Event Comment: Benefit for the French Dancers, tho' not in the Bills. It was to have been The Winter's Tale, but Mrs Cibber is taken ill (Cross). Tickets deliver'd for The Winter's Tale and Catherine and Petruchio will be taken. Last time of performing the mainpiece this season. Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit Sig and Signora Forti. [Actually a charity benefit, as the ship with their costumes was seized by the French.

Event Comment: To begin each day at twelve noon and end at ten at night during the short time of St Bartholomew Fair at Yates' (from Drury Lane) Great Concert Hall in the Greyhound Inn, Smithfield. There is a commodious way to the Hall opposite the Sheep-Penn. The diverting entertainment contains the distresses of a young lady that was stolen by a French pirate; the gallantry of an English Captain who rescued her; their unfortunate shipwreck, and their being thrown upon a desolate island; their sufferings through famine; the unexpected relief they met with on a part of the island; governed only by women; their being afterwards seized as pirates; the punishment inflicted on them by the Female Goverment; and their amazing delivering by the Queen's finding her husband and her only son, whom she had lost and thought dead upwards of twenty years. Interspersed with the comical and diverting adventures of Lt Fireball, a true English Tar, Noddy a distressed Beau, Snivel Thimble, a tailor; Splitfarthing an Old Userer; and Glisterspite a Finical Surgeon. In which will be introduced a Dialogue between Mynheer Vanflawkin, a Dutchman, and Mynheer-the German

Event Comment: N.B. We have engag'd Mr King; & Miss Baker from Ireland, one Mr Moody, a Stroler,-Mr Beard is gone to Covent Garden, 'tis said to be manager Mr Mossop to Ireland. Receipts: #120 (Cross). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places from Mr Varney at the Stage Door. No admittance behind scenes. [The customary note about prices and admittance will not be noted further here.] [At the opening of the theatres this season appeared an essay in Goldsmith's Bee, giving close observations upon actors, and deploring the relative stiffness and formality of English actors in comparison with the French. Advised English actors to travel abroad. Yet (Vol. 1759, p. 12) commented on the magnificnece of "our theatres as far superior to any others in Europe where plays only are acted. The great care our performers take in painting for a part, their exactness in all minutiae of dress, and other little scenical proprieties has been taken notice of by Riccoboni." Complains of the convention of laying a rug before a dying scene and of the vacant expressions of mutes on stage.

Event Comment: Admission: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for Boxes to taken of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door of the Theatre. Play to begin exactly at o'clock. [This information, appearing at the foot of each bill, will not be repeatdd hereafter, except for significant differences.] Receipts: #111 5s. Deficit brought over from last season accounts, Journal T. Folio, 182, #164 0s. 6d. Paid Mr Lambert 3 month's salary to 15 Aug. last #25 (Covent Garden Cash Book). [Goldsmith's Bee (1759, p. 9) remarks on the better business used by Lovegold in the French theatre than used at cg: "Lovegold [in France] in the height of his passion stops to pick up a pin, quilting it in his coat, and snuffs out an extra candle." Implies that such subconscious revelations of the character of the miser might well be used by the English.

