Event Comment: [This New Comedy (by Mrs Elizabeth Griffith) seems not to have been performed this night, according to the author's Preface to her Edition of 1772. Shuter had been unattentive and absent from many rehearsals]: At length though late [in the season] a day was appointed for the representation, and on that morning Mr Shuter appeared at rehearsal, pretty much in the same state as before, and confessed himself incapable of performing his part, that night. Upon which the play was oblig'd to be further postponed, and handbills were sent about at noon, to advertise town of the disappointment....A further final day was afterwards determined on, but the audience being out of humour at their former disappointment, called Mr Shuter to account for it, on his first appearance; which threw him into such confusion, that he was not able to get the better of it, throughtout the whole performance...in the hurry of his spirits the actor not only forgot his part, the deficiency of which he endeavoured to supply with his own dialect, but also seemed to lose all idea of the character he was to perform; and made the Governor appear in a light which the author never intended: that of a mean, ridiculous buffoon. [Mrs Griffith concluded her preface by relating how her friends stood by the piece, but two or three in the gallery, when it was given out again objected and threw an apple at the chandeliers, which so perturbed the management that the play was withdrawn. She therefore published it by subscription, prefixing the names of about 440 subscribers, persons of the first quality, including James Boswell, Edmund Burke, Col. Burgoyne, the Duke of Devonshire, David Garrick, Mrs Montague, William Richardson, and a host of writers, players, and people of fashion. This list provides a pretty good roster of those who filled the boxes and part of the pit of both theatres at the time.] Paid Younger #2 2s. for the license for A Wife in the Right (Account Book). Receipts: #218 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. Rec'd stopages #11 15s. 6d.; From Sinking Fund, 1st, #157 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [N.B. this last bookkeeping transfer seems to have enabled treasurer to pay off Mr Calthorpe. See 1 May 1772.] Paid Salary list #497 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct #2; Mr S. French #1 10s.; Master Brown 3 nights #1 2s. 6d. Receipts: #140 9s. 6d. Charges: #58 16s. 6d. Profits to Bannister: #81 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs King being to Quit the Stage at the end of this Season Mr G. kindly play'd for her Benefit great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for King. Pit and Boxes laid together. Paid salary list #494 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's Cloaths acct #2; Mr S. French, 6 days #1 10s. Receipts: #287 6s. Charges: #64 4s. Profits to Mrs King: #223 2s. [Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Desire. House (Hopkins Diary). Last time performing Mainpiece this season. Rec'd from Mr Clutterbuck #150; Stopages #7 17s. 10d.; Paid salary list #494 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct #2; Mr S. French #1 10s.; Dr Nares & Mrs Cooke's boys 3 nights (13th inst incl.) #6 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #64 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Last time of performing Mainpiece this season. House (Hopkins Diary). But Tickets delivered for Benefit of Mr W. Barry will be taken. Mr Wm. Barry's tickets this night (Box 88; Pit 76; Gallery 47) #38 2s.; Paid Printer's Bill #9 6s.; Master Brown 2 nights (26th incl.) 15s.; Extra trumpet 2 nights (March 31st incl.) #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #155 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd Stopages #1 3s. Paid 4 days salary list #289 5s. 8d. at #72 6s. 5d. per diem; Mrs Abington in full of #60, for cloaths #1; Mr S. French #1 10s.; Mr S. Barry and Wife 1 days salary in full #8 6s. 8d.; Sieur Daigville and Wife ditto #1 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted for 14 years, altered from Shirley. [See 7 Feb. 1758.] Characters New Dress'd in the Habits of the Times. This Comedy is reviv'd with Alterations. It is well perform'd & had great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid Half year's paving &c. to Mich. last for Drury Lane & Russel St. #14. Mr Godfrey for women's cloaths, #15. Mr Clutterbuck's last summer's balance #57 15s. 2d.; Mrs Foster for men's cloaths, #25 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #121 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Smith Polly (first time) very well (Hopkins Diary). Paid Salary list #513 17s. 6d.; Miss Mansell and Mr Dimon 5 guineas each per order, #10 10s.; Mr Clinch ditt, #5 5s.; Rec'd stopages #20 13s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #141 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Last time performing Mainpiece till Benefits. Full Prices. Paid the Lecturer of St Martin's one year #2 2s.; Mr Reddish, per Mr G. G. #6 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #161 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dyer. Mainpiece: Not acted this season. To prevent confusion or mistakes, Mr Dyer humbly requests those Ladies who have taken Boxes and Places to send their servants at a Quarter before Five o'clock (playbill). Charges #64 5s. Profit to Dyer #56 4s. 6d., plus #126 12s. from tickets (Box 370; Pit 154; Gallery 110). Paid Wolfe (furrier) 5s., and Mr Colledge for a black suit of cloaths #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #120 9s. 6d

