Event Comment: Benefit for Master Mattocks and Mlle L'Contri. Paid Salary List #296 10s. 6d.; Mrs Hobson a bill 3s. (Treasurer's Book). [The George Garrick Treasurer's Book breaks off at this point. It records for 165 nights, a total income of #17,296 9s. as against a total outlay of #12,055 14s. 5d. Cross, who jots down receipts in round figures, and is almost always high, indicates the income from the 164th to the 174th and last night to be #1,446, but since all except one night (11 May) were benefits, the theatre probably received only about #800 (At #63 per benefit). Total income for this season is estimated to be, therefore, #18,096 9s. It is difficult to estimate end of season expenditures. At least #789 10s. 6d. went out in the three final pay days of the season and probably another #500 went out in bills before the books were closed at Midsummer. From this it appears that the profits to the managers that year came to about #4,600.] This day is Publish'd The Actor at 3s. In One Volume (dedicated to the Managers of the British Theatre. A treatise on the art of playing, interspersed with theatrical anecdotes, critical remarks on plays and occasional observations on audiences Printed for R. Griffiths (General Advertiser). Receipts: #120 (Cross). [Income missing from Treasurer's Book.

Event Comment: Receipts: #40 (Cross). [The Epilogue Occasioned by the Two Occasional Prologues published in the General Advertiser. Fifty-one lines ending: @"No more shall either rack his brains to teaze ye@But let the Contest be who most shall please ye." [In the form of a story, mocking Garrick and Berry]: "Once on a time two boys were throwing dirt@A gentle youth was one, and one was somewhat pert.@Each to his Master with his tale retreated,@Who gravely heard their different parts repeated,@How Tom was rude, and Jack poor lad ill treated."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 years [see 15 Oct. 1743]. Garrick-Osmyn, Pritchd-Zara; Almeria-Bellamy ($Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Great Noise when Woodward came on in Ostrich--Mr Garrick advanc'd & said--Gentlemen, if Mr Woodward's oath don't satisfie you, pray defer ye Resentm[en]t till tomorrow when it will be corroborated by some others--all Quiet (Cross). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Davies & Wife (Cross). Tickets at Davies's lodgings at Mr Evans, in Tavistock Row, Covent Garden; and at Stage Door. [The Bill announces Garrick as Lothario for last time this season.] Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: fterpiece] A farce of 3 Acts taken from Shaks Taming ye Shrew (by Garrick) call'd new Catharine & Petruchio (Cross). Mrs Pritchard's Benefit. Tickets of Mrs Pritchard at her lodgings at Pritchard's Warehouse, in Tavistock St. Part of pit laid into boxes. Amphitheatre on stage. Receipts: #298 (Cross)

Event Comment: Acted there but once. By Authority. Tickets deliver'd out by Miss Barton which could not get in on Thursday last, will be admitted this Night. [An Epistle from Mr Theophilus Cibber, to David Garrick, Esq. London: 1755, dated Nov. 20, 1755: When Th. Cibber returned from Guilford last July, he found a discharge from Covent Garden (p.5) He got a license from the Duke of Grafton to open Little Haymarket (p. 6). He began and acted ten nights in three weeks, with some success, but when Drury Lane opened, Th. Cibber was ordered to stop (p. 7). He then petitioned the Duke of Grafton to have The Haymarket for two or three times weekly for the rest of the season. He hoped that the Little Haymarket might be a nursery for young performers, as well as for new pieces (p. 24). See dl 24 Nov.

Event Comment: This night the Chinese Festival was hotly call'd for by the Boxes, & strongly oppks'd by a few in the Pit, the Gentlemen came out, & insisted upon its being given out, wch at last Mr Garrick did; but not before it seem'd agreed that it shou'd be done 3 times a week for the Boxes, & other Entertainments the other 3 Days for the Pit, all Parties seem'd satisfied-but the Consequence prov'd otherways (Cross). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Each of these 3 acts apiece, Alter'd by Garrick, from Shakespear-Applauded. Mrs Clive fell down in ye Farce, and accus'd Woodward wth doing it on purpose (Cross). [The Bill lists neither cast nor characters for either piece, but advertises them with proper music, songs, dances, and decorations. Beginning with 23 Jan. the Bill lists actors names. Casts here taken from the 1756 ed.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: In a Few Days will be publish'd at 1s. (as it is perform'd at Drury Lane) The Winter's Tale: A Dramatic Pastoral in three acts, from Shakespeare. With proper Music, Songs,Dances, and Decoration. Printed for J. and R. Tonson. This Day publish'd The Winter's Tale, a Play alter'd form Shakespeare, by C. Marsh: @Think'st thou, the Swan of Avon spreads her Wings,@Her brooding wings, for thee alone, to plume@And nestle there, O Garrick? Thou deserv'st@Indeed much cherishing; thy Melody@Charms every ear. But sure it ill beseems@One Cygnet thus to stretch its little pinions,@Ambitiously intent, to fill that nest,@Whose roomy limits well may shelter numbers.@ Printed for C. Marsh, at Cicero's Head, in Round Court in the Strand. Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Garrick's Benefit (Cross). Receipts: #212 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMrs Cibber is recover'd & plays tonight-Mr Garrick taken ill, Holland did Chamont (Cross). [Probably Havard of Davies did Polydore, as both were familiar with the part.] Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMaster Leoni's first appearance. Music by Smith. On account of Machinery and music no persons can be admitted behind Scenes or into the Orchestra. Nothing under full prices will be taken. Books of the Entertainment will be sold at the Theatre at 6d. each. The Enchanter, a new Musical Entertainment wrote by Mr Garrick, and set by Mr Smith, very well received.Master Leoni, a Jew, made his first appearance in this piece, and was received with great applause (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: Benefit for Havard. Mr King has kindly undertaken on a very short word, to speak the Original Prologue this evening as Mr Garrick performs both in the play and the Interlude

