Event Comment: In the Gazetteer 25 Feb. appeared a long editorial by "Rectus": "Though the performing oratorios in the time of Lent,is highly censured by many, yet I must own that I think the far greater part of them become enemies to those solemn performances, rather because their ears are more unfit for music than their minds are for the pretended immorality that attends such exhibitions." [The writer wishes not to cry down every entertainment he cannot relish himself and adds], "I have long endeavoured to find out the reason why plays should not be performed on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent as well as on those days all through the rest of the season. I have never yet been able to find out that Lent makes the least difference in people's way of living." [He wonders, however, why the non-sacred oratorios such as Acis and Galatea and Alexander's Feast have been allowed performance. He then registers a mild complaint about the management of the Oratorios because they do not include sufficient solo instrumental entertainment between the parts.] "This custom was wholly dropped last year, and I complained greatly of it in a letter which you did me the favour to insert. I was greatly surprised to find Mr Pinto, who then led the band, was either not permitted or not paid to play a solo, as well as Mr Hay, who played one every night the preceding season. Mr Stanley's illness not permitting him then to play, that omission was overlooked, though it might have been supplied by a performer on some other instrument. This season the managers have thought proper to treat their audience with one solo or concerto every night, but why not have two?" [He liked Barthelemon's solos, but lamented that Stanley sat idle, and he offered final advice that the managers should alternate the solo instruments for "pleasing variety." The admission price demands it.

Event Comment: The Third Night. At the Theatre-Royal in the Haymarket this Day, will be performed..

Event Comment: For the Future the days of playing will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

Event Comment: [R+Rich's Register lists The Hermit as afterpiece.] Paid salary list 5 days at #72 6s. 8d. per diem, #361 13s. 4d.; Atkins not on list #1 7s. 6d.; Rollet on note #7 7s.; Vernon on note per order Mr L, #12 12s.; Bill for 2 suit Men's cloathes #15 15s. (Treasurer's Book). [See engagement contract for Guidetti (Private Correspondence of David Garrick, II, 454) arranged for in Paris by Jean Monnet in early August 1766. He was engaged as Premier Danseur and composer of Ballets at 150 Guineas a year plus "300 Livres argent de France" for travelling expenses. He was to dance for no other theatre without explicit permission from Garrick.] Receipts: #130 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera never perform'd before. Music by Niccolo Piccini. Intended to be performed only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. By Mr Toms from La Buona Figliuola (Biographia Dramatica). [N.B.: The license for this opera was obtained just the day before, yet it must have been in rehearsal for about three weeks.] Receipts: #221 18s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: MMr Woodward's Day. [As author of afterpiece, altered from The Necromancer; or, Harlequin Dr Faustus.] Mainpiece: By particular Desire. The Accomplish'd Maid oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of the indisposition of Mattocks. Charges #65 15s. [Profit to Woodward #126 9s.] (Account Book). Payment of this sum to Mr Woodward on account of the pantomime of Dr Faustus" was made on 15 Dec. Receipts: #192 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Paid salary list 4 days at #73 8s. 2d. per diem, #293 12s. 8d.; Chorus Singers 1 night #2 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #127 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid the balance of 3rd, 5th, 9th, nights of Cymon to Mr Evans for the authors #360 14s. 6d. Gave Princess Dowager's Footmen a Christmas box, #2 2s. Paid 2 Printer's bills #18 13s.; Paid Mr Burney 15 days, not on the list, #6 5s.; Chorus 2 nights #4 11s. (Treasurer's Book). [On this date a receipt signed by Michael Arne for #119 17s. 10d. as compensation for the music for Cymon appears in the Folger Library. (See 2 Jan. 1767.)]Receipts: #148 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Ninth Day. For the Author. Charges #71 17s., plus a super charge for the addition of a farce, omitted by mistake when the account was given in, #21; Total #92 17s. Balance to Mr Toms #38 10s. 6d. (Account Book). [This balance was paid Mr Toms on 3 Feb.] Receipts: #131 7s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Rec'd stopages #1 8s.; from John Palmer in part of his bond #70; Paid 5 days salary list #367 13s. 4d. Receipts: #173 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Went to the 2 shilling Gallery to see the new tragedy, with its musical entertainment The Cunning Man, a sort of translation of Rousseau's Devin du Village. Holland, Powell and Bensley played Warwick, Edward and Pembroke very well. Mrs Yates did great justice to Queen Margaret. Mrs Palmer did Elizabeth. The Prologue was spoken by Bensley, the Epilogue by Mrs Yates. The characters were very richly dressed in the dresses of the time. The improper use of ridiculous modern dresses on the stage often offends me (Diary of Sylas Neville, unpublished MS portion)