Event Comment: Doors open at 5 o'clock. Play to begin at 6 o'clock. Prices: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places to be had of Mr Johnston at the Stage door. [Customary note, repeated.] Rec'd Mrs Groath's one year's rent to Xmas last #3; Paid Renters #8 (Treasurer's Book). This regular expenditure was made nightly for the 189 acting nights of the season, as well as for the 11 nights on which Oratorio's were given in the Spring. The total amount came to #1600. No further note will be made of this item this season. The Westminster Magazine this month, reiterated its doleful cry "that the stage is on its decline." In a long article on "Stage Effect, or Dramatic Cookery," it concluded that our "Theatrical managers and even our Theatrical Critics seem to have resolved all the merit of dramatic composition into stage trick, and rest their criterion of Dramatic Genius on the knowledge of what they are pleased to call Stage effect." The "Theatre" article for the month remarked upon the boldness of Garrick's opening with the Beggar's Opera, "notwithstanding he was requested by the Bench of Justices at Bow-Street, to suppress it, as they were of opinion it had done a great deal of mischief among the low class of people." Lloyd's Evening Post, 17 Sept., included extracts from letters against playing the Beggar's Opera, "because every performance makes from one two twenty thieves." Sir John Fielding and his associates had addressed a letter to Garrick requesting him not to perform the opera for the same reason. The Morning Chronicle, 23 Sept., praised Garrick for not complying with the Justices' request. Wm Augustus Miles published a Letter to Sir John Fielding occasioned by his extraordinary Request to Mr Garrick for the suppression of the Beggar's Opera (44 pp.). In this he vindicated the moral effect of the opera.] Receipts: #158 (Treasurer's Book). [Note: For perform ance at hay 18 and 20 September, see Season of 1772-1773, p. 1740

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 16 years. [See 19 April 1751.] New Scenes, Machines, Decorations &c. The Characters dress'd in The Habits of the times. This Masque is very well got up with New Scenes & Decorations particularly a Representation of the Grand Naval Review design'd by Mons DeLoutherberg & vastly well Executed had great Applause the piece is very dull (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid five day's salary at #86 13s. 10d. per diem, #433 9s. 2d.; Miss Younge 6 days not on the list #1; Mr Courtney 3 days not on list 7s. 6d.; Mr J. French on Act #10 (Treasurer's Book). The Songs, Chorusses, &c. in the Masque (in the order they are now performed) to be had at the Theatre. The Music by Dr Arne and other masters (playbill). Receipts: #158 12s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. Rec'd Stopages #30 14s.; Paid Salary list at #87 3s. per diem #522 18s.; Mr Atkins 11 days additional salary not on list 18s. 4d.; Mr S. Barry's 4 drafts #400; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #4 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #122 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. Paid Powney, stationer, #5 13s.; Mr Landall for Mr Marshall's Funeral #3 10s.; Mrs Chitty for coals #46 3s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #169 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd Stopages #29 10s. 6d.; Paid salary list #522 18s.; Mr King 29 nights additional salary (29th inst. incl.) #14 10s.; Mr Loutherbourg's draft #120. Receipts: #241 15s. 6d. (Treaurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Author of the Farce. Rec'd Stopages #29 18s.; Paid 6 days salary at #87 11s. 4d. per diem, #525 8s. Mr King 6 night's extra salary #3; Mr Clinch 30 nights not on the list #12 10s.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #3 16s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #185 2s. 6d. Charges: #84. Profits to author of Farce: #101 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author of mainpiece. Paid half year's rent to Mr Wegg to Mich. last #57; Mr Stockdale for Men's cloaths, &c. #7 13s. 6d. Receipts: #232 10s. 6d. Charges: #73 10s. Profits for author: #159 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Fri 24 Paid 5 days salary at #88 7s. per diem, --#441 15s.; Mr King's extra salary #2 10s.; Mr J. French on acct #21 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted in 7 years. [See 20 Feb. 1767.] Mr Barry being ill Mr Palmer play'd the Bastard--with applause $Mrs Barry not so well in Constance as was expected (Hopkins Diary). Paid properties #2 8d. Receipts: #162 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd Stopages #4 12s. 6d. Paid 4 days salary list #348 14s. 6d.; Mr King's extra salary #2; Mr G. Garrick on acct #50. Receipts: #245 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. House (Hopkins Diary). Paid present to Messrs Younger & Kennedy [burnt out] #21 (Treasurer's Book). [See further payments to Kennedy 25 May. See also cg 12 May. An account of the fire given in Westminster Magazine, May 1774, p. 267: Mr and Mrs Kennedy who directed the company of performers at Richmond last summer were upon a visit to Mr Younger." Kennedy and Younger escaped, but Mrs Kennedy and a young friend, who had been reading in bed and who had fallen asleep without putting out the candle, were burned to death. Fire broke out at 2 o'clock in the morning.] Receipts: #261 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Champnes. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Mr Champnes quits the Stage at the End of this Season therefore Mr Gar: plays for his Benefit (Hopkins Diary). Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Rec'd Messrs Stanley & Smith 11 Oratorio Nights at #24 per night (candles oyl &c.) #304 6s. Paid to Renters #88 from 11 Oratorio nights. Receipts: #233 1s. 6d. Charges: #74 14s. Profit to Champnes: #58 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for J. Bannister and Griffiths. Paid subscription to St Martin's Charity School 1 year, #2 2s.; Rec'd of Mr Heath 1 yrs rent to Xmas last #10 (Treasurer's Book). Tickets deliver'd for The Double Gallant and by Mr Harwood will be taken. Receipts: #112 5s. 6d. Charges: #64 11s. Profits to J. Bannister & Griffith: #47 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Whitsun Eve No Play. Rec'd from Mr S. Barry's bag #535 15s. 6d.; Paid 5 days salary list #438. Mr King's extra salary #2 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With New Dresses and Decorations. N.B. After this night the Meeting of the Company will be laid aside for sometime. The Play was New drest in the Habits of the time & they look'd very well & was applauded (Hopkins Diary) Paid 3 days salary list at #91 16s. 4d. per diem, #275 9s.; Sundry salaries not on list last week as per partners in Memorandum Book, #44 8s.; Mr Granier for last week 12s. 6d.; Mr J. French on acct #5 5s. Receipts: #226 3s. (Treasurer's Book)