Event Comment: MMr Garrick Richard. The Play dress'd in the habits of the times (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit For the Author. A Riot to demand the same [half-price after third act] agreed to (Cross Diary). [Advertised for Drury Lane that particulars will be published in a few days on the charge of innovation in prices which last night prevented the play being heard.] When Holland appeared for the Prologue-hiss'd. Garrick appeared and agreed to take half-price at the end of the third act to all performances except the first [Winter] of a New Pantomime (Winston MS 9)

Event Comment: MMrs Love play'd Mrs Peachum very bad. Her fit seem'd a very Aukward Imitation of Mrs Pritchard in the Jealous Wife (Hopkins). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No money received at the Stage Door. None returned after the curtain is up. Play to begin exactly at 6 o'clock. Places may be had of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door. Vivat Rex et Regina. [Customary notice, which will not be repeated here, Sept. 15 David Garrick & his Lady set out for Italy from his house in Southampton St. Covent Garden (Winston MS 9). Winston also refers to a Sept. 9 Letter from T. Davies, cg, to the poet Charles Churchill begging he would not introduce so unimportant a person as himself in his Smithfield Rosciad.] Receipts: #248 9s. (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: This piece was greatly Cut & Alter'd. the 5th Act Entirely left out & many Airs interspers'd all through; got up with a vast deal of trouble to everbody concern'd in it but particularly to Mr Coleman, who attended every Rehearsal & had alterations innumberable to make. Upon the Whole, never was anything so murder'd in the Speaking. Mr W. Palmer & Mrs Vincent were beyond Description bad; & had it not been for the Children's Excellent performance, (& particularly Miss Wright who Sung delightfully) the Audience would not have Suffer'd'em to have gone half thro' it. The Sleeping Scene particularly displeas'd. Next day it was reported, The Performers first Sung the Audience to S leep, & then went to Sleep themselves (Hopkins). Fairies pleas'd--Serious parts displeas'd--Comic between both (Cross Diary). This piece of Shakespear's was greatly cut and altered,--the fifth act entirely left out,--and many airs introduced--got up with a vast deal of trouble to all concerned, but particularly to Mr Colman, who attended every rehearsal, and had alterations innumerable to make. Upon the whole, I believe, never was piece so murdered as this was by the singing speakers, in which Mrs Vincent and Mr W. Palmer were beyond description bad; and had it not been for the children's excellent performance (particularly Miss Wright, who ran away with all the applause and very deservedly) the audience would not have suffered them to have gone half thro' it.--The sleeping particularly displeased. The next day it was reported, the performers sung the audience to sleep, and then went to sleep themselves (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Overture and airs composed by the most eminent English masters. Book of the play sold at the theatre, 1s. [See "A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Hands of Garrick and Colman," PMLA, June 1939.] Receipts: #98 7s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: GGarrick reported to be at [?] cg & that Powell & Holland had borrowed #25,000 at 5 0@0 interest to purchase Garrick's Share (Winston MS 9, from Burney news cuttings)

Event Comment: Published at 1s. 6d. by Garrick and Colman

Event Comment: Paid George Garrick on account #100; Chorus singers 2 nights, #5 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #142 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid George Garrick #50; Paid Mr Guy (plumber) #53 15s.; Mr Debrose, (linen draper) #20 11s. 6d.; Scott (copper lace) bill #158 15s. 6d.; Hewetson (silver lace) bill #42 8s.; Gastrill (mercer) 2 bills, #227 2s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #196 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid salary list #435 19s. (Treasurer's Book). Read the 2 remaining Acts of Rule a Wife...About 15 minutes past 4 went into ye Pit, and contrary to my expectation got a seat almost in ye middle of ye 3rd row, which I prefer to any other. Garrick played Leon. By having seen him in the character before, and having read the play, I enjoyed the excellency of his acting more than I ever did. King played the Copper Captain for ye first time, and did it very well. Pritchard is excellent in Estifania, Love and Baddeley were good in Cacafago and the Old Woman (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #202 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. [The BM Playbill lists Mercury-Bannister.] Half past six went into ye Pit to see $Barry do Hastings and Mrs Dancer Jane Shore. Before ye play began, ended reading ye parts of Hastings, Jane Shore and Dumont. When ye Gods called for ye Prologue, York beckoned to be quiet. What authority these fellows assume! T. Barry did Dumont, but he will never be equal to his father. The Entertainment was Lethe. Old Man and Lord Chalkstone by Shuter. Garrick, who sat near me, laughed at his understanding ye character of Lord Chalkstone so little, as to say--"She married for money, and I for a title." Drunken man pretty well by Weston (Neville MS Diary)