Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Mr Vincent for 3 sets of Abels Symphonies #2 5s. (Account Book). Receipts: #116 11s. (Account Book). This was the last time Mr Beard appeared on the stage. John Beard Esq Buried in the vault (at Hampton) 12 Feb. 1791. This celebrated actor was bred up at the King's Chapel, and was afterwards one of the singers at the Duke of Chandos's Chapel at Canons, where he took a part in Handel's Oratorio of Hester. His first appearance on the stage was 30 August 1737, in the character of Sir John Loverule [Devil to Pay], at Drury Lane. In 1739 he married Lady Henrietta Herbert, daughter of James, Earl of Waldegrave, and Widow of Lord Edward Herbert. Upon this event he quitted the Stage. After a few years he returned to it again, and continued to be a great favourite with the public both as an actor and a vocal performer till 1767, when he finally retired from the theatre. Lady Henrietta Beard died in 1753; and in 1759 Mr Beard married a Daughter of John Rich Esq Patentee of Covent Garden Theatre. On this occasion he removed a second time to that theatre, where he had acted from 1744 to 1748; and on the death of his father-in-law in 1761, was appointed Manager. Mr Beard, who was as much esteem'd in private life as he was admired on the stage, was for many years an Inhabitant of Hampton. See Lysons's Middlesex Parishes, p. 89 and 80. Mr Beard died 4 Feb. 1791, aged 74 years. See his Epitaph, ibidem. See Lady Beard's Epitaph in St Pancreas Churchyard (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: The Author's Night. N.B. As the time limited by Mr Foote's Patent is now expiring the Company will perform every night of the week, (Saturday excepted). Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Barry and Mrs Dancer. Tuesdays and Thursdays Mr Foote (Public Advertiser). Set down as much as I can remember of the additions to the Orators. In the evening finished a copy for the Printer of the General Evening Post of an answer to a flattering letter which appeared in that paper some time ago. It is in praise of the Duke of York and other wretches, who not knowing how to spend enough of the Nation's money have fitted up a Theatre in St James Street on which to exhibit their own folly and profusion (Neville MS Diary). [Neville's piece appeared in the Post 8 Sept.

Event Comment: Theatres closed, also Sadlers Wells and all the public gardens for the death of the Duke of York (Winston MS 10)

Event Comment: The Corpse of His Royal Highness the Duke of York arrived at Greenwich, and was buried the next day

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. To Princess Dowager's Footmen (by Mayne) Xmas #1 1s.; To her Chairmen (by Olive) Xmas #1 1s.; To Duke of Cumberland Footmen (by Herpst) Xmas #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #122 12s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Condell, Potter and Eddis (playbill). [Account Book lists only Condell and Potter.] Charges #81 10s. Deficit to Condell and Potter #49 10s. 6d. covered by #97 10s. to Condell from tickets (Box 248; Pit 194; Gallery 64) and #73 14s. to Potter from Tickets (Box 159; Pit 157; Gallery 104). Paid Richard Richardson for the Purchase of the Fee Farm of three Houses on the West Side of Bow St. subject to 40s. a year payable to the Duke of Bedford...#1800. Receipts: #31 19s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Shortly will be publish'd Expostulations with George Colman, by Jane Lessingham. Gave Duke of Gloucester's Footmen by Malm #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #200 13s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Died Mr Sparks late of Covent Garden theatre (Lloyd's Evening Post, 30 Dec.). Gave Duke of Cumberland's Footmen #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #172 15s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [See note for 9 Jan. 1770 of a mild riot this night during best scene of The Orphan.] Afterpiece: A New Opera [by George Alexander Stevens] the Music composed by Mr Fisher. Books of the entertainment to be had at the theatre. Gave Duke of Glocester's Footmen #2 2s. (Account Book). [Afterpiece a roaring burlesque of Lee's Rival Queens. Larpent MS 302 includes Semi Chorus, Grand Chorus, and Perdiccas, not listed in the Playbill. The Court awakes with total hangover. Alexander orders a pot of coffee to clear his head. Thais begs him to leave the gout giving juice-Retire with me @ In my Chinese pavilion, drink some Tea." Afterpiece reviewed inthe Freeholder's Magazine for Jan.] Mr Shuter and Mrs Mattocks gave great satisfaction in their different characters; the words of the songs were written by Mr George Alexander Stephens, author of the celebrated Lecture upon Heads, and several other whimsical productions; and the airs which had Uncommon merit, were composed by Mr Fisher, a young genius, who has hitherto been but little known in the musical world. Receipts: #215 8s. 6d