Event Comment: [G$Goldsmith's Bee (1759, p. 9) glances at Yates's clowning in the part of the Mock Doctor in comparison with the stage business of the French actors in the same part. The Mock Doctor in France 'pleased with his latinate bamboozling of the clients, kicks up his legs, falling over backwards in his chair." The English actor just fingers his snuff box, and keeps pulling up his breeches.] Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Henry Jones. Afterpiece: [See note under cg play this night. During this year appeared An Essay Upon the Present State of the Theatre, in France, England, and Italy, a "work absolutely necessary to be read by every lover of Theatrical Exhibitions," printed for J. Pottinger. It contains twenty-two chapters on tragedy, thirteen on comedy, opera, authors, and the art of acting. Pages 147-51 discuss the obligation of English farces to French ones.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment never perform'd before. The Music composed by Dr Arne. Full Prices. Boxes #53 (Account Book). [About 212 persons in Boxes. A profitable and popular afterpiece for Rich, but it cost him each night this season 10s. 6d. for Mr Wrexell for the Clarinet, and 5s. to Dell for the French Horn.] Receipts. #181 8s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Part of Pit will be laid into Boxes. Tickets sold at the Door will not be admitted. The Charges include House charge: #63, plus Wax Candles #1 5s. plus Extra Guards #1 5s. 6d., plus a French Horn and 2 Side drums 7s. Receipts: #83 4s. 6d. plus #174 7s. from tickets (Box 382; Pit 447; Gallery 118) (Account Book). Charges: #65 17s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Farce in two acts never performed before. Full prices. [See advertisement to Reed's 1761 edition where he accuses Foote of taking the character of Mrs Cole in the Minor from Mrs Snarewell.] A new farce wrote by one Reed, a ropemaker, brought out by Mr Foote--went off tolerable--hissed a little at the end (Hopkins MS Notes). [See advertisement for the Universal Register Office General Advertiser 18 Oct. 1750: This Office being much approv'd and encouraged especially by Ladies and Gentlemen in the Country, we have daily enquiries by those who are just come to town, and many letters from those in the country to procure houses and lodgings, both furnished and unfurnished, for single Gentlemen, Ladies, and Families for the winter; and also boarding houses as well in French Families as in English Families." Announces its books open to any who wish to register there. The afterpiece met with trouble from the Licenser. Larpent MS 189 and 196, indicate the exceptionable passages to be those using profanity, and those of Mrs Snarewell's capable of double entendre, principally about the comfort she received from Mr Watchlight who was called twice out of bed to pray-"so ernest in his ejaculations, &c."

Event Comment: Benefit for Tenducci. Tickets 5s. Coffee and Tea included. [Pasqualino had a similar musical evening there, 18 June, with fireworks.

Event Comment: Characters in Mainpiece New Dress'd in the Habits of the Times. [Theatrical Intelligence for 4 Nov. (Theatrical Miscellaneous Cuttings, G 60.23, Boston Public Library) notes: Last night the reformation in dress took place at the theatre in the revival of the second part of King Henry IV. The beauty as well as the propriety of the dresses give great satisfaction. The Old English Habits are indeed admirably suited to the style and manners of the plays of that time, in which a peculiarity prevails very remote from modern dialogue and the present fashion. The effect of this observation of the Costume, as the French call it, is very visible in the representation of Every Man in His Humour, and will, we hope, for the future be strictly observed in dressing every character of the plays of that age." The author then comments on Love's succes as Falstaff, and Garrick's effectiveness as the sick king especially in delivering the long speeches.

Event Comment: Books of the Opera to be sold at the Theatre. Nothing under FULL PRICE can be taken. Opera not perform'd this season. [A riot this night in which the benches were torn up. Led by Fitzpatrick against the abolishment of the custom of admitting at half-price after the third act. See previous disturbance at Drury Lane. No more plays at cg until 3 March 1763 while repairs were being made to theatre. See Gentleman's Magazine, Feb. 1763, Historical Chronicle, Th. 24: A riot happened at Covent Garden theatre occasioned by a demand being made for full prices at the opera Artaxerxes. The mischief done was the greatest ever known on any occasion of the like kind; all the benches of the boxes and Pit being entirely tore up, the glasses and chandeliers broken, and the linings of the Boxes cut to pieces. The rashness of the rioters was so great, that they cut aWay the wooden pillars between the Boxes, so that if the inside of them had not been iron, they would have brought down the Galleries upon their heads. The damages done amount to at least #2000. Four persons concern'd in the riot have been committed to the gatehouse. The Beauties of All Magazines Selected, for March 1763 (p. 142) reprinted from the Ledger a humorous account of this riot as told by a sailor in fabricated seaman's language: As soon as the foresheet was clewed up...As to my 5s., why the owners are welcome to it towards repair, for you stripp'd plank, timbers, and scantlings,-you gutted her; she look'd like a French prize, after a yard-arm engagement."

