Event Comment: Benefit for ye Author, tho' not put so in the Bills (Cross). To the Publick: As Mr Arne originally composed the Music in the Masque of Alfred, and the town may probably on that account imagine the Music, as now perform'd, to he all his production, he is advised by his friends to inform the publick that but two of his songs are in that performance, viz.: the first song beginning O Peace thou fairest child of Heaven; and the Ode in Honour of Great Britain, beginning, When Britain first at Heaven's Command, with the chorus, Rule Britannia, Rule the Waves, &c. which songs he submitted to be mix'd with the productions of others, to oblige the author of the poem. Tho. Aug. Arne (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Ross. Mainpiece: Never acted there. Afterpiece: Not acted this season. No Building on Stage. Tickets and Places to be had of Mr Ross in the Little Piazza, Covent Garden; and of Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Arne. Mrs Arne still continuing ill at Bristol, humbly hopes it will be a sufficient apology, to the Ladies and Gentlemen, who have honored her with taking Places, for her not being able to perform this evening

Event Comment: Benefit for Shuter. Mainpiece: By Desire and with additions

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin. Afterpiece: For the only time this season. Pit and Boxes laid together. Servants are desired to be at the Stage Door by 4 o'clock. Ladies desired to come as early as possible to prevent Confusion in getting to their Seats. [See repetition of afterpiece 27 April.

Event Comment: [The bill for this night and on subsequent nights specifies the additions "Particularly two views of the Eruptions of Mount Vesuviusv." The Gentleman's Magazine this month contained a four-column review of Nipclose's The Theatres, blasting its contentions.] Receipts: #195 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Music of Afterpiece entirely new Composed by Dibdin. [An adaptation of Goldoni's Il Filosofo di Campagna.] Book of Songs to be had at Theatre (playbill). The Wedg R. a Comic Opera of Two Acts wrote & composed by Mr Dibdin. The Music very pretty--as the Author was kept a Secret The Town fancy'd that is one of Mr Bickerstaff & call'd out to know who was the Author. Mr Garrick inform'd them that he had no power to declare who the Author was but he could assure them that it was not Mr Bickerstaffs this did not Satisfy them at last Mr Dibdin went on & declard himself to be the Author & made an Affidavit of it & then the Farce went on with Applause (Hopkins Diary). [Account of The Wedding Ring in Westminster Magazine for Feb. 1773.] Paid #4 4s. for licensing The Wedding Ring and Alonzo (Treasurer's Book). [Maria Macklin, in a MS letter to her father, 3 Feb. 1773, commented fully on this night's performance: "Written as it was suppos'd by Bickerstaffe. The music by Dibdin. I went with a party into the Gallery to see the event as there was a great riot expected, & indeed never did I see an audience more inflamed. They would not suffer them to begin the piece. At last Mr King came on with a written paper in his hand, which he said he was desir'd to read in the name of the managers. After a great noise they let him read it. He said just before the play began the managers had receiv'd a letter from Mr Dibdin in which he declared that Bickerstaff was not the author of that piece, that he had made oath of it, and was ready to do the same again, but that for very particular reasons the author could not be given up. Then they stopp'd him & roar'd out that the author should be given up then. He continued as loud as he possibly could, reading on that 'but that if Mr Dibdin did not very soon given up the author he never should be suffered to appear again on that stage or any other.' Very luckily that turn'd them as I believe the House would have come down. The piece then began. Before the end of the first act one of Bannister's songs were encor'd. The other party were against it and would not let it go on. They all stood up and insisted that the author should be known then. After some time the house being nothing but confusion, Dibdin was push'd upon the stage ready to drop with fright, and declared that he was the author himself. Then they were as noisy the other way. Made them finish the piece, but how you may guess in a storm. It is like the Padlock, but the songs not so good." (Brander Matthews, Actors and Actresses, extra illustrated, Vol. I. Harvard Theatre Collection.). Westminster Magazine this month included in parallel columns flattering "Characters of Mr Garrick and Mr Colman," the Rival managers. The article especially praised Garrick's acting.] Receipts: #252 3s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Increase of a Fund for the support of Decayed Musicians, or their families. Pit and Boxes half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. 6d. Doors open at 5:30 to begin at 6:30 p.m. [Governor's report from June 1770-June 1771 indicates an outlay of #826 17s. 3d.

Event Comment: Benefit for Ackman. Tickets to be had at Pond's in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden; and of Mr Johnston, at the Theatre. House charges #84. Profit to Ackman #123 10s.; Paid Mr Davies's note to Liddell, #3 3s.; Paid extra Flute and Hautboy 10s.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #4 1s. Receipts: #207 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Play is alter'd by Capt. Thompson and a New Sea Character introduc'd which was well perform'd by Mr Weston. the Play Concludes very properly with a Representation of the Grand Naval Review the same as was introduc'd in Alfred--the whole was receiv'd with very great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid Housekeeper's Bill #3 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece a Reviv'd Comedy, with Alterations and Additions, and a New Medley Overture of Favourite Sea Tunes (playbill). Receipts: #245 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Aickin. The Tragedy of All for Love, which was to have been performed this evening, is oblig'd to be changed, on account of the indisposition of Mrs Barry and Miss Younge; therefore Mr Aickin humbly hopes that his friends will accept of the Tempest in its stead. Tickets deliver'd for All for Love will be taken. Paid extra flute and hautboy 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Aickin did not act (Winston MS 10). [This month published The Sentimental Spouter; or, Young Actor's Companion. The whole comprising the essence of theatrical delivery, and the beauties of dramatic poetry. Price 1s. 6d. Printed for Wheble (Gentleman's Magazine Register).] Receipts: #123 14s. 6d. Charges: #74 14s. Profit to F. Aickin: #49 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With a New Medley Overture of Favourite Sea-Tunes. Paid Housekeeper's Bill #3 10s. 5d.; Properties #1 8s. 11d.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #3 6s.; Printer's Bill #18 4s. (Treasurer's Book). [These four items are weekly constants with averages and totals as follows. No further mention of them will be made except in unusual cases.] Receipts: #228 6s. (Treasurer's Book). @Item Weekly Average Total Season Payment@Housekeeper's Bill #5 10s. #203 10s.@Properties #1 5s. #55 10s.@Chorus #4 10s. #203 10s.@Printing #9 6s. #347 4s.

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)

Event Comment: Paid Watson and Mortimer (Boxkeepers) for the use of that office #10 and #15 respectively [this amount duly returned to the treasury on 11 June 1776]; J. Stevens (porter) 18s.; Mr Garrick's draft in favor of Signora Paccini #25 (Treasurer's Book). [J. Stevens, the porter's salary was a constant of 18s. per week for the season, ammounting to #33 6s. in all. No further mention of this item will be made.] Receipts: #243 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Musical Farce of one Act was wrote by Mr G on purpose to introduce Miss Abrams (a Jew) about 17 Years old. She is very small, a Swarthy Complexion, has a very sweet Voice and a fine Shake, but not quite power enough yet-both the Piece and Young Lady were receiv'd with Great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Books of the Songs, Choruses etc. of Afterpiece to be had at the Theatre. The Conscious Lovers oblig'd to be deferred till Monday, with which will be performed the last new Grand Ballet, The Savage Hunters. [Advertisement to the published edition: "The author of this musical Farce, begs leave to inform the readers, if there should be any, that it was merely intended to introduce The Little Gipsy to the public, whose youth and total inexperience of the stage made it necessary to give as little dialogue to her character as possible, her success depending wholly upon her singing-This reason added to another, which is that the piece was produced at an early part of the season, when better writters are not willing to come forth, is the best apology the Author can make for its defects."] Paid 6 days salary list at #104 7s.-per diem, #626 2s.; Mr Lamash on note #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [The note on sale of books of the songs and choruses for the afterpiece occurs on all subsequent bills this season in which May Day is mentioned. The songs and chorusses and overture by Dr Arne. The afterpiece reviewed in Westminster Magazine for Nov.: The preparation is palatable, and the hand of the preparer is discoverable from the affinity between the scene of Roger and the Old Man, and that of whittle and Thomas in the Irish Widow....The Music of the overture and Finale were remarkably light and pretty: some of the airs also did Dr Arne credit. As to Miss Abrams, she has a sweet pipe, and a natural shake that charmed us;-If maturity does but strengthen her voice, at the same time that it gives her ease in deportment, she will prove an ornament to the stage."] Receipts: #205 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mortimer, Tomlinson, Carlton, Sen, and Mr Walton. Rec'd Stopages #11 13s. 6d. Paid salary list #621 16s. 6d.; Extra trumpet, flute and hautboy #1 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book).Tickets deliver'd by Page and Silvester will be taken. Receipts: #4314s. 6d. Charges: #84. Deficit to Mortimer, Tomilson, Carlton senr, and Mr Walton: #40 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; co 3, by George Colman, the younger. Prologue by George Colman, the elder (Colman, Prose, III, 252)]: The new Airs, and a New Overture by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [One of the songs, beginning "Adzooks, old Crusty," sung by Edwin, is set to the tune of Yankee Doodle, and in the musical score (Harrison, 1784) it is so entitled. This is believed to be the first time this song, as it is now sung, appeared in print.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Chapman and Wright. Public Advertiser, 2 May: Tickets to be had of Chapman, No. 47, Carey-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields; of Wright, No. 21, Berner-street, Westminster. Receipts: #224 18s. 6d. (33/19/0; 10/11/0; 0/8/6; tickets: 180/0/0) (charge: #113 9s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Marshall and Mrs Harlowe. Mainpiece: In Act V a Grand Battle between the Britons and Romans. Morning Herald, 17 May: Tickets to be had of Marshall, No. 17, Crown-court, Bow-street, Covent-Garden; of Mrs Harlowe, No. 54, Drury-lane. Receipts: #256 7s. (104.2; 1.10; tickets: 150.15) (charge: #105)