Event Comment: Benefit for Rooker and Mrs Cowper. Afterpiece: By Desire. Tickets of Varney at the stage door. Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Simsons. Tickets of Simson in Wild Passage, Wild St., Lincoln's Inn Fields; Grigsby's Coffee House behind the Royal Exchange, and of Varney at the Stage Door, where places may be taken. Afterpiece: By Desire. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Raftor, Clough, Roger and Bullbrick. No Building on Stage. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Roberts. No Building on stage

Event Comment: Benefit for Baker, Robinson, Goodwin. No building on Stage. Tickets delivered for The Revenge will be taken. Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Morgan, the Oldest Actor in England. Last time of the company's performing this season. Tickets to be had at the Bedford Coffee House and of Mr Crudge at the Stage Door. [This charitable performance included a composite group from Drury Lane and Covent Garden.

Event Comment: The Decorations of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane are new finished and the House will certainly open on Saturday next, being the 10th instant. Places for the Boxes are to be had of Mr Varney at the Stage Door of the Theatre

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First GallerY 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Varney at the Stage Door. No Persons to be admitted behind the Scenes, nor any money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up. [Customary note in bills throughout the season.] House Open'd. Receipts. #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Crudge at the Stage Door. [This notice appears on subsequent bills and will not be repeated further.] Receipts: #32 6s. [Paid] Dall (scene painter) a week's salary, #1 10s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Receipts: #115 4s. 6d. Special charge: Candles, including the additional Lamps put up this season on the stage, officers, etc., #4 4s., and Lamps charged last season 36 nights at 13s. 6d. per night, #24 6s. (Account Book)

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 the Lying In Hospital, Aldersgate St. Receipts: #76 15s. Income from Tickets #80 11s. (boxes 114; pit 273; gallery 111). Charges #84 (Account Book). Tomorrow the First Part of King Henry IV. [A long plea for attendance at this performance appeared in the Public Advertiser: "It affords me the greatest satisfaction when I peruse your paper, and find so many advertisements for charitable Benefits at the Theatres; which must greatly add to the Entertainment of the Stage, when we are sensible that the profits are to be appropriated towards the relief and support of the Indigent and distress'd; for the refief of whom, it must (at the same time it gives us secret pleasure) raise the astonishment of foreigners to see so many charitable piles raise their benevolent roofs in and about this great Metroplis. Amongst which I must beg leave to recommend to the Public, the City of London Lying In Hospital in Aldersgate Street (for the Benefit of which the Play of the Conscious Lovers will be performed this evening at Covent Garden); whose charitable doors have been opened for the relief of a much greater Number since the late dearth of Provisions, than its Annual Income (being supported by voluntary contributions) can possibly support, without further aid from the Public." The plea continues by emphasizing the need for expert and tender care for pregnant women, and by pointing out the satisfaction British sailors will have in knowing their wives may be delivered in this hospital.] [The Occasional Prologue (Written by Mr Lockman, Secretary to the Society of Free British Fisheries) was published in the Public Advertiser on 16 Dec.: @"Not sweeter Joy the wond'ring Indian feels,@When his far dazzling Glory Sol reveals@Than warms my heart at this auspicious Sight,@The splendid Audience of this cheerful night."@ Much emphasis on the misery of child-bearing, yet the need for a large population "to a commercial land." Also included was the Epilogue, by Lockman, "Intended for Mrs Hamilton," ending, "May each youth, here, breathe Bevil's gen'rous flame@Each virgin merit Indiana's fame."

Event Comment: This Night by the Crowd upon the upper Gallery Stairs two Women & a Man were Kill'd (Cross). 2 or 3 Persons squeezed to death getting into Drury Lane (Winston MS 8). The Tragedy of the Mourning Bride will be acted at the latter end of this week at Drury Lane, in which Mrs Glen will perform the character of Zara, it being the second time of her appearing on that stage. The reviv'd Comedy of the Gamesters and the tragedy of the Fatal Marriage will be played after the holidays. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Tickets to be had of Lee at the Golden Ball in Bow St., Covent Garden. N.B. On Account of the Horses, &c. there will be no building on the stage. Receipts: Benefit for Lee. #117 9s. plus income from tickets, #91 9s. (boxes 82; pit 345; gallery 192) (Account Book)