Event Comment: Full Prices. Afterpiece: A Pantomimic dance by Love (Biographia Dramatica). Much followed and brought several crowded houses, and the success chiefly owing to the reports our newspapers were, at that time, daily filled with, of the French wild Beast that was devouring (and yet pursued by) children. This wild beast was happily introduced in this pantomime, pursued by boys led on by a Frenchman. At last the Beast made his Re-entry, and ran across the stage with the poor Frenchman in his mouth, to the great joy of the Pit, Box and Galleries (Victor, History of Theatres, III, 72). Dorilas for the first time by Mr Cautherly--very decent, but wanted spirit. This pantomime is fathered by Mr Lowe [?]--went off with applause, --Mr Garrick made most of the Business to it, which is very good (Hopkins Diary). [Letter from C. V. Theatricus on ladies' removing their hats in the theatre. A Gentleman had requested it and a debate ensued in the Public Advertiser, as to whether he wished to see the play better or to gaze more audaciously on many pretty faces. Long letter also from G. F. Theatricus to the Public Advertiser, commenting on the excellence of Powell, Mrs Yates, Holland, the Palmers, Cautherly and Bensley for their performance in Venice Preserved, Romeo and Juliet, and Mahomet respectively.

Event Comment: Paid Mr French on account #50 [scene painter and maker of light props] (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #85 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr French #20 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #153 17s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Not acted these 2 years. [See 27 Oct. 1764.] Paid French on account #30; and Frederick for cloath #6 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #115 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: N.B.: The Cunning Man is oblig'd to be deferr'd. Rec'd Condell's first [fruit concession] payment #20; Paid French on account #20; Mr John Palmer on his note #10. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #127 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. [Genest, V, 120, suggests The Old Maid as afterpiece with Clerimont-French">Cautherley; Capt. Cape-$Baddeley; Mrs Harlow-$Miss Pope; Miss Harlow-$Mrs Bennet; but Treasurer's Book Specifies Queen Mab.] Paid $French on acct. #50; Shepherd for cotton #2 18s. 4d.; Mrs Hilman for cloaths #4 14s. 6d.; Mrs Humphreys for a suit of cloaths #9 9s.; Miss Allen for cleaning stockings #1 6s. 6d.; Licensing the Earl of Warwick and Cymon #4 4s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #181 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid French on account #50 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #137 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Blandford (tallow chandler) bill #48 14s. 6d.; Waller (hosier) bill #18 13s. 6d.; Burgis (bricklayer) bill #46 18s.; Swan and Buck (mercers) bill #28 5s.; Mrs French on acct #21; Chorus singers 1 night #2 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #198 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Half past 5 went to the 5s. Gallery at the Opera House to see the comic opera La Buona Figliola, altered from Goldoni. The Music by Sg Nic Piccini, a Neopolitan composer. The Marq by Sg Lovatini, Castina by Sga Zamporini, the German by Sg Marigi. These I believe are reckoned the best of the company. I can't say I was greatly entertained, tho the music is very pleasing. There is something very absurd and truly characteristic of the present age in supporting a set of people at an immense expense to perform plays in a language which very few here understand. We had dances after every act by Sg Adriani, Sga Radicati, &c. It is said the dances at the opera are better than those at the theatres, but I am no great judge either of music or dancing. The scenes, particularly that of the Garden with waterworks &c. are very fine. They who go into the Pit &c. must be in a vile French dress (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: [R+Rich's Register lists The English Merchant.] Paid Blandford (tallow chandler) #49 8s. 10d. Paid George Garrick for use of the managers #15 15s.; Paid French on account #20; Advanced to Granier on note #4 2s. 10d.; to Keen on note #4 4s. Rec'd stopages 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Sylas Neville (Neville MS Diary): With difficulty got into the Pit at Drury Lane, where I stood at the side so jambed up that I could not read the newspaper I carried: But I saw the play very well. It was Rule a Wife and Have a Wife, with the Farce of the Devil to Pay. Duke by Havard, Cacafago by Love, very well. Copper Capt. by Palmer, pretty well. Old woman pretty well by Mrs Baddeley, Astifania by Mrs Pritchard excellently, tho she is too old for the first part of this character. Leon inimitably by Garrick. I think he shows a good deal of Abel drugger, [both published and unpublished portions of the Neville Diary.] Receipts: #261 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. House charges #66 3s. 6d. [Profit to Palmer #74 18s. 6d.] Afterpiece: Not acted for 14 years. [See 11 Feb. 1748.] Last till after the holidays. Paid George Garrick on account #50 and French on account #20; Salary list #290 12s. 8d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #141 2s. (Treasurer's Book)