Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Jameson. Hull is to succeed Colman in the management of Covent Garden (Winston MS 10). Colman sold his share of the patent to Harris in the spring of this year, this departure to take place in June (Page, George Colman, The Elder). Michel Dyer Died (Genest, V, 424). Miss Jameson's charges #77 13s. 6d. Profit to her #59 10s., plus #66 7s. from tickets. (Box 127; Pit 138; Gallery 139). Receipts: #137 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Two Misers is unavoidably oblig'd to be deferr'd. Books of the Entertainment [The Two Misers?] to be had at the theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No persons admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the curtain is up. Places for the Boxes to be taken, of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. The Doors to be opened at Half after Five o'clock. To Begin exactly at Half after Six. Vivant Rex and Regina. (Customary footnote for succeeding Playbills. It will not be repeated here. The Westminster Magazine, September, p. 459, indicates a Prelude was also given this opening night, consisting of several of the actors comparing notes on their various successes, casts of parts, droll accidents, which they had experienced during their different summer excursions. Mattocks, Dunstall, Lee Lewes, Miss Barsanti, and Hull participated. The reviewer reported the content of their reminiscences, but disliked the jumbled nature of the Prelude. Another account in the Morning Post, 21 September.] Note: For performance at hay 20 September, see Season of 1774-1775, p. 1905

Event Comment: Paid Hull on account of Salary as Acting Manager #30. Receipts: #179 2s. (178.3; 0.19)

Event Comment: New Scene [1st time; by Edward Thompson, with music by Dr Arne. Larpent MS 438; synopsis ("Macheath, after trial, is sentenced to work on the Thames" in London Chronicle, 18 Oct.]. Paid Hull on Acct. of salary as Acting Manager #30. Account-Book, 23 Mar. 1778: Paid Capt. Thompson for writing the new Scene in The Beggar's Opera #25. Receipts: #240 9s. (240.2.6; 0.6.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [The playbill retains Wilson as Maclaymore, but "At the close of the Play Hull came forward and made an Apology for Wilson's not playing Maclaymore...on Account of his being taken suddenly ill with an Ague, and begged their Acceptance of Fearon in the Part, which was accepted with that good Nature which distinguishes a British Audience" (Morning Chronicle, 24 Oct.).] Receipts: #100 15s. 6d. (100.11.0; 0.4.6)

Event Comment: The last Time of performing this Season. [This was Mrs Hartley's last appearance on the tstage.] Account-Book, 29 May: Paid Foulis for writing Music #101 17s.; 31 May: Received of Their Majesties for this Season #60, of Prince of Wales #30; 16 June: Paid Pattinson, tallow chandler, #332 8s. Paid Cooper, printer, #335 11s. Paid Harris, manager, #500. Paid Enderby, oil merchant, #1,061 17s. Paid Hull, salary as Acting Manager #150. Paid Mrs Hartley in lieu of a Benefit #105; 6 July: Received Stage Forfeits this season #42 3s. 6d. Receipts: #63 8s. (61.14.6; 1.13.6)

Event Comment: The last Night of the Company's performing this Season. Account-Book, 3 June: Paid Lewis in full his Salary as Acting Manager #200; 23 June: Received of Their Majesties for this Season #50; 28 June: Paid Hull in lieu of a Benefit #100; 30 June: Paid Harris for his trouble in superintending the Theatre #500; Paid Cooper, printer, #433 9s. Receipts: #227 6s. 6d. (223/5/9; 4/1/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Kemble [who had 1st acted Macbeth at Hull, 30 Oct. 1778]. Public Advertiser, 17 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Kemble, No. 2, Leicester Court, Castle-street, Leicester Fields. [In mainpiece the playbill retains R. Palmer as Malcolm, but "Preceding the play there was an apology, on its appearance evidently exciting doubt and trepidation in the audience [probably for fear that Mrs Siddons would be unable to appear]; but Palmer's fourth word broke the spell. R. Palmer was suddenly prevented attending the house:--what could the house do, but laugh?--Laugh they did;--'and Barrymore will read his part.' The house laughed again. And so Britannia was delivered" (Morning Chronicle, 1 Apr.). The name of R. Palmer's substitute in the afterpiece is not given.] Receipts: #293 3s. (175/2; 9/16; 0/5; tickets: 108/0) (charge: #115 10s. 3d.)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for The Literary Fund. [In this performance the male parts were acted chiefly by amateurs; the female parts were acted by professionals. Prologue and Epilogue by Thomas Morris (Morning Herald, 17 Apr.).] The Committee for the Management of the Literary Fund respectfully inform the Public that affecting instabces of Merit in distress exceed their power of relief by the ordinary Subscription; and that they wish to have recourse to every honourable expedient to increase that power. The Admission will be by Tickets, at the Opera Prices. Boxes and Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. No more Company will be admitted than the House will hold with perfect convenience; and when the proper number of Tickets is issued, no means of admission can be obtained. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 precisely. Registers: Thomas Dale, M. D.; Mr Deputy Nichols. Treasurers: Thomas Morris, Esq.; Mr E. Brooke. "In the course of the play we observed several restorations of Shakespeare's text, with some interpolations. The boldest of the latter was the introduction of Richard's son to him in the tent, the night befiredthedbefore the Battle of Bosworth field. This scene was borrowed, as we believe, from Thomas? Hull's Legendary Tale of Richard Plantagenet. It was well written, and produced a considerable degree of effect. The Ghosts were banished, and the start and stagger of Richard, heretofore the theatrical trick of the scene, necessarily omitted" (Diary, 17 Apr.)

Event Comment: Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Hull will be admitted. Receipts: #214 14s. (154.18.6; 5.16.0; tickets: 53.19.6)