Event Comment: For a Public Benefaction. [Perhaps for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts, to which Young gave #1,000 on 14 March, according to the Public Advertiser.] Tickets for the Benefaction to be had of Mr Dodsley, in Pall Mall; Mr Miller in the Strand and at the Stage Door. Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Polly Capitani. Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 5s. To begin at seven. The House will be illuminated with wax candles

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by Richard Cumberland] never performed. [Genest, V, 282, reports that Garrick was in the House this night and was agreeably surprised at the complimentary reference to him in the Epilogue: Who but has seen the celebrated strife Where Reynolds calls the Canvass into life: And, 'twixt the Tragic, and the Comic Muse, Courted of both, and dubious where to chuse, Th'immortal Actor stands?' A long retelling of the plot appeared in the Freeholder's Magazine for Dec., concluding: This comedy was received with great applause by the Audience. It is said to be written by Mr Cumberland, who has already oblig'd the Public with a musical piece, called the Summer's Tale. The Performers, particularly Mr Smith, Mr Woodward, Mr Yates, Mrs Green, Mrs Bulkley, and Mrs Yates, did great justice to their characters. The Prologue was spoken by Mr Smith, and the Epilogue, which alluded to the celebrated picture of Sir Joshua Reynolds, where Comedy and Tragedy are contending for Mr Garrick, by Mrs Yates." Receipts: #215 18s

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of Their Majesties. Gave Yeomen of Guards #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #208 6s

Event Comment: TThe Freeholder's Magazine, Jan. (p. 247): A Card to the Managers of Covent Garden Theatre. A Citizen whose circumstances will not allow him often to attend Theatrical amusements, and who wishes to be entertained for his money, desires a nuisance may be removed which has totally deprived him of all satisfaction the few nights that he has been in the first gallery of your house. Of a cool evening the company within generally draw up the wooden shutters of the openings improperly called windows. An when the gentry without, who are admitted at half-price, find them shut, they begin a violent noise with their sticks, while those within as obstinately insist, that being in a violent heat, they will not let them down to the endangering their healths, by sudden letting in the cold air. Thus a riot is commenced, which frequently stops the play. It was the case in the Best Scene in the Orphan, the first night the Court of Alexander was performed. N.B. The orange girls shamefully encourage it. But the covetousness of the managers is the origin of the evil, by suffering intruders at half-price, after the inside of the gallery is completely filled. If this remonstrance fails, you may expect worse effects, from the injured parties. [See performance of 5 Jan.