Event Comment: nnounced as 1 Nov., but 5 p.m. Cibber's continuance of performances brought the following response]: In Pursuance of my Promise that I would do nothing against your Theatre, or you, without first giving you Notice, I do hereby acquaint you, that I am obliged to proceed against you, and that I shall, with another of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, stop all your Theatrical Performances, of which take Notice.-Thomas de Veil, 8 Nov. Cibber, A Serio-Comic Apology, p. 18

Event Comment: Published at 1s. 6d. Romeo and Juliet, revised by Theo. Cibber, first rev[ived] in Sept. 1744 at the Theatre in the Haymarket. Now acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Great objects only strike the Gen'rous Heart@Praise the Sublime, o'er look the Mortal Part@Be there your judgment, Here your Candor shown@Small is our Portion-and we wish 'Twere none.-Prologue to Comus alter'd, &c. To which is added a Serio-Comic Apology for part of the life of Theophilus Cibber, Comedian, written by himself. Interspers'd with Memoirs and Anecdotes relating to the Stage managements, Theatrical Resolutions, &c., also Cursory Observations on some Pribcipal players. Particularly, Mr Quin, Ryan, Delane, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Ward, Miss Bellamy, Mr Garrick, Barry, Mrs Cibber, Mrs Clive, Mrs Pritchard and others. Likewise Original Letters that passed between the late Sir Thomas deVeil and Mr Theophilus Cibber relating to the Stage Act. "Each Puny Critic can Objections raise@The Greatest still is Knowing when to praise,"-Buckingham. Concluding with a Copy of Verses called The Contrite Comedian's Confession. Printed for C. Corbett &c. (General Advertiser). [This pamphlet details Cibber's troubles with Fleetwood during the years 1743-46.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); #151 11s. (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry. Tickets to be had of Berry at Mr Pope's, Peruke Maker in Russel St., Covent Garden and of Hobson at the Stage Door. [From the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books for this month: An Account of the Life of that Celebrated Tragedian, Mr Thomas Betterton, containing a distinct relation of his excellencies in his profession and character in private life, and interspersed with an account of the English theatre during his time. Printed for J. Robinson.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel)

Event Comment: At Phillips's Great Theatrical Booth opposite Cow Lane. With the surprising performances of an Englishman and a Citizen of London [Lort] who performs all the Equilibres on the Slack Rope that were performed by the muchfamed Turk. Prices: 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s., 6d. To begin at Twelve. [Time and prices the same at all booths.] Afterpiece: With the Escape of Harlequin into a Glass Bottle, also the last new additional Scene of Sig Jumpedo Jumping Down his own Throat. [An unhappy evening, for "last night the gallery of Phillips' booth fell down, with a great number of people in it, by which accident several persons were hurt, and some dangerously. This misfortune could be owing to nothing but the carelessness of the workmen, who upon such occasions deserve to be severely punished" (General Advertiser, 24 Aug.). The Daily Advertiser noted that Mr Stringellow, a goldsmith, in Aldersgate St., and Thomas Hodges, a journeyman-plaisterer in Golden Lane, were killed.

Event Comment: Benefit for Sowdon. No building on the stage on account of the Coronation. [With] The Death of the Duke of Buckinghamv; the Tryal and Divorce of Queen Catherinev; The Death of Cardinal Wolseyv; the Christening of Princess Elizabethv; and many other historical passages. Tickets to be had of Sowdon, next door to the Black Lyon, in Little Russel-St., Covent Garden; at Will's Coffee House in Cornhill; at Mr Thomas Sowdon's in Blackman St., Southwark, and at the stage door. Mainpiece: Not acted in 6 years [see 1 Jan. 1746]. Receipts: #230 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Afterpiece: By MacNamara Morgan. Receipts: #133 14s. 6d. plus Tickets #163 3s. (boxes 479; pit 230; gallery 89). Charges #63. Total value of House: #296 17s. 6d. Profit to Barry #233 17s. 6d. Paid Samuel Wale for painting figures Boys & other decorations in a scene designed by Servandoni #5 5s. Paid Matthew Pearce, Bricklayer, #230, on account of the New Building. Paid Thomas Pervil for sundry cloaths as specified below, #112, 17s.: A Bloom Colored Brocade coat & Breeches with silver flowers & a Gold & Silver Brocaded Waistcoat & Coffs, #8; A Pompador Velvet Coat, Waistcoat & 2 pr. Breeches shot with silver, #11 11s.; A Blue cut and uncut Velvet Suit, Flower'd and Gold Ground, #10 10s.; A Dove colored Brocade Coat & Breeches, Gold & Flowers & a Gold & Silver Brocade waistcoat & Cuffs, #10 10s.; A Blue & Silver Brocade Coat & Breeches & Silver Brocade waistcoat & Cuffs, #10; a light color'd coat & Breeches & a blue silk waistcoat with gold lace, #14; A copper color'd velvet coat & breeches, and yellow waistcoat, embroider'd with gold, #20; A blue velvet suit, plain, #4 10s.; A crimson velvet Roab Surcoat, belt sword & Bonnet worn by a Peer in Parliament, & a Green velvet Roab, purple velvet surcoat & hood-a Knight of the Thistle's dress, #17 16s.; a plain crimson velvet suit, #6 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Mainpiece: Never acted there. Thomas and Sally oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Indisposition of Mrs Pinto (playbill). Charges #64 5s. balance to Mrs Bellamy #62 15s. plus #110 8s. in tickets (Box 293; Pit 231) (Account Book). Receipts: #127 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Reddish. Mainpiece: By Desire. Farce (adapted by Thomas Ryder from Vanbrugh's Mistake) never acted there