Event Comment: Written by Mr Hume. Author of Douglas. Went off wth. great Applause (Cross). A New Tragedy. The Music composed by Dr Boyce. As this is the 1st night of representation, and much depends upon keeping the scenes clear, 'tis hoped no gentleman will be offended that he cannot be admitted upon the stage or into the orchestra. [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758 for contemporary comment on source, and at act-by-act progress of play. Judicial but appreciative. Finds some rant and bombast, as well as inconsistency, in Lysander 's characterization: "If...not...known that the author of Agis is the same to whom we are indebted for Douglas, one would not have suspected those two tragedies to have sprung from the same pen...Agis inspires us with admonition; Douglas speaks forcibly to our softer feelings. In Douglas he has shown himself perfect master of nature and the human heart: in Agis of contrivance in point of plot and incidents. What a masterpiece may not we expect from such talents when united in one tragedy!"] Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: For the Author (Cross). Box Tickets for the Benefit of the Author of Agis...are to be had of Mr Miller, in the Strand, Dodsley in Pall Mall, and Varney at the Stage Door. This Day at Noon will be publish'd, Price 1s. 6d. Agis, by the author of Douglas. Printed for A. Miller, where may be had the tragedy of Douglas as it was acted at Covent Garden. Price 1s. 6d. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Arne. In the Manner of an Oratorio. The Music composed by Arne. Boxes Half a Guinea. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. Upper Gallery 2s. To begin exactly at half an hour after Six. Tickets to be had and places to be taken of Varney at the Stage Door; and of Arne, next door to the Passage, in Charles St., Covent Garden. The Book is sold at R. Francklin's in Covent Garden, and at the Theatre the night of the performance. Price 1s. [Cross lists no receipts.

Event Comment: Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Tickets to be had of Dodsley in Pall Mall: Miller in the Strand; Chapelle in Grosvenor St.; and Varney at the Stage Door, where Places may be taken. Mrs Cibber's Benefit, on account of her illness, is oblig'd to be deferr'd till the 7th of next month. Cross For ye Author. Receipts: #190 (Cross)

Event Comment: The Profits of this Performance will be given to a Public Charity. Pit and Boxes 10s. 6d. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. The Ladies are desired for their own conveniency to come without Hoops, and to send servants by 3 o'clock to keep places. Tickets to be had at Arthur's Chocolate House and the St James Coffee House in St James's Street; The Mount Coffee-House in Grosvenor St.; the Cocoa-Tree in Pall Mall; George's facing the Haymarket; Tom's and the Bedford Coffee Houses in Covent Garden; and of Varney at the Stage Door, where Places may be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Mainpiece: not acted these 4 years. No building on stage. Receipts: #60 12s. 6d. plus tickets #222 5s. (boxes 458; pit 605; gallery 170). Charges #63. Mr Robt. Lewis came in for 1 share (Account Book). [Smith advertised, and it appeared his house at his benefit was too full & [there was] confusion in getting to places (Winston MS 8). See Smith's note in Public Advertiser, 16 March.

Event Comment: MMrs Clive Ly Wishfort -(bad) Fribble Garrick (Cross). Benefit for Mrs Clive. Part of Pit laid into Boxes Tickets of her in Henrietta St. and of Mr Varney at the Stage Door. Receipts: #310 (Cross)

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 Ross. Upon Account of the Triumphal Entry there will be no building on the stage. Receipts: #65 15s. 6d. plus tickets #84 9s. (boxes 228; Pit 183). Charges #63 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mossop. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Farce wrote by Mr Murphy. Went off Indiff (Cross). [It was sent to Licenser one year before, 16 March 1757 (Larpent MS 131).] Garrick first announced for Ghost [Hamlet] which he afterwards declined having new part in the farce. Part of Pit into Boxes. Amphitheatre on stage (Winston MS 9). Receipts: #280 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Cibber. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Not acted these 3 years. [See 8 April 1756.] The great Demand Mrs Cibber has had for places, has oblig'd her to lay the whole Pit into the Boxes; and the Stage form'd into an Amphitheatre, where servants will be admitted to keep places. Tickets deliver'd for Barbarossa 9 March will be taken. Receipts: #300 (Cross)