Event Comment: Paid Duke of Bedford 1!2 year's rent to Mich. 1st, #182 10s. Taxes allowed, #25 7s., total paid #157 3s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #289 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Gave Princess Dowager's footmen by Mayne #1 1s.; her Chairmen, by Clive, #1 1s.; Gave Duke of Gloucester's Footmen by Berkley #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #164 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Performed as an Oratorio, though only a Serenata. Words by Gay...set to music by Mr Handel for that princely nobleman the Duke of Chandos...This being too short for a whole evening's entertainment, Mr Dryden's celebrated Ode, also set by Handel, was performed after the Serenata. End of Part I Concerto on French Horn, by Ponta. End of Part II, Solo on Violincello-Janson (Theatrical Review, 18 March). Ross and Mossop engag'd for Haymarket for tragedy, also Bannister; Aickin, Baddeley, Parsons, Dibdin, Mrs Baddeley, Evans, Miss Miller, Miss Ambrose &c. (Winston MS 10). [For Summer season?]

Event Comment: Paid half year's rent to the Duke of Bedford to Mich. last #165 17s. 7d.; Mr J. French on Acct #26 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #217 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Mr Door for baskets #2 6d. Gave Duke of Cumberland's Chairmen by Cummins #1 1s. (Account Book). Receipts: #171 16s

Event Comment: On Saturday, a New Tragedy (never performed) call'd Alonzo. Paid Duke of Gloster's Footmen, Xmas Box #2 2s.; Mr Reddish per order, #6. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #175 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid the Duke of Bedford 1!4 Yrs Rent #78 11s. 6d. Receipts: #120 13s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Dumay, Harris & Holloway. Public Advertiser, 16 May: Tickets to be had of Dumay at Sandhill, behind the Foundling Hospital; of Harris, No. 12, Duke's-court, Bow-street, Covent Garden; of Holloway, Great Maddox-street, Hanover-square. Receipts: #263 15s. (69.2; tickets: 194.13) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hurst and Burton. Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Public Advertiser, 25 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Hurst at his house, No. 374, Strand; of Burton, Duke's-court, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #209 15s. (42.11.0: 11.16.6; 0.2.6; tickets: 155.5.0) (charge: #65 3s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dumay, Holloway & Harris. Tickets delivered for Know Your Own Mind will be taken. Public Advertiser, 9 May: Tickets to be had of Dumay, Sand-hill, Lamb's Conduit Fields, behind the Foundling Hospital; of Holloway, Great Maddox-street, Hanover-square; of Harris, No. 12, Duke's-court, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #251 15s. (56.11; tickets: 195.4) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Condell, Evans & Curteen, box-keepers. Tickets sold at the doors will not be admitted. Public Advertiser, 12 May: Tickets to be had of Condell, Cross-court, Duke's-court, Bow-street, Covent Garden; of Evans at Bromfield's, Trunk-maker, No. 118, Long-acre; of Curteen, No. 11, Temple-lane, White-friars. Receipts: #259 5s. (53.3; tickets: 206.2) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Old Batchelor, announced on playbill of 24 Feb.] Paid the Guardians of the Duke of Bedford rent to Michaelmas 1778, land tax deducted, #160 16s. 4d. Receipts: #128 16s. 6d. (88.5.0; 38.11.0; 2.0.6)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece: The Carnival here and in all subsequent performances called A Carnival Masquerade.] Paid the Duke of Bedford's Rent on Acct. #200. Receipts: #145 6s. 6d. (114/0/0; 31/3/6; 0/3/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. Public Advertiser, 12 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Hull at his house in Duke's Court, near Dean's Yard, Westminster

Event Comment: Mainpiece [C 5, by the Hon. Henry Seymour Conway, adapted from Les Dehors Trompeurs; ou, L'Homme du Jour, by Louis de Boissy; incidental music by Michael Kelly. Prologue by the author. Epilogue by John Burgoyne (see text)]: 1st time at a public theatre. With new Scenes and Dresses. [This was 1st acted on 31 May 1788 at the private theatre in the town house of the Duke of Richmond, which was situated on what is now Richmond Terrace, Whitehall. It was demolished in 1819.] Diary, 16 June 1789: This Day is published False Appearances (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #138 3s. (114.15.0; 22.5.6; 1.2.6)