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Lessingham. Mainpiece: Alter'd from Shakespeare and Thompson, not acted these 4 years. Afterpiece: For last time this season (playbill of 19 April 1768). [See 18 Feb. 1765. This Coriolanus is possibly the Tragedy by Thomas Sheridan, 8vo, 1755.] @Receipts #85 10s. 6d.@House charge #63@Candles #1 5s.@Extras: Kettle Drum 5s.@2 Side Drums 4s.@4 Fifes 8s.@2 Trumpets 10s.@Chorus Singers #1 10s.@Wardrobe #5 19s.@Total #73 1s. 6d.@Balance due Mrs Lessingham #12 9s.@Tickets 197 137 89 #78 14s.@Money #85 10s. 6d.@Total value of House #164 4s. 6d. (Account Book).@ Mr Clarke being suddenly taken ill in the afternoon [yesterday] his part in the tragedy was oblig'd to be supplied by Mr Younger. And Mr Clarke still continuing ill the Tragedy of King Lear, with the Musical entertainment Amelia is oblig'd to be deferred till further notice (Public Advertiser, 21 April)

Event Comment: The Last time of the company's performing this season. [Following deficiencies for this season paid up: Richard Smith, Lewes, Dumay, Condell, Potter, Thomas Smith, Quick, Furkins, Wilkinson, Abbott, Simmonds, Pullen, Stephenson, Asbury, Wilde, Francis, Mrs Griffiths, Claridge, and Sharratt (Account Book). This includes payment of half value of tickets for those who were granted partial benefits on that basis.] Music forfeits at end of season #17 6s. 11d. Neville MS Diary: Went...to see Cymbeline...chiefly to hear Powell speak an occasional prologue. Would not have gone had I known it was only a stale piece of flattery to George. [See The Gentleman's Magazine, 9 July p. 346: "On shutting up the playhouse in Covent Garden at the end of the season, admission into the theatre having been denied to Mr H and R through any other passage but Mr Powell's House, those gentlemen at the head of a large posse on the 17th of last month, [June] made a forcible entry by breaking open a window near the playhouse door in Hart street; after which they expelled by violence Mr Sargeant the Housekeeper, all his family and others; but the acting managers not being inclined to submit to the arbitrary proceedings of their colleagues, immediately applied for redress, where redress was effectually to be had, and this day they were formally expelled by virtue of a warrant from under the hand and seal of the high sherrifs of London and Middlesex, and the old housekeeper, Mr Sargeant, restored to his office of trust, to the great mortification of one of the champions who had been heard to say: That he had now got possession and d--n him if he would not keep it while he had a drop of blood in his body, and while there was one brick upon another belonging to the house."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Yates. Mainpiece: A Tragedy (Written by Voltaire) and translated by [Dr Thomas Francklin] the Author of The Earl of Warwick. Pit and Boxes will be laid together. Ladies are desired to send their servants by 4 o'clock. Mrs Yates will be particularly oblig'd to those Ladies, and Gentlemen, who have seats in the Pit, if they will be co kind as to come as early as possible to prevent confusion in getting their places. [Genest V, 242, conjectures the following assignment of parts: Orestes-Smith; Aegisthus-Bensley; Pammenes-Clarke; Pylades-Perry; Electra-Mrs Yates; Clytemnestra-Mrs Ward; Iphisa-Mrs Bulkley.] Charges #65 7s. 6d. Balance to Mrs Yates #39 1s. plus #180 10s. from 722 Box tickets (Account Book). Total House value #284 18s. 6d. Receipts: #104 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: DDialogue-Epilogue, an Address to the Town-Sparks and Keen, as Lord Chief Justice Joker and his Attorney General. Benefit for Sparks. Afterpiece: By Thomas Sheridan. [The Dialogue-Epilogue is Larpent MS 309.

Event Comment: Paid Mr Thomas French, 8 days, #3 4s.; Mr Caley, (hatter), #2 2s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #153 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. N.B. The Institution of the Garter will be laid aside after this night (playbill). Paid Mr Davies on note #5; Miss Hopkins 29 nights at 2s. 6d. per night, #3 12s. 6d.; Mr Thomas French 7 days #2 16s.; Master Brown 12 nights last season and 3 nights this season #5 12s. 6d.; (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #221 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sg Daigville & Signa Vidini. [24 April letter signed Ned Shuter dated from his Majesty's Bench of Justice, St Georges Fields: "Theatrical Memoirs giving circumstantial account of my family-Admit my father was a chairman, my mother sold oysters in winter and cucumbers in summer. I was not born in a cellar but in a two pair of stairs front room at one Mrs Merit's an eminent Chimney Sweeper, Vine Street, St Giles" (Winston MS 10). Thomas Weston's apology for the delay of his Benefit. It was owing to his distressed affairs which he had new laid open to the managers. See comment form Edinburg Evening Courant, 29 April.] Paid Renters #88 for Oratorio nights; Mr Dibdin's draft on managers #50; Master Brown 5 nights, #1 17s. 6d.; Rec'd from Messrs Smith and Stanley charges for 11 Oratorio nights at 28# per night, plus candles &c . #342 4s.; Rec'd stopages #9 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #151 4s. Charges: #65 11s. Profits to Daigville & Sga Vidini: #85 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. The Comedy of Old City Manners oblig'd to be deferr'd. On 31 Dec. (Sunday) died Th. Weston of Drury Lane Theatre (Winston MS 11). [See Memoirs of Thomas Weston that Celebrated Comedian (London, 1776, 59 pp). This year appeared A Serious Disuasion from Frequenting the Playhouse, by Jacob Orton (22 pp. pub. in Shrewsbury). His text is taken from Bulstrode's charge to the Grand Jury of Middlesex, 21 April 1718. "One Playhouse ruin'd more souls than fifty churches are able to save."] Paid Mr Grist on acct per Mr D. G. #20; Three extra trumpets 6 nights #6 15s. Supernumeraries for the Jubilee continued to cost 14s. 10d. during its run. Receipts: #219 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Thomas? Sheridan. Mainpiece: Written by Congreve and now carefully revised, and corrected, by expunging the exceptionable passages, not acted these twenty years. [See 25 May 1758.

Event Comment: Prelude [1st time: PREL 1, by George Colman elder; incidental music by Thomas Linley Sen. and Nicola Piccinni. Prologue by David Garrick (Poetical Works, II, 327)]. The Words of the Songs in [the] Prelude will be given at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:3O. To begin at 6:30 [see 11 Nov.]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook at the Stage Door. No Money to be taken at the Stage Door, nor any Money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. The TR opened this Season under the Management of Messrs Lacy, Sheridan, Ford and Linley. This Summer the Flys has been raised considerably--the Stage widened and heitened--the orchestra enlarged, and Iron ornaments at the Top. New Brooms written by G. Colman Esq. went off with tolerable Applause--is much too long (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 3 Oct. 1776: This Day at Noon will be published New Brooms! (1s.). [Yates had last acted Malvolio at dl on 6 Jan. 1764 and at cg on 5 May 1772.] Receipts: #269 19s. 6d

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Thomas Vaughan, based on Il Servitor di due Padroni, by Carlo Goldoni. Prologue by the author (Town and Country Magazine, Dec. 1776, p. 663)]: With New Dresses. Public Advertiser, 2 Dec. 1776: This Day at Noon is published The Hotel (1s.). Receipts: #182 1s

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. [Mainpiece in place of Sir Thomas Overbury; afterpiece of Comus, both announced on playbill of 4 Feb.] Receipts: #268 2s. (267.13; 0.9)

Event Comment: Hamlet [announced on playbill of 18 Feb.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of a principal Performer. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Abraham Portal. Larpent MS 445; not published]: The Overture and Music [by Thomas Linley Jun.] entirely new. With New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Words of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 19 Feb. 1778: This Day at Three will be published the Songs in The Cady of Bagdad (6d.). Receipts: #180 0s. 6d. (130.9.0; 49.7.6; 0.4.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece (1st time; BURL I, by Thomas Willet. For music see 31 July]: Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 1 July 1778: This Day is published Buxom Joan (6d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Alterations [by Thomas Hull]

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan; music by Thomas Linley Sen.]: With entire new Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations. The Scenery designed by DeLoutherbourg, and executed under his Direction. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Receipts: #257 19s. (249.16; 8.3)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Thomas Holcroft]: The Music composed by Shield. With New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations, and a new Overture. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 18 Aug. 1784: This Day at Noon will be published The Noble Peasant (price not listed)