurred again this evening" (Dramatic Censor, I, 311). Receipts: #317 3s. 6d. (311.1.6; 6.2.0)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. Paid Norton 3 Chorus 15s.; Mr Knight for lamps &c. #10 11s.; for 15 lbs lampwick #1 5s.; Paid Leviez (Ballet Master) a bill as per order #13 19s., and ditto on a Note as per order #34 3s. (Treasurer's Book). We hear Mrs Pritchard, that justly celebrated Actress, is much recovr'd of her late illness, and we are in hopes that she will be able in a short time to perform again at Drury Lane (General Advertiser). Receipts: #140 (Cross); #153 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sparks, Charges #60. Deficit to Sparks #11 2s. 5d., covered by #104 11s. from tickets. Paid Redman a bill for writing parts 10s. 4d.; Paid Lampe on acct by Mr Kirkman #12.Receipts: #48 18s

Event Comment: By Command of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Benefit for Mr Pritchard, Treasurer. Tickets at Stage Door. Rec'd cash #116 2s., plus #91 5s. from tickets. Total #207 17s. Paid window tax at Winsors 16s. 3d.; Paid 6 chorus #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #210 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Receipts: #113 6s. 6d. Paid Barry his one third of surplus above the #80 House Charges: #11 2s. 2d. Paid Wm. Churchman a bill being expences with Mr Fielding, Constables, &c. at the Blakney's Head, #7 3s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Receipts: #146 1s. Paid John Rich on account #10 10s.; Lent Mr Buck #5 5s. and paid him for tambourines #1 4s

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)