Event Comment: Sixth Day. For the Author. Charges #85 5s. Balance due to author #41 14s. (Account Book). [This balance was paid to Thomas Hull on 9 Feb.] Receipts: #126 19s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Eight Day. For the Author of the Masque. Being the last time of performing it [the afterpiece]. Charges #85 15s. Balance to Hull #51 9s. (Account Book). [This balance was paid him the next night.] Receipts: #137 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Earl of Warwick deferred. Mrs Yates Ill. Paid Mr Wynn for leases #3 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [The lawyer who drew them.] This Day Publish'd The Rational Rosciad, on a more extensive plan than anything of the kind hitherto publish'd Price 1s. 6d. Receipts: #144 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The 24th Day. Paid Chorus singers 2 nights #5 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #160 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Third Day. For the Author. [Designated in the Account Book at Mr Bickerstaff's Night.] Charges #67 3s., Balance to Bickerstaff #68 18s. An extra charge this night was paid for the use of the Organ, 2s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #136 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Burney Jr 52 day's salary #10 16s. 9d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #205 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Oratorio printed this day for S. Hooper. Price 1s. Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd stopages 16s. 6d. Paid salary list 4 days at #73 10s. 8d. per diem, #294 2s. 8d.; Chorus singers 1 night #2 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #174 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: TThe Maid of the Mill oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of the Indisposition of a principal performer. Paid 1!2 year's poor rate for the theatre due at Lady Day #15 12s. 6d., and for the House in Bow Passage 15s. 7 1!2d. Paid Mas. Lindley for his performance in the Fairy Favour #20 (Account Book). Receipts: #157 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Publish'd this day Acis and Galatea, a Serenata. To be perform'd at Covent Garden. Music by Handel. Price 1s. Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd of Mr Banks 1 year's rent to Lady Day last #3; Paid Gastrill (mercer) 2 Bills #83 3s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #153 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for King. House charges #67 2s. (Treasurer's Book). N.B. Dido is oblig'd to be deferr'd a few days (playbill). Paid Blandford (tallow chandler) #29 18s. 6d.; Paid Mr Pinto for 3 sets of symphonies #1 11s. 6d. B. Jonson's Head #1 19s. 1d.; Mrs Pritchard's gratuity #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Put on my old clothes and at 5 went to Drury Lane, found the Pit and 2s. gallery quite full, at last had myself squeezed into the Pit, where I was most woefully pressed, but saw very well and got a seat ere the farce began. The play was Cymbeline, with The Deuce is in Him. This play pleases me. The dresses were tolerably proper, ye scenes (particularly that of Imogen's chamber and the Cave) pretty and ye performance of ye principal characters good, but having never read the play, lost a great deal of the effect. Imogen, Mrs Yates, she is very hoarse. In Act II a Masquerade Dance, with singing by Mrs Vincent. After Act III the Vintage. After the play, King in the character of Linco, with Dorcas and others of his neighbors, asking him questions, partly spoke and partly sang, for this night only,-a new very humorous little piece called Linco's Travels, particularly in England. Glad I did not go to the other House, tho I wished to see Macklin, who played there this night only for his daughter's benefit. When the Farce began, the Gods (as those in the Upper Gallery are called) called for the Prologue, on which Packer came on and said, Mr King has not spoke the Prologue this winter, and is now dressing to play in the Farce and hopes the Audience will excuse him." Miss Pope and Miss Plym coming on again were hissed off, and after we had waited some minutes longer, King spoke the Prologue, which was lucky for me who had never heard him speak it. The gods called for it on Monday last, but desisted on the above excuse being made. Almost eleven ere all was over. I now know all the entrances into the Pit and Gallery at Drury Lane (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. This day Publish'd an Oratorio: The Messiah, the Music composed by Handel. Neville MS Diary: The house very full, being the last this season. Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Gibson. Mainpiece: Not acted these 25 years. Written originally by Shakespeare, and reviv'd and adapted to the stage by Mr Theobald. Charges #66 5s. [Profit to Gibson #37 18s. 6d. plus #30 15s. from Tickets (Box 79; Pit 74).] Paid one year's Rector's Rate for the Theatre #8 6s. 8d., and for House in Bow Passage, due at Lady Day 8s. 4d. (Account Book). [Neville attended, noted the information contained in the playbill, but could not hear well from his 2s. seat in the Gallery.] Receipts: #104 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [C$Crawford announced his withdrawal from proprietorship of Operas at the close of this season, and requested all creditors to present their accounts to the opera office on the days of the performance to settle before the books be closed. Messrs Vincent and Gordon to continue Operas on their own account thereafter.