Event Comment: [For Cross' comment, see dl.] Receipts: #203 8s. 6d. Paid Barry one third of the surplus of this night's receipt over and above #80 allow'd for the charges:-#41 2s. 10s. Paid Lambert (Scene Painter) 3 month's salary to 16 Nov. last:-#25 (Account Book). [Lee, who seems to have entered earlier on a percentage-of-Box-Receipts: basis for his salary, received only one-third of receipts above a house charge of #100.] The Tragedy of King Lear was presented on this stage; King Lear by Mr Barry, and Cordelia by Mrs Bellamy; The latter was received with universal satisfaction; but on the former's appearance, after a thundering Peal of Applause, a few misguided persons made it necessary for Mr Barry to inform the audience that it ever had been his study to contribute his utmost to the entertainment of the town, and that all reports of his having been exorbitant in his demands were injurious and totally groundless. Upon this he was desired with one general acclamation to proceed in the play. The disturbers of the public were ordered to be silent or to be turned out of the house; and this great actor proved, by the improvement he has made in this character, that excellent as he is, he is still capable of reaching new strokes of perfection; and in the conclusion of the play the applause he met with was the tribute of hearts gratefully agitated through the whole performance with a variety of passions thrown into a ferment by powers most wonderfully suited to tenderness and compassion (London Chronicle, 3-6 Dec.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sparks. Receipts: #83 2s. 6d. plus Tickets #184 12s. (boxes 335; pit 551; gallery 182). Advanced Mrs Bellamy on her salary #105. Two new Renters came in at 1 share each: Sir Thomas Robinson and Robert Hassell (Account Book). Mr Smith takes this earliest opportunity to return thanks the Ladies and Gentlemen who honoured him with their presence at his Benefit on Tuesday Night, and is very sorry for any interruption that might happen in the performance. The indulgence of his friends that night far exceeded his most sanguine exceptations; otherwise he should have provided proper accomodations for them on the stage (Public Advertiser). [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758, for contemporary comment on mainpiece: "It is not paying it a very great, much less an underserved compliment to give it the preference over all the dramatic pieces that have been presented at either house these six or seven years...Tears were the first praises I gave it...no play except Lear ever make such a strong constant impression on my feelings."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Mainpiece: By Desire, and not acted these 4 years. [See 17 Jan. 1755.] Tickets deliver'd out for the 19th, and 22d for Douglas will be taken. Tickets sold at the Door will not be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. None admitted behind Scenes

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Mainpiece: Reviv'd Tragedy [John Banks]

Event Comment: Benefit for Legg, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones. Afterpiece: For the last time this season. Tickets deliver'd for Hamlet will be taken. The Dragon of Wantly cannot be perform'd on account of indisposition of Mrs Pinto. Charges #67 9s. 6d. [Profit to each beneficiary #2 19s. 6d. plus income from tickets: Legg #84 2s. (Box 129; Pit 251; Gallery 142); Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones combined #74 15s. (Box 102; Pit 219; Gallery 164).] Paid Bryan a bill for writing parts #1 1s. 6d. Paid Cooper (printer) #27 2s. Paid Condell for Coach hire, the last command by order of Mr Beard 2s. (Account Book). Before 5 went to ye Play...It was played tolerably well; Cleopatra very well by Mrs Bellamy, Octavia (for ye 1st time) by Mrs Mattocks, Antony by Smith, Vent. by Gibson not badly. We had ye Dances, Rural Love and ye Wapping Landlady (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #76 8s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Characters in the Mainpiece New Dress'd. Neville MS Diary: At 6, went into the Pit...House not very full. King John was performed with new Dresses and Decorations. Powell and Smith are good in York and the Bastard, and Mrs Bellamy in Constance....The entertainment was the procession of the Coronation, with the ceremony of the Champion. Every truly free soul, on seeing a representation of such extravagant pageantry, must abhor that form of Government, of the superfluous trappings of which it is but a small specimen. Receipts: #91s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: At 5 went into the Pit to see Mrs Yates' first appearance on that stage....Hastings for the first time by Powell, but I like Barry better in that character....Mrs Bellamy always excelled in the character of Alicia. Jane Shore by Mrs Yates who far surpasses Mrs Dancer in that character...Woodward is the best Fine Gentleman [in the farce] I ever saw. Drunken man very well by Dunstall (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #189 12s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Morris. The Continuance of Miss Morris's illness rendering it impossible for her to appear at present on the Stage, she takes this Opportunity of returning her most grateful Thanks to those Ladies and Gentlemen who have honoured her with Commands at her Benefit, for which Mrs Bellamy has kindly undertaken to perform the part of Juliet. Charges #69 19s. Balance to Miss Morris #56 19s. 6d. plus #94 15s. from tickets (Box 379). Received from Mrs Vincent her deficiency the 13th inst.--#4 2s. 6d. Receipts: #126 18s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. [This was Mrs Bellamy's last appearance on the stage. And see dl, 24 May 1785.] Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: [Du-Bellamy was from the hay.] Receipts: #159 13s. (124.18; 34.13; 